TWO THIRDS OF BLACK KIDS CAN'T SWIM !!!!
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 1:37 pm
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.
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.
