Philadelphia Private Swim Club Forces Out Black Children

Update: The public email and phone number for The Valley Swim Club is 215-947-0700 and [e-mail]. The President of the club is John Duesler.

Updated July 9: The Michael Smerconish Program interviewed an eyewitness named "Jan," who is a member of The Valley Swim Club. Jan says the children from The Creative Steps Day Camp were very well-behaved, and the camp supervisors were highly attentive. This puts a dent in the argument that, perhaps, the children were behaving in an overly rowdy fashion, which is why they were ejected.

NBC reports that more than 60 African-American campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club because -- according to John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club -- "there was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion ... and the atmosphere of the club."

It may surprise some Americans to learn that not only do certain private clubs still refuse to admit African-Americans, women, and gay people, but that this kind of enrollment discrimination is considered perfectly legal.

While the total number of private clubs is unknown, there are around at least 4,000 private golf clubs, according to Golf Digest. Of course, since these clubs are private, their exact enrollment standards aren't part of the public record, so there is no way to know for sure if they discriminate against ethnic minorities, women, or homosexuals. Furthermore, even if they do adopt official "white males only" policies, these practices are considered "legal" in some jurisdictions, though many clubs have been sued for discrimination.

Because of the shroud of secrecy surrounding enrollment at private clubs, these discriminatory practices usually only come to light when the media catches a prominent politician on the fairway. Katon Dawson, South Carolina GOP chairman and former candidate for the RNC chair, was forced to resign from the Forest Lake Club after members made public the fact that the club has a whites-only restriction and no black members. Then there was Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), who hosted a golf fundraiser at a whites-only club back in 2000 along with then-lawmakers Bob Ney and Tom DeLay.

Back in 1992, Bill Clinton was accused of attending an all-white private golf club, though Mark Grobmeyer, the Little Rock lawyer who played at the club with Clinton, denied there was a "no blacks" policy. Why were there no black players then? Mr. Grobmeyer replied, "None have applied."

President Kennedy was once challenged by future Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, over his membership at the Links Country Club because the club excluded Jews from membership. President Kennedy reportedly chuckled and replied, "Hell, Arthur, they don't even allow Catholics."

This recent case of discrimination at the Philadelphia club is merely a continuation of discriminatory admission standards. Such official bans on non-Anglo Saxon men may seem superfluous considering outrageous membership fees are usually enough deterrence to keep non-white people off the golf courses and out of the pools, but when The Creative Steps Day Camp managed to pay the $1900 for their young campers to enter The Valley Swim Club, the staff resorted to drastic measures.

"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."

Remarks like that make it difficult to remember that it's 2009. According to attorney Benjamin Leedy, another shameful episode occurred a little over a decade ago when Hall Thompson, founder of the all-white Shoal Creek club in Birmingham, AL (site of the 1990 PGA Championship,) declared that his club would not be pressured into accepting African-American members. "This is our home, and we pick and choose who we want," he said.

Leedy cites another recent example in 2003 at the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, where Martha Burke, head of the National Council of Women's Organizations, demanded that the club allow women to become members. Hootie Johnson chairman of Augusta National, responded "There may well come a day when women will be invited to join our membership, but that timetable will be ours and not at the point of a bayonet."

In 2001, Birgit Koebke and Kendall French, a lesbian couple registered as domestic partners under the California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003, sued Bernardo Heights Country Club alleging that the club discriminated against them on the basis of sexual orientation. The club's membership privileges were only available to members' spouses and children, but not to members' domestic partners. In 2005, the California Supreme Court concluded "that since, under California law, registered domestic partners have rights equivalent to legal spouses, the question of whether the club's practice of granting playing privileges to members' spouses but not to members' registered domestic partners constituted unlawful discrimination under California's anti-discrimination law must be left to a jury decide."

This most recent case of discrimination in Philadelphia is particularly sinister because it involves banishing children. "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.

What a terrible lesson to teach two children -- one white and one black. The white child learns to fear those who are different from them. The black child learns there is something "wrong" and "dirty" about their very existence. Hopefully, another more enlightened swim club will welcome the campers from The Creative Steps Day Camp, who are now looking for a place to keep cool during the summer.

Cross-posted from Allison Kilkenny's blog. Also available on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow Allison Kilkenny on Twitter: www.twitter.com/allisonkilkenny

Comments

[Lannie]

Please don't lump Gays in with Black People. Yes, I believe that Black People should have the right to do whatever they would like and yet they are not a separate class of people. They are people with a skin color that happens to be different than the majority of this society. A Black Person at least has the support of their family and friends. Gays generally don't. Black People simply can't imagine the type of discrimination that Gays experience.

