Reclaim | Your Water

[ree-klaym] verb

“The ‘Reclaim Your Water’ project celebrates the hard-won resilience of individuals whom, in spite of long-standing systematic obstacles, choose to make a life and seek joy around water.” – Faith E. Briggs

I registered Caleb online a week ago; now was the first day. We walked into our local swim school, swim diaper and swim trunks on. We were ready. After being greeted with a friendly smile, we were escorted to the pool deck. The year is 2022, and my son is the only person of color in his toddler swim class.

THE STATISTICS

Immediately, so many thoughts ran through my head. In the United States, children ages 1-4 die from drowning more than any other cause of death, excluding congenital disabilities. As Floridians, water safety should be taught alongside the ABCs. More children in Florida under the age of 5 die from drowning than in any other state; these deaths are disproportionately ethnic/persons of color. In fact, in 2021, child drowning deaths in Florida hit a record high, increasing by nearly 30%.

According to the CDC, as of 2019, research suggests limited swimming ability due to fear of drowning is a contributing factor. These are the facts that make my son’s swim lessons bittersweet.

We live on a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the ocean, with massive rivers, lakes, and creeks embedded throughout the state. Think of all of the African American mothers who deprive their children of swimming and water safety lessons. Is it the shame and embarrassment of having their own hair wet, revealing its natural texture? Or the fear of drowning engrained in them themselves? Is it that ethnic Americans with lower income are altogether priced out of the swim classes?

THE REALITIES

On April 24, 2022, three African American children ages 15, 14, and 8 plunged into the Mississippi River. It was reported that the 14-year-old child was playing when she fell into the water. In an attempt to rescue her, the 15 and 8-year-old entered the water, all three meeting an untimely demise.

I am not blind to the fact that $170 monthly for two children to attend one 30-minute lesson per week can be a steep price for many. Still, these statistics represent my relatives and friends. From my own experience of having a sister that nearly drowned as a child 40 years ago and is fearful of having her head submerged in water, to my God-Sister, that died in a riptide as a child, I can attest that these statistics represent real-life loved ones. 

Culturally, the solution to the structural racism surrounding water has been to avoid interaction altogether. Imagine a child wailing and struggling for a breath of air in a controlled environment near you. My priorities exist because I can imagine that same cry from my child in the middle of the St. Johns River with no help. Water avoidance is not an option.

THE SOLUTIONS

“It Will Take Every Village in Every City And State Across America To Eliminate The Racial Disparities Around Water Activities And Water Safety.” 

For me, the solution was to enroll my child in swim classes. It would be remiss of me not to mention that those classes come with their fair share of parents that appear annoyed by our presence. Thankfully, three of the instructors are POC. Seeing my once skittish son happily submerge to dive for rings. Seeing his confidence build while being promoted to the “starfish” level intensifies my appreciation of people like The Unprofessional: Natasha Smith, a community leader and surf instructor.

WATCH ‘RECLAIM YOUR WATER’

Natasha has played a role in teaching the founders of Ebony Beach Club how to surf. In collaboration with Sperry, the original boat shoemaker, and Claima, Natasha spearheads the initiative “Reclaim Your Water.” In a three-part docuseries, Sperry x Claima highlights the lives and contributions of community leaders who are rewriting “the narrative around Black people in a space that has been weaponized against us.”

In addition to the multi-dimensional “Reclaim Your Water” docuseries, Sperry has offered three $15,000 grants to initiatives that provide a more equitable environment in the water space, including Tank Proof, a non-profit organization that gives youth in under-served communities education and essentials to navigate life’s currents, alongside donations to both Slim Pickins and Ebony Beach Club to fund events that teach people of color how to surf and fish.

The second video of the docuseries goes live on Sperry’s YouTube channel on August 11th. You can find more information surrounding the video series at www.sperry.com/waterforall

Join the Conversation

Your thoughts and experiences matter. Have you or someone you know been impacted by these disparities? What do you think contributes to the reluctance or inability to access water safety lessons, especially within the African American community? How can we, as a collective “village,” work towards eliminating these disparities and ensuring every child has access to vital water safety education?

We’d love to hear your insights and ideas. Let’s come together to discuss this critical issue and explore potential solutions.