An Open Letter to the Young Black Swimmer

by SwimSwam 16

December 08th, 2014 Lifestyle, National, Opinion

Trevor Ziegler, HeadshotTrevor Ziegler is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he also swam for the Minutemen. In addition to being well-immersed in the swimming world, Trevor is also a self-proclaimed pop culture aficionado. He spends most of his time brainstorming how he can write about both his favorite bands/tv shows and swimming in one coherent article. 

Dear Young Black Swimmer,

I write this letter to you in the wake of the recent events unfolding in places like Ferguson and New York City. I write this letter because like you, I was also a young black swimmer. Through the sport, I experienced an unfathomable number of successes; not just in the pool but academically, socially and personally. I hope these are things you also get to accomplish during your unfolding swimming career. However, like you, I also experienced the feelings of isolation and loneliness that come with being a young black swimmer.

I write this letter to assure you that, especially in times like these, you are not alone. In a sport where there aren’t a whole lot of others like you, it’s easy to feel isolated. But I assure you, young swimmer, you are not alone. There were times when I felt like others’ expectations were far lower for myself than the other swimmers- as if the mere fact that I was still there was an achievement in itself. There was even a time when I was flat-out told that I would never be able to become a swimmer. I am here to tell you that nobody has the right to try to stifle you from a pursuit that makes you truly happy.

Sometimes, you may feel like you’re infiltrating something you aren’t supposed to be a part of. I’m sure there have also been times you’ve felt like you were some sort of walking punchline, an oddity, an exception to the rule. Other times you may feel akin to something of a novelty to the sport. You will probably even feel as if you are constantly under a microscope with astute observers waiting for you to fail. It is important to remember that you are not, and never will be, any of those things. You will always be a swimmer.

I write this letter to encourage you to not become angry at what you are feeling, even when these emotions seem overwhelming. I understand how it gets and how misunderstood you may feel at times. Contrary to how it seems, this is a useful feeling once you learn to cope with it rather than avoid it. Because unfortunately, young swimmer, this is a feeling that never really goes away. I ask that you harness such emotion and utilize it in a positive way. Use such energy to better yourself in the sport that you love. Prove the naysayers wrong through your achievements, not through anger.

I understand that others in the sport (or even outside of it) may not always be tolerable to the idea of the young black swimmer; some by choice, most unintentional. But I want you to remember that you are, and will always be a swimmer. I ask that you not let external factors discourage you from competing in a sport you are passionate about and may ultimately excel in. Always remember you have just as much right to be there as everybody else, even when it might feel like you don’t belong.

I write this letter because I was also a young black swimmer; never just a swimmer. Though the label may seem frivolous, the implications associated seemed endless. Never give up, young swimmer; that is my advice to you. Never let these overwhelming feelings derail you from the sport you love. Disregard the words and actions of others that discourage you from pursuing something that makes you truly happy. Because after all, you are and will always be a swimmer. And nothing will ever change that.

16
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JJ
8 years ago

Thanks for highlighting a real issue in the world of swimming. Why look at race? Because the lack of men and women of color in the pools begs the question: why? We need to consider what factors influence this lack of diversity. Economics? Access? Cultural influences? Next we need to address them. Why? Because there are probably thousands of kids out there who dream of being a swimmer but for various reasons don’t/can’t achieve it. Your blog helps spark the necessary conversations to figure out these crucial questions!

Coach Si
9 years ago

In the world of swimming it’s not just about race where we’re experiencing isolation, but also economic standing… For example, most of my swimmers come from low-income, living-below-the-poverty-level households. It just so happens most are Latino, and we are serving them directly in the communities they live (i.e. our facility is located in this community). The only way they are swimming is from the $$ me and my co-founders raise. Most of our work is done on a voluntary basis. We’re doing this because no one else will and I was tired of reading about stats having to do with drownings and those of color. We talk and talk, but often times we never actually do. We’re doing this because… Read more »

Sven
9 years ago

It’s great that there are so many people to whom race isn’t important. However, there is a very clear disparity in participation between the races, and there are many people who see this and treat the minority participants differently. The fact that a black child in America is three times more likely to drown than a white child is fairly well known, and it has helped contribute to stereotypes that black people can’t swim.

