A Film Called Blacks Can’t Swim
LONDON –The documentary and feature film “A Film Called Blacks Can't Swim,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Mysterex (MO-AM) is creating a huge on a global scale from both swimmers and non-swimmers.
We are pleased to present a humerous tongue-in-cheek but also an educational independent short film that aims to delve into the myth that blacks can't swim and also at the same time inspire more minorities to take up swimming as an important like skill and sports activity for young and also more mature people. This film is creating a huge debate and receiving support from the wider swimming fraternity who also recognise the lack of minorities indulging in the world of swimmers, there are also a similar issue in America and the rest of the world. When African-American swimmer Simone Manuel won a 2016 Olympic Gold Medal she inspired a new generation of minority swimmers in America so the myth that 'Blacks Can't Swim' is exactly that a myth; but where does this rumour originate from?
The fact is here in the UK there is a dearth of people actively swimming from the wider BME communities, especially in the black community as pointed out by national statistics.
Plot
Ed Accura (Frank Awuah) is a black British man who after watching an upsetting news report on bad weather and flooding, develops an acute phobia with water. His anxiety with not being able to swim and irrational fears of drowning pushes him into buying a life jacket which he wears everywhere he goes. Ed is torn between his friends who try and encourage him to learn how to swim and society who dramatically dampen his confidence with stereotypes on black people and their inability to swim. The film combines acting with real interview footage of various members of the community voicing their thoughts on the subject.
The film is currently available only for restricted Private Online Viewings. If you are interested in watching it, please fill in the form below.
The Objective
To release the elephant in the room and enable us to speak comfortably about the generation-long issue of a disproportionate amount of black and ethnic minorities not swimming.
Swimming and water safety is an essential life skill everyone should have the opportunity to learn.
“A Film Called Blacks Can’t Swim” is about my personal journey, fears and anxiety with swimming. The film depicts the effects of the stigma, stereotypes and myths and also highlights the views of various people in my community. Let's help eradicate the negative views associated with black people and swimming as well as encouraging more people to learn to swim thus reducing the number of deaths by drowning.
MY JOURNEY MY STORY
A FILM CALLED BLACKS CAN’T SWIM is a feature film documentary about my turbulent journey with swimming, I was brought up to understand that water safety meant staying away from water. After all, if you don't get into the water you cant drown I was told ..... and highlights the issue around the disproportionate amount of black people that can’t or don’t swim.
With the swimming's governing body SPORT ENGLAND reporting that 95% of black adults and 80% of black children in England not swimming, while the last recorded data from 2018 showing that less than 1% of registered competitive swimmers with Swim England identify as black or mixed-race, it’s now my duty to make this film available by officially releasing it and sharing my personal swimming journey to all.
In The Deep End - The Podcast
CLICK ABOVE TO WATCH INTERVIEWS
