Why is that I don't see a lot of African-Americans on the beach?

I just checked and apparently the City of San Diego is only 6.7% black or African-American. That’s not a lot of black people for a city the size of San Diego. Do you think, do you see that more or less than 6.7% of the people who go to the beach in San Diego that are African-American? It may be nothing more than a matter of demographics. Or it could be a number of things.

I think it’s probably the demographics. Plenty of Black people go to the beach =) Personally, I only go to the beach if it’s an overcast day. My skin’s sensitive to the sun.

They don’t need to tan. The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice. It’s a white folk thing. lol

They can’t swim for shit.

My women friends who are black absolutely hate getting their hair wet or even damp. That might be a factor.

But in areas with large numbers of blacks, there are plenty of them who go to the beach.

But you’re kind of in white bread land with that small a percentage.

You probably don’t see a lot of Amish people or Mennonites at the beaches in San Diego either, because there probably aren’t that many Amish and Mennonites in San Diego, but there are quite a few of them who enjoy the beaches where I live just because there are more of them in my area.

@lilly

That’s really interesting. What do they typically wear?

Black people are afraid of sharks.

@Buttonstc The Amish and Mennonites pretty much wear what they always wear when they are at the beach but many of them will take their shoes and socks off and the men and boys will roll their pants up a bit when they walk on the beach and in the water at the shoreline. It is very common among the children but some children and adults won’t. I have no idea whether that is matter of belief, what particular order they belong to, or whether or not it is simply a matter of personal preference or about what a particular family does.

The pictures are both Amish and Mennonite. There were so many wonderful pictures on the internet that it was hard to pick just a handful.

The three pictures below are from the Delaware beaches, Rehoboth, near where I live. I found them on the internet but they are identified as such and that’s definitely the Rehoboth boardwalk.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2cLXtjiEo/TGlO15AI0hI/AAAAAAAAFLU/WXZCZkDZrsI/s1600/Young+Amish+children+on+boardwalk.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2cLXtjiEo/TGlN0Qhqp3I/AAAAAAAAFLI/mIGieRDTqok/s640/Elder+Amish+on+beach.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2cLXtjiEo/TGlOL1_kKkI/AAAAAAAAFLM/FIzRAhFSc9Y/s640/Feeding+the+seagull.JPG

The rest of them, these, I’m not sure where they were taken.

http://www.freestockphotos.biz/pictures/9/9927/beaches.jpg

http://pgac2.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/amish-at-the-beach1.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katphotos/3337531509/

I’ve never personally seen any of the Amish or Mennonite actually go into the water but in one of the pictures a young woman has an inner tube around her waist and I’m not sure what that is all about. I’m not sure what one does with an inner tube at the beach if your not going into the water.

LOL. You asked! Actually, I always love seeing the Amish and Mennonites at the beach. People have such stereotypes about them; they seem to be thought of as people who are incapable of enjoying life so I am glad to help change the stereotype. Sorry about the photo overload.

Probably part of the reason the percentages seem out of whack is that a certain percentage of white people go to the beach only to get a tan. Most black people aren’t going to be there for that reason, but rather just to enjoy the beach and ocean. If you took out the “just there for tanning” group of people, and only look at the “there to enjoy it” group, the percentages would be more proportionate.

And black people are no more likely to be non-swimmers or afraid of sharks than any other group of people. <glaring at @zensky and @FutureMemory>

Now I could say it possibly has something to do with basketball, it being tricky to play on sand, but the intended humour may be translated into racial undertones. So instead i’ll just say, I have no clue :¬)

I realize my answer was controversial – and perhaps bigoted – I apologize in advance. Now, getting into deper water – some theories:

This is an internet, Yahoo! answer:

Most blacks can’t swim because when they go to places with pools none of the other blacks swim. Their parents can’t swim, friends can’t swim, etc.

Black women don’t swim because of their hair. It takes a lot of work and getting their hair wet is out of the question. Have you ever seen a black woman without an umbrella in a rain storm? Nope.

I can’t get my hair wet except about twice a month. Otherwise, we will have to pay another $50 to get it done again.

That wasn’t hard fact, but these stats care of the BBC are:

The US has almost 3,500 accidental drownings every year, almost 10 a day.

But according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fatal drowning rate of African-American children aged five-14 is three times that of white children.

A recent study sponsored by USA Swimming uncovered equally stark statistics.

Just under 70% of African-American children surveyed said they had no or low ability to swim. Low ability merely meant they were able to splash around in the shallow end. A further 12% said they could swim but had “taught themselves”.

The study found 58% of Hispanic children had no or low swimming ability. For white children, the figure was only 42%.

Source

By the way – though my initial response was both flippant and somewhat racist – as a lifeguard I wish all people would take the time to learn how to swim. Many countries, and “races” – (PC cops fuck off for one minute please) have different approaches and cultural differences towards swimming.

The Russian and Arab populations in Israel can’t swim. The stats would be even worse for drownings compared to “whites” than the above mentioned in the States.

This may be a can of worms, but those who know me know I am not prejudiced – I am colour blind – both literally and figuratively.

I meant it more for shock value initially – now I am explaining why. People should teach their children to swim. Even if they don’t know how – or don’t care to – they should get their kids swimming lessons.

ZEN OUT

@lillycoyote Oh wow 7% isn’t much at all. I guess it’s because I grew up in a black neighborhood.

Did you just jump over my well researched, informative answer to tell lilly that?

@zensky Thanks for clarifying. I was shaking my head. And still am, at a later response. <glares at @ucme> :/

Thanks. At least someone reads the posts here, if not the OP.

As I say mine was just a joke stolen from the late great Richard Pryor.
If it’s good enough for him & meant as it was, then i’m happy with that.

Ucme going too far with his “humor”? Say it ain’t so!

I don’t know how prevalent it is, but in some african american culture, some of us weren’t taught how to swim, and people equate the beach with swimming. Also, people go to the beach to tan. I don’t really even like American beaches, but I don’t really like beaches in general because the sun gets really hot after awhile, and I’m not just going to lay in that lol.

I need to have an umbrella so I can read a book. But I do play in the water if it’s clear, carribbean water.

FutureMemory writing an inaccurate critique? Say it ain’t so!

A lot of the stereotypes about this happen to be true for the most part. (I had a good laugh at some of you). Personally, I was on a swim team and a dive team. and as far as Black women not getting their hair wet, that’s true. Going natural would solve that whole thing ;)

Black folks at the beach So Cal courtesy of the Black Surfing Association

and

@Facade

This black surfing dudette doesn’t seem to mind getting her hair wet. Look at that smile! You go girl! Surfs up!

I guess it does happen from time to time!

That was photoshopped, @FutureMemory.

Did you just jump over my well researched, informative answer to tell lilly that?

@zensky I read your post, my friend! But you shouldn’t be jealous and snippy and bring me into your sour grapes on this one. :-)

Samuel L Jackson.
Also…

Probably because of the demographics in your area.
Also, half of my white friends go primarily because they think they’re “getting too pale”; they say they love the beach, but really they’re just there to tan. I guess that could influence it too.

@everephebe Lol at the guy who had “Fuck Bush” on his surfboard.

@lillycoyote Oy.

@zensky Oy o boy!

I refuse to hijack this thread on Rosh Hashana.

@zensky

הלו חבר! ‎שנה טובה!

I hope that says what I meant it to say.

:-)

Indeed it did, dear. Just reversed.