Paulana Lamonier Discusses Swimming, Using Your Gifts and How to Do it Big
When it comes to Black women changing the game and making a difference, its Paulana Lamonier for me. For decades, the idea of Black people swimming has been quite taboo. Whether seen through a historical or societal lens, Black people’s relationship with big bodies of water is strained. In remembrance of the ancestors who chose death by the sea rather to be enslaved, and fast forward to the systems stacked against Black people keeping us from access to pools while perpetuating racist stereotypes, this strained relationship with swimming was quite inevitable – but Paulana is working to do something about it. As a multimedia journalist, Paulana’s footprint can be found on publications like Forbes and stages like CultureCon and now she’s smashing stereotypes with her newest venture: Black People Will Swim. Through Fun, Awareness, Community, and Education (F.A.C.E) Black People Will Swim will help smash the stereotype that Black people don’t swim and aims to teach 2,020 Black people this awesome life skill by December 2020.
I was curious to learn more about this multi-hyphenate creative and how life led her to a vision as grand as BPWS. When preparing for this interview, I considered everything I knew about her so far as a leader, colleague and trailblazer in the community. If you’re following her on Twitter, you know she’s never shy to share the wealth; constantly advocating for creatives in media through the #reignydayjob and #Blackcreativejobs hashtags to post jobs openings, and grant/scholarship opportunities to all who need it. This Twitter thread about pitching to publications is my personal favorite. Not only can you find her leading Black People Will Swim, but you’ll also see her grabbing life by the reigns with Paulana Doing it Big, a YouTube channel creating content for athletes of all shapes and sizes.
Paulana’s lifestyle is driven by paving her own way and is why it was an honor to interview her. As a member of this Lifestyle team, I’m drawn to visionaries and their unique ideas whose solutions for society’s issues go beyond themselves. Having picked up much momentum in less than 6 months, I know I’m not the only one catching onto this wave. Check out our interview below, keep up with Black People Will Swim updates here and here, stay tuned for Paulana Doing it Big here, and follow her on Twitter!
1. Describe to me what a generation of Black people swimming looks like. What changes happen within us when we learn to swim?
It's a beautiful vision! It's a father teaching his kids how to swim, and those kids are teaching their kids how to swim. It's normalizing Black people swimming, having fun, and not just that, but swimming on a competitive level. If they have this life skill, they can turn that into an opportunity to pay it forward as I did. They can become a swim coach. They can become a swim instructor. They can become a lifeguard. They can become an aquatics director. I mean, literally the possibilities are endless when learning how to swim and that’s not even on a competitive level. They can travel the world and swim for the Olympics.
2. What was your experience learning how to swim as a child? Were you scared, excited, or anxious? Are any of those memories similar to your experience with clients today as a swim coach?
I learned how to swim at a local swim program in Uniondale. Growing up, my mom put us in a local swim program, and every Saturday we'd wake up bright and early for swim lessons. I wasn't scared or anxious as a child. I think it was just being able to swim to the deep end. That swim program is where I met one of my closest friends. So yes, those experiences are very similar because I'm providing an opportunity for other people to live their best lives and learn how to swim.
As I got older, I swam for my college swim team, CUNY York College where my coaches, Jennifer Trotman, Robert Trotman, and Karima, really helped me hone in on those swimming skills. And then from there, that's where I became a coach because they took me under their wing and helped me become an assistant coach for their swim team called the NuFinmen Swim Team.
3. You have experience as a Multi-Media Journalist and also as a Social Media Strategist. How have your previous roles prepared you for your BPWS journey?
They have certainly helped me on the journey in creating BPWS. The common denominator in those three facets of my professional career is storytelling. As a journalist, my job is to find great and important stories. As a strategist, my job is finding the most compelling way to convey these stories to my audience. And at Black People Will Swim, we are bringing the stories that have been ignored for so long to the forefront. The stories of those who went to the beach one sunny day and never made it back home because they didn’t have that life skill or those who participated in swim-ins as a form of protests when Black people weren’t allowed to swim with white people back in the 50s and 60s.
