OK, as you may already know, last year, I reviewed the sequel film – Blacks Can’t Swim – The Sequel (click to read) and the topic sparked much discussion on social media, as well as among my family and friends to why, we, as a Black British community don’t swim or put any real importance in the skill of learning to swim.

As a society, it’s like we have an unconscious agreement that it’s just not something ‘we’ as a collective ‘do’.

We don’t discuss it, think about it – so does this mean we don’t care much about swimming or learning to swim? If not, why not?

These questions are explored deeper in this third instalment of the documentary trilogy by the amazing Ed Accura, who is not afraid to ask the hard questions.

Take a look at the trailer…

My Thoughts

This film showcases the story of 2 teenagers, Javell, who’s career choices mean that learning to swim will give him more job options, and Tyra, a mixed race girl who is a talented swimmer who is on the verge of giving up swimming, due to the condition of her hair & keeping up with the latest hairstyles that are popular with her peers, although her parents, particularly her mother encourages her to purue a career in swimming.

Tyra, a teenage girl who is now at the age that we experiment with our appearance, she wanted to try a straightening her hair, but the procedure, like many, that any woman with any type of afro hair will tell you, means that getting your hair wet is a big “No, no!”

Not wanting to be restricted, the only solution, she can think of is to stop swimming training, although she loves it and it could be a potential career path, she also loves hanging out with her friends, dressing up and looking good, and swimming in getting in the way of this on multiple levels.

Javell’s mum is encouraging him to think about what he’d like to do as a career, other than football, he comes across a poster recruiting Army Cadets and he is intrigued, he applies for an interview and all goes well until the question – “Can you swim?” pops up, apparently this is a requirement, although he fits all the other requirements, this one element is holding him back, so he needs to learn to swim and reapply.

After much thought, and talking to his friends, and mother, does he want the career enough or is it easier to pursue his footballer dreams instead?

The film also has a pool party embedded within the story, and I can’t remember any pool parties (although I live in the UK, so there’s not many to be honest) that I have known about, that have been hosted by a black person – and when I did attend, I was also very guilty of posing on the sidelines, not actually getting into the pool – don’t want my hair to get ruined, some of my female friends were not feeling confident enough in a swimsuit in public, can’t swim, the list goes on…

This film highlights the blocks and obstacles of the lack of swimming knowledge in the black and asian communities in the UK and the consequences it is having on our lifestyle, career choices and more… but who is to blame? Schools? Parents? The Government? Lack of role models?

Don’t we need to take responsibility of our own skills and learning and encourage those around us to pursue a healthy lifestyle and career paths whether they include swimming or not?

What do you think? I’m torn, as I don’t particularly like to swim, but maybe if I could swim, I would?

Probably time for me to put on a swimsuit and get in the pool and learn!

What are your thoughts?

Chanel x

Chanel Williams