My niece, Ragime, was one of the swimmers chosen to participate in the 21st Annual Black History Invitational Swim meet held at the Takoma Aquatic Center in NW. This unique event was co-founded in 1987 by the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) and the United Black Fund, Inc. (UBF) in honor of Black History Month. Recognized by USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport of swimming, as the "premier minority swim competition in the United States and in the World." During the three-day invitational, youth athletes ranging in age from 5-18 competed in standard swim events, such as the individual medley, freestyle, butterfly, relays and back & breast strokes; attracting over 800 minority competitors and 40 swim teams from across the United States and Canada.