Peace,
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Check the stats:
US swimming stats
- USA Swimming/University of Memphis study found ethnic differences
- 68.9% of African-American children with no or low ability to swim
- 57.9% of Hispanic children
- 41.8% of white children
- Study quizzed 2,000 children and parents in six US cities
- CDC recorded 3,443 fatal accidental drownings in 2007
- Drowning is second greatest cause of accidental death in children under 14
- African-American children aged 5 to 14 3.1 times more likely to drown
Theories for low black American swimming rates
- Propagation of incorrect scientific theories such as black people being much less buoyant
- Historic factors going as far back as slaves not being allowed to learn to swim
- Denial of access to pools in 1920s and 30s causing ripple effect to present day
- Lack of municipal pools in predominantly black neighbourhoods in 1960s onwards
- Perception of swimming as elitist or white sport
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