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.
Campers remain unsure why they're no longer welcome.
"They just kicked us out. And we were about to go. Had our swim things and everything," said camper Simer Burwell.
The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded.
"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.
While the parents await an apology, the camp is scrambling to find a new place for the kids to beat the summer heat.
The best part...
"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.
Change the COMPLEXION of the club? How is the NAACP not standing outside this club right now?
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If we accept the report from the OP at face value, then that's pretty outrageous. It's a civil rights lawsuit waiting to happen, and from all appearances it couldn't happen to a better place.
73% of all statistics are made up, including this one.
Garibaldi wrote:It is entirely possible that the club was simply unprepared for the arrival of 60 kids. Maybe the kids were rowdy. We don't know.
You might want to read the article again, since it was quite clear about the events. It says quite plainly that the kids who were there in the pool when the new kids arrived all jumped out of the pool, followed immediately by their parents throwing a giant hissy fit.
Additionally, their "concern" about the "complexion" of the club was pretty thinly-veiled.
You might want to read the article again, since it was quite clear about the events. It says quite plainly that the kids who were there in the pool when the new kids arrived all jumped out of the pool, followed immediately by their parents throwing a giant hissy fit.
Additionally, their "concern" about the "complexion" of the club was pretty thinly-veiled.
No, that was the version of events given by the parents of the black kids. Nowhere is there an objective account of what happened and nowhere is there a quote by anyone else who was actually there. It is entirely possible that this is pure racism, since this is a rich white suburb, but there are large gaps in the information given by the article.
NBC wrote:Campers "Complexion" No Problem for New Pool U.S. Senator looking into accusations of racism
By VINCE LATTANZIO
Updated 11:14 PM EDT, Wed, Jul 8, 2009
For kids in the summertime, there's nothing better than jumping full-speed into a pool to cool off.
So when 65 kids from a Northeast Philadelphia camp were banned from taking a dip at a private swim club because of fears they would "change the complexion" and "atmosphere" -- they couldn't understand why.
Creative Steps Day Camp paid The Valley Swim Club more than $1900 for one day of swimming a week, but after the first day, the money was quickly refunded and the campers were told not to return.
At first there was no explanation, but some of the campers recalled overhearing comments about the color of their skin while at the club.
Then the swim club president John Duesler issued this statement: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club."
But what does that matter? They just wanna swim.
So the staff at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool.
"We had to help," said Girard College director of Admissions Tamara Leclair. "Every child deserves an incredible summer camp experience."
The school already serves 500 campers of its own, but felt they could squeeze in 65 more – especially since the pool is vacant on the day the Creative Steps had originally planned to swim at Valley Swim Club.
"I'm so excited," camp director Alethea Wright exclaimed. There are still a few logistical nuisances -- like insurance -- the organizations have to work out, but it seems the campers will not stay dry for long.
The banning has caused so much controversy that U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) plans to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim.
"The allegations against the swim club as they are reported are extremely disturbing," Specter said in a statement. "I am reaching out to the parties involved to ascertain the facts. Racial discrimination has no place in America today."
Such a coincidence, this story: but a few days ago, I started reading Narrative of the Life, that autobiography by the famous Frederick Douglass' that is, in part, a record of his life as a former U.S. slave.
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Garibaldi wrote:No, that was the version of events given by the parents of the black kids. Nowhere is there an objective account of what happened and nowhere is there a quote by anyone else who was actually there. It is entirely possible that this is pure racism, since this is a rich white suburb, but there are large gaps in the information given by the article.
In that case, what exactly would you consider "objective?"
How about a quote directly from the President of the swim club in question?
"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.
Garibaldi wrote:It is entirely possible that the club was simply unprepared for the arrival of 60 kids. Maybe the kids were rowdy. We don't know.
The club was certainly prepared to take their money. You're right that we're missing information, but between the known circumstances (black kids being suddenly kicked out of a majority-white swim club for no apparent reason) and the quote from the club president, it certainly stinks of racism. I can certainly believe a bunch of rich white Montco dickheads didn't want black city kids in their pool.
