Valley Swim Club baffles me
When I read the article about the Valley Swim Club today, I had to rub my eyes and blink several times to make sure I was reading the date correctly. I even double checked all my sources to make sure it wasn’t a hoax.
I thought perhaps an old newspaper article from the 1960s or 1970s had been mistaken for a current news story and circulated around the internet. No such luck. This week, in the year 2009, it appears a daycare group had its pool membership canceled because the kids were black.
Current events
Let’s start at the beginning, when a daycare called Creative Steps, Inc. paid $1,950 to the Valley Swim Club in Northeast Philadelphia. Alethea Wright of Creative Steps, Inc., says the daycare paid its membership in full, in advance, for the whole summer. But Creative Steps turned out to be just a short-term money lender for the Valley Swim Club, as the daycare’s money has now been refunded.
The $1,950 guaranteed that the 60 kids that attended Creative Steps would be able to go swimming at the Valley Swim Club every Monday for 90 minutes. It appears the club changed its mind after one swimming session. From a Philadelphia Fox News affiliate:
“I get a phone call from the board chair saying, you’re no longer going to be able to swim here,” said Alethea Wright of Creative Steps, Inc.
She says the board president of the Valley Club didn’t explain why. But she says the reason was obvious to her.
…
The president of the Valley Club, John Duesler, told Fox 29 by phone the club “underestimated the impact the children would have.” He said they “fundamentally changed the atmosphere” at the pool.
A Philadelphia NBC News affiliate has a few more details to add to the story:
“I heard this lady, she was like, ‘Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?’ She’s like, ‘I’m scared they might do something to my child,’” said camper Dymire Baylor.
…
“When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool,” Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. “The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately.”
Complexion just a bad choice of words?
The NBC News affiliate also reports that Duesler said in a written statement that, “There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.”
This is the same guy insisting that his reasons for kicking out out the group had nothing to do with race. I mean, I understand that the word “complexion” has multiple meanings. However, if this guy is trying to say that the reason he terminated the club’s membership has nothing to do with skin, what a very poor choice of words. Or what a telling Freudian slip.
Having lived all over the world I have seen much but this does not really surprise me. I hope it works out to the best for Creative Steps Inc since they deserve more than a group who act knowingly or not as rascists. If they had not wanted the large group there the club should have done their research before hand and not just accepted the money out of hand.
I too thought, “my goodness are we in the 60s” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I don’t know why I am so surprised. Racism is still a big deal in America. But this was just so blatant. Those racist country clubs and the people who join are there for a reason, and the reason is that a certain segment of America values racism.
I am not surprised! Living within a country which has been built on the backs of Blacks, under the genecide of the American Indian race and hiding behind the flag of freedom and false Christianity what do you expect?
Since President Obama was elected white friends that I thought were my friends have raised there ugly racist head not only against blacks but against my race to,but they insult me in code words.And they know exactly what they are saying to me.It is going to get worst so get ready I am Lipan from the Apache tribe hang in there.(BELIEVE HALF WHAT YOU SEE AND NOTHING WHAT YOU HEAR.)
I consider these people the off springs of the rejects from Europe.These are the people Europe rejected and came to the new world with the mentality of the manifest destiny a subject that all primary schools should have in there agenda this subject is not a theory it is a proven fact.The truth should be expose in order for young children from all walks of life including Anglo Saxon children should know and learn.These people speak in codes one has to read between the lines in order to comprehend there meaning.(There,s a storm up ahead)
There is a dust devil be(brewing) tomorrow 7/30/09 at the pow wow event.
The large group excuse is VERY WEAK!
John Duesler JR appears to be a racist idiot. And the rest of the members that hold the “no minorities” allowed in our pool. (And their children that have the same polarized bigot attitudes!)
SHAME-SHAME-SHAME!
How in the world did he get to the positions in business and community that he apparently holds?
On never mind… birds of a feather flock together…!
