Philadelphia swim club Boots Black Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"

[marmar]

from NBC:



Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"
Campers sent packing after first visit to swim club

By KAREN ARAIZA

Updated 11:46 AM EDT, Wed, Jul 8, 2009


More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason.

"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

The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers' first visit to the pool suggested otherwise.

"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."

The next day the club told the camp director that the camp's membership was being suspended and their money would be refunded.

"I said, 'The parents don't want the refund. They want a place for their children to swim,'" camp director Aetha Wright said. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who-Might-Change-the-Complexion.html

[KamaAina]

1. Already all over it in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3958978&mesg_id=3958978

edit: :grr: :banghead: :argh: :nuke:

[Caliman73]

2. But I thought Obama's election changed all that...

That's what all the pundits and media types were saying:cry: Aren't we the greatest nation on earth with our wonderful equality? That is what some people keep saying...:sarcasm:

[Egnever]

5. It did and will continue to change all that

His election will move that change forward years ahead of its time. Thank god for sarah palin and a gop that way overstepped its boundaries. Without them we wouldnt have been given this leaprfrog president.

[marmar]

6. It definitely was an important moment in the country's history re: race, but......

...... it definitely didn't change "All" that. But again, it was a huge event.

[Egnever]

10. nope didn't change all that

However it never would have happened were the pukes not in such a mess. I believe his election will move us forward far faster than we will have otherwise have come had it not happened. 4 years from now the change it will have brought about simply by his outstanding modeling will be unimaginable or would have been where he and michelle not put in front of the nation for all to observe.

We got lucky that the GOP was so despised as to allow a black man to slip in this election IMHO. It would not have happened for many years other wise. It was a huge gift to our nation when it comes to race relations I believe, and one that we will all be much better off for by the end of his stay in the white house.

[CatWoman]

3. it's all michael jackson's fault!!!

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. Does the valley swim club even have a kiddie pool?

n/t

[CatWoman]

22. is there one at your house?

you should know, shouldn't you?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

29. Sadly, no, n/t

[BlooInBloo]

4. Good thing it's not race, it's class. Otherwise this would be upsetting.

[noiretextatique]

8. ...

:rofl:

"There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

[blogslut]

9. Goodness

He actually said it...out loud, to the press.

[Catherine Vincent]

11. The South is still racist!

Oops!

[wisteria]

12. Born and raised in this area of Philadelphia, I find this incident troubling.

and surprising. NE Philadelphia is very integrated and most people get along well and respect each other.

I am unable to verify anything though, all the links just lead back to this one story. I would like to see the full statement from Valley Pool.

[HarvardMed]

13. It's a shame children are targetted here

way to let racism survive another many years to come Valley Swim Club...

[Cha]

14. Glad the club got outted for their asshole

dipshitselves..sorry, the kids had to experience such ugly rejection.

If I had a Pool in Philly I would invite them over for a daily swim.

[bushmeister0]

15. Philly budget cuts had something to do with this.

The Inquirer:

"As Philadelphia faced a fiscal crisis, there were predictions that only 10 of the city's 73 pools would open. Through private and public donations and money restored to the budget, the city this summer will open 46. . .

Many residents have expressed concern that the pools that are open will be overrun with children and not have adequate staffing. Even more worrisome are fears that children will be crossing into uncharted neighborhoods and potentially sparking turf wars."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090627_Under_summer_heat__some_pools_remain_shuttered.html

Case in point?

[BlooInBloo]

17. No, fucking piece of shit bigots had everything to do with this.

[wisteria]

18. Philadelphia is very much integrated and I would just suggest that you not jump to conclusions

without knowing ALL of the facts. You could be very right, but you could also be very wrong.
I was born and raised in this area and visit there frequently and I find this story surprising as it is being reported.

[BlooInBloo]

19. Yah - I wouldn't believe black folks either - we know how oversensitive they are. Good point.

[wisteria]

21. You are trying to make my comments out to be something they are not.

Do not put words in my mouth and make an ignorant statement like that.

Things are not always as they appear. I will be the first to send a letter of outrage if this treatment is as it appears and there was intolerable discrimination involved- when all the facts are in- meaning both sides having their say.

[noiretextatique]

26. "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion

… and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

Duesler is pretty clear about the decision he made.

[hileeopnyn8d]

23. Can I ask a question?

Do you still live there? I was also born and raised in that area, and I disagree with your assessment. I do think there's a significant amount of racists in the Northeast, in fact, I think there's a white supremacist gang.

I also still have family in the area, my biracial niece would probably disagree with you as well.


Take a gander at the Phillyblog.com forums (they're down now) in the neighborhood forums, the northeast posters don't even try to hide their racism.

The ones that got banned, started their own forums where they can use whatever nasty racial slurs they can come up with.

Here's how their thread is going on this same subject:

http://phillyfreedomforum.com/showthread.php?t=1765

I honestly think it's worse now than when I left in the early 80s.

[marmar]

24. Philly is one of the most polarized cities in America.

[wisteria]

20. You have a point. And perhaps, if 60 children tried to enter the pool at one time

it was to many at one time.
I don't know the entire story, but I just hate to see people jump on this right away with so much outrage when all the facts are not in.

[marmar]

25. The Power of Denial when it comes to racism never ceases to amaze me.....

n/t

[noiretextatique]

27. can it be any clearer

"There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion...

[greguganus]

30. And if this happened down South, would you jump on this right away? n/t

[LoZoccolo]

16. Here is their website.

http://www.thevalleyclub.com

[SoCalDem]

28. Time warp..

Is it 1955 again? :grr: