Keep Rockaway Safe

Drowning is a global health crisis and an average of 10 lives a day are lost in the United States due to drowning deaths. BIPOC children die from drownings at a much higher rate than white children. Systemic racism, racist stereotypes, and fear passed down from generation to generation are some of the reasons why many BIPOC children don’t know how to swim. In the United States, segregation as well as past and present laws kept BIPOC communities from enjoying swimming or learning how to swim at public swimming pools and beaches. Swimming was presented as an activity and sport for the privileged and was made inaccessible and unwelcoming to non-white people. Residential swimming pools were and still are more prevalent in white suburban neighborhoods in comparison to neighborhoods with higher BIPOC populations. 

This history of bias has led to the lack of representation of BIPOC people in swimming and aquatic activities. The perpetuation of racist myths like “Black people can’t swim” or “Black people can’t float,” further enables a bias that has resulted in the unnecessary loss of lives. A fear of water also prevents access to the joy that comes from a connection to water, the ocean and nature. It is our belief that increasing safe access and enjoyment of our waterways will also foster a responsibility and desire to protect these valuable resources. 

In addition to saving lives, by tackling the inequities at the root of the issue—the inaccessibility and lack of water safety education—we believe that we can cultivate more inclusivity and justice in the water recreation and ocean conservation communities.