{"id":350339,"date":"2019-02-05T16:00:31","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T23:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=350339"},"modified":"2019-02-06T11:09:21","modified_gmt":"2019-02-06T18:09:21","slug":"the-importance-of-a-film-called-blacks-cant-swim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/the-importance-of-a-film-called-blacks-cant-swim\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of \u201cA Film Called Blacks Can\u2019t Swim\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commentary by Bruce Wigo<\/em><\/p>\n

Black History Month is a time for us in the aquatic community to reflect on why more African Americans and people of color don\u2019t swim.\u00a0 Especially because for 400 years (the period from from 1451 – 1860), Africans, Native Americans and the indigenous populations of Oceana \u201cexcelled all others in the arts of swimming and diving\u201d.\u00a0 The cultural history of swimming is both tragic and fascinating and while it helps explain how people of color lost their aquatic traditions and how European\/Caucasians became the most accomplished swimmers – it\u2019s only part of the story.<\/p>\n

Recently, A Film Called Blacks Can\u2019t Swim<\/em>\u00a0was released on the internet.\u00a0 I was lucky enough to see it before its release. It\u2019s just 33 minutes long, but it touches on all the important cultural stereotypes and excuses that keep Blacks and other minorities out of the water.<\/p>\n

A Film Called Blacks Can\u2019t Swim<\/em>\u00a0is about British hip-hop artist Ed Accura<\/strong>\u2019s fears and anxiety with swimming. The film depicts the effects of the stigma, stereotypes and myths and also highlights the views of various people in his community. The aim of the film, he says, is to help eradicate the negative views associated with black people and swimming as well as encouraging more to learn to swim thus reducing the number of deaths by drowning.<\/p>\n

Ed plays \u201cFrank Awuah<\/strong>\u201d a neurotic character who, after hearing a news report about the inevitable floods from global warming, develops a phobia for water because he can\u2019t swim. He buys a life jacket and wears it everywhere.\u00a0 His friends think he\u2019s gone loony. \u201cFrank, if you\u2019re worried about drowning just go learn to swim.\u201d But Frank has a little devil in his ear that keeps telling him \u201cBlacks can\u2019t Swim!\u201d \u201cYour bones are too dense!\u201d \u201cBlacks can\u2019t even float, ha ha!\u201d All the negative messages you can imagine.<\/p>\n

In between the vignettes of Frank\u2019s inner voice telling him he can\u2019t swim are interviews with Frank\u2019s friends who do their best to dispel the myths and stereotypes and discuss their ideas why Blacks don\u2019s swim.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s fear!\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s a middle-class upper class thing.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s expensive\u201d\u00a0 \u201cChlorine and chemicals ruins our hair and skin.\u201d \u201cPeople are ashamed to admit they can\u2019t swim so they just stay away from the water.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s not part of our culture.\u201d \u201cWe have other priorities!\u201d \u201cLook, if you ask Black people if they can swim 500 yards they look at you like you\u2019re from another planet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank is even afraid to take a bath. \u201cWhat did I tell you Frank?\u201d says his evil inner voice. \u201cJust stay away from the water! There\u2019s zero chance of drowning if you just stay away from the water!\u00a0 Ha! Ha! \u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of Frank\u2019s friends says he learned because it was part of his school\u2019s curriculum. Several other had children who could swim. Another tells of a school swimming class. He could swim “ok”, but not as good as the white kids, but he was better on the track. This discouraged him and confirmed the stereotype about swimming, so that was it for swimming.<\/p>\n

In one of the last scenes, Frank, wearing his life jacket, is driving his car. His wife is in the passenger seat. \u201cYou\u2019re being ridiculous, why don\u2019t you just learn to swim,\u201d she says. \u201cBut Blacks can\u2019t swim!\u201d – he retorts.\u00a0 In the back seat is Frank\u2019s daughter.\u00a0 \u201cBut I can swim daddy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

The film ends with Frank in the pool and an image of 2016 Olympic champion Simone Manuel<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Of course Blacks can swim! Interestingly in an online interview, Accura relates that one of the reasons he never learned to swim is that he was comfortable in the stereotype that \u201cBlacks can\u2019t swim.\u201d\u00a0 He also believes that today, it is a matter of priorities. It\u2019s just not a priority within the minority community.<\/p>\n

It should be.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not just a matter of water safety. All humans spend their first nine months as swimmers.\u00a0 When we emerge from the womb we all have the bradycardia reflex, which is part of the mammalian diving reflex – just like dolphins, whales and seals. When our faces are exposed to cold water as infants, our hearts slows down and blood is shifted away from the peripheral muscles to conserve oxygen for the brain and heart, and we hold their breath. We are of the sea and it is no coincidence that our body fluids are nearly identical to sea water. There is something that is spiritual, if you will, about the water.<\/p>\n

In his book, the Blue Mind, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols<\/strong>, explores the Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What We do<\/span><\/a>. In addition learning-to-swim can open minds to the two-thirds of the planet that is covered with water and\u00a0 to the innumerable recreational and opportunities that are denied to those who cannot swim.<\/p>\n

Accura is to be greatly commended for exploring this issue and changing world culture where everyone can swim.\u00a0 The earth is, after all, the only planet we know of that has liquid water. How can you be an earthling and not know how to enjoy an element that covers 2\/3rd of our planet.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the film and to support it:\u00a0Click Here<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

Watch 3 year old Henry White swim 100 meters at the Hall of Fame pool
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