There is no excuse for this.
-CD-
Are you out of your mind? What world do you live in?
The sad truth is that black youth commit a lot of crime. Schools with large black populations have lower educational standards and more violence (2004 DeptEducation study). Black males, 6% of the U.S. population, are responsible for almost 50% of all violent crime.
Pull your head out of your rear-end. While racial harmony is a nice-to-have the reality out in the real world is far different. And no, I wouldn’t want my kids, nieces or nephews around such a group–while I feel sorry for the good kids that such a group probably has–I don’t believe in playing dice with my children’s lives.
TTC,
Do you honestly believe that having your kids simply play in a pool with Black children could bring harm to them? If so, you need to reevaluate your thinking and realize that all these children deserve a good camp experience. They are not going to hurt your kids in any way and ESPECIALLY not endanger their lives. Any thinking along these lines is the definition of ignorance.
Wow! I cannot believe that you are using statistics to justify your own prejudice. I would think that the black kids were more afraid of the white people because of the things you all have done to us in the past and in the present. Yes, black children commit crimes, but why? They have nothing to do and they get into trouble. And please don’t act like white kids don’t get into trouble. They’re the one committing horrendous crimes in school. Killing up entire schools, friends, their OWN PARENTS, etc. Please get YOUR head from up your butt and look around. Not ALL black kids are bad or come from bad backgrounds. Our circumstances are just different and for you to agree with such blatant racism I FEAR for my children’s future with the likes of you and others like you being around.
you are no better than the members of the club…interacting with children of the African-American race will not do any harm to your kids. In case you are not aware not only do Black kids act up but so do Whites Hispanics Asians…etc It would be different if the kids were acting inappropriately and the ones acting up were asked to leave…that would’ve been very understandable. But lieing n making up a bogus excuse is not acceptable. They knew there would be blacks when they took the money but were greedy. They should have let the organization know up front that they would not be able to accommodate them that way the kids would not have been caught up in the middle of this foolishness. It is the year 2009 but we still live in a world like it is 1909…For every step we take forward people like you knock us back 3. But do not worry because we will continue to take it one step at a time till we actually see a REAL change.
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT!!!! BLACKS DO NOT COMMIT THE MOST CRIME: THEY’RE JUST LOCKED UP FOR THE MOST CRIME. THIS TYPE OF FOOLISHNESS IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. GUESS THAT’S WHY YOU HIDE YOUR NAME AND IDENTITY BECAUSE YOU’RE SUCH A FREAKIN COWARD!!! MAY GOD RE-PAY YOU FOR ATTEMPTING TOHARM THE SPIRITS OF THESE INNOCENT CHILDREN! THE BIBLE INSTRUCTS US TO ‘DARE NOT HARM EVEN THE HAIR ON A CHILD’S HEAD…” YOU SPEAK LIKE A FOOL….STOP IT!
How much you wanna bet that the director of that racist swim club, the guy who made that boneheaded remark about the kids changing the “complexion” of the pool, voted for Obama? Wouldn’t that be a delicious irony!! LOL
How do you know that the club isn’t telling the truth? Have you ever tried to swim at an overcrowded pool? Maybe some of the other people were making racist comments, but it isn’t fair to brand the facility itself as racist.
Apparently from what I have read, the children were allowed access to the pool on Monday afternoon’s for about an hour and a half?
I’m just assuming therefore that the time slot was agreed by the club in the first instance due to them being aware that at that specific time on a Monday not many children who are members attend.
I’m sure pools have a capacity also you have to have a certain amount of life guards to child/person ratio. All of this you would think would have been taken into consideration before the cheque was paid.
The club was probably approached by members who made threats of cancelling their memberships because they came there and paid the i’m sure high rates not to have their children mix with inner city children.
As much as we like to think that it does not go on, and for as much as the world has so many mixtures of different cultures and races, there will always be some people who still believe they are better than you because of the colour of their skin.
