Not knowing how to swim when you grow up in Atlantic City makes no sense at all, regardless of one’s color, and parents should not pass on their fear of the water.
ATLANTIC CITY — It’s getting closer and closer to that time of year again — that time when we can easily spend six to eight hours at the beach on any given day.
When I left Atlantic City at the age of 18, I thought everyone here could swim. That’s how we spent every summer — swimming and socializing at the beach — so why would I think differently?
My cousins and I knew our summer routine almost instinctively, because all the children in our neighborhood did the same.
Once school was out, we got up every morning, washed our faces and brushed our teeth, put on our bathing suits and shorts, maybe a T-shirt, ate a bowl of cereal and packed a paper bag lunch or got money for pizza off the dining room table if our parents had left any.
We always walked to Missouri Avenue Beach, now fondly remembered as “Chicken Bone Beach,” and there we’d stay until the sun went down, running in and out of the water, swimming, jumping waves and playing all kinds of beach games.
Either a family member had taught us how to swim or we had learned while going to day camp at the Arctic Avenue YMCA. The “black” Y didn’t have a pool, but our camp counselors sometimes took us over to the Pacific Avenue Y for lessons.
“We haven’t even put on a race yet, but what [the recognition from Active.com] shows is that Atlantic City is a national power. And being able to offer a triathlon is just another step in the evolution of progress in Atlantic City.”
ATLANTIC CITY — The latest “Justice for Nadirah” rally was held last Monday (May 9) at the Soldier’s Home. Nadirah’s grandfather spoke, as well as Imam Wali of Masjid Muhammad, A.C., Rev. McCoy of the Fellowship of Churches, Pastor Matthews of Salem Methodist in P’ville, Rev. Delaney of Central United Methodist in Linwood, Steve Young of the National Action Network and Chief Jubilee, demonstrating a real unified concern. Among other things, the speakers reminded audience members to continue with their present community awareness, to reach out to our youth constantly, not only in troubled times, that whatever affects us in Atlantic City also affects nearby communities and that what happened to Nadirah can happen to any one of us or those we love. Chief Jubilee assured the audience that this crime “WILL be solved.” * * * * Bridge of Faith already has more than 25 sponsors for its 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Memorial. The program is currently in its planning stage, but things are shaping up nicely with representation from many diverse sections of our local community. * * * * Great news! If you missed excerpts from several of August Wilson’s plays back in March, not to worry. The Atlantic City Theatre...
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A.C. Youth Exposure has a curriculum that includes everything from mentoring, tutoring, job and scholarship counseling, college and career exploration, to field trips. Modeled after the five-year-old Youth Exposure program in Plainfield, N.J., it is designed for students in grades 5th through 8th, a group sometimes overlooked by other programs.
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With the current focus on non-gaming, family-friendly and cultural attractions in Atlantic City's future, here are some of the reasons why Ralph Hunter and the AAHMSNJ should have a home in Atlantic City:
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1. Stan Robinson, Jr. said... on May 28, 2011 at 01:52PM
“Excellent article and very timely given the start of this year's summer season. My father taught me to swim not long after an unpleasant episode at a neighbor's pool. Both my younger sister and I later swam competitively as a result and were usually the only African Americans at our swim meets. I totally agree that swimming is a skill that everyone should learn not only because it can save your life, but for the exercise and enjoyment it provides as well.”
2. S. Nickerson said... on May 29, 2011 at 02:49PM
“Ms. Raheem makes an excellent point about learning to swim when one is young. Being in the water and knowing you are safe and can move freely is exhilarating. Keep up the campaign--not just for safety, but for pure pleasure.”
3. Henrietta Wallace Shelton said... on May 30, 2011 at 01:35PM
“Excellent article, I am ashamed to say but I am still afraid of the water. I also lived on Chicken Bone Beach as a child and as a young adult but I only put my toes in the water. I made sure that my daughter knew how to swim and yes all of my grandchildren are excellent swimmers. It is too late for me as an adult I tried but I still do not like the water in my face……………………”
4. M. Pitts said... on May 30, 2011 at 01:42PM
“Grew up in AC and took swimming lessons at the Pacific Avenue YMCA. A near death experience in that pool gave me a great respect (and fear) of water, and convinced me that I didn't want to swim. To this day I spend very little, if any time, at the beach. I envy all of you "beach bums".”
5. Dr. Hajar Verrett said... on Jun 23, 2011 at 11:05AM
“I love this article! Overall, I think it brings up a very important issue of "fear" that infiltrates the black communities all over the US. The cycle continues and rolls over into the next generation..and the next..and next. You have to wonder at some point whether it's fear of swimming, going to the doctor, eating too healthy, if these issues that are fear bases are ways of keeping a community of people oppressed. I live in Miami where we are surrounded by beautiful beaches everywhere. I was surprised to hear from the blacks folks I have met that, "yea... I don't really go to the beach like that, maybe for memorial day weekend, but thats about it.". Miami is populated by a large population of blacks and still the beaches on a daily basis are are covered with Europeans, white Americans, and Hispanics. One reason I have also heard from black women is that they were told since they were child to not spend to much time in the water because they would mess their hair up. Hmm..crazy right!”