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Water has often been a symbol of freedom, tranquility, and recreation. However, for Black communities, water is connected to a troubled history of barriers, stemming from systemic racism, exclusion, and limited access to pools and swimming education.
According to a 2017 study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation, 70 percent of African Americans do not know how to swim. The startling number is intertwined with America’s dark history of segregation. When recreational swimming became popular in the 1920s and ’30s, segregation prevented many Black families from learning the vital skill as a large portion of public pools were placed in white neighborhoods.
The History Of American Swimming Pools.
Segregation perpetuated the swimming stereotype in the Black community. Public pools and beaches were segregated, with Black communities often denied entry or relegated to poorly maintained facilities, if any at all. Denied access to proper swimming education, many Black individuals never had the opportunity to learn how to swim, perpetuating a cycle of limited water safety knowledge within the community.
Parents Never Learned.
Moreover, the lack of swimming facilities and educational resources in predominantly Black neighborhoods contributed to a vicious cycle of fear that would trickle down to parents and generations of Black families. Without access to pools and swimming programs, the chances of learning swimming skills were slim. As a result, stereotypes and myths about Black people’s inability to swim persisted.
“It is because of discrimination and segregation that swimming never became a part of African-American recreational culture,” Contested Waters author Jeff Wiltstold the Dallas News.
The Civil Rights Movement brought about legislative change, but the impact on swimming disparities wasn’t immediate. Even after legal desegregation, socioeconomic factors continued to hinder access. Private pools and clubs often remained inaccessible due to high membership fees, expensive programs, or implicit discrimination and racism, further limiting opportunities for Black individuals to learn how to swim.
A 2022 Northwestern Medicine survey conducted in Chicago reported that over 26 percent of Black parents never learned to swim. However, that number was slightly smaller in comparison to 32 percent of Latin parents, who reported they had never learned to swim. Around 46 percent and 47 percent of Black and Latino respondents said they had never enrolled their children in swimming classes compared to parents of white children (72 percent).
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Drowning Risk Among Black Children
Segregation in public pools and the increasing privatization of swimming lessons have led to a fear of water among many Black Americans. This has resulted in long-term consequences for today’s generation. According to the YMCA, 64 percent of Black American children are unable to swim. Moreover, Black children are three times more likely to die from drowning than children of other races.
“To improve swimming abilities in Black and Latine communities, we need to address swim comfort and skills for both parents and their children,” said Michelle Macy, one author behind the Northwestern study. “Expanding access to pools and affordable, culturally tailored water-safety programs are critically important strategies to help eliminate racial disparities in child drownings.”
Representation Challenges and Trailblazers in Professional Swimming
Efforts have been made in recent years to break the cycle of exclusion. Community organizations, educational programs, and initiatives focused on water safety and swimming education have emerged to provide access and opportunities for marginalized communities to learn how to swim.
In 2020, British swimmer Alice Dearing became the first Black British woman to compete at the Olympics. The 26-year-old athlete is working to bring inclusion and representation to the industry. She is also the founder of the Black Swimming Association, advocating for diversity in aquatics.
Historically, swimming caps have posed challenges for athletes of color. Traditional swim caps are often smaller and tailored for individuals with thinner hair, making it difficult for swimmers with natural hairstyles like locs, braids, or kinky curls to protect their hair from water and chlorine damage. The absence of suitable swim gear has led some swimmers of color to consider leaving the professional sport.
Launched in 2017, SOUL CAP was created to accommodate Black swimmers and individuals with thick and voluminous hair. The company faced a setback in 2021 after FINA initially banned the use of their inclusive swim caps at competitions. However, FINA dropped the ban in 2022.
“So many people in my family did not learn how to swim because, you know, their hair wouldn’t stay straight, or it’d be too unruly, or whatever,” said Division 1 swimmer Erin Adams regarding FINA’s discriminatory ban. “We’re always policed on what we can wear and what our bodies are looking like, and what our hair is looking like. They’re just trying to make it difficult for us to have ease when participating.”
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