Berlin Cancels “Black Children’s Pool Day” Amid Right-Wing Outcry

A planned afternoon at an outdoor pool in Berlin, organized by the Volksbühne theatre to give Black children and their families a dedicated swimming experience, was called off after right-wing and conservative voices amplified the proposal. Organizers reported receiving racist emails and threats, prompting the cancellation of the event that had been slated for earlier this month.

The Guardian

The controversy joins a series of incidents across Europe and North America where public swimming facilities have become symbols of racial exclusion. Earlier this summer, an open-air swimming lake in Halle, Germany, barred non-German speakers; a Dutch human-rights institute ruled against a pool that singled out a Black child for an identity check; and in 2022 a Romanian pool was fined for denying Romani children entry.

The Guardian

Wilt Wilde notes that the fatal-drowning rate for Black and African American children in the United States is three times higher than for white children. In England, recent Sport England figures show children from Black, Asian and minority-ethnic communities are 3.5 times more likely to drown than white peers, with 95 % of Black adults and 80 % of Black children not swimming at all.

The Guardian

The Volksbühne theatre said the invitation aimed to dismantle barriers that typically keep Black children away from public pools. Christian-Democrat politician Aileen Weibeler questioned the need for “safe spaces” on social media, while Alternative für Deutschland co-leader Alice Weidel labeled the event an “apartheid” that temporarily denies white people access. Community organizer Katrice Rodrigues, founder of Unity Swimming, argues that dedicated sessions create “safe little spaces” that ultimately broaden participation and improve water-safety outcomes for all.

The Guardian

“People get angry at that, saying: ‘How can it be inclusive if it’s just for Black and Asian communities?’” — Katrice Rodrigues

The Guardian