Bill > AR74

Introduced Session

In the United States, the ability to swim is divided along racial lines. White Americans are twice as likely to know how to swim as African Americans. The origin of this disparity can be traced to the 1920s and 1930s when thousands of public swimming pools were opened across the country, creating a culture of swimming for millions of Americans. However, because of Jim Crow laws, these public pools were segregated and only a fraction of them were intended for use by African Americans. In the 1940s and 1950s, federal court decisions desegregated public spaces, including swimming pools and, as a result, white swimmers abandoned municipal pools. This led to a drop of community investment in public swimming pools. Municipalities did not invest in building new pools as they had previously, maintenance on existing pools was neglected, and eventually dilapidated pools were closed down rather than repaired. As a result, swimming did not become a significant part of the recreational culture within African American communities This resolution encourages recreational programs, swim schools, and swim teams to promote participation by African-American youth in swim programs in order to combat racial stereotypes, increase access to swimming pools for all children living in the inner cities, expand employment opportunities, and ultimately save the lives of African-American youth in the State of New Jersey.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Linda Carter (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Bill Spearman (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document