By Attiyya Atkins
The city’s first Black lifeguard taught hundreds of Black kids how to swim in Pompano Beach in the 1940s and 1950s.
Now the city is keeping his memory afloat with a plaque honoring the work of Dr. Moses Dixon. The Pompano pioneer was commemorated at a ceremony at Mitchell Moore Park on June 27.
Pompano Beach City Commissioners paid homage to Dixon as the city’s first Black lifeguard and the first supervisor of Mitchell Moore Park. Dixon worked at the park when Pompano Beach was segregated, and Mitchell Moore was called Westside Park and was for “Negroes Only.”
Dixon hosted many swimming contests, softball, basketball, volleyball, tetherball, and other events for the Black community at the park. But he was most known for teaching young Black children to swim at the pool.
The swim lessons were lifesaving in so many ways.
Generally, Black people have a fear of swimming. According to a recent study conducted by YMCA, USA Swimming Foundation, and the University of Memphis, nearly 64% of Black children do not know how to swim. Carmen Jones, community activist and daughter of Dr. Dixon, said that her father was not only teaching kids how to swim, but also preparing them for the future.
“He was teaching them about careers that would affect their life and how swimming could be a vital part of that,” Jones said at the ceremony.
Jones applauded the new park director, Mr. Pete for his work at the pool. “He has the spirit of my dad. He is in the pool creating swimmers.”
Dixon was a World War II veteran and served in Nagasaki, Japan, a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and a lifelong educator and student. He graduated from New York City College with his Bachelor’s degree, received a master’s degree from Columbia University and earned a doctorate from the University of South Carolina.
“It’s great to hear about the history of Pompano Beach,” said Mayor Rex Hardin. “Anytime we have the opportunity to preserve our history I consider it very important.”
Dixon died in 2015 at the age of 87. When he was alive, he always mentioned the 4P’s: “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance,” – a lesson taught to him by Blanche Ely.
The ceremony was attended by many community leaders including Broward County’s Mayor Lamar Fisher, Pompano’s District 4 Commissioner Beverly Perkins, Pompano’s District 3 Commissioner Alison Fournier, Pastor John Mohorn, former commissioner Tom McMahon, and gospel singer and Dixon’s grandson Canton Jones.
June 27, 2023, was also proclaimed Dr. Moses Dixon Day by the city.
To see the plaque, visit Mitchell-Moore Park, 901 NW 10 St., Pompano Beach, 33060
