About this episode
The episode explores the historical and cultural reasons behind the lack of swimming skills among lower-income and minority children in the U.S.
In the U.S., roughly 8 in 10 kids from lower-income households grow up with few or no swimming skills — and Black and Latino children lag behind their white peers. Those gaps aren't an accident. They trace back to a long history of segregated public pools, and to fears of the water that have been passed down through generations. This week, we follow Jasmine Romero, who in her mid-thirties walked into a room full of four- and five-year-olds to take her first swim class, determined to break the cycle before her own child is born. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
People in this episode
Guest: Jasmine Romero
Topics covered
- swimming skills
- income disparity
- segregation
- public pools
- cultural fears
- child development
Keywords
- swimming
- income inequality
- Black children
- Latino children
- public pools
- segregation
- water fears
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NPR
Places: U.S., Black, Latino, white
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