Video interview courtesy USA Swimming.
In the above video, four-time Olympic medalist Cullen Jones explains three cultural factors found by the University of Memphis that explain why African Americans don’t learn to swim.
According to the study, the three factors (fear, anxiety about personal appearance, and a lack of parental support), combine to create a major cultural force that keeps many minority children and adults from learning to swim for safety, for fun, and for sport.
“I know firsthand from being on the ground and talking to parents that this is a real situation and a real problem,” he says.
Jones goes on to emphasize the positive influence that minority national and international level swimmers in the limelight can have, adding “It’s all about exposure, and the more and more we’re able to shine light on [the problem], the better it will be.”
Here are some statistics concerning minorities and drowning (courtesy USA Swimming Foundation):
- Nearly 70% of African American children and nearly 60% of Hispanic children have low or no swim ability, compared to 40% of Caucasians. (Source: National research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis)
- African-American children drown at a rate nearly three times higher than their Caucasian peers. (Source: CDC)
- If a parent does not know how to swim, there is only a 13 percent chance that a child in that household will learn how to swim. (Source: National research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis)
To learn more about the USA Swimming Foundation and its life-saving initiatives, visit their website.