Has anybody thought that maybe the owners just didn’t like them because of their behavior? maybe they were rowdy, boisterous and intimidated other kids. Inner-city minority children at a more upscale pool hall? The delicate nature of most white children was probably the real culprit and Perhaps the reaction to the other children also made the owners think for a bit- that they don’t want their other customers leaving and garnering a negative reputation. After all if the new kids were all white but had Mohawks and tattoos and other counter culture and acted loud/rowdy they would be axed out as well im guessing. and as for the staff telling the kids no minorities allowed? something tells me that either a few slipped up in getting them out, and said something dumb, or that the kids made this up, or both. i HIGHLY doubt staff members were instructed to tell kids minorities aren’t allowed- come on people think a little bit.
I think there’s discrimination here, but i don’t think it’s real racism, at least not a cohesive whole behind the owner’s mindsets. their clients sound more racist then they do, but alas, you cannot sue a group of customers, only the owners. this sounds like 30 percent truth 70 percent bull. If the kids acted mature and quiet, theyd probably still be there- but if its a case of the clients not wanting them there, then HOW do you fix that?
i don’t see how you people believe this.
jimJones–you need to shut up! So, why were these children rowdy or misbehaved? Because they are black & brown? You make such an assumption…kids are kids not matter what color they are. I just want to know why the club didn’t ask any of the “well behaved” white kids to leave since they had too many kids. Stop making excuses..it is what it is…RACISM in 2009!!!! By the way, your name suits you, you think people will believe anything and that anything leads to their demise. Learn to Love.
They invited three other camps and also refunded their money as well. It’s a private pool facility, they wouldn’t be able to handle that many people, I think they should have thought about that before they invited the camps, but I don’t think it’s a racial issue at all, there’s always another side to the story.
If one member says something racist, it doesn’t mean the whole institute is racist.
Given, the one person shouldn’t have said what they did, but it has nothing to do with the facility itself– it even says they have multi-ethnic members already, it’s not an “all-white club”.
I think this is just a huge misunderstanding that keeps getting spun.
TTC,
Schools with black populations have lower education standards because aforementioned schools receive less funding, and teachers wouldn’t want to teach at a school that they perceived to embody a “ghetto school.” Also, such schools tend to be less of a priority for major city school boards.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.. THIS IS PURE RACISM.
If they were worried about the crowd. they couldhave ammended teh contract and said only say 10 kids or 15 kids are allowed the next time.
Not WITHDRAWING the contract.
if i were the club president i wud be careful cos some people are watching the news and willbe mad at their racism. andthat does not make things safe.
TTC, you really ought to be ashamed of yourself justifying racist thinking by resorting to statistics.
1.) Few have bothered to delve into the reason why men of color are targeted by the police, while Enron and Madoff have to rob people of billions of $$$ before anyone decides to send them to jail.
2.) Few have also looked at the deliberate de-funding of schools populated by students of color. When whites move out of a neighborhood, and by extension, school districts, there goes the funding.
3.) It will take a great deal of effort to undo 300 years of slavery, 70 years of legal segregation, and 40 years of desegregation before we can effectively reverse certain racial trends.
In the mean time, your bigoted attitude, which is unfortunately shared by far too many people in this country, only makes things so much worse.
How dare you stigmatize an entire group of kids based on statistics or on some stupid stereotypes you got by watching TV or movies or whatever it is that you’ve been exposed to. It’s very clear that you have never encountered real black people on a regular basis (no friends, no coworkers, no neighbors), otherwise you couldn’t make such ignorant statements like this.
Your racism contributes to the problem, it doesn’t help solve them. And there is no excuse for your hatred.
Shame on you for being a bigot in the 21st century!
What do you think this is? 1950s America? Do you burn crosses or something? Are you a card-carrying member of the KKK?
Ugh! You might as well be with an attitude like that!