[longtalldrink]

Yes, please don't lump Gays with Black people. Gays just simply can't imagine the type of discrimation that Blacks experience. I mean all those lynchings and draggings behind pick up trucks don't mean a thing if I can't marry my partner.

[bilmardre]

This article is about children, so I don't think who you choose to sleep with is relevant here.

[KatersG]

I don't find your arguments convincing. I think its ridiculous to compare "discrimination" anyway. Every group has different issues and challenges and heartaches. But to say that its somehow easier to be a racial minority is silly. White children who grew up to be gay would not have been kicked out of that club - because to a large extent they are an invisible minority until they are teenagers/adults. In contrast a racial minority would face discrimination in some quarters from them moment they take steps out into the world. How can that be easier - to be a child and face that kind of ugliness.

[etfp]

you're right. us black people can't imagine the type of discrimination that gays experience. *groan*

not sure where you've been the past 450 plus years but whatever.

[KatersG]

You said that much better than I did!

[ReedYoung]

I agree with you. The legal matter is full and equal protection of law for everybody. Comparing grievance size might be fun at cocktail parties with close allies after winning a difficult campaign or court decision, but in public it would be more beneficial to all oppressed minority groups to show a united front. In other words praise friends and allies publicly, and when critique is necessary do it privately.

[rkm0619]

Forcing the minority kids out was not the best way to handle the situation. As long as the club does not receive public funding and is a 100% pure entity, they can continue these practices because it is privacy.

[rkm0619]

I meant to say a 100% purely private entity....

[ReedYoung]

Merely being privately owned doesn't cut it. The club does not have "genuinely selective" admissions standards so it's going to lose a court challenge, if one is brought.
http://altlaw.org/v1/cases/543124

[elaygee]

I'm not so much bothered by the legal arguements about the use of 'private" clubs by non members as I am by the prejudicial reactions to being social with people of a different ethnicity. And stop using "racism" as a term for this kind of prejudice. There is no difference in race between Afircan Americans, Europena Americans, Asian Americans and all those who are somewhere in between. We are all part of the human race. Only the outside covering looks different. Culture and class are the real differences we need to remove.

[AdamX]

Public vs. private.

A "private" club should admit whomever they want - just like you in your own living room. Is there a story here?

[longtalldrink]

..uh because most people don't charge a "fee" to enter their living rooms.

[ReedYoung]

... nor advertise use of their living room to the public.

[ZenBastard]

The club gladly took the Creative Steps Day Camp's money, let them in, and then decided that they couldn't swim there anymore. So yes, there is a story here.

I'm sure they didn't think Creative Steps would be able to come up with the $1900 admission fee but they did. If someone pays for services they should be able to enjoy those services.

To put it in terms you'll understand; If I charge someone 50 dollars to come into my living room to watch movies for the evening, take their money & then throw them out during the previews before the first movie because they are from another neighborhood, that's discrimination.

[ReedYoung]

And breach of contract, which might have caused a lot of emotional distress. Children are very impressionable, after all. The club should probably be seized by the public, and its assets awarded to the children against whom it discriminated. Whether it's enough to put them through college or just to buy their books one semester, the club's property rights END when it violates others' HUMAN RIGHTS.

[The Albany Kid]

It would be helpful to have more information on the club's status as a "private" entity. They purport to be private and to have a right to exclude others, which is fine (for a truly private club). However, the club also took the campers' money, which makes it smack of being a place of public accommodation, and not a private club.

Perhaps we, as Blacks, should open (more) private clubs of our own.

[furion4865]

No Neocon, I don't believe it's right for anyone to engage in hate, I'm just saying why love those that don't love you? Blacks have always bent over backwards to be accepted as equals in this country and asking for the recognition of our humanity from white people, and I just believe it's time for black people to move on and not give a damned about getting along with white people. By the way, let me know where I can send you my address so you can send me the necessary funds to relocate. I know white guys get tired of being blamed for everything negative going on in the world, but if you look at the people at the root cause of most of the world's ills, it looks mighty white and male to me, sorry.

[ProudNeoCon]

you can send your address to [e-mail]

"I know white guys get tired of being blamed for everything negative going on in the world, but if you look at the people at the root cause of most of the world's ills, it looks mighty white and male to me, sorry."

