Ed Accura - A Film Called Blacks Can't Swim

That only 1% of USA Swimming’s membership identify as Black?

It’s Black History Month and as we celebrate Black history in swimming these coming weeks, it’s important to remember that Black history is also being made today and every day. This week we’re highlighting Ed Accura, writer and producer of A Film Called Blacks Can’t Swim. According to the film’s description it’s “about a Black Briton whose fears and anxiety of not being able to swim and drowning is dramatized as he battles with the stereotypes set by society.” Accura told myswimpro.com, “The aim of the film was to understand why there is a disproportionate amount of black people and ethnic minorities that can’t and don’t swim...The response from the film enticed me to start the BLACKS CAN SWIM campaign with the aim of encouraging the community to address their fear of water, confront the stereotypes, dispel the myths and recognise swimming as a life skill.”

Accura, a film and hip-hop producer, decided to learn how to swim in 2018 when he realized he wouldn’t be able to save his own daughter should she be in a life or death situation. Accura also co-founded the non-profit, Black Swimming Association in England (where 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children do not know how to swim) to highlight the importance of learning to swim and educating the Black community on water safety and drowning prevention. You can read more about the film and Accura in this article.