Oh BS, its always “racism” isn’t it? Anytime anyone does anything that’s upsetting to the African-American community its racism. Play a new tune. Cause this one is getting old.
If it had been a black club prohibiting whites, it would have never made the news.
Assuming, for the sake of argument, that you’re correct about whether it would have made the news…
… it just might be because blacks didn’t enslave whites for 400 years, nor then spend the next 100 years lynching them, beating them, burning them, relegating them to “separate but equal” spots in “colored” bathrooms, “colored” water fountains, refusing service at “whites-only” stores, restaurants, lunch counters, refusing admission to schools and colleges, denying them jobs, promotions, describing them as animals and subhuman.
For starters.
See a few “colored” folk dangling from trees with their feet singed off, kinda, you know, changes your perspective.
Idiot.
While that was all unfortunate, it is in the past. The black community needs to make up its mind. Does it want to be segregated? If they can segregate themselves away and exclude other races from their organizations, then they have no right to complain when they get excluded. I am not a racist, but I don’t feel like anyone should be forced to mingle with people that they don’t want to mingle with. Then again, why would you want to hang out with someone who doesn’t like you?
The club says they underestimated the number of kids who they signed up to serve.
That’s like agreeing to cater a wedding without knowing how many people will be in attendance. Who are they trying to fool? I don’t believe them, and unfortunately I’m not surprised. While I believe a slight majority of the people in the United states are not only tolerant (as a club spokesman described himself) but understand that we are all the same, I know that racism will not be eradicated any time soon, if ever.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of ignorance – ignorance to White privilege and the legacy of slavery. But that’s not the case in this incident. This is a cowardly racism – smile to your face and stab you in the back. I know the appropriate response is a non-violent one, but sometimes I just want to beat the crap out of these arrogant, slimy, intolerant people.
“I don’t believe in playing dice with my children’s lives”
So swimming with Black kids is equivalent to risking your kid’s lives? Are you really that stupid? You say that Black youth (notice the capitalization) commit a lot of crime. This is a racist generalization. You are equating being a black youth with criminals – as a general rule. You probably don’t even realize that you’re a racist. Maybe you do…?
If you educated yourself on the matter, you would come to understand that the playing field is not level. From the level of education minority students recieve, the way the legal system is set up to disproportionally punish minorities as opposed to Whites (yes there is a difference), to the legacy of slavery in the USA. It is absurd to think that the past doesn’t influence the present.
If you oppress a group of people, keeping their wages low and suppress their opportunities, it’s not fair to then blame those people for not keeping up their houses…
People like you will likely never be convinced. It’s too bad so many Americans don’t understand that the USA is not a White Christian country. It is a country for all people – a nation of immigrants.
I think before most of you toss around the word racism or racist you should find the definition which is “the systematic discrimination of a group of people” Since a swim club is not a system there cannot be racism. Discrimination perhaps, racism left 45 years ago….stop living in the past…..its tiring….
Dear LEARNTHEWORDS, you need to learn that racism has never left. It is still alive and well in the United States and that’s all of the States. The phrase of “being tolerant” means we will allow those “Black & Hispanic” kids in but the significant groups of white America is still a racist and a discriminating set. You do recall this last Presidential Race. It came out then…we are not that far removed from the time, Black Americans were lynched (thanks to John Lynch and his bigotry), burned, killed, castrated. You also remember what happened in Lousiana, not too long ago, with white teens hanging a ” simulated Black man” with a noose on the school campus. Oh, let’s not forget Kartina and all the help that was denied the “Black people” of the same town (New Orleans). Wow, America has a long way to go to make up for what happened in slavery. While you didn’t do it personally, your ancestors did–much like the Japanese in World War II. Remember. Ok LEARNTHEWORDS, I think you need to learn more about History. Peace out!
It is never FAIR to brand anyone racist, is it? That goes for the Valley Swim Club as well as the the deep south in the darkest days of jim crow.
Yeah that’s right, censor my comments. Lol. Truth hurts doesnt it?
