The Joke, The Truth, & The Myth

Where does the stereotype that black people can’t swim come from? In the latest episode of ‘That’s Racist’, comedian Mike Epps dives into the stereotype head first (pun intended…) to discover the roots of where this came about. In order to really understand the stereotype, as per usual, it is important to historically look back and find its origin.

Back in the stone ages of slavery, African Americans were specifically instructed to never go by the water in fear that they may get the idea to swim away to freedom.

So they never learned to swim because if they did, they would inevitably get whipped or even worse. Fast forward to the days of segregation when African Americans were looked down upon. They were never allowed in swimming pools in fear that they would emit different kinds of diseases that white people didn’t carry.

We know now that their fears were nonsense, but back in the day African Americans were rarely given the opportunity to learn how to swim. So the stereotype is somewhat true and somewhat false – there are many African Americans as well as many other different people of different races who do not know how to swim. And what is the simple answer as to why? Because they were never taught!

That’s like saying children don’t know how to drive. Well of course not, because they mentally and physically do not know how yet. So yes, black people do know how to swim. All you have to do is learn just like everyone else.