Aaricka Washington on shattering the myth that 'African Americans can't float'
Yes, you read that right. In 2024, some swim instructors still believe this nonsense.
In my latest book project, I’m exploring the relationship Black people have with water. Our African ancestors developed complex waterways to cultivate lands; they entrusted river gods to bring them prosperity; and they dove into the ocean’s depths to escape untold horrors in the New World. But thanks to “Black codes” and segregation restricting our rights in the United States, many Black Americans were excluded from forming any bond with water at all. White supremacists spread falsities that Black people were too physically dense to float. They built private swimming clubs. They threw acid into pools or filled them with concrete. They stabbed Black swimmers.
These tactics proved successful. Nearly 64 percent of Black children can’t swim, compared to 40 percent of white children, according to a 2017 study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation.
Stats like these swim in a friend’s mind whenever she practices the breaststroke. Aaricka Washington, a Los Angeles-based journalist, began swim lessons in the summer of 2021. Her experience with a swim instructor left a chlorinated taste in her mouth. It would be two years before she decided to enter a pool again. Yet, again, her experience was fraught with racism, as she recalled on Twitter/X:
I’m thrilled to say Aaricka kept her vow. Continue reading to hear about her amazing journey with water.
Content warning: This interview references racist stereotypes.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Kaitlyn: I know you’ve said you don’t have much experience in the water. Do you mind telling me a bit about that?
Aaricka: Yes, I can. I’ve never been exposed to even learning how to swim. I wish I’d learned when I was a kid because then I wouldn’t be so scared of it. When you’re a kid, and this is something that I think is really fascinating, you don't know how to fear.
As an adult, we’ve learned this fear and it’s harder for us to break out of that and just do things. But I said, “You know what? I’m going to go ahead and do it.” Even though it’s scary; even though I’m terrified of what could happen.”
Swimming is one of those sports, those life things, that can kill you. This stuff can kill me. I just decided to do it anyway.
K: Yeah, we often forget how the skills we take for granted can change the course of our lives. So why did you decide to push fear aside and go for it?
A: A few years ago, one of my friends had a destination wedding. We were on a boat in Mexico, and everybody was jumping in the Pacific Ocean with life jackets on.
I’m one of those people that if my friends jump off a cliff, I’m probably going to go. I got my life jacket on…and I freaked out. I had never been in water where I could not touch the ground. My friends had to help me swim to the shore. I was crying, and I was fussing and fighting.
It was terrifying.
That was the moment where I thought, “Yo, I have to learn how to swim.” I cannot chicken out like that. I can't.
After that experience, I signed up for classes at a YMCA in Indianapolis. But the furthest I got three years ago was treading with a floaty. I decided to go back into [swimming last fall]. The third week of those lessons at another YMCA, I asked, “Are we going to learn how to do the backstroke and floating?”
[The Black swim instructor] said he’s never seen a Black person float. He said, “I can’t even float. Little kids, even if they’re mixed, if they have any kind of Blackness in them, they can’t float.”
He was even talking about the kids. I used to be a teacher. I’ve got nieces, nephews, little cousins. That [comment] really messed me up. He’s probably not even teaching certain kids how to float. It’s a basic, important life skill.
I told him, “Look, that’s racist. You can’t say something like that. [Black] people can float.”
He said, “No, I’ve heard that from somewhere. No, Black people can’t float.”
I was so defeated. I decided to tweet about that experience. I didn’t say his name or where the YMCA was located.
K: I’m so sorry that happened. I’m doubly sorry that this swim instructor is wrongly influencing so many young minds and putting people in emotional and physical danger.
A: How do you say that all Black people can’t float?
K: Mm, hmm. How did the other students react?
A: There was a Latina woman in the class. He said, “She'll be able to float, she’s Latino. She’ll be able to float, but you won’t be.”
She was just looking around. Maybe she was thrown off, too. She didn’t say anything. I guess I should finish my story.
My tweet caught the attention of YMCA, and they called me. I was so shocked. The executive director at the YMCA said, “Aaricka, I’m so sorry this happened.” They said that they would investigate it.
I told them I’m somebody who started off very terrified of the water. And you have to treat people who are learning this life skill, this leisure activity with so much patience and grace. For [the instructor] to say that to me, that defeated me, especially as a Black person. Young Black people are three times more likely to drown compared to their white counterparts.
Here I am. I’m showing up. I’m the only one in that class that has showed up every week, on time, excited to learn, and then you tell me that I can’t float. Should I just give up?
Swimming is one of those sports, those life things, that can kill you. This stuff can kill me. I just decided to do it anyway.
K: Did they follow up with you after the investigation?
A: They told me that they had talked to him and he now understands that what he said was wrong.
K: Did they say if he was going to get recertified?
A: No.
K: Just “Don’t say racist stuff”?
A: I guess that’s it, yeah. It just makes me upset because two people have said this to me. Where do they get this information from and why are they telling people this? It just makes me so mad.
K: What year was the first incident?
A: August 6, 2021. That’s when I was first learning lessons. She basically said African-Americans are more dense, so you’re going to have a hard time floating. But I was still able to float with her.
K: Okay.
A: But when the man said Black people can’t float, that was August 2023.
K: Last summer?
A: Yes.
K: This story you just told me was last summer?
A: Yes. It was August 19th, 2023. That's when he told me African-Americans can’t float.
K: I really just thought this must have been before 2020.
A: I wish.
K: So now you’re doing private lessons. Someone heard about your story on Twitter/X and reached out, correct?
A: I’m taking private lessons from Jordan Hunter. He used to be a U.S. Navy search and rescue veteran. He created this organization called Legacy Aquatics to help kids and adults learn how to swim.
It’s therapeutic, and he goes at my own pace. He works with Swimply, an app where you can rent a private pool by the hour.
When I first got there, I was thinking, “What am I going to do?” I just had an experience where I lost my trust. So now I have to regain trust in this new person. He took his time with me. And I’m able to float now.
K: So spill. What else have you learned?
A: I’ve done something incredible, at the end of [the third] lesson!
I swam from six feet. I pushed myself off and I swam from six feet to three feet, which was really dope. Never done that before in my life, swimming in water that can’t touch.
K: That’s amazing! Congratulations!
A: Thank you. Thank you.
K: Phenomenal.
A: I’m glad that I found somebody who takes the time to teach me things one-on-one.
I grew up very stereotypically working class, not having access to pools. I used to be afraid of the water. You need to take it step by step with me. And he gradually takes me through each step.
K: I’m so proud of you. Do you have plans to take another vacation to put your skills to use once you finish your lessons?
A: I would love to jump in the water again. I want to do everything. I don’t have another vacation plan. When I do, I will be jumping into the ocean, confidently, without anyone trying to help me or guide me to shore.