Posted on 04/07/2012 2:43:19 PM PDT by the scotsman
'A month ago, six African-American teenagers drowned in a single incident in Louisiana, prompting soul-searching about why so many young black Americans can't swim.
When 15-year-old DeKendrix Warner accidentally stepped into deeper water while wading in the Red River in Shreveport, he panicked.
JaTavious Warner, 17, Takeitha Warner, 13, JaMarcus Warner, 14, Litrelle Stewart, 18, Latevin Stewart, 15, and LaDarius Stewart, 17, rushed to help him and each other.
None of them could swim. All six drowned. DeKendrix was rescued by a passer-by.
Maude Warner, mother of three of the victims, and the other adults present also couldn't swim.
The US has almost 3,500 accidental drownings every year, almost 10 a day. But according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fatal drowning rate of African-American children aged five-14 is three times that of white children.
A recent study sponsored by USA Swimming uncovered equally stark statistics. Just under 70% of African-American children surveyed said they had no or low ability to swim. Low ability merely meant they were able to splash around in the shallow end. A further 12% said they could swim but had "taught themselves".
The study found 58% of Hispanic children had no or low swimming ability. For white children, the figure was only 42%.
"It is an epidemic that is almost going unnoticed," says Sue Anderson, director of programmes and services at USA Swimming.
The swimming body would like all children to be taught to swim.
"We would like it to be like seatbelts and bicycle helmets," says Ms Anderson.
But the situation in the US can vary hugely even within a single state.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
I think I feigned drowning once at about age 12 when some cute gal was life guarding.
She sussed me out LOL
It was worth a clumsy try LOL
Amen! {^) I stand corrected.
That guy was clearly in a panic before he hit the water...appears to me his issue was a “fear” of drowning. Have to give him credit..he did go in regardless of hyperventilating.
Yes Navy and Marines had to learn to swim to pass boot camp.
At least they did in 79/80
I don’t recall any black guys failing.
LOL - so funny. duh
"It is an epidemic that is almost going unnoticed," says Sue Anderson, director of programmes and services at USA Swimming.
The swimming body would like all children to be taught to swim.
Translation: We have a swimming crisis in this country that only government funding can take care of and we need their help!
Blacks, whites, asians, indians, and every other culture have been drowning since the beginning of time and yet now we have an EPIDEMIC?....wonder what brought that on?
Anything is possible.
We defeat ourselves!
Yup.
Most of my freckles came from being turned into a lobster at the community swimming pool.
Push off the bottom..
I knew black girls who wouldn’t go swimming because the sun made them darker....rare they would go to beach parties unless at night...or if in the day stayed under umbrella’s.
I was a DI in 76/77, them tasked out to the recruit training pool (those instructors were all DI’s who had pushed through at least several platoons, as were the close combat instructors, etc). Never saw anyone dropped because he couldn’t swim. Heard a lot of propaganda from the DI’s threatening it, though.
Because “White men can’t jump”?
Because “White men can’t jump”?
not uncommon.
Thanks for pointing out that only Gubermint can help /s
LOL! Not bad for a 12 year old. :)
Thanks for that input.
Well here’s an introductory lesson to logic for ya Marine.
If you’re not a Marine till you pass boot camp, and you can’t pass boot camp till you can swim, then you can’t be Marine unless you can swim.
See how easy that was?
Just kidding, I love my Marine brothers and sisters.
You tried a hard had dive.
The other reason’s that blacks don’t swim.
Hanging trunks get pulled off and float away.
Gang color’s run in the water.
Felony carry doesn’t work in deep water..
I’m an ex Bubblehead Submariner but I don’t disparage my Marine brothers ;)
You know what I like about Marines?
They think.
They don’t panic.
They adapt and overcome against overwhelming odds.
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