4. You tweeted your grant program with @IFundWomen x @Adidas into existence! Tell us how your faith has been affirmed through your professional career.
Yes! The power of the tongue. When it comes to my career, it comes down to three things: tenacity, servitude, and ownership. I find that it is crucial to serve people with your gifts and talents. With tenacity, I will be told no a million times, but all I need is one yes. And, with ownership is owning up the mistakes made in the past finding ways to make it right.
5. “Paulana Doing It Big” is another brainchild of yours, please tell us more. What do you think people will enjoy the most about this project?
“Paulana Doing It Big” is all about reminding people the importance of betting on yourself. Since no one will give me a show, why not create it on my terms. PDIB is about showcasing that fitness has no size. I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but according to what’s portrayed in media or even the BMI scale, I don’t look like it — that’s unfair. In this show, not only am I challenging the notion, but appreciating the capabilities my body can do.
6. By the time our readers read this interview, the winner of the Pine Sol + Essence “Build Your Legacy” Program $100K grand prize will be announced. What have you learned about yourself through that experience? What’s the hardest part about advocating for yourself, if any?
While we did not take home the grand prize, we are so grateful to get this far only six months into the game. We are forever grateful for the ESSENCE x Pinesol family for taking a chance on us, AND WE’RE NOT SLOWING DOWN! It reminded me that what’s for me won’t miss me. The contest simply prepared us for the next competition.
As for advocating for myself, I’ve spent so many years of my career wondering and asking myself “Why is this happening for them and not me?” or just simply looking at what is on other people’s plate instead of focusing on what’s in front of me. What you focus on grows. I want my projects, businesses, and opportunities to not only grow, but to bless others beyond measure. In short, it’s easy to compare yourself which makes advocating hard, but if you remind yourself of your talent, hard work, and sacrifices you made to get where you are, it’ll be easier to do so.
7. I love that Black People Will Swim aims to “smash the stereotype.” My mom always warned me never to go into the ocean for fear of spiritual stereotypes as well. As a fellow Haitienne, what was your family’s response to starting BPWS?
My parents are quite business savvy so they gave me great advice. They’re definitely on my board of advisors.
8. It’s amazing to know that Black People Will Swim is just a few months old, but 10 years in the making. Did you see the vision for BPWS when your love of swimming began? What advice do you have for creatives or entrepreneurs working toward their “one day” moment on Day One?
I didn’t see the vision for BPWS. However, my years of experience have molded and are embedded in the DNA of BPWS.
Advice: write the vision and make it plan. There is no shortcut to getting it done. Write it down and be as detailed as possible. Seek advice from trusted individuals. I say that because sometimes when you tell your vision to people too soon, some may not see the vision and even discourage you from finishing it.
9. With “Paulana Doing it Big”, Black People Will Swim, and multi-media Journalism on your plate (maybe more) what methods do you take towards effective time management?
Having a calendar, time management, and discipline goes a long way. But those are muscles you have to keep practicing to strengthen. I use websites like todoist and self-control app to help me focus on what’s important and adhere to deadlines.
Secondly, I have an amazing team who does great work. I was actually a fan of them before I started my individual projects. When I was getting ready to start my projects it was ready to enlist them as part of the team.
10. Black People Will Swim. Not “Should Swim” or “Can Swim” or “Must Swim”. Share with us the intention behind the affirmation “Black People Will Swim”.
This is a great question. I think it’s important to acknowledge that issues aren’t whether we can or can’t swim, should or shouldn’t swim, but whether we will or not. For so long, as a race, Black people have been told what we can or can’t do. Now, that we’re post-Jim Crow laws, we have the opportunity to do it all, now it’s about whether we will or not. BPWS is providing the opportunity to do it all.