The Volksbühne theater in Berlin was forced to cancel a swimming session exclusively for Black children and their families, originally scheduled for early August 2026. The initiative, aimed at breaking down barriers that keep these children away from pools, was attacked by right-wing and far-right voices who labeled it 'apartheid' and 'discrimination'.
What Happened
The theater had invited a group of Black children to enjoy a private afternoon at an outdoor pool in the German capital. The idea was to offer a safe space, similar to other exclusive events that had been held with other groups without causing controversy. However, the proposal went viral and sparked a wave of outrage among conservative sectors.
Local CDU politician Aileen Weibeler questioned on social media: 'Berlin is a livable, diverse, colorful, and free city. Why do we need safe spaces?' Meanwhile, co-leader of the far-right AfD, Alice Weidel, called the measure 'apartheid' in which 'access is temporarily denied to white people'.
The organizers received racist emails and threats, leading them to cancel the event. The theater defended its initial decision, stating it sought to 'dismantle some of the barriers that keep Black children away from the pool'.
A History of Racism in Pools
This incident adds to a long list of episodes linking pools with racism in Europe and North America. Over the decades, these spaces have been scenes of racial tension and exclusion.
- 2013: The Swiss city of Bremgarten restricted asylum seekers' access to public pools.
- 2022: A water park in Romania was fined over 2,000 euros for banning Roma children.
- This summer: A lake in Halle, eastern Germany, denied entry to bathers who did not speak German.
- Netherlands: The Human Rights Institute ruled against a pool that subjected a Black child to a specific identity check.
In the United States, historian Jeff Wiltse, author of Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, explains that pools are 'visually, physically, and socially intimate spaces', which intensifies social anxieties. Wiltse recalls that for much of the 20th century, public pools were racially segregated, and desegregation in the 1940s spurred the creation of private pools in predominantly white suburbs.
One of the most emblematic episodes occurred in 1964, when a Florida motel manager, James Brock, poured hydrochloric acid into a 'whites-only' pool where Black protesters were swimming. More recently, in 2015, a Texas police officer pinned down an unarmed Black teenager during a pool party.
Deadly Consequences: The Swimming Gap
This racialized history has left a deep divide in swimming ability, with tragic consequences. In the United States, the fatal drowning rate for Black children is three times higher than for white children. In England, children from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities are 3.5 times more likely to drown than their white peers.
According to recent data from Sport England, 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children do not swim at all.
Initiatives to Change Reality
Against this backdrop, projects like Unity Swimming, founded in 2022 by Katrice Rodrigues, are emerging. This community organization offers weekly classes aimed at Black and Asian communities. Rodrigues explains that they face cultural barriers such as fear of water, concerns about feeling out of place, modesty, or care for Black hair.
'There is a myth and stereotype that Black people cannot float or swim,' says Rodrigues. 'It's not true, but I've had to correct two experienced swimming teachers who believed it was.'
The activist emphasizes the importance of swimming as a life-saving skill: 'It's the only sport that saves lives. If you have water safety knowledge, you can help save another person's life, your own, and your whole family's.'
The Berlin incident shows that the debate about racism in pools is still ongoing, but it also highlights that concrete efforts are being made to break down barriers and build more inclusive spaces.
Source: The Guardian