Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 14 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 20 years, 5 months ago by
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Two summers ago my family bought a small swimming pool and installed it along with a deck. Immediately after it was put up, the two black boys who lived next door, both a couple of years younger than I, asked if they could go swimming. I didn’t have a problem with this, but told them to ask their mother for permission to be on the safe side. Their mother told them they couldn’t go swimming, which mystified me. Our pool is only three feet deep, and the only way they could have drowned in it was if I physically held their heads under water! Of course I would’ve been out there with them, and their mother could’ve watched to be sure nothing happened if she wanted to. When I asked my mother about this, she said the black people she knew were scared of water. I was skeptical about this, but then a friend got me a subscription to a nearby sports club where we go to play racquetball. Though there are lots of black people inside on the workout machines and exercise classes, almost none use the big, beautiful Olympic-sized swimming pool. Is my mother right? Are some black people scared of water? I don’t see why they should be, if they learn to swim well.
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Name : Jessica B., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 16, City : Jackson, State : MS, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,There are a lot of black people who don’t know how to swim in urban areas. In the past, blacks were barred from public swimming pools, so they didn’t have the opportunity to learn to swim. People who don’t know how to swim are usually afraid of the water because it is unknown to them, and people often pass their fears onto their children. In rural areas, the situation is a lot different. There are usually many places to swim besides a municipal pool such as creeks, lakes and canals. These places were beyond the reach of the Jim Crow laws. As a result, blacks in rural areas have always had opportunities to swim and therefore are not afraid of the water. On a side note, I have known many black women who don’t swim because they do a lot to their hair to make it straight and smooth. The water will make it kink up, and then they will have to redo it. So they just avoid swimming.
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Name : Lucy22442, Gender : F, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 26, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I dont think African Americans are ‘afraid.’ I, for one, coming for a city, was not raised where you could get swimming lessons or swim in a safe place unless you had money – and we certainly did not have money to spend on swimming. My cousins, on the other hand, were raised in the South, again without financial means to pay for swimming. But they had a creek and learned on their own. They are fantastic swimmers. I think learning to swim is not as much of a priority if it’s not easily accessible.
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Name : Gena, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 40, City : Albany, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,My mother and I were just joking about this the other day. I was saying that I see cultural differences between black and white Americans with regard to camping and swimming. I never really hear of many black people (including myself) going camping for the weekend or going to the beach. The last time I entered a swimming pool was nearly three years ago. For me, it’s not so much that I’m scared of water, but I just hate the feeling afterward – dry, itchy and cold. And I have had a few bad experiences while swimming. When I was younger my parents had enrolled me in a swim class, and on the first day I ran out of the pool bawling. Years later I almost drowned while visiting my dad, and again in my eighth-grade swim class, so you can say swimming is my least favorite hobby. I still would like to learn because it really is a necessity. But I’m only speaking for myself. My nephews absolutely love to swim. You’d think they were fish. And many of my younger cousins do also, so I’m not sure of what to say on this one. Maybe the boat ride over (Africa to America) has something to do with it (just kidding).
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Name : Lisa22798, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, City : Gaithersburg, State : MD, Country : United States,Black people as a whole are not afraid of water. If you can’t swim, then yes, stay away from it. If the children were girls, maybe the reason would be that many black women don’t have wash-and-go hair (water can ruin processes done to straighten the hair). Maybe logic is different down South – hence my reason for never wanting to visit.
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Name : Sion, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 26, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class,I would have to say that a lot of black people are a little cautious when it comes to swimming. For one thing, we don’t have as many chances to learn to swim as others, and, as it was said before, black women and girls spend a lot of time on our hair, and the water would ruin it. That’s not a chance most of us are willing to take.
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Name : Ashley-B23483, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 15, City : Hammond, State : LA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Lower class,I’m amazed at the naivete of some of you poor Americans, or is it just that black people here in the United Kingdom are treated with the normal respect a human being deserves? I would say our pools are occupied on an equal level, especially if I go swimming with my wife, who is, yes, you’ve got it … black.
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Name : John, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 44, City : Bristol, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : Buisness Owner, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,In general, black people are not afraid of water. It sounds almost ridiculous – as though we don’t so much as bathe or shower. Some people, in general, don’t like swimming. I don’t happen to be one of those people. I look forward to warm summer days at the beach or a neighborhood pool, swimming and splashing. Your neighbor may have some other concerns. If you’re not careful, a person can drown in just a few inches of water. Maybe she wants an adult supervising, if she can’t. Unfortunate as it might be, she may have some personal issues with your family. I don’t know. Just know that there are plenty of people of every color who love to swim as much as you do.
