What the Water Reveals

Water. One of life’s most valuable resources to human life. It brings people together
through relaxation, exercise and community — except, historically, for many Black
Americans.

Have you ever been to a pool party and noticed that some people stay outside the water?
Or wondered why many members of the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X
and even Millennials were never taught how to swim that later resulted in their children
following the same pattern?

During childhood and adolescence, Black children have historically drowned in swimming
pools at significantly higher rates than their White counterparts, according to the National
Library of Medicine.

The answer to this disparity comes down to one factor: 

Fear.

The ancestors of the Black American community has a long history of trauma associated
with large bodies of water. During the transatlantic slave trade, many enslaved Africans
faced unimaginable conditions aboard ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Some believed
that jumping into their fate was more ideal than becoming someone’s property for the
remainder of their lifetime.

The systems of slavery and, later, segregation was a result of the created barriers that
limited Black Americans ability to swim due to class issues, accessibility, and blatant
racism that prolonged.

As time progressed, the percentage of Black people unable to swim stayed stagnate.
One of the most significant moments in this history occurred on June 21, 1949, at the
Fairgrounds Park Pool in St. Louis, Missouri. This marked as a highly transformative
moment for Black Americans and their connection with swimming dipartites. The pool was
ranked one of the largest in the Midwest that holds up to 12,000 people and measured over
400 feet in length. That’s roughly the height of the Golden Gate Bridge Tower above the
water.

For years, the pool was reserved exclusively for White residents. That changed when St.
Louis Director of Public Welfare John J. O'Toole, fought to desegregate the pool for
everyone to enjoy.

“I can’t oppose anyone from lawfully using a swimming pool. They are taxpayers and
citizens, too,” said O’Toole.

This allowed Black residents access to a refreshing, social activity, as other citizens of St.
Louis.

Once the pool opened to all, only a few dozen Black swimmers arrived to relax alongside
other residents. Their presence, however, sparked outrage among hundreds of White
residents that later escalated into a violent riot. As hours passed, there were thousands of
rioters against Black Americans at the Fairground Park Pool.

Various weapons such as bricks and bats were used to harm Black Americans, leaving
most of them in need of medical attention. Seven people were arrested that day — three
White and four Black. Three of the four Black individuals arrested were accused of initiating
the disturbance, while only one White person faced similar charges.

The Fairground Park Pool was untimely closed shortly after due to low attendance.
Only because Black people wanted to enjoy a portion of the enormous swimming pool.
Access to water is leisure,

However, access to swimming is political
Even though Blacks were legally free, systematic racism still persisted amongst the
majority of the marginalized group who did not have recreational access to swimming
pools.

While these barriers affected generations of Black Americans and their ability to swim,
efforts to expand access and increase water safety continue to challenge longstanding
stereotypes and create new opportunities for future generations.

Article credit: Latrese Pace