Lets take a look:

Rwanda - around 1mm killed and last time I checked white guys were not involved
Darfur - around 400,000 killed and once again white guys were not there


Should I go on?

[spot93]

Thats a pretty historically ignorant comment. Although Darfur could be said to be based on religious motivations which has also caused much violence, historically the Rwanda genocide is caused by the belief between two factions that they are different. This idea that the two groups are different was created by a population of white imperialists practicing the simple proven strategy of divide and conquer in which they needed to tell the local people they were different to ease imperialist control. These artificial differences were engrained further until the end of imperialist rule and lingered on till current time and eventually reached a boiling point in the act of genocide.

[yuck]

Nedroid Prime:

"Hey, Affirmative Action has been around for many years now. Anyone that wants to move ahead can do so if they work hard enough.

How can these kids "move ahead" if this swim club refuses to allow them access based upon their COLOR? Your answer will probably be, "IT"S A PRIVATE CLUB!".

Okay, well let's assume that some of these aggrieved members (the members that don't want black kids at their club) are business owners, management types that hire and fire at their places of business and/or employment. Are you saying that these same club members wouldn't use the same racist filter to prevent blacks from "moving ahead"? This is why Affirmative Action was put in play- because us white guys couldn't be trusted to do the right thing and provide an equal playing field for minorities. I don't think a victim pays $1,900.00 for admission to a swim pool. I was raised in an all white neighborhood . My father's friends were business owners and managers and I will tell you this- If I were black- I wouldn't want to sit in front of these guys for a job w/o Affirmative Action Laws. My dad's friends used to say, "if I'm forced to work with them fine!, as long as I don't have to live with them (black people)"- The first black family moved into my suburban Philly neighborhood in 1990- now they're complaining about the Mexicans! Let's pray for them.

[goldcoastsailor]

It seems that every ethnic group but whites are allowed and even encouraged to take pride in their ethnicity, and to form groups based on that ethnicity. A private club is just that, a private club. Get over it.

[hoosier96]

I don't see your point. Yes, there are some dispicable people out there, but, if they have their own clubs, they can be as exclusive as they want to be.

Life's not fair. Deal with it.

[Rose Fanta]

The lights are on but no one is home!!!!!!!!!

[ReedYoung]

Incorrect. Once their facility is open to the public, they are required by law not to be bigots, and a mere membership sign-up form does not exempt them from Civil Rights Law. They may be "genuinely selective" meaning they may discriminate on objectively defined and uniformly measured characteristics such as swimming ability or GPA, but not on ethnicity.
http://altlaw.org/v1/cases/543124

[cbates]

The issue in this case is the abrupt breaking of the contract (not to mention the approach used) that was in place to allow the kids to swim. When the club saw the number of Black people covered under the contract then they revoked the contract which may and should be looked at with the potential of legal redress. I hope Black people notice this rejection and begin to build communities wherein our kids can enjoy the fruits of their parents labor. I would hope that we don't go back to separate and equal and at the same time I don't want to be in the company of people who loathe me. Just recently I was at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin and found that it was too one sided and couldn't wait to leave.

[Phillup Textfield]

The more disturbing question is: Would a private pool with elite black members and their prep school educated Dr. Spock baby-book, well-adjusted children REACT THE EXACT SAME WAY to a bus load of north or west philly kids with their more 'robust' parental lessons and conflict resolution modes and sociolinguistic particularities (I lived on 15th and W. Erie Ave, I believe the term is "Niggerishness")?

I believe they would. Americans are obsessed with Melanin, but they don't understand it is a fetish object, a supplement.

This is a class, a sociolinguistic, and existential issue. Elite blacks fear poor blacks and relegate them to pariahdom, due to their Niggericity, just as much as Elite whites make redneck jokes and are afraid to venture 50 yards away from Red State rest stops, because of some 'Deliverance' nightmare lying in wait for them in the cornfields.

This is a constellated issue, class, sociolinguistics, and existential world disclosure. Something Americans have a hard time recognizing.

[mymic1]

I can tell by the way you mention the neighborhood that you probably made this up. since 1971 10th & Erie has been home to my family and the area is a heavy mix of black and latino for starters depending on what side of broad street you are and all of it is west of front street and that is why no true person from the area would have described it as "15th and W. Erie Ave" but simply 15th & Erie.

Now, it also seems as if you just needed an excuse to use the n-word and variations thereof. if you were really african american you'd know the correct slang term is "ghetto" as in "that is so ghetto..."