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Name : Jacquel, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 22, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : nursing student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,Well Jessica one reason (and since we don’t have the mom to ask it may be off base)the lady would not allow her sons to swim is that she didn’t want her black sons swiming alone with a white girl. If they are both 14 that is old enough for her to be concerned. Not a pretty idea but but it sounds feasible to me. Also do you or does your family have a close neighborly relationship with this lady’s family? She might not have wanted her sons to impose on strangers. She may have wanted your parents to invite her sons before letting them come over so as not to bother y’all. If your parents weren’t home then that is another reason she might not have let them come swim. Heck the boys might not have done their chores and couldn’t come. There’re a million reasons why she didn’t let them come. If you think they might be interesting people then by all means invite them over or have your parents invite them. Since they were boys I doubt it was their hair the mother was worried about lol. If the boys coukdn’t swim then the mother might have been concerned for their safety. My own mom used to act like the baby pool was too deep for me and that has continued into my adulthood 🙂 peace out.
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Name : Sheryl-Sukdolak, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 39, City : Warner Robins, State : GA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,hi, swimming as far as i’m concerned has nothing to do with race. i do however concede that because both my parents are catholic they felt that exposing my body to members of the opposite sex was dangerous and so i was always embarrased about it. i therefore was nervous going into a swimming pool. and generally wasn’t allowed as a kid or a teenager (breasts) to be around members of the opposite sex (black or white). by the way, why do you guys in america only have black/african american as a race option. i’m black african. aren’t black african’s accepted in america if they don’t want to accept being black african american? are you confused? so am i.
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Name : jessica onah, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 26, City : london, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,I’m black and love swimming. Note: Like many black women, I straighten my hair via a ‘perm.’ After I finish swimming, I wash my hair and then style it as usual (I do the same thing after I go to the gym). Women should not let their hair prevent them from swimming – or anything else that is fun! PS – I always get lots of compliments about my hair.
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Name : Julie27047, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 30, City : Woodbridge, State : VA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Blacks swim all the time. Each of our recreation centers have pools. We Hunt too! Youve obviously never been to LA. 🙂 Thing is, its about access. If you cant swim then you cant swim. If you can you can. Period.
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Name : LJ, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, City : Monroe, State : LA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,There was a book recently published about why certain races do better or worse at specific sports, and I recall reading that blacks, in general, have a lower percentage of body fat and a more muscular build. This obviously does not help their chances at staying afloat. I think there is a lot of credibility in this reason. For example, most blacks have better ‘fast-twitch’ muscles, so they excel at sporting activities which require quick reflexes and movements. Another good reason that comes to mind boils down to collective preferences for certain sports or athletics across races and/or cultures and geography. Why are most professional hockey fans white? Why are most pro basketball players black? Scandinavians love snow sports. Asians and eastern Europeans love gymnastics. Part of it is culture. Part of it is geography. Part of it is selective racial physical characteristics. On a related note, we are seeing more crossing over in sports when it comes to ethnic barriers. Tennis led the way in blacks becoming more prominent and involved in this traditionally white upper class sport. Tiger Woods’ mixed ethnicity has made golf seem more approachable for the non-white non-upper-class demographic. Exciting changes are in store in the years to come. In the meantime, there is certainly no harm in acknowledging racial biases towards certain sports and athletic endeavors.
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Name : James B., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : East Indian, Age : 27, City : Keizer, State : OR, Country : United States, Occupation : Software engineer, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class,If u honestly give it some thought can u OR your mother conclude that an entire race is afraid of something as common as water !! Thats absurd !! I wonder why anyone would say anything THAT ignorant. It just doesnt make sense. Black moms on a whole are very protective of their kids, maybe she couldnt supervise, or possibly they dont feel they know you well enough . or possibly she wanted to be invited instead of having her boys ask ? maybe a little more though should go on before u make a statement.
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Name : Amber31542, Gender : F, Disability : Paralyzed, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 13, City : Philadelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma,i can assure you that is a load of rubbish. The people your mum knows simply cannot swim, and its got nothing to do with them being black. In eastern nigeria, when the women give birth they put the baby to swim in the river after just a few days old, they start bit by bit, by the time the baby is 3 months, it swims like a fish! they dont use posh swimming pools, everyone dives into the river. Complete load of bollocks!
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Name : moji, City : london, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom,
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