Recently Ive been sent several articles concerning black people, particularly black women not knowing how to swim. I've heard the old saying time and time again
So why is it that so many Black people don't swim?
New York's WNYC ran a long feature on the "accepted" belief that Black women just don't swim.
here goes and excerpt:
"Oh no, black women don't swim." Michael Hawkins, an instructor at Hair Design Institute in Manhattan, often hears that from clients, students and some stylists when the subject of swimming comes up. "She's not getting her hair wet. No that's not gonna happen."
Most African-American women wear their hair chemically straightened or relaxed.
To get that look, stylists often use a chemical called sodium hydroxide to re-shape black hair into a straighter form.
But pool water can be detrimental to that.
"A lot of the chlorine in the water, sometimes the salt or whatever works against the actual relaxer that you put in the hair. So over time you end up having breakage or hair shedding, coming out, things like that."
If it's not properly cared for, black hair, especially in a relaxed state, won't grow long. But this isn't just about damaged hair.
"The hair issue is not just a beauty issue for black women," says Ann Mourning, an assistant professor of sociology at New York University who specializes in race and ethnicity.
"It traditionally has all this other meaning that went well beyond sexual attractiveness. It has everything to do with being a respectable, worthy member of the community."
Mourning says black women's complex relationship with their hair can be traced back to antebellum America, when long straight hair was the one of the most symbolic markers of beauty. She says from there it's no surprise that the country's first black millionaire, and the first American woman ever to earn a million dollars, was Madam CJ Walker, who developed a line of beauty and hair care products specifically for black women.
"Not just making them beautiful, but also making them respectable," Mourning explains. "Giving them the kind of image which is consistent with that of a 'lady' of society."
But Mourning says there's more to the swimming issue than just hair. The smaller numbers of African-American swimmers can also be traced back to segregation.
As you all know I can't swim, Iv'e stated this in past blogs
as well as on youtube, I own like 4 swim suites but can't swim to save my life...
so yes maybe I fall in to this category, but my little sister can swim like a fish.
I think what bothers me about the article, is the fact that they make it seem like
most/all black women can't or won't swim because of their hair.
Let me tell ya'll the reason why I can't swim, it has nothing to do with my hair.
My parents still couldn't put me in swimming lessons,
so me and my 2 brothers never learned how to swim.
by the time my little sister was in 5th grade their
I think when people generalize or make it seem like all or most black women can't swim because of vanity reasons, it makes black women look silly and childish...
can chlorine and salt water rev havoc on relaxed hair yes it can,
I've see a lot of black women with them on at the pool.
also as long as you wash your hair with a neutralizing shampoo
and deep condition your hair after swimming, you should be fine.
Another thing that people need to take in to consideration is where people grow up,
well I plan on breaking the "black folks can't swim cycle" lol
the lady said she can teach me how to swim as well, but too be honest
Even though she said I'm not too old, I don't know...
I would love to learn, but I guess I'll have to wait and see how the set up is
so this is my question to you all, do you think that most black women can't swim
because of their hair? or do you think it goes a little deeper then that?




















































