A survey conducted by USA Swimming, the national governing body of competitive swimming in the United States, found that close to 60 percent of African-American children cannot swim, nearly twice as many as White children, according to MSNBC.com. Out of those who can swim, 58 percent do not swim safely compared to 31 percent of White children. Black parents’ attitudes about swimming had a major effect on their children’s ability and likelihood to swim, according to the study.
Cullen Jones, a world-record-holding African-American Olympic swimmer who nearly drowned when he was younger, is working with USA Swimming’s Make A Splash program to boost water safety and sports participation among African-Americans.