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Please remember this face and know that there is nothing that WE can't do if given the opportunity and the training. Yes, we all know that black people can run fast and play basketball. But now it's time to add a few other things to the repertoire (including quite a few academic achievements). Cullen Jones (see photo), won the gold medal as part of the 4 by 100 freestyle relay today. Much attention will be placed on Michael Phelps (as it should be as he is going for a record 8 gold medals). But I hope that Cullen's accomplishment(s) encourages more black folks to get into the water. There are no excuses. This brother is from the Bronx, New York--not exactly the place you expect an Olympian to hail. I'm tired of hearing us (mostly sisters) talk about how they can't swim. (I'm going to do a whole blog about this one day, which will also talk about how we care more about our hair than our bodies). But I want to take this space to say: CONGRATULATIONS CULLEN JONES!!!!
Posted By: Karen Hunter
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:06AM
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We excel in sports that require little money. As we are exposed to more expensive sports, we will excel at those also. Congratulations to Cullen Jones. I watched him demonstrate why we are truly an 'excellent' people and I share his pride.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:20AM
Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
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Thank you for pointing out that Cullen Jones is an Olympian.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:24AM
Edith Pettaway
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Danelle, that's why we're here. I love this site for the exchange and if you're here you are definitely a person who is in the light. Thanks for the feedback.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:33AM
Karen Hunter
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Karen, I saw it to. The announcer said he was the 2nd African-American swimmer to win gold. Great job, Cullen.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:51AM
Kenneth X
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Yep I am motivated by this blog to get my daughter into competitive swimming. She is the FIRST person that I know personally to have pretty much taught herself how to swim and she is only 7 years old... I mean she can swim GOOD. I'll get her into the Olympics in about 12 years!
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 4:34AM
Will Moss
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Please encourage her. Because she will have a real shot. When we go off the beaten path we succeed and excel. And when daddies take an active role, watch out. Look at Venus and Serena and Tiger...
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 8:26AM
Karen Hunter
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i agree with you that we can do anything we put our minds to. i recently finished adult swim lessons at the ymca in maryland. i feel that we all learn what we were taught when we younger. for me , i rarely remember any times where our family went swimming, and the young age is the best time to start.
also, check out the dvd "PRIDE"-a great african american swim story.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 9:26AM
stephen futado
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Let me chime in here, as a swimmer this is one area I know a something about.
I certainly was pleased that the brother made it on the final squad, as you may or may not know, he swam in the semi-finals and had to earn his space on the final team. That being said, he definitely earned his congrats.
But let's not lose site of the fact that he almost cost them the gold, too. I had goose-bumps when I saw him step up to the edge of the pool, and wanted him to hold his own, so I'm definitely not hating on the brother. So, when the media gives a lot of accolades to Lezak, it is not b/c they're shunning the brother, but b/c Lezak deserves it. He saved his ASS!
Now, as a black man, I have been swimming most of my life, starting at eight and fell in love with it. It is not an expensive sport (as someone alluded to earlier), every city has FREE public pools. I learned to swim at the YMCA for a ONE TIME FEE (I'm sure paid by my grandparents), and a lifetime of free practice. At age 43, I generally smoke the white guys -- younger and same age -- who try to share a lap lane with me. One thing that has always gotten my goat is when get on our high horses and proclaim greatness when it's something shared by everyone else in the world. Look how many other countries were represented. Its 2008 and we have ONE brother in the pool? And we BLOG about him? Come on people, let's expect a litle bit more from ourselves.
Instead of us having to be "taught" to do something, when are we ever going to "teach" others a new way of doing?
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 9:48AM
Craig Amos
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Tressia, thanks for that piece. Much appreciated.
Craig, you're right. But just as it took the first person to break the 4 minute mile barrier and then a bunch of people did it after, sometimes you need one example to push us through. Tressia's piece makes a good point. If six out of 10 black people can't swim, perhaps this brother's victory will be a catalyst to get more people involved. It can't hurt can it?
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 10:02AM
Karen Hunter
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We should expect more from ourselves but, in the absense of evidence, that's kind of hard to do. I swim as well. First learning from the NYSP (National Youth Sports Program) and then REALLY from the Marine Corps (you have to be able to swim with camouflage uniform on). In Marine Corps bootcamp the category of Non Swimmer was dominated by Blacks. This certainly showed me how little we swim in comparison to other races. So though I could and should expect more the fact was that most Blacks in my bootcamp class could not swim. Also, because of this a great many failed to complete bootcamp, though others did eventually learn.
I definitely recommend that every parent get their child into a pool. YMCA, NYSP or teach them yourselves. Do it while they are young because after a young brother reaches a certain age, he cannot see himself flailing about wildly in front of others trying to learn how to swim. It just doesn't look cool.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 10:17AM
Anthony Stewart
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amen, brother Anthony!
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 10:56AM
Karen Hunter
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I really am amazed and I have been informed! I didn't know about Cullen Jones and now that I do have his name as well as others listed above, and I will watch out for them, not by myself either. I have two young sons and they don't know how to swim. I was scared of them being in the water, I didn't know how to" get to him" if he got into trouble while learning how to swim. I know a little about swimming, I only just began to swim myself, and I am in my 30's. I can "get" to my boys if they hurt themselves while either riding their bikes, play ball, but in the water I can't run to save them! That is my biggest fear-lossing them in the water and either hearing about them drowing or watching them.
I am breaking through the barriers that are keeping me and my children to do whatever our hearts want. I want them to do well in all things and that does include swimming, golf, and soccer etc.
My nephew was in bootcamp in the Marine Corp and did very well. He was afraid unable to pass his class because of the "swimming" they have to endure. They have to float while being pulled back under the water in order to pass that coarse to graduate. He did well and has passed and made a great carrier in the Marine Corp. That being said, he didn't let "swimming" stop him because this meant a lot to him, not to mention; he has never "quit" anything. Nevertheless, I am very proud of the information I have read today and much Congrads to Mr. Jones!
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 11:45AM
ann cunningham
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Ann, you keep breaking through the fears (which is opposite of faith) and the barriers and watch the growth. I figure the more you know how to do, the more you are armed to take on anything life has to throw your way.
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:01PM
Karen Hunter
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what is most horrible is that a race of people wouldn't want to go out in the sun for fear of having their skin turn darker for fear of greater discrimination, not only from the public at large (whites) but from their own community (yes, it's true!).
It would be somewhat comparable to people who don't have perfect bodies not wanting to learn to swim because they are too ashamed and don't want to be seen in public with swimsuits.
I've said all I'm going to say about this, but Cullen's win should be huge for swimming, and saving lives.
By a Darkie and proud of it!
Monday, August 11th 2008 at 12:06PM
Craig Amos
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Yes, brothers can swim. I tried tobecom your friend and I'm having trouble with it.
Tuesday, August 12th 2008 at 11:52AM
Ernest Ruffin
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I have seen the young man on the USA Swim team however I did not hear his name or may be I had but spaced it off. It was just good to see this young man striving for perfection and achieving his goals. This reminds me of the Ice Skater, Debi Thomas, and how some black people did not think ice skating was considered a black sport (I was not aware there were categories in sports according to ethnicity) and then there was Dominque Dawes that won medals in Gymnastics. I defintely agree that this young man has encouraged alot of African American children not only to learn to swim but to achieve their goals and to overcome stereotypes.
Monday, August 18th 2008 at 1:59PM
Cheryl Hendrix
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