In 1969, when black Americans were still prevented from swimming alongside whites, an episode of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' broke the color barrier.
This status was reflected at many community pools across the country, with whites preventing blacks from sharing the water with them.
Rogers invited Officer Clemmons, a black police officer on the show, to join him and cool his feet in a small plastic wading pool.
When Clemmons sat down and placed his feet in the water, right next to Rogers', the two men broke a well-known color barrier.
In the 20th century, many communities in the United States created pools for children and adults to swim and splash in.
Many whites balked at the thought of unsegregated pools because they harbored the racist belief that African Americans were more likely to transmit disease.
But this time Clemmons didn't just use Rogers' towel — Rogers took the towel and dried Clemmons' feet himself. »