You are CONVENIENTLY only telling “one side of the story”. I have been on waiting lists for private pools in Montgomery County where Valley is located. My daughter swam against Valley Swim Club and they have a great and diverse facility which they keep well-maintained. The only thing we thought when we had a swim meet there was that the pool could have been larger because during practice the swimmers were literally kicking each other. This incident is TOTALLY a safety issue and has nothing to do with race. In my opinion, the African-Americans are the only racists and I am SO SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THEIR WHINING. Oh — and try telling both sides of the story FOR A CHANGE!
The sad thing here is that a small business owner and his wife have been tried, convicted and executed in the press.
From seeing all the interviews it’s obvious that the President of the swim club did this(cancelled the contract) because his PAYING members complained about the overcrowding.
He overstepped his authority (out of the goodness of his heart) by inviting 3 separate camps to send their kids to swim at bargain prices:
60 kids @ $1900 = $30 per kid to swim once a week for 8 weeks!!!!!
Normally you pay this much for a day where I live.
I guess he’ll remember his lesson to not try to be nice to poor kids because their leaders will
run to the press and destroy your reputation if they even perceive to have been wronged.
Nuff said.
You know “Nuff said”, why didn’t the President say the white kids had to leave the pool. I noticed you didn’t say they are “poor”. So being “poor” is only an attribute of Blacks & Hispanic people! You are just as racist and the Swim Club and that little “charity”–should be kept. If you don’t give with LOVE , it doesn’t mean anything anyway. But I guess, you wouldn’t know that, since the prices you pay are not for the “poor” people. Learn to Love (you know AGAPE)—GET RID OF YOUR HATE BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF SOMEONE’S SKIN!!! That’s the problem, you guys still say things like<”some of my best friends are black/hispanic”, or “I give to the poor”. It is really sickening to know that BIGOTRY, RACISM and DISCRIMINATION IS still ALIVE and going Strong in America. The land of the”free” and the home of the brave. Only brave enough to be a BIGOT, though! NUFF SAID (huh)
The repercussions to those children can be found in this poem by Countee Cullen:
Incident
Once riding in old Baltimore,
Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,
I saw a Baltimorean
Keep looking straight at me.
Now I was eight and very small,
And he was no whit bigger,
And so I smiled, but he poked out
His tongue, and called me, “Nigger.”
I saw the whole of Baltimore
From May until December;
Of all the things that happened there
That’s all that I remember.
This rejection is what they will remember. All the “misunderstandings” won’t change how these children see it.
Amazing…@ttc!!! Well your people are just as violent but they are held to a different standard as minorities. The school systems in minority neighborhoods are because the money is being funneled to your neighborhoods by the same people you run with. But rest assured if your people were prosecuted at the same level then you would find that your people are worse and a larger percent are criminals. But of course as long as you people are around things would seem to say minorities are more violent as you put it.
Hold it, this is a private club. It has a duty to its members, regardless of the reason, and if the regular members of the club are uncomfortable with certain visitors, so be it.
Augusta National doesn’t have to admit women golfers, and private swim clubs don’t have to admit anyone they don’t want, either.
Why is it that you don’t see large groups of white people complaining because they can’t get into private black clubs? Because complaining is the hobby of that minority. Whining.
Go build a club, and exclude whomever you want.
TTC – you might take into consideration that a higher percentage of African Americans live in the number one cause of crime, which is poverty – and poverty schools do lousy in testing regardless of race. And if you’re going to quote statistics, you should have been taking into account that – remember this, as most statisticians will tell you the same thing – correlation does not imply causality. It’s known as “cum hoc” – a type of logical fallacy. (That’s Latin, the language of education, something which you apparently lack.)