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It's certainly possible that Mr. Duesler misspoke, and that the departing campers encountered racism from club members or their offspring, rather than the officers and staff. In that case, the club might think about urging Mr. Duesler's resignation on grounds of carelessness, if not insensitivity, while members reconsider their behavior. Rowdy children - and usually such misbehavior is more probable in large groups where supervision is limited - make bad company at any pool.
It's also possible, however, that these allegations are credible down to the very last one. While I doubt Duesler intended to make any statements that identify him as a racist even if he is one, racism may still be at play.
You're right that we're missing information, but between the known circumstances (black kids being suddenly kicked out of a majority-white swim club for no apparent reason) and the quote from the club president, it certainly stinks of racism. I can certainly believe a bunch of rich white Montco dickheads didn't want black city kids in their pool.
I can certainly believe it too, but since the only information we have is firmly from one perspective (even the quote from the club president is elided!) I think it's too early to start accusing people of bigotry. But since the mighty Arlen Specter is on the case I'm sure we'll have a full reckoning in no time.
Days before a Northeast Philadelphia day camp's membership at a private suburban swim club was rescinded, several of the campers said they had heard racial remarks about themselves at the pool.
Parents and staff members of Creative Steps Inc. day camp are considering legal action against the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, said Alethea Wright, the camp's executive director.
Sixty-five campers, kindergartners through seventh graders who are African American and Hispanic, arrived at the private swim club around 3:30 p.m. on June 29. It was their first visit to the club, but the camp had made arrangements for weekly trips on Mondays through Aug. 10.
While the campers were swimming, Wright said, three of them came up to her and said they had heard club members asking what African Americans were doing at the club.
Although the children were upset, Wright said, they stayed at the pool for an hour more to complete their session. She said that she approached club president John Duesler while events unfolded that day and that he seemed apologetic.
On July 3, Wright said, the camp's $1,950 check in membership fees to the swim club was refunded, meaning the children no longer had access to the pool. She said Duesler gave no reason for the refund except that the membership no longer wanted the children at the pool.
Repeated attempts to reach Duesler, other club officers, and the club's management yesterday were unsuccessful. NBC10, which first reported the story, said yesterday that Duesler had given the station the following statement: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion . . . and the atmosphere of the club."
Wright said she heard no racially charged comments when the campers were at the club but did hear a club member express displeasure that the children were at the pool. She said many parents made their children leave the pool after the campers arrived.
"There were no behavioral problems" with the campers, who were accompanied by eight Creative Steps staff members, Wright said. "They never gave a reason."
Club member Bernadette Sinnott, 44, said that although she was not at the pool on June 29, she had heard the club took back the campers' membership because of space issues, not race.
"I think they thought it was too crowded," she said.
Sinnott was at the club yesterday with her son Brandon, 14, who said he was biracial and had never encountered racism at the pool.
The camp first contacted the club about membership after the New Frankford Community Y in the Frankford section of the city - where the children used to swim - closed last month because of lack of money. The club is about a 20-minute drive from the camp's location at Devereaux and Summerdale Avenues in Northeast Philadelphia.
The campers swim at an indoor pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Jewish Community Center in Philadelphia, but Wright said the camp wanted to get them to an outdoor facility as well. She said Girard College had offered its pool to the campers for the rest of the summer.
City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, who represents the camp's Northeast Philadelphia district, said the allegations were upsetting but not surprising.
"It is outrageous and unfortunately part of what we still confront day in and day out because of folks' lack of understanding," she said. "Once you cross the county line, it's a whole different world."
Several parents and the camp are looking into possible legal action against the club, said Staci Morgan, a Creative Steps board member and Philadelphia social worker.
Their options depend on whether the state Human Relations Commission has jurisdiction over the club's operations, said Michael Hardiman, a lawyer with the commission. Organizations that are "distinctly private" do not fall under that jurisdiction.
