Quote:



Here's another:

A black co-worker (who was a college graduate) once told me he doesn't know how to swim. I asked why he didn't just go get lessons. He explained that black people have thicker, heavier bones than whites and that they sink in water. Nothing I could say would convince him this was bullshit. He had believed it all his life. I later found out that this is a very common belief in the black community.





It's true. For many blacks there is an aversion to swimming that is rooted in the very outrageous myths you discussed here.

But this is mostly an inner city/lower class phenomenon.

It is all a matter of nurture and environment. I grew up in the suburbs. I learned to swim at the local YMCA. My parents were college educated and never passed on any lies to me about the dangers of swimming. In fact, I was taught that it was a skill I must learn in order to survive. All of the blacks within my circle of friends knew how to swim as well.

I only give these examples to prove that there is nothing
"genetic" about blacks and lack of swimming skills. It's simply a lack of access, information, and training.