Finally as a product of that neighborhood with a Lawrenceville education that fast tracked me to the ivy league, I can tell you first hand that more of us come back to these communities and try to make a difference than you'll ever know or gets reported.

Let me further add that minorities at least in Philly are more accepting than whites will ever be. North, West and South Philly are all areas that have an even mix of africans, african americans, asians, latinos and yes even whites that because of their economic standing are not even accepted by their own.

the bottom line is that wether or not the club is legally allowed to discriminate in 2009 that attitude should be unacceptable.

[cbates]

Please don't lump Black People in with Gays. Yes, I believe that Gays should have the right to do whatever they would like and yet they are not a separate class of people. They are people with a life style that goes counter to the general norms of this society. A gay person can hide their identity and live life without fuss. A Black Person and or a woman can not hide their persona. In the group of kids rejected or kicked out of the pool none said they were Gay, even though there might be one or two in the future. These kids were rejected because of the color of their skin plain and simple. You don't know the pain I feel as a black person to see those kids who didn't know why they couldn't swim let alone that they could not swim because of the color of their skin. Once they learn why in some cases they will have a scar for life. The scaring will be self loathing, a feeling that society doesn't value, you are expected to protect a country that rejects you, and so on and on. So, please do not lump Black people in with Gays. Again I support Gays getting every right that a secular society should give them.

[Muno]

Ever heard of Interlocked Oppressions? Discrimination is discrimination period. It may take different forms, but that is what it is it is discrimination,

[ReedYoung]

Why bring it up? It just looks like you're commenting off-topic, to sow dissension among groups with a natural political interest in alliance against oppression. Why would you want to do that?

[NedroidPrime]

Ok, so it is only ok to exclude people based on color if you are a minority?

This double standard stuff is going to cause a lot of problems..­.

[StillIRise]

And you read about minorities excluding others based on the color of their skin ... where???

[ProudNeoCon]

Blacks only scholarships, blacks only colleges,

[zippy01]

Head right on in to some minority neighborhoods. In some, you will be assaulted or worse. That is a fact.

[longtalldrink]

Ha, can you imagine the out cry if a minority opened a private whatever and excluded whites?? The stuff in New Haven would look like child's play.

[Ta152]

Oh the horrors. Americans exercising their right to free association. This is a private club on private property - they have every right to admit or exclude anyone for any reason. You may find the criteria they use to be repugnant, but so what.

Furthermore, this was once a right that extended to businesses and employers as well. Resteraunts, hotels, and all employers could associate or disassociate on criteria of their own choosing without pesky government intrusion. Of course that ended with the passage of the unconstitutional Civil Rights Act of 1964. All part of the liberal assault on Americans and their freedoms.

[StillIRise]

Like most Republicans, you'd prefer to go backward to the good old days of the Jim Crow South and legal segregation. In fact, that "pesky government intrusion" that forced equal opportunity probably led to the election of the first black President, and we'd be better off if that had never happened, right?

It's odd how our worldview shapes our perspective: I see the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a way of giving honor to our freedoms as Americans. You see it as an assault on Americans and their freedoms, but that's because you're only looking at it from your very white American point of view.

As I've said so many times before, white people like you can neither extend yourself beyond your own experience nor walk in the shoes of others. Consequently, you will always be part of the problem!

[longtalldrink]

Wow, well said.

[onefineday]

You do realize that John Duesler who kicked these kids out is a democrat who worked on the Obama campaign.

[Ta152]

What makes you assume that I am a Repbulican, white, and/or an American?

Second, you are obviously missing my point. No, I don't want to go back to the "good ole day" of legal segregation. I find laws that prohibit people of different races from associating with each other just as offensive as those that force them to associate. The bottom line is that in a truly free society each citizen should be allowed to integrate or segregate themselves, in private life, based upon criteria of their own choosing.

[IrisBittencourt]

Part II:


A young black associate in a law firm will be judged someday based on whether he/she has brought in any clients. This seemingly objective standard has a disparate impact on blacks who cannot turn to their community to supply clients and must seek clients in the white community. If blacks cannot be members or are generally not welcome at clubs where clients are members, then how is it that blacks will obtain clients on a level equal to their white counterparts? Today, blacks make up less than 2% of partners in major US law firms, although they represent at least four times as many lawyers overall. The effects of slavery continue to weigh heavily on blacks and shackle them to their slave past. Without wealth, blacks are dependent on whites and others for their economic prosperity.