Hardiman would not say whether the Valley Swim Club met the commission's criteria for investigation.
The club includes more than 10 acres of land and a 110,000-gallon pool, according to its Web site, and is a private nonprofit organization chartered in 1954. A single membership is $395 per year.
More details about the incident, which certainly shines more light on it. Still not clear whether it was racism or not.
Interestingly, the UPI quotes Duesler a little differently:
John Duesler, the president of the club, said the decision was not based on race, adding other camp and daycare groups also were canceled. He said the groups "fundamentally changed the atmosphere at the pool."
The more I read the Club President's statement the more I get the sense that the board or some other membership group made the decision by vote to kick the kids out and he is trying to spin it in the best possible light (and not doing a paticularly great job about it either). Whether this club is private enough to be able to avoid any lawsuit is the real question. If they are completely private (that is they don't offer open membership or something of the sort) then this may be a stain on their reputation but they won't be liable. If they are somewhat public then cetainly there is was de facto racism if not de jure on the club's part.
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While there seems to be undertones of racism involved, I'd be curious if there weren't a strong head of class-ism leading this one. I could imagine a club which considers its membership privileged or exclusive might have members who turn their noses up at 'the public' coming in to their private retreat.
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Garibaldi wrote:Huntington Valley is also not in Philadelphia; it's an affluent, mostly-white suburb. Please change the highly misleading thread title.
You're just being a pedantic douche bag. Huntingdon Valley is less than a mile from the Philadelphia border. I know this because I work in Huntingdon Valley and I ride my bike through Philadelphia every day to do so. My ride, incidentally, is just under 2 miles. It isn't the actual city, but it may as well be for purposes of giving a rough geographic location to people not from the area.
I had a Bill Maher quote here. But fuck him for his white privelegy "joke".
Lagmonster wrote:While there seems to be undertones of racism involved, I'd be curious if there weren't a strong head of class-ism leading this one. I could imagine a club which considers its membership privileged or exclusive might have members who turn their noses up at 'the public' coming in to their private retreat.
That's my take on it too - I doubt these club members are freaking out over black, Hispanic, or Asian members who are clearly affluent enough to belong, but bringing in 65 poor darkies from the city. Clutch the pearls!
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In many places in the South, the private swim club is a means by which people racists who cannot afford their own pool or join the country club can swim without catching the cooties in the municipal pool. There was one in Winder, in the neighborhood I grew up in, Pineshore Swim Club. Membership was something like $200-$300 a family, back in the '80s. Quite reasonable, you'd think - so long as you were white. Otherwise, there'd be all this paperwork, or the rate would be much higher, or something. Anything. Just so as to encourage you to go away, without saying, "Back of the bus".
When I was very young, I could never figure out why my friends from my neighborhood got to go swimming, and I didn't. Later, when I was old enough, I would bike the miles into town, and swim at the public Rec pool. Where I made new friends. Then I began to understand, and appreciate, my father's refusal to join Pineshore Swim Club. Because it wasn't the money, or our skin color.
See the first part of my narrative. About why these places exist. Neighborhood/subdivision pools being restricted to resident - no problem. Country Club? Well, they exist solely to let rich people meet and breed with other rich people, and rarely if ever rent their facilities out. This obviously isn't a residential pool, otherwise, why call it a club? Country Club? That's a possibility, considering that with what has happened to the portfolios of most of the barely rich ( who are usually the snobbiest of the rich, and the ones who join such clubs ). The club, needing revenue, may have begun renting out the pool - without informing it's members. Hence, the member's reactions. You have to admit, it would be quite shocking to find a horde of darkies er, poor people, er....well, you see how hard it is to justify the club members' reactions. I know that I can't. Unless one of the daycare kids shat a floater into the pool right after jumping in, there is no way for the club to justify what happened.
Private swim clubs, insofar as I know, exist for only one reason - to keep so-called undesirables out of the pool you're swimming in.
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Interestingly, the club's website is down at the moment. Several blogs claim that the club has previously advertised "open membership," though that cannot be verified.