Those attempting to weigh in on the social sciences had darn well better have done their homework, and TTC – trust me on this – as Newton said to an astrologer, “I have studied these things. You have not.”
learntheword
your thinking of how it can not be racism by the means of the definition is ridiculious! you are a racist along with those people and for the other person saying they declined other daycare groups you guys are all racists. stop trying to cover up the wrong here. there are also whites out there that are committing crimes is not just blacks. i always thought and believe that when Obama was elected president that we were going to face issues in this nature due to the fact that the caucasion race would feel threathened! racism has become more of an issue since election, i have first hand witnessed when the atmosphere changed distractly at my job after the elections.. i think this is an issue that i will continue to pray for. and the people of america as well because the ignorance of this land should not be tolerated at all….
I saw the sign that says that club has been open since 1954 and I am willing to be that it was strictly whites only and I think some of these snobs don’t realize that this is the year 2009! What galls me about these racist snobs is how the big cheese and his wife got on CNN swearing up and down that they did not KNOW that there are bigots in their snobby club?? Who is he kidding? The only reason he got on CNN was to try to do damage control and he just made himself look like a moron! I hope that one woman is outed, the one that told her daughter to get out of the pool because they don’t MIX with other races?? Now how racist is that?? I think a lawsuit is appropriate here, because maybe if these racist snobs had to part with some of their money, they would think twice before opening up their ignorant mouths!!! They did scar these poor kids for life and they set racial harmony back in time and for that I think they all suck!! To think these bigots have children, sends shivers down my spine. I remember too well the early 60’s where racism wasn’t even a word, I saw whites only signs and could not understand why my black friend could not go in the candy store with me as I was raised that everyone is precious in God’s sight and I have kept that value with me all these years. If l lived in PA and had a big pool, those children could come anytime they wanted!!
Our family had a membership to that pool and they were nice and respectful to us. Even the staff and some were minorities like me and my family. I believe that the media blew this out of proportion, they only feed on the racism of story like this. I also find it hard to believe that these children and parents didn’t come forward with what they heard before the money was refunded. Which makes me think maybe it was an outraged lie because they were turned away, I know I would have told someone of these comments that were overheard if I was there that very same day, and then not even want to go back and demand our money be refunded that day! not wait a week later for the President to refund it due to overcrowding etc… Just seems a little far fetched to me. I remember the place always being crowded with members having their childrens parties there and not all of those childrens were white either. The whole thing is a shame and the media feeding and fueling it makes it worse, they should tell the whole story and people shouldn’t buy into it untill they heard the whole story instead of going by what the media wants you to hear. I called Fox’s newsroom and was told the editor only put that part of the story up but would update it later to include that it was not the only daycamp (which was some mostly white childrens)turned away and that they did infact interview another camp but it was never aired(of course) and that they also interview a African American family that is members there and the only thing they included was the 16 year old latino boy and only updated the very end of the story saying it wasn’t the only one.
Dear Tasha, please get your head out of that hole. You even said, “a few of them were minorities”…that’s just it, it’s still a few minorities and apparently, they want to keep it that way. Wake up, sweetie or they will have you thinking–all the racism is gone out of America. White America seems to always remind Black Americans/Hispanic Americas about our color! Why is that? We know how we look! MLK, said, “it’s not the color of your skin, but the strength of your character”. Now, do you see any of that in the behavior of the Valley Swim Club? Look now, See it…it’s called RACISM, BIGOTRY, DISCRIMINATION! A few Civil Right Attorneys should have a field day with this one. Shame on you for not seeing what is right in front of you. Do you think “they were being nice to you” because you were the “token” black folk? They allowed a few of us in, so it wouldn’t be said that they were racist, when in-fact that’s exactly what they were then and what they are NOW!!! Look up – C God – He & His Son, Jesus Christ are the ONLY examples of Love!
I don’t think Tasha’s a “minority.” If she is, then she wouldn’t refer to herself as that. Doesn’t make sense.
What a blessing in disguise! Creative Steps, Inc. will receive a landfall of financial blessings and not to mention FREE press because they were bullied, verbally bashed, and humiliated. There is justice after all!!!
