No "N' word people allowed in the pool?
Anouser
2009/07/09 10:06:53
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16 votes
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1 vote
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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.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who...
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.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who...
Top Opinion
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carlton999 2009/07/09 11:51:29This is what I think.
+5this happened to my family in Texas in 75. I was 14 and we just got off the road. it was hot so we went swimming. when we got to the pool we were the only black people there. as soon as we got in the pool everybody left. another white family form CA showed up and they asked my mom were was everybody else because it was a hot day. my mom told her what happened and the lady said well i guess we have the pool all to our selves. so our two family's stay there for the rest of the day just out of spite.
But in all seriousness, the children shouldn't be turned away solely for their race.
I personally love it when we're on vacation, and we jump in the pool at the hotel we've rented. Then we watch all the NON tattooed folks jump out. Same stupidity, same segregationalist ideals... some folks are SO AFRAID of things they know nothing about.
time for this country to move forward, and not backwards...
and this place? shut down.
*grins* so much fun to freak out the 'normals' and scare the mundanes ;)
we also stay. all day....