For those of you interested in the legal precedent, the Third Circuit ruled against the Lansdowne Swim Club in 1990 for discriminatory admissions (i.e. not letting in blacks). The Lansdown Swim Club is closer to Philadelphia, even, then the Valley Swim Club.
Frankly, if the club had no intention of honouring the agreement it made with the day camp, the day camp should sue the club for breach of contract and all of the inconvenience and expense of trying to arrange substitute facilities on short notice, not to mention the humiliation suffered by its patrons. It's not enough to simply refund the day camp's money.
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Lagmonster wrote:While there seems to be undertones of racism involved, I'd be curious if there weren't a strong head of class-ism leading this one. I could imagine a club which considers its membership privileged or exclusive might have members who turn their noses up at 'the public' coming in to their private retreat.
That's my take on it too - I doubt these club members are freaking out over black, Hispanic, or Asian members who are clearly affluent enough to belong, but bringing in 65 poor darkies from the city. Clutch the pearls!
I have a pretty strong feeling that in these communities, there is little difference. There are many areas in the US where socio-economic class lines and racial community lines are pretty much the same.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
I would be curious to see if the club bothered to find out in advance how many kids were coming. Sixty five kids is a GIANT surge in pool population. I took the kids I was in charge of out of a pool once for a similiar reason, not because of race but because my kids were ALREADY overstimulated and no way was i going to keep track of them under those circumstances. Then again this could be a giant pool...
on the other hand I was watching six kids, I hardly knew, not two of my own, and MY kids had behavioral issues I couldn't really address in that setting.
Then again plausibility goes right out the window with tthe president's statement.
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You're just being a pedantic douche bag. Huntingdon Valley is less than a mile from the Philadelphia border. I know this because I work in Huntingdon Valley and I ride my bike through Philadelphia every day to do so. My ride, incidentally, is just under 2 miles. It isn't the actual city, but it may as well be for purposes of giving a rough geographic location to people not from the area.
I grew up in the area, thank you, so I know their relative geographic locations. Culturally, economically, and demographically the areas are quite different, so calling Huntingdon Valley "Philadelphia" is extremely misleading.
Themightytom wrote:I would be curious to see if the club bothered to find out in advance how many kids were coming. Sixty five kids is a GIANT surge in pool population.
They charged $1900. They must have been expecting a pretty large number of kids. I actually think it's pretty much inconceivablethat they wouldn't have quoted the rate based on the number of kids.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
Darth Wong wrote:Frankly, if the club had no intention of honouring the agreement it made with the day camp, the day camp should sue the club for breach of contract and all of the inconvenience and expense of trying to arrange substitute facilities on short notice, not to mention the humiliation suffered by its patrons. It's not enough to simply refund the day camp's money.
That may be the best way to punish them. Whether or not they were racist on their own, they at least condemed racist behaviour by their guests AND acted on it. Whether or not this is actually illegeal does not matter, its clearly immoral behaviour.
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Lagmonster wrote:While there seems to be undertones of racism involved, I'd be curious if there weren't a strong head of class-ism leading this one. I could imagine a club which considers its membership privileged or exclusive might have members who turn their noses up at 'the public' coming in to their private retreat.
That's my take on it too - I doubt these club members are freaking out over black, Hispanic, or Asian members who are clearly affluent enough to belong, but bringing in 65 poor darkies from the city. Clutch the pearls!
I have a pretty strong feeling that in these communities, there is little difference. There are many areas in the US where socio-economic class lines and racial community lines are pretty much the same.
That's certainly possible, however in most of those places ethnic minorities are accepted (in small numbers) as long as the meet the required socio-economic and cultural standards (i.e., they need to be middle class or rich AND not act like a bunch of hoodrats).
I'm still confused how exactly the daycampers were allowed in in the first place. Did they assume these were a bunch of wealthy white kids or something, or did whoever approved it simply not expect the members' reactions?
In Brazil they say that Pele was the best, but Garrincha was better
