Living The McCray Way

There is a stereotype that’s amongst the black community and that is Black People don’t know how to swim. (Ain’t no pools in the projects) Mostly that is true, but does that stereotype have to remain, we’re here to tell you that it does not. As a family that loves the water it was dad’s dedication to get all of us to become great swimmers. Yes, Mom is an adult and didn’t know how to swim, no she was not ashamed in this, but she took the advice and the lessons so that she could become a better swimmer not just for her but for all of us.

Dad has taught each one of us how to swim and is continuing to teach us everything that we need to know about swimming. We will not be a part of the stereotype, because we are educating ourselves and giving ourselves the knowledge and the equipping ourselves with the tools that we need so that we can overcome this stereotype.

70% of blacks cannot swim. Four times as many males drown than women. According to the CDC Disparities are highest among Black children ages 5-9 (rates 2.6 times higher) and ages 10-14 (rates 3.6 times higher).

We have heard many people say I’m Black I don’t know how to swim but when you start with that mindset that is what’s stopping you from learning and getting the lessons that you need to learn how to swim also that mindset is what is killing our Black people. Because they don’t know how to swim, they will continue to put themselves in positions around and in the water where they are not safe.

Why put yourself in a situation where you know you cannot handle it instead of putting yourself in such situation, they should be educating themselves. Yes, it’s going to be difficult, but anything that’s worth having is difficult.

We enjoy the water, so does the majority of people on this earth but you cannot enjoy it if you don’t know how to swim. You have to release the fear so that you can enjoy the many bodies of water that we are given on this earth. There is so much to enjoy when you know how to swim.

Let’s break these stereotypes and get the lessons and continue to educate ourselves.