Enslaved Swimmers and Divers in the Atlantic World

Dawson makes three important and or interesting claims in his work. First, is that African’s have had swimming abilities since before the time of slavery. He highlighted this truth with the comparison of swimming methods and or skills of African’s and Westerner’s. Next, was that slaves would incorporate swimming into their daily lives. This was explained through the description of recreational activities, which predominately included swimming in natural waterways. The last claim was that slave owners would use bondpeople’s diving and swimming capabilities as lucrative labor. (pg. 2) Dawson went in depth in order to describe the relationship between the slave owners and the slaves that displayed aquatic skill. The slave owners would grant these particular slaves with limited privileges due to diving being a dangerous occupation that required special ability.

It was even possible for some to earn their freedom by accruing enough wealth to buy it. The divers had been so exceedingly trusted that they were allowed to work with explosives, and they were not supervised when working. This would have been strictly forbidden if the slaves were land workers. Slaveholders most likely had to treat enslaved divers and or swimmers differently from others because they could not just replace the slaves who possessed water-based proficiencies with other competent land-based slaves without a significant interruption of production. This is due to swimming and diving being skills that takes years of practice to develop. Thus, when slave owners engaged in the frequently negotiated relationships with their slaves with aquatic skill, they probably had to allow them some independence.

They also had to contain their temper when it came to authority, especially in the aspect of discipline, because beatings could hinder the diver’s ability to work. In order to still feel in complete control and increase their material wealth the slave owners would manipulate the divers’ sense of desire and pride to make them work harder and longer than they normally would.

They would do this by enticing the slaves with competitions and rewards. (pgs.17-18) I believe historical studies such as this have value in challenging stereotypes. Especially in this case because this study has provided a numerous amount of examples through the Americas slavery history that have proven that African American people can swim exceedingly well if they choose to. The black community mostly likely began to reject swimming later in history because of the discrimination that started to surround it with it being considered as a white activity. (pg.18) This study shows how slaves brought the ability of diving and swimming to the Americas and proves that African American people are more than capable of these skills.