4M Swim Club: Empowering Black youth by means of swimming

By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
[email protected]

From conversations on the dinner desk to somber ideas shared earlier than bedtime, the tragic July 20 dying of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who starred on “The Cosby Show,” has African-American households talking candidly concerning the disproportionate variety of Blacks youth who die every year from drowning. 

Data launched by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which elements in analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, signifies that drowning is the primary explanation for dying for youngsters aged 1-4 within the United States, and the second main explanation for unintentional damage dying for youngsters aged 5-14.  

But Martin Thorpe II, proprietor and head coach and director of Baltimore’s oldest Black-owned swimming group, the 4M Swim Club, mentioned the scenario is much more grave for African-American youngsters. 

“When I speak to parents and youth, I point them to the realities: 64 percent of African-American children have little to no swimming ability, compared to 40 percent of White children, according to a 2017 study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis,” Thorpe mentioned. “Just because you’ve learned to swim, doesn’t mean you have acquired the skills to go out and negotiate ocean waters, which are rougher than the water in a pool and have undercurrents that can suddenly pull you underwater.”

“In the U.S., 10 people drown each day, and among children under 15, only car accidents result in more deaths each year than drowning,” mentioned Thorpe. “Drowning is fast, silent and can happen in as little as 20 to 60 seconds. That’s why my father (Marvin Thorpe Sr.) founded the 4M Swim Club in our backyard in 1972, offering learn-to-swim programs for African Americans.”

Before the youthful Thorpe took over, he and his father taught swimming and water security for 30 years, side-by facet – a relationship which solely ended with the dying of the senior Thorpe in 2004. 

Marvin Sr. says he has taught greater than 15,000 college students tips on how to swim over his 32-year tenure on the 4M Swim Club. He can be believed to be the one that has taught extra Blacks to swim than every other native teacher in Baltimore and even the state of Maryland. 

Turner Bryson crew make swimming a household affair 

Sasha Turner Bryson and her husband, Howard Bryson, stay in Towson, Md. But as proud natives of Jamaica, she mentioned they’re each very aware of the ocean. However, after seeing good friend – a younger man and extremely expert swimmer – die after being swept away by robust ocean currents – she turned afraid of getting within the water.

“After starting our family, my husband and I realized that if I was going to overcome my fear and prepare our children so they would be safe in the water, we would need to find a good coach or a good school that offered swimming lessons and emphasized safety techniques,” she mentioned. 

Both of their youngsters have accomplished a number of courses at 4M Swim Club in addition to Sasha who has taken two courses alongside her son, Nyo, 4. As for her oldest little one, 10-year-old Zaria, she has since joined one of many Club’s swim groups.

“Mr. Thorpe and his teachers constantly emphasize essential water safety rules, like never swim alone or don’t swim during a thunderstorm,” she mentioned. “My son reminds us of those and different guidelines every time we’re near water–I like that. 

“Some of the parents and grandparents who bring their children for lessons aren’t great swimmers but they want to know how to help themselves or their children if they’re suddenly in the water and in trouble,” the Maryland mom continued. “Those who have had traumatic experiences in the water must work to overcome what occurred in the past so that if they’re ever thrown into a dangerous situation, they won’t be paralyzed with fear. Our family has learned to respect the water but to not fear it.” 

Disparity in drowning deaths mirror societal elements  

Thorpe agrees with different specialists who say Blacks are topic to dying by drowning at far larger charges than Whites due to each historic and societal elements. These elements embody lack of entry to swimming pools and swimming classes as a consequence of segregation and discrimination, lack of assets to afford swimming classes and pool entry, and a possible worry of water and swimming typically handed down by means of generations inside households.

“If basketball is your thing, you can grab a ball and go out in the street to play, to have fun and to get better,” Thorpe mentioned. “But discovering a pool, after which discovering one which’s reasonably priced is so much tougher. You actually can not learn to swim in a tub. 

“Just look at the Olympics. Most of the swimmers look alike and they don’t look like you or me. Even if there are free or inexpensive programs in one’s community, in most cities they’re only offered during the summer. But there are 12 months in a year. So, how do you practice and remain constantly exposed if you only have three months in the water each year?” 

For Cynthia Paxton, whose granddaughter, Lisandra Paxton, lives together with her in Baltimore, affordability was not the issue she confronted. Her problem was accessibility. 

“When my granddaughter first began to show an interest in swimming, I enrolled her in programs at places like the YMCA because they were affordable and close by,” Paxton mentioned. “But as time went on and I began to recognize how much she loved swimming and how talented she was, I began to search for programs and camps that provided a higher level of instruction and included more time for her to practice in the pool.” 

Paxton mentioned she turned conscious of the 4M Swim Club by probability after listening to about Thorpe’s profitable initiatives throughout a media report. 

“We lucked up with Mr. Thorpe’s programs – hearing about them that is – because I was not part of a swimming community,” she mentioned. “Fortunately, the pools he uses weren’t far from our home. So, I dug deeper, and I liked what I found.” 

As for her granddaughter, she first started swimming after being enrolled in a program at Coppin State University in 2018. Since then, swimming has change into her ardour. 

“I swim competitively for 4M where there are other Black youth on the team but at my high school, Mercy High, which is an all-girls, Catholic school, I’m the only Black on the team and often the only Black at our swim meets,” mentioned Lisandra Paxton, 15. “But I’m confident in my abilities, so that doesn’t bother me.”

Lisandra just lately accomplished a Red Cross certification program and in June, she accepted her first place as a lifeguard.

“Sure, it can be stressful because you have to deal with parents and children who sometimes try to ignore the rules, which I have to enforce to keep those who are in the water or who are around the pool safe,” she mentioned. “But to become certified I had to prove myself, including being able to swim 300 yards. So I have the stamina; I know how to protect myself and to help others should they get into trouble in the water. There’s nothing else I’d rather do.”

To discover out extra concerning the 4M Swim Club, go to www.4mswim.org.