Debunk myths in the African American community and reclaim swimming.

There was once a notion that African Americans’ bodies were denser (had less fat) than caucasians’ bodies and that this gave African Americans a disadvantage in learning to swim. This notion was debunked, but word still hasn’t gotten around. Banish that thought. It doesn’t matter, anyway.

Most people float. If someone is not a floater, whoever they are, it need not be an emergency. In fact, very few people are sinkers.  And sinking is not dangerous. Panic is dangerous. But it’s unnecessary. Many or most of the Olympic swimmers have bodies that are so dense that they don’t float! But obviously, they are good, safe swimmers.

There’s a rich heritage of African and African American swimming. A history of West Africans’ water proficiency is beautifully told in Ken Dawson’s Undercurrents of Power: Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora.

Another factor

What about another factor that has affected learning to swim in the African American community in the U.S.: racism. RaceTalkRevolution presented this powerful picture of the effects of racism on learning to swim in the African American population in the U.S. Here is Thaddeus Gamory of Diversity in Aquatics:

Mind Body Wellness for Generational Trauma w/ Thaddeus Gamory of Diversity in Aquatics

We hope that with understanding of this situation both by swim instructors and swimmers-to-be, a new softness will cradle the learning and healing process so that each African American who wants to swim finds his/her way with compassion, self-respect and enthusiasm. This is Miracle Swimming.

Eite Swimmers of Color in the U.S.

Team U.S.A.’s Simone Manuel was the Gold Medalist in the Rio Olympics 100 Meter Freestyle and 2019’s double Gold Medalist in the two sprint freestyle events at the World Championships in North Korea. No one had ever won both before.

Lia Neal was on Team USA’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay in two Olympics, winning silver and bronze medals: 2012, 2016.