I was just looking for more stats on HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and University) swim teams. The competition season is at hand, and there’s a big meet coming up in February. Hampton, as one of the Black Ivy League schools, came to mind. But I couldn’t find anything when I googled it. I thought they must not have a swim program.

Then my husband sent me this link. Was I ever wrong! Jodi Jenson, assistant professor and Aquatic director at Hampton University was featured in the Washington Post magazine this past Spring, and interviewed on NPR about the article.

She talked about what she’d learned from her students to answer the question, ‘why don’t black kids swim?’ Her conclusions are the same as mine: it’s generational, it’s about priority, and it’s about a lack of role models which perpetuates the cycle.

Jenson, who is not black, also learned a thing or two about the hair issue. She talked about coming face to face with the black girl hair issue right away. How a student came to class, put on a swim suit, got in the pool, and then refused to get her hair wet because she had just gotten it done for a special occasion. (I can’t believe that girl risked her ‘do by even getting in the pool–shoot–the locker room, for that matter!) Jenson responded to that student by not forcing her to get her hair wet that day.

After she suggested swim caps, her students told her that the caps didn’t keep their hair dry. Her students then came up with the idea of wrapping their hair in saran wrap before putting on the swim cap. That kept their hair dry. (I can’t imagine you could avoid sweating by doing this, but it’s worth a try. I’ll let you know how it works when I try it).

I love how the students pursued a solution to a seemingly unsurmountable problem so they could swim. It’s that kind of attitude that will bring out swimming numbers up.

I’m looking forward to hearing good things from the Hampton University Aquatics department. Be on the lookout for news of the HBCU Invitational in February.