Gotta love Philly

[Big D]

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

By KAREN ARAIZA

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"
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Kids 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.

"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.

Philly sucks

 

[Avaj]

I've been following this story, wrong on so many levels

Just another story to let us know racism is alive and well

 

[vta]

"Change the complexion..."


You gotta laugh. You just have to. Wow.
I can't help but laugh imagining that this was said with a straight face.

 

[rkell87]

it sucks for the club cause they will take the heat when im sure it was the club members who complained and prolly said they would leave the club thus taking there money with them.

lose lose for the club

 

[Bob Sacamano]

it sucks for the club cause they will take the heat when im sure it was the club members who complained and prolly said they would leave the club thus taking there money with them.

lose lose for the club

well for one day at least, the black kids won

they got all the white kids out of the swimming pool

but seriously, that's really messed up, and the explanation from the head person was ridiculously blunt, I can't believe he has the gall to even say that publicly

 

[CliffnDallas]

I didn't think Black people could swim.




































IT WAS A JOKE!

 

[Hostile]

$1900 for kids to swim?

I hope the backlash from this closes that club. Yes, I am serious. We don't need this crap in this country.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Pa. swim club accused of racism to ask kids back
By Ron Todt, Associated Press Writer – Mon Jul 13, 12:29 am ET

PHILADELPHIA – A private suburban swim club accused of racism after it canceled the memberships of dozens of minority children says it will seek a meeting with the kids' camps to work out an agreement for them to return.

Amy Goldman, a member of The Valley Club, said those able to attend a hastily called meeting Sunday afternoon voted unanimously in support of reinstating the memberships of the Creative Steps day camp and two other camps as long as safety issues, times and terms can be agreed upon.

The Creative Steps camp had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim each Monday afternoon at the gated Huntingdon Valley club, which is on a leafy hillside in a village straddling two overwhelmingly white townships. But after the group arrived June 29, camp director Alethea Wright said, several children reported hearing racial comments and some swim club members pulled their children out of the pool.

The camp's $1,950 was refunded a few days later.

The president of the swim club's board of directors, John Duesler, has said the decision was made out of safety considerations, not racial concerns.

"We have near-unanimous approval from our membership, so at this point we'll be figuring out ... how to approach all the camps and see how we can move forward," Duesler told WPVI-TV at the club's entrance on Sunday.

The swim club has claimed it has a diverse, multiethnic membership, but Goldman, a member for two years, said she couldn't remember seeing a black member this year.

Goldman said members were told that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which has opened an investigation, is to make a fact-finding visit to the club July 30. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., said Friday he had asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate "to determine what action, if any, is warranted by the Civil Rights Division."

Others to criticize the club include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the United States' highest-profile black swimmer, Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, who said Thursday that "hearing about what's happened to these 65 kids is both disturbing and appalling."

Chuck Wielgus, executive director of USA Swimming, the governing body for the U.S. swim team, said he was stunned by the accusations against the club.

Wright, the camp director, didn't immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Sunday evening. She said earlier that other institutions had offered to host her group at their pools for the summer.

Camp parent Silvia Carvalho said she hadn't heard about the club's action but didn't believe her 9-year-old daughter, Araceli, would be willing to return.

"She has already said so," Carvalho said Sunday night. "She doesn't want people to look at her the same way."

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Camp parent Silvia Carvalho said she hadn't heard about the club's action but didn't believe her 9-year-old daughter, Araceli, would be willing to return.

"She has already said so," Carvalho said Sunday night. "She doesn't want people to look at her the same way."

I don't blame the child and I would imagine even if they are let back the parents of the other children (that pulled their kids out of the water) would not change their attitude.

I would not want to even give a dime to this club because even if the staff changed their minds and tried to do well, you are still sending money to a club that harbors members with that type of attitude.

 

[ethiostar]

I can't imagine being a parent in this day and age and telling you kids that they can be/do anything they want to be/do and then to be confronted and expierence somehing like this. Chances are the majority of these kids (white, black and brown) probably haven't thought of themselves in these politically racial terms until now.

It's very sad really.

 

[Doomsday]

Weve come so far, and yet weve gone no where. Pretty sad!

 

[Hostile]

Pa. swim club accused of racism to ask kids back
By Ron Todt, Associated Press Writer – Mon Jul 13, 12:29 am ET

PHILADELPHIA – A private suburban swim club accused of racism after it canceled the memberships of dozens of minority children says it will seek a meeting with the kids' camps to work out an agreement for them to return.

Amy Goldman, a member of The Valley Club, said those able to attend a hastily called meeting Sunday afternoon voted unanimously in support of reinstating the memberships of the Creative Steps day camp and two other camps as long as safety issues, times and terms can be agreed upon.

The Creative Steps camp had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim each Monday afternoon at the gated Huntingdon Valley club, which is on a leafy hillside in a village straddling two overwhelmingly white townships. But after the group arrived June 29, camp director Alethea Wright said, several children reported hearing racial comments and some swim club members pulled their children out of the pool.

The camp's $1,950 was refunded a few days later.

The president of the swim club's board of directors, John Duesler, has said the decision was made out of safety considerations, not racial concerns.

"We have near-unanimous approval from our membership, so at this point we'll be figuring out ... how to approach all the camps and see how we can move forward," Duesler told WPVI-TV at the club's entrance on Sunday.

The swim club has claimed it has a diverse, multiethnic membership, but Goldman, a member for two years, said she couldn't remember seeing a black member this year.

Goldman said members were told that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which has opened an investigation, is to make a fact-finding visit to the club July 30. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., said Friday he had asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate "to determine what action, if any, is warranted by the Civil Rights Division."

Others to criticize the club include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the United States' highest-profile black swimmer, Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, who said Thursday that "hearing about what's happened to these 65 kids is both disturbing and appalling."

Chuck Wielgus, executive director of USA Swimming, the governing body for the U.S. swim team, said he was stunned by the accusations against the club.

Wright, the camp director, didn't immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Sunday evening. She said earlier that other institutions had offered to host her group at their pools for the summer.

Camp parent Silvia Carvalho said she hadn't heard about the club's action but didn't believe her 9-year-old daughter, Araceli, would be willing to return.

"She has already said so," Carvalho said Sunday night. "She doesn't want people to look at her the same way."

I think the money should be refunded, their memberships should remain intact so that they can swim for free.

Even that isn't enough to excuse this kind of crap. It is a mere band aid on a gaping laceration. There's simply no excuse for this.

 

[vta]

Another aspect of this issue has to be acknowledged.
Isn't this a private club? Isn't it within in the rights of a private organization, which doesn't get it's funding from the government, to choose who it's members are?

I don't particularly agree with their choice, but no matter how anyone feels about their racially charged self imposed segregation, is it really our business to force them to accept members they don't want to accept? Is it really a good idea to force people to be around people they don't want to be around? Isn't more than likely this will cause resentment and not result in a complete 180º of character and have them simply shrug and say "I love you"?

Whatever the impetus for their personal feelings, who are we to tell them they shouldn't feel this way? Everyone has a right to their own determination and hating them for that is really no better than hating someone for the color of their skin.

Why is Arlen specter directing people to search for something to charge them with? If it's not obvious and is simply based in bad taste then why look for a reason to punish them?

As long as you're not assaulting, killing or stealing, a person pretty much has a right to dislike another and take measures, within in the bounds of legality to stay away from them. Do we really want to impose personal morals for 'the common good'?

 

[xWraithx]

this is absolutely disgusting..

 

[ShiningStar]

Another aspect of this issue has to be acknowledged.
Isn't this a private club? Isn't it within in the rights of a private organization, which doesn't get it's funding from the government, to choose who it's members are?

I don't particularly agree with their choice, but no matter how anyone feels about their racially charged self imposed segregation, is it really our business to force them to accept members they don't want to accept? Is it really a good idea to force people to be around people they don't want to be around? Isn't more than likely this will cause resentment and not result in a complete 180º of character and have them simply shrug and say "I love you"?

Whatever the impetus for their personal feelings, who are we to tell them they shouldn't feel this way? Everyone has a right to their own determination and hating them for that is really no better than hating someone for the color of their skin.

Why is Arlen specter directing people to search for something to charge them with? If it's not obvious and is simply based in bad taste then why look for a reason to punish them?

As long as you're not assaulting, killing or stealing, a person pretty much has a right to dislike another and take measures, within in the bounds of legality to stay away from them. Do we really want to impose personal morals for 'the common good'?

Because we want to make it damn sure you know you cant own your private business nor run it as you want.

Its a private business. Did anyone ask the kids if they were offended? I notice its all about the kids til the lawyers are involved.

Lets step back and remember 2 things.

1) its a private business that can run its business any way it chooses to.

2) Just because something doesnt go your way, STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, no dice here, you dont like how a private business runs their business, take your money elsewhere, dont sit at their gates and CRY and tell them you're going to burn the place down because they have views.

I enjoy the people who wants everyone to think how they do, til they find out those people think different from them, than its a bloody rampage to get justice for the kids who i am sure were sooooooooooooooooo offended.

Not buying it.

 

[vta]

Because we want to make it damn sure you know you cant own your private business nor run it as you want.

Its a private business. Did anyone ask the kids if they were offended? I notice its all about the kids til the lawyers are involved.

Lets step back and remember 2 things.

1) its a private business that can run its business any way it chooses to.

2) Just because something doesnt go your way, STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, no dice here, you dont like how a private business runs their business, take your money elsewhere, dont sit at their gates and CRY and tell them you're going to burn the place down because they have views.

I enjoy the people who wants everyone to think how they do, til they find out those people think different from them, than its a bloody rampage to get justice for the kids who i am sure were sooooooooooooooooo offended.

Not buying it.

The kid's may have had their feelings hurt, but what's going to make it memorable is dragging it around and making it a spectacle. There's no victory here, let it die and move on.

Every kid faces the ugly side of life and if the adults around him/her insist on behaving like it's the most shocking blow dealt to mankind how are they going to learn to accept their own worth? It's an adults job in this instance to explain the nature of the human condition to them and let them learn to appreciate when they're faced with genuine courtesy from genuinely nice people.

The reality is, you aren't allowed to go everywhere in this world; everyone doesn't love you. It's not pretty, but it's closer to reality than trying force everyone to behave like they do.

 

[ShiningStar]

The kid's may have had their feelings hurt, but what's going to make it memorable is dragging it around and making it a spectacle. There's no victory here, let it die and move on.

Every kid faces the ugly side of life and if the adults around him/her insist on behaving like it's the most shocking blow dealt to mankind how are they going to learn to accept their own worth? It's an adults job in this instance to explain the nature of the human condition to them and let them learn to appreciate when they're faced with genuine courtesy from genuinely nice people.

The reality is, you aren't allowed to go everywhere in this world; everyone doesn't love you. It's not pretty, but it's closer to reality than trying force everyone to behave like they do.

you mean im not entitled to everything good in this world? Your thought is dismissed, RACIST.

 

[vta]

you mean im not entitled to everything good in this world? Your thought is dismissed, RACIST.

I'll take my sheet and leave...

 

[ShiningStar]

I'll take my sheet and leave...

Totally agree with you VTA

 

[Avaj]

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?rf=tt