Private Pool Club Kicks Out Minority Kids Who Might "Change The Complexion" (VIDEO)

A potentially upsetting story coming out of Philadelphia: a group of 60 young campers, many of them minorities, were told to leave a private swimming club apparently because of their race.

Some of the disheartening details:

"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 Creative Steps Day Camp's membership was suspended by the swimming club and the money they paid to join was refunded.

Watch a report from NBC Philadelphia.

Comments

[dclobbyist]

What really bothers me is this happened to kids. They did nothing and, like any other kid, probably don't really understand why they were told to leave. I hope the club gets sued. In fact, I'd be happy to represent the families myself --- for free.

[Solja]

It shouldn't matter if it were kids or not. R.a.cismShould not be still going on in 2009.

[Disuberence]

Got this from Pam Spaulding: http://www.thevalleyclub.com/downloads/2009_Rules_of_Operation.pdf

As she says, "I don't see anything here about no Negroes."

(Source: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11943/black-kids-booted-from-whitesonly-pool-at-philly-club -- great website, should check it out if you have free-time.)

[kev1000]

Okay, this makes me feel a little better:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Campers__Complexion__No_Problem_for_New_Pool_Philadelphia.html

Sorry about the ad in the beginning, but what can ya do?

[PAposter]

That's awesome, thanks for the link.

[kev1000]

To you and everyone else who posted, you're quite welcome. I agree that it doesn't make up for what happened, but it gives this dyed-in-the-wool pessimist a reason to believe that perhaps we're not all doomed to tear each other apart.

[HelixScanr]

This is good news indeed!! Yay!!!

[tsand19151]

Sanity does exsist.....

[CherrySpring]

Awesome! Thanks for posting that Kev! I'm very happy for the kids.

The other club still needs to be sued for blatant rac1sm.

[Tanyars5]

That is not a solution to the problem. They should not have had to change that pool. Sickening.

[kev1000]

Certainly!

[Solja]

That's fantastic. I love when stories end this way.

But it still does not excuse thebigots.

[kev1000]

Oh, no, no. Not at all, but still, a little ray of light.

[GravitonX]

Oh, it's not over. Not by a long shot.

[EvilRabbit]

You know...for a second there with the election of Barack Obama, I honestly debated down folks who said that more work needed to be done to combat instances like this. I was dead wrong. This is DISGUSTING and I will work to out this pool club as the racist collection of bastards they are.

[jessicadevyn]

Thank you for your honesty and coming to your senses.

It has actually been shown that since the election of Obama, hate group membership has increased, hate crimes have increased, and blacks are having an astronimical unemployment rate. Racism is FAR from dead.

[Ponderus]

Tanyars5: "I see the fierce advocate Rachel Maddow is talking about DADT again. Black kids being discriminated in a pool is not going to be mentioned by the "liberal/progressive" network.
Black people should boycott that network."

You may be right, but I bet if Rachel got this story (and it may have broken too late for tonight's show) she'd say something about it. I'm going to email her show, and CNN, too -- let's see if anybody picks it up.

[Tanyars5]

Ponderus I hope you prove me wrong. If I knew you I put down money that it will not be covered.

[Disuberence]

Like I said, Tanya, you can call into her radio show tomorrow!

[Ponderus]

I don't want to prove you wrong (we're all in this together!), but I just emailed Rachel:

msnbc.comnbc.com

Try Anderson Cooper, too (I don't have his email) and let's test them all out.

:)

[robXdion]

The only one who will pick this up is Anderson Cooper or Don Lemon. But Don will catch more flack for mentioning it because he'll be seen as looking out for his "own". That's how it goes. Meanwhile, Rachel's show is a platform for her own personal crusade and Keith is obsessed with Republican oddballs. They're both tired and played out.

[James Redmond]

The president of the Valley Club, John Duesler's publically listed, personal telephone number [phone]

[CherrySpring]

Cool. Now post your number.

[Tanyars5]

ha!

[James Redmond]

I don't commit create Hate Crime Camps

[PAposter]

Nice work, James :)

[James Redmond]

Thanks :)

[CherrySpring]

No it wasn't. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[meowomon]

"The mailbox is full and cannot accept any more messages at this time."

[wonketteRAWKS]

If true, this is disgusting! Philly, of all places? I am surprised!

[samuelberg]

Not surprising since the liberal state is all for equality as long as their precious white kids don't have to come into contact with anyone of color. Shameful.

[PAposter]

This is not a liberal state by any stretch of the imagination, and only parts of Philadelphia are liberal. Don't get it twisted!

[jessicadevyn]

It doesn't surprise me.

I would say that certain geographical areas are more open to overt racism than others but racism is endemic across America. There is not one place where there are not racist people. I have lived, worked, or visited many cities across the United States and racism is everywhere.

[Solja]

Philly is in Pennsylvania so it shouldn't be that surprising.

[jessicadevyn]

I am curious. I am in Pennsylvannia right now and I don't consider it to be any more racist than Ohio, New York, Maryland, Minnesota (some of the worst racism I have witnessed in my life was in Minnesota), Maine, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, California, Arizona, or any of the other 30+ states that I have visited or lived in. (I have decided to leave out any Southern States since people would immediatly say "Well that's the South!!")

