WTF were they thinking?
July 8th, 2009 05:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunadelcorvoSwim Club Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"
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.
Kids at Creative Steps Day Camp were thrilled to go swimming once a week at the Valley Swim Club. (http://www.thevalleyclub.com/) But after only one trip to the private club, they were asked to leave.
"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.
Source.
Another source.
Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
doctoreon and other who posted this. Spread it around, call the Club, write letters, etc.!
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.
Kids at Creative Steps Day Camp were thrilled to go swimming once a week at the Valley Swim Club. (http://www.thevalleyclub.com/) But after only one trip to the private club, they were asked to leave.
"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.
Source.
Another source.
Thanks to
doctoreon and other who posted this. Spread it around, call the Club, write letters, etc.!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: July 8th, 2009 09:26 pm (UTC)Publicly, I think that media attention needs to go that direction. Some tasteful protests, polite expressions of indignation, and sincere consciousness raising.
And while I do grok that "Private Social Clubs" have a right, upheld by the Supreme Court, hence Boy Scouts of America's stand to exclude gay scouts and leaders, to set their own membership policies. What did they EXPECT taking an inner city day camp's money? JUST the white kids?
"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,"... RIGHT. I guess just BECUASE their black, that makes them dangerous and criminals. Crap like that just raises my back. Always has. It's a hateful and ignorant attitude.
Privately, I think it's time for [ ghetto ] some uptight mother------s to grow the f--k UP! [ /ghetto ] I put up with that bulls--t back in the 70's, we're DONE wit dat. Word.
* Gnash Gnash *
no subject
Date: July 8th, 2009 09:44 pm (UTC)"Change the complexion" - give me a freaking break.
no subject
Date: July 8th, 2009 11:23 pm (UTC)