Black kids booted from Philly club's 'whites-only' pool

[ccharles000]

Welcome to post-racial America, where people have their heads in the sand about the state of race relations in this country because a black man was elected POTUS.

The staff at the Valley Swim Club in NE Philly must have stepped into the DeLorean and took a spin back into the days of segregation, as 60 kids were turned away from the pool there and apparently the people at the Swim Club didn't mind their inner bigot surface for all to see. (NBC Philly):

"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."

..."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.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11943/black-kids-booted-from-whitesonly-pool-at-philly-club

[mark olson]

1. Debunked? NT

[supernova]

3. No, it's quite real

and welcome to DU!

:D

[Name removed]

Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pepperbear]

47. looks like you may only be here for about 5 more minutes....

can't suspend disbelief enough to believe this is true? and look! no explanation either.

you're a winner, just like marky mark in boogie nights, except without the big appendage!

[rcrush]

2. Damn they didnt try to make up an excuse

They outright told them to their faces that they dont want them there cause they are black. Thats some old school racism.

[vadawg]

4. and its in philly, which correct me if im wrong is not considered south of the mason/dixon line

who would have thunk it, racists in the north.....

[BlooInBloo]

5. Yep - branch offices far away from bigot headquarters have existed for quite some time.

[GreenInNC]

11. I am shocked!

that something like this would happen in the north :sarcasm:

[readmoreoften]

12. Philly is so segregated people don't even know to CYA with euphemisms and horseshit.

It's not the South. It's more segregated than the South.

[wisteria]

21. Nonsense. From where do you draw your facts? I was born and raised in Philadelphia.

I attended school with many minorities and Philadelphia has a Black mayor and council. I contend that Philadelphia is not segregated, but is open and respect all minorities.
If it turns out there were a few ignorant people who are guilty of racism, that doesn't mean the entire city is that way.

[DFW]

26. Racism persists in some parts, but basically I agree with you

I went to college in West Philly, which was predominantly black, but due to the school, just barely.
Maybe it's because my two roommates were black (I'm white), but I was only told to leave a black
gathering once in all my time there, and never felt threatened, and neither did the guys I roomed with.

Sure there are areas of town that are predominantly of one ethnic group, but what big city doesn't
have that? This is a case of some bigoted rich people thinking it's still 1950, and that is something
you'll find in most any big city in the USA, wherever it is.

[jberryhill]

27. I have a question for you...

What happens if you park your car in the middle of Broad Street:

A. In South Philly

B. In North Philly

[Voltaire]

42. Oh no no

I was born and raised in Philly, still visit it often because of family and sports and I will say now as I said then, it is one of the most racist cities in the United States. And I LIKE the place.

[DainBramaged]

44. A Philadelphia country club, isn't that an oxymoron in itself?

[tularetom]

6. Countdown producers are falling down on the job

I was sure these douchebags would be the worst persons in the world tonight.

[izquierdista]

7. Scenes from Caddyshack?

I hope someone was thoughtful enough to leave a Baby Ruth bar in the pool after they got out. :rofl:

[ZombieHorde]

8. K&R

[NYC_SKP]

9. Contact Information to "The Club" Here:

(line is busy, sent an email)

http://www.thevalleyclub.com/contact.html


The Valley Club Contact Directory

Physical Address:

22 Tomlinson Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Map to The Valley Club

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 134, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

Club Phone Number:

215-947-0700

Club E-mail:

[e-mail]

[armyowalgreens]

36. *Foams at the mouth* thank you sooooo much.

[pinto]

10. Saw that story here this morning. Philly NBC affiliate has it as well.

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

[Laelth]

13. Specter plans to launch an investigation.

Here: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Campers-Complexion-No-Problem-for-New-Pool.html

:dem:

-Laelth

[ccharles000]

14. good

[goclark]

15. The "City of Brotherly Love",,,,,,,

I just sent them an email -- thanks and K and R

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia

[wisteria]

23. You blame an entire city for what "may" be the acts of a couple of people

who run a private club? LOL
Philadelphia has a Black mayor- Mayor Nutter and city council is extremely minority enriched. Philadelphia has had several Black mayors and a majority of Philadelphians voted for President Obama.
You need to wait and get both sides of this issue before just jumping to conclusions.