Much love to Tyler Perry for sending these “children” to Disneyworld. I’m happy for the children.
Why don’t yhr blacks buy their own swim club and swim there. Why is it that white people who pay for a membership and give a high security deposit to be with an equal element have to be forced to accept children of parents who are not in the same society. Even if my son became friends with these kids I wouldnt allow him to visit the black childs home because of the neighborhood he lives in and I dont want him in my home because he tell people what I have in my house and I’ll get robbed
Thomas, what can I say… you are the epitome of narrow minded racial bigotry… It is obvious why you feel this way, you’ve been acting all your life out of this sense of cultural stupidity rather than good common sense. You just keep holding on to this. I don’t want to swim with you… I pity you!
Everytime I hear something like I get discussed. People enough is enough. Some of you white people want to speak your tiny little minds about blacks and hispanics well let me give you an ear full of your own kind. First, statistic shows WHITE TEENAGERS as well as adults are teen drunk homocidle maniacs, they shoot up schools, they have these intense “Hit Lists”,child molesting, human trafficing, nasty neanderthals, they are wild sex attacts (girls gone wild) showing their bodies to all the world to see and then when they are approached they have a dang nerve to yell that they were violated GET REAL, meth addicts, disease spreading, (in my opinion)savages!!! I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of SOME whites thinking that they are superior, not so!!! I have some A LOT, OF white TRUE FRIENDS that is DISGUSTED with this mess and they said and I quote THAT FACILITY NEEDS TO BEE SUED AND SHUT DOWN”
You are an insult to a second grade education my friend. What is a wild sex attact anyway? I think you mean addict.
People lose sight of the word “PRIVATE” in this whole drama. It’s a PRIVATE swim club that people pay a membership. If as a PRIVATE organization they don’t want to allow a certain race or income level into the club then that’s their decision. If I were a member and I had joined a PRIVATE club with the understanding I would be around a certain class or race then yes I would want it to stay that way and would be put out if I show up at my PRIVATE club to find a bunch of day care kids using the facilities. A PRIVATE club should have the right to pick and chose who it allows in or else it’s merely a PUBLIC club. Whether the club management or membership is racist is not for me to say, but I don’t agree with the bashing this place is taking for decision to serve it’s members.
To Everyone Above:
Lost in this are the innocent victims. You who are of a single-minded thought process are all lost no matter your race, color, or creed. This misunderstanding has bred new racism into innocent hearts where there once was none. Because, yes, we do live in 2009 and my children actually do look at people as people. I’ve worked very hard for this, as did my parents. Remember the words of MLK? Anyone? Now innocent children who used to look at each other just fine have been accused of being racist (just by virtue of being members of a BTW-middle class suburban swim club with NO COUNTRY CLUB AFFILIATIONS OR HOB NOB SNOBBY WEALTHY TIES WHATSOEVER). Most of these children did nothing. They understand even less. The children from the camp (for the most part, obviously no one can control everyone’s small-minded mouths at the pool) have simply been told they were discriminated against. The president of the club reached out his hand when they were closing down the pools in Phila and thought he could do something good. Now the pool (whose membership is not wealthy white people BTW again, but hard working people from several races — and those who have written and believed this to be the case are just as racist as they are claiming the club to be) will probably close because of a misunderstanding. Come on people, have we really not learned anything in 50 years? Someone’s righteousness has just bred a whole new crop of racists on all sides. I for one thought we had evolved more than this. Well done, good and faithful servants. God Bless the United States of America. God Bless President Obama. Heaven help us and save us all from ourselves.
Knowing how black youths behave when together in groups this doesn’t surprise one bit. Why should paying private club members have to deal with that? They don’t. I’m guessing these people take offense to a culture that celebrates killing, robbing, and raping. As they should. If we were a halfway sane society we would would more openly voice our disgust with the commercialization of “urban culture”.