"The minority swimming gap has deep roots in America's racial history. For decades during the 20th century, many pools were segregated, and relatively few were built to serve black communities."
Yup. That's why. Um, that's also why my younger WHITE children can't swim. It wouldn't have *anything* to do with, say, not living near the coast and not having a buncha money to plunk down on "club memberships" and whatnot.
And where are they getting this figure from, that says "60 percent" of black children can't swim? And how do you know that it's accurate? It's done by an organization targeting "inner city minorities" and helping them learn to swim. An organization that wants money to teach kids to swim, especially if they have the proper skin tone. That's an essential skill in the inner city, you know, regardless of your race. Nevermind having a safe neighbourhood, or a job. Let's teach 'em swimming so "they" can have high self-esteem.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24411271/
"Cruzat was pleased by one finding in the new study — that most black and Hispanic children do not disdain swimming as a "white sport." The study also found that swimming ability, regardless of race, increased in relation to parents' income and education."
Oooh. Swimming isn't just for whites only. Who'd a thunk it? While they're at it, can they emphasize that participation in tennis and polo and skiing also increases in relation to parents' income and education? Can they figure *that* one out, too? Now that Tiger Woods is around, maybe we can get all these ground-breaking ideas in our heads that black folks are even biologically able to swing a golf club. (eye roll)
Wow. It's a shame that national news media like to constantly harp on our "differences," when in reality, I'll bet you that the ability of inner-city whites to swim a backstroke is probably identical to that of blacks.
I think stories like this actually MINIMIZE the impact that other news stories about genuine race discrimination should have on the American public. If we're constantly bombarded with stories about how black folks are poorer, don't test as well, don't swim as much, live in crummy neighbourhoods, can't get financed for a home properly, blah blah blah... it's my personal belief that that sort of victim mentality WILL be internalized and at the same time it DOES feed racist stereotypes of black folks being "less than" in the first place.
Just my opinion. I would LIKE to see very few stories of this nature. You have the right to print whatever you want, but consider the collective impact like responsible journalists, please. I'd like to see news stories of great AMERICANS in my media. Americans. No hyphens or colour distinctions, please, unless it's germane to the story.
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My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
I know what you mean. God forbid we should talk about our similarities. When oh when are people going to stop being obsessed with race? The media and clowns like Al Sharpton are doing more than their share to divide the races and create black hostility.
ReplyDeleteI hear you. The topic wasn't even worthy of writing a story. I have 5 white kids and until last January none of them could swim. 2 have learned to swim enough to save their life. But who cares? I don't expect anyone to write a story about my kids or throw money at me so that I can get them proper swimming lessons. They'll splash around a public pool and eventually figure it out like my older 2 did.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, there ARE times black folks get discriminated against. That is just not what America should be like, because those people are AMERICANS just like me. But when those stories come out, I think part of the reason we just yawn is that we get stories like THIS all the time. It's disempowering IMO.
ReplyDeleteSharpton et. al would do more for the "black community" by preaching living within one's means, debt reduction, smart financing and investing and staying with the wife of your youth.
(PS We all could use that sermon.)
Shari, I agree. Most of us are not going to be Olympic medalists and don't need to get "style" down exactly. We just need to save our lives if we need to swim LOL!
Toooo true! My little WHITE childen can't swim either... and if they were black they wouldn't be able to either. Derrr. I prayed that Griffin would be a little black baby, I really did! But he wasn't. He is just Griffin, and we have no idea who his 'Father' was!
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