[goclark]

41. I am not blaming the entire city ~ LOL

It is amazing that you would come to that conclusion.

End of Discussion

[handmade34]

16. thanks for posting ccharles

I have to spend too much time in "gated communities" and this stuff can't be left alone...

[LiberalAndProud]

17. I hope this bites the Valley Swim Club in the ass. hard.

I want them to die a thousand painful deaths.

[ccharles000]

24. I agree

[Number23]

18. Thanks for posting this, charles. I've found so many of your posts to be informative

Thanks for posting them.

ETA: Faux Pas of the Week:

"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."

Damn, you really can't make this crap up. Rec'd.

[wisteria]

19. Everyone who posts about this link to one article only.

That article just links back to itself. Maybe there was racism then again maybe there wasn't. How much of this is fact and how much is fiction? There are always two sides to a story and I have not seen or been able to link from anything other than this one article. I was born and raised in this area and I find this whole supposed epidode to be questionable. I would really like to hear from the pool club.
I will withold an opinion until I know ALL the facts.

[Lilyeye]

25. Right because this could never happened in philly. Give me a fucking break.

[Iggo]

30. Then drop 'em a line.

Tell them how you think there's always two sides to a story, and you'd like to hear theirs.

The Valley Club Contact Directory

Physical Address:

22 Tomlinson Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Map to The Valley Club

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 134, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

Club Phone Number:

215-947-0700

Club E-mail:

[e-mail]

[Raineyb]

38. Jesus H Christ, another God damned apologist!

What do you need to prove to you that racism exists? Not all racism comes in the form of jackasses in white sheets. As incidents go this is fucking blatant.

I can't stand fuckwits.

[Lilyeye]

I hear ya. In another thread about this there is another apologist who thinks this is "strange" for

2009. I personally don't consider it strange. After seeing a co-worker call another the n word to his face just last year. Most of these people feel bold when they feel they have backup.

[Lilyeye]

51. I hear ya. In another thread about this there is another apologist who thinks this is "strange" for

2009. I personally don't consider it strange. After seeing a co-worker call another the n word to his face just last year. Most of these people feel bold when they feel they have backup.

[JTFrog]

40. "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club,"

Looks like a direct quote from the president of the fucking club.

:shrug:

[pepperbear]

46. ...there are apparently 55 stories on google

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,531024,00.html

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090709_Montco_swim_club_accused_of_racial_discrimination.html

http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/07/09/kids-who-would-change-the-complexion-are-turned-away-from-pool/

[Ignis]

50. Concerned, are you? (nt)

[nc4bo]

20. Originally from South Jersey.....NE Philly has a very bigoted reputation.

Doesn't surprise me in the least if this is 100% true.

[wisteria]

22. Originally from NE Philly, get back there frequently because family still lives there.

And, I call your post BS.

[jberryhill]

29. The club is in Huntington Valley

I doubt white trash from Northeast would be wanted there either.

[nc4bo]

33. Call it what you like. We knew to stay away from there. nt

[BlooInBloo]

34. Some people don't like being shown what's behind the curtain.

[Lilyeye]

28. Those poor kids. This is horrible.

[Iggo]

31. Sensible people step up.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Campers-Complexion-No-Problem-for-New-Pool.html

[Matariki]

32. Hmm - maybe it was all a set up by Arlen Spector

so he could denounce it and look like a Democrat. :rofl:

[nc4bo]

48. My God. There are some horribly nasty racist comments there...

obviously these assholes are in the minority else we wouldn't have a Pres. Barack Obama now (thank goodness!).

I feel like I just waded through 4 feet of pig shit after reading some of those comments :puke:

[armyowalgreens]

35. The damage to the kids is the worst part. This makes me so fucking angry...

Man if I had access to the people who run that pool... I would tear them to fucking pieces.

[lamp_shade]

37. If the white kids hadn't been told to get out of the pool, they wouldn't have even

noticed. Racism begins in the home.

[Ken Burch]

39. "She's like 'I'm scared they might do something to my child'"?

Tell me that I didn't actually read that.

:puke: :wow: :wtf:

[Mari333]

43. Update on this:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090709_Montco_swim_club_accused_of_racial_discrimination.html

looks like quite a few parents intend to sue. good.

[terip64]

45. K&R

[jesus_of_suburbia]

49. This breaks my heart. How terrible. Many people suck.