{"id":435226,"date":"2020-06-10T17:54:17","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T00:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=435226"},"modified":"2020-06-10T17:54:17","modified_gmt":"2020-06-11T00:54:17","slug":"swim-poll-of-the-week-do-you-think-there-is-enough-social-awareness-acceptance-in-your-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swim-poll-of-the-week-do-you-think-there-is-enough-social-awareness-acceptance-in-your-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Swim Poll of the Week: Do You Think There is Enough Social Awareness & Acceptance in Your Team?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the Swim Poll of the Week for Wednesday June 10, 2020, sponsored by Strechcordz Swim Training Products<\/a>. In our last poll, we wanted to know:\u00a0Do you think there is enough social awareness and acceptance in your swim team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The death of\u00a0George Floyd\u00a0<\/strong>at the end of May caused national outrage in the United States and has sparked numerous conversations about police brutality and systemic racism in the country. Olympic gold medalist\u00a0Simone Manuel<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>has been one of the leading voices in the swimming community in sharing her experiences of being a black swimmer in a predominantly white sport. She posted this to Instagram two weeks ago:<\/p>\n

\u201cDays feel heavy and long. It\u2019s hard not to feel or think about the sadness and hatred that weighs heavily on me, my people, and this nation. I\u2019m hurt. I\u2019m tired. We\u2019re hurt. We\u2019re tired. I think it\u2019s always hard to find the right words as they are as scattered and divided as this country. There\u2019s too much to say, but not nearly enough time or energy to express this sad reality. We\u2019re not all in this together!! How far have we really come? Times change. Calendar dates change, but racism still remains. If we want a better country, we ALL must fight for equality and justice. No one escapes the bonds of injustice. No one! It doesn\u2019t matter what side you\u2019re on. We all lose when we fail to address the root of the problem. Here goes:<\/p>\n

THE PAST STILL LIVES IN THE PRESENT!
\nThis is generational.
\nIt\u2019s not just about death.
\nIt\u2019s about killing our spirits.
\nIt\u2019s about killing our dreams.
\nIt\u2019s about making us feel less than.
\nIt\u2019s about dismissing and ignoring our pain.
\nIt\u2019s about silencing our voice.
\nIt\u2019s about punishing us when we use our voice and labeling us as \u201cangry\u201d or a \u201cthreat\u201d rather than acknowledging we\u2019re exercising our \u201cfreedom of speech.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s about calling the police and using my skin color against me.
\nIt\u2019s about clinching your purse.
\nIt\u2019s about believing we don\u2019t belong.
\nIt\u2019s about failing to acknowledge and understand my very existence, my pain.
\nIt\u2019s about repeating the sins of the past.
\nIt\u2019s about thinking that skin color affords ones privileges or denies basic human dignity!
\nIt\u2019s about speaking against instead of with our fight for justice.
\nIt\u2019s about remaining silent.
\nThis needs to be everybody\u2019s fight! \u2022<\/p>\n

The words \u201cfreedom\u201d, \u201cjustice,\u201d and \u201cequality\u201d are uttered by many, BUT do we really experience it? No! We have yet to experience it collectively as a nation, and we won\u2019t until we all come together and fight for it\u2026 until we\u2019re actually \u201call in this together.\u201d<\/p>\n

If this makes you uncomfortable, check your privilege. Think of those who lack comfort EVERY\"??\"SINGLE\"??\"\u00a0DAY\"??\"<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many other swimmers in the United States used their voice to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.<\/a><\/p>\n

Olympian\u00a0Cullen Jones<\/strong>\u00a0has been one of the world\u2019s most influential swimmers, who happens to be African-American. He has broken down barriers in the sport, inspiring a generation of young swimmers. He posted this on Instagram:<\/p>\n

\u201cI have loved this country from the day I learned the star spangled banner, to the day I was blessed enough to stand atop the Olympic podium to recite it before the world. But enough is enough. For years I have kept my personal thoughts and convictions to myself. I must stand for what I believe in. As a Black man in America, I have dealt with my share of harassment. As a swimmer, I have always prided myself on breaking stereotypes and being a role model for others to do the same. But I cannot be quiet anymore.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a new father, I am continually thinking about how to raise my Indian\/Black son, in this America. I don\u2019t want him to have to fear the people who are meant to protect. I don\u2019t want to have to teach him that it is his duty to linguistically disarm those same people by being calm and following directions so that the person with the gun feels more comfortable. Just because of the color of his skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor all creeds, religions, and backgrounds protesting, the hurt is real. But the way we achieve justice is yes action, but through peace, communication and most important, at the polls. I pray for the families who have lost loved ones at the hands of racism. Enough is enough we need to do better for the next generation.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Olympian\u00a0Lia Neal<\/strong> took to her YouTube channel to deliver her message and talk about how this is mentally and emotionally affecting people.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the fact that social media is so powerful that it can bring things to light,\u201d Neal said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore people are exposed to these uncomfortable things and happenings. They need to be. I need to be. We need to be in order to do something about it. \u2026 We feel so much hate in the world and it is inexcusable. We are being forced to face reality, and the reality is that everything is a mess and there doesn\u2019t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. We will get past this. Progress will be made, it is just a really (hard) time right now.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So for the swim poll, the question remains: Do you think there is enough social awareness and acceptance in your swim team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We asked for the swim poll and you answered with\u2026<\/p>\n