Former Iowa lawmaker and trailblazer shares about growing up amid the civil rights movement

The memoir 'I Don't Swim' by former Iowa state Rep. Helen Miller reads like a chronicle of America itself. In this episode, Miller talks about her parents being part of the great migration of Black families to the north, becoming an adult during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, her political career and confronting the reasons why she didn't swim. Her book chronicles painful experiences with systemic racism and injustice, but remains an uplifting read. Later, Cathy Westercamp, an Iowa swim instructor, shares tips on swimming safety. (Rep. Helen Miller is a member of the IPR Board of Directors. This episode was originally produced July 17, 2025.)

You can listen to Former Iowa lawmaker and trailblazer shares about growing up amid the civil rights movement online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Former Iowa lawmaker and trailblazer shares about growing up amid the civil rights movement is an episode from River to River by Iowa Public Radio.

This episode is 48:03 long.

This episode was published on May 27, 2026.

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