Swim instructor Paulana Lamonier believes harmful stereotypes distract from tackling the real causes of the lack of diversity in the pool: there has never been space for the Black community to learn how to swim. Lamonier founded “Black People Will Swim” to bring affordable and accessible swim lessons to the community.
Lamonier was determined to prove herself on the school’s swim team, so she diligently attended swim practice during the off-season. Her commitment drew the attention of her coaches, who encouraged her to enter the teaching profession.
Her commitment drew the attention of her coaches, who encouraged her to enter the teaching profession.
I had never seen a blog like this one before; it was amazing. I plan to tell my friends about this.
Every time I Swim , I end up laughing at myself for making the same mistakes over and over again.
It’s inspiring to see efforts like “Black People Will Swim” breaking down barriers in swimming access. More representation and safe spaces are key—not just in pools, but in recreation overall, whether it’s learning to swim or finding your people through shared activities like the poople game. These connections matter.
It’s inspiring to see efforts like “Black People Will Swim” breaking down barriers in swimming access. More representation and safe spaces are key—not just in pools, but in recreation overall. Whether it’s learning to swim or finding your people through shared activities, these connections matter. For a fun and engaging way to connect with words, check out Poople. It’s a free daily word ladder game where you transform one word into another, one letter at a time. No sign-up required—just open Poople and play!
This piece stuck with me. The point about access and representation in swimming really matters – lessons and safe spaces should not be a privilege, and stories like this show how much changes when a community actually gets support. Thanks for sharing it.
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