Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"

[Swede]

This is ugly.





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.

Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"
Watch VideoKids at Creative Steps Day Camp were thrilled to go swimming once a week at the Valley Swim Club. But after only one trip to the private club, they were...
"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.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who-Might-Change-the-Complexion.html

[HopeHoops]

1. HIT THEIR CONTACT INFO PAGE - and bitch them out!

I did much earlier in the day. Someone also suggested downloading their "pool rules" PDF to hit their server with bandwidth charges. Not a bad idea.

This is disgusting - ESPECIALLY given where it happened. I could see this story coming out of South Carolina, where the Civil War apparently never ended, but somewhere near Philadelphia??? WTF?

[ejpoeta]

2. uggh. sounds like someone needs a boycott. how disgusting.

[treestar]

3. Is it still the 1960s in that neighborhood?

Time warp. This is sad.

Kids are usually the least racist people there are, too.

[Swede]

15. They learn from their parents.

[sarah553807]

4. Just called them,and e-mailed them.Im pissed

here’s just a few comments I picked up on a conservative site about the story (the first two pathetically try to defend their racism, the last few don’t even make an effort):

“You get 60 black kids in a swimming pool and that’s alot of Grease. Not implying racism, just fact… Blacks have alot of natural grease or oils in their hair that don’t mix well with water. That’s a huge cleaning bill (daily) for the pool. It wouldn’t be able to run all summer long with those bills.” (Yeah, no racism at all.)

“This pool is all WIN… wish they had more of these in St. Petersburg, Florida… maybe I would leave the house… they should also have a beach like this… Owner of this place should get Noble Peace prize in my opinion… btw I’m married to a black woman.” (OK, you’re married to a minority, you get the Racist Apologist Allowance Card now.)

“if the black’s had been raised to be more civilized acting i’m sure there wouldn’t have been a problem.”

“I would rather swim with piranhas in the amazon than 60 black kids.”

“Coming from a group that idolizes pedophiles and Nicole Brown murderers, they can stay in the inner city – F them.”

[ejpoeta]

11. wow!! just.... wow!!

[SeattleGirl]

5. Change the complexion??? Does this racist idiot think that black skin

color runs when the skin gets wet? That the water would turn brown?

Yeah, I know that's probably not what it meant, but the fucking asstard sounds stupid enough to actually think that.

[tularetom]

6. "left to wonder if race was the reason..."? WTF?

Didn't look to me that there was anything to wonder about. The friggin bigots SAID it was the reason.

In the long run this does not bode well for the Valley Swim Club.

[JBoy]

7. I wish I was closer. I'd go shit in their pool.

Unfuckingbelievable.

[Riley18]

8. I was surprised that it was a pool in Philadelphia, When I first heard about

it I assumed it was in the south somewhere. I've been there a few times and remember it was way up in northeast philly almost in Bucks County. We remember it as very snobby and that it had too many rules. Mom remembers they would come right up to you and check to see what you were drinking. Needless to say, we did not join.

[ejpoeta]

9. here is my email

I find it very difficult to understand that in today's day and age this kind of blatant racism still exists. While I understand that you are a private club, the fact that you claim to "pride ourselves on offering a relaxed, cordial atmosphere for you and your family to enjoy during the summer." I guess this is as long as you are the right complexion.

You accepted the membership and money of this group, and then after they were there you pulled the rug out from under them and showed them just how far we've come in this country.... Or rather how far we haven't come. I Hope that people are as incensed by your attitude and racism as I am and will make sure you feel just how inappropriate this kind of thing is.

I hope you will do the right thing, or that this group will make sure that you feel the consequences you should in the only way you can possibly understand. You and your racist, self absorbed patrons. Good luck and I hope that you can one day feel the sting you have brought to innocent children who just wanted to enjoy a swim as they were promised.

[elleng]

10. contact them

http://www.thevalleyclub.com/

[monmouth]

12. My e-mail to them

How very disappointed and disgusted by your display, and not so subtly I may add, to your outright racism and bigotry towards these children. All they wanted, and paid for, was a fun afternoon at the pool.

You are definitely a part of the problem, no where near the solution.

[elleng]

13. Thank you!

.

[Occam Bandage]

14. "We just assumed that keeping out poor people would keep out black people too!" nt

[Gemini Cat]

16. Despicable.

Stupid fearful people.

[npk]

17. Wouldn't the Federal Civil Rights ACT make that illegal

Did I just read that the camp director and the attendants say they don't allow minority children baaed solely on their race and that it would "change the complexion." If I am reading this right forget boycott, it's prison time. Is it not a federal crime to deny service based on race, gender or ethnicity?