Barriers to swimming and water safety education for African Americans

This investigation used case studies to identify barriers to swimming and water safety education for African Americans. The focus was on urban areas and exam-ines the physical and social settings offering recreational learn-to-swim programs through the experiences of African Americans. The findings include statements by parents of participants, swimming instructors, and nonswimmers. There was agreement that a lack of access and exposure to swimming exists for people who are African American. Knowledge or learning to swim can be viewed as cultural capital; for those not learning to swim, it is a cultural liability. This is a cycle in which the lack of access results in institutional decisions that maintain the lack of access to knowledge on water safety.