I have also witnessed some pretty horrible racism in Canada.

Please tell me which states are bastions of racial equality since people seem to be so eager to point the finger at another state or region for being "more racist".

[PAposter]

This is not the urban section of Philly, it's an affluent area, Huntingdon Valley.

[Goshjeepers]

I see a new motto on the horizon, "The Valley Swim Club..................for the discriminating swimmer!"

Worried about changing the complexion of the pool? What a horrendous choice of words...unless they meant it that way, which I'm sure they did.

People need to check and see if this club is getting any city, state or fed money. They need to be boycotted on a daily basis there and any meets where the swim team competes. And if you can't make it to a boycott, then send them a message and bombard their mail server.

www.thevalleyclub.com/

Cut off their sunscreen supply so all can see their rednecks.

[booboo111]

Before we jump to any conclusions, let's reserve judgment until we hear what Imus has to say.

[publanski]

So, do you post the same four comments over and over again? They're not getting any funnier.

[jsrl317]

I was raised in the South. There are probably some places till like that down there, but in Philly. I wouldn't live there if you paid me. What a freaking hillbilly refuge.

[calfacon]

Not so much hillbilly as Very Rich, Very White and total snobs out that way.

[Solja]

I've heard the same thing from a friend in Philly, and she can pass for white.

[vinestip]

not hillbillies... that would be an improvement. i moved to the philadelphia area from richmond and the people here are just plain tough, aggressive, rude, crude and mean.

[WowJones]

There is a big difference between being a comedian and being a f00l. You are the latter.

[you238]

I am a white male. I was asked to leave a pool once. The reason...I was not a member. Case closed.

[Ponderus]

But that's because your wereurinating in the pool.

Case not closed.

Case just beginning.

You're anapologist forracism.

[Disuberence]

Hi Sheepy!

[puffthedragon]

LOL good one!

[robXdion]

That's a real sweet anecdote, but it has no bearing on THIS situation.

[rumblingspire]

did you pay big money?

[Pyfagorus]

But they were members:

"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."

[PAposter]

The camp paid for their campers to attend...they were members for the Summer.

It's a common practice for facilities that don't have pools, like some of the tennis camps around here.

[CherrySpring]

Horrible audio, so here's a transcript of the video. Forgive the typos or mistakes, I typed this while listening with my headphones.

Parent 1 (male): ...It didn't happen to me, it happened to a bunch of kids. Every parent is upset they're [the kids] growing up to believe they are just as equal as everybody else.

Reporter: The parents of more than sixty kids who attend the Creative Steps Day Camp say they are outraged, and are looking for apologies from those who run the Valley Swim Club in Lower Moreland Township.

Kid 1 (with braids): And I heard this lady...she was like, uh "What are all these black kids doing here?" She was like "I'm scared they might do something to my child."

Reporter: Dymir Baylor (spelling?) and sixty-five other campers were swimming at the private club two weeks ago after their camp director arranged for a weekly swim, even paying over $1900 for the privilege.

Kid 2 (with backpack): I don't know what happened. But it's very sad something happened, and we're not allowed to go back in anymore.

Reporter: The kids were supposed to return there yesterday.

Kid 3: ...no, they just kicked us out and we're about to go. Had my swimming trunks (?) and everything...

Reporter: The camp director who lives nearby the club says the pool President called her and informed her the membership was suspended and refunded their money.

(TBD... reached character limit).

[booboo111]

Does this have anything to do with the guy who drowned in a vat of chocolate?

[CherrySpring]

I don't know, let me ask Willy Wonka...

[Disuberence]

I read the second part before it was scrubbed, was that the whole of the video?

[CherrySpring]

Yes it was (sans the reporters sign off)...I hope HP posts it again. After all, I am doing their job...

[CherrySpring]

TBC even.

[CUL8R]

I am looking forward to the day when, as a Black woman as I write of some 50 years, a story like this will surprise me.

[Ponderus]

I've been praying for that day since I was old enough to know about thiscrap.

I'm still praying.

Let's see if CNN and other MSM pick up on the story.

Probably not -- that would require a social conscience.

[Tanyars5]

I see the fierce advocate Rachel Maddow is talking about DADT again. Black kids being discriminated in a pool is not going to be mentioned by the "liberal/progressive" network.
Black people should boycott that network.

[madatnewsmedia]

She continues her rant, because she is a lesbian!

[Tanyars5]

I don't care what she is. Makes no difference to me. The don't cover Black issues. They have a day long list of white hosts. Sickening.

[Disuberence]

Wasn't thie story filed at like 6 pm? That's when her show goes on. She doesn't strike me as an ad hoc person. Why not call into her radio show tomorrow?

[Disuberence]

the or this instead of thie, pick your poison.

[Tanyars5]

whose radio show?

[pghnappyrhino]

for what?

they do what they do.

there are black media outlets.

[tsand19151]

"Katie, get out of the pool, NOW!!!!!!"

"But mommy, I'm having fun...."

"Right NOW young lady"

[HelixScanr]

LMAO - That's funny