TWO THIRDS OF BLACK KIDS CAN'T SWIM !!!!

[Daanyeer]

Source: NBC11.com
May 2, 2008 Author: AP


A new study finds that nearly 60 percent of African-American children can't swim, a figure almost twice that of white children.


The rates came from a new study aimed at lowering minority drowning rates and drawing more blacks into the sport of swimming.

The USA Swimming survey also found that black children drown at a rate almost three times higher than children overall.

It also found that 56 percent of Hispanic and Latino kids don't know how to handle themselves in a pool.

USA Swimming is teaming with local governments, businesses, and youth and ethnic groups to expand learn-to-swim programs nationwide.

One of the main players is freestyle star Cullen Jones, who hopes to win at this summer's Beijing Olympics.

He said he sometimes hears skeptical comments about swimming from adults in the black community, even from some of his relatives. But he sees little hesitation among the children he mentors.

As he puts it, "there's no kid out there who doesn't like jumping into a pool."

And despite the lower numbers, children don't believe in stereotypes that minorities can't swim, the group said. More than two-thirds of black and Hispanic children disagreed with a statement that swimming is just for white people.

The results were based on a survey of 1,772 children from ages 6 to 16 in six metropolitan areas.

[Gifted]

Interesting.

[afdhere]

yes, also... skiing, skating, hiking, etc. black people are no sillies. yes, and you will also not find a black woman living ALL by herself in the middle of nowhere, wearing high heels at danger's eye

afdhere

[Libah86]

No Pools in the Ghetto

all we got basketball courts and crackhouses

[razzberry]

No Pools in the Ghetto

all we got basketball courts and crackhouses

Even the ones who don't live in the ghetto can't swim. I was one of them.

[sexy-kitten]

I feel like it has something to do with back in the day, you know, slavery? When they used to get thrown off the ships by those... I don't know, "slave catchers?" lol, or whatever they're called. I have asked a couple of my co-workers, and they all don't swim. It's not good to generalize though, there are some African Americans who can swim lol. Just like there are some Somalis who don't eat bannanas with their bariis! Or not all people like bungee jumping!

[mwaura]

And this is news worthy how? We all know this has been the case for millenia though generally black people are not as bad as Abdi,who is born non-swimming,-skiing and -skating.Thats because we're often too busy surviving to learn such skills-and as somebody pointed out there are no pools in the ghetto.

[ModerateMuslim]

i like the fact that it's newsworthy.