My first job was as a lifeguard at a waterpark, and the managers said on multiple occasions to watch black kids carefully because they don’t swim as well. One day there was a field trip from an inner city youth program scheduled. Before we went up… Read more »

swim coach
9 years ago

hi…
while i can appreciate the idea of this article, it just seems to keep race at the forefront of so many things. i have had conversations with usa-swimming and have asked why they want us to track race when completing registration forms for swimmers.

i told usa-swimming i have never and will never fill in the “race” blank. the reason… i have swimmers. i don’t see color, race, creed of my swimmers. i don’t see religious differences. i see swimmers.

there is a variety of swimmers on my team… male, female, tall, short, thin, large, white, black, bi-racial, east “indian,” christian, jew, muslim, etc. but when they are in my pool for practice, they don their team cap… Read more »

David Simmonds
Reply to  swim coach
9 years ago

Her name is Alia Atkinson. She is also Jamaican. 🙂

mcmflyguy
Reply to  swim coach
9 years ago

Look your thinking is great, but they want you to fill it out for demographic or racial tracking purposes, I couldn’t think of how to phrase it, not so they can sit in their evil lairs and plot how to bring those swimmers down. Ask Cullen jones if it bothers him that they ask what his race is, bet he says he is proud to put it down.

CoachGB
Reply to  mcmflyguy
9 years ago

It seems there is no success with US Sswimmings tracking that almost 50% do not fill out the catogories on the form. So what validity is there in the numbers they claim or why keep it in the forms.

Curly Swims
Reply to  swim coach
9 years ago

You might not see race, but young minority spectators and swimmers do. Until you are a minority, you have no idea what the impact of positive representation is.

Claiming you don’t see race also means you are ignoring a major part of someone’s identity. Kerry Washington pointed out the difference in living in a post-race world (defined by people who “don’t see race”) and a post-racist world. “I’m interested in living in a post-racist world, where being African American doesn’t dictate limitations on what I can do – but I don’t want to live post-race. Our differences are so fascinating and wonderful. We don’t want to all be the same. Who wants that?”

easyspeed
9 years ago

With all due respect to the author, who I’m sure is well intentioned, but can we please get away from the “Black Swimmer” thing. Come on, it’s 2014 not 1955. I get really embarrassed when every tv commentator and journalist needs to make an issue out of a swimmer that happens to be black. “Wow, the first black peson to win a medal.” Etc. And then when you have a kid of color doing well in swimming, the poor person is bombaded with silly questions about how they feel about being a “black swimmer.” Yes there are black swimmers, hispanic swimmers, asian swimmers,swimmers of different sexual orientations. Good! Now can we give it a rest already. When I see a… Read more »

Mike
Reply to  easyspeed
9 years ago

I think the letter is to young black swimmers. Not admirably color blind coaches or fans.

Staci Ander"swim"
9 years ago

Thank you for this, on behalf of my son. He is bi-racial and is oftten just one of a handful of dark-skinned athletes at the pool. We have been blessed to have started out on a team that saw past his color and made him feel no different than the others, allowing his confidence to flourish long before we faced larger, more divided competition. Luckily, his confidence and abilities left doubters with nothing more to say except “wow”. The stereotype that black kids can’t swim is alive and well, but our hope is to break that, one race at a time. GO SANDSHARKS and DUST DEVILS!♥

Kris
9 years ago

fantastic. It’s simple, it’s strong, it’s what is needed.

JM
9 years ago

Coach Z,
Continue living the dream and more power!
From your swim family here in San Antonio, Texas

(Migs and Bea would like to say hi!)