While the NAACP prepares to celebrate its 100 year anniversary in New York later this week, a race controversy is swirling around a private swim club in the Philadelphia area, making some people wonder what year this is.
NBC Philadelphia is reporting that The Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania turned away 65 black and Hispanic kids after the Creative Steps Day Camp paid the club over $1,900 by e-mail in advance to let its campers use the pool.
The report says the kids said they heard racist comments on their first day at the pool. "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 very next day, the club reportedly contacted the camp’s director Alethea Wright and told her that they were suspending the camp’s pool membership and would be refunding the money. They did not give Wright a reason for this action.
Wright says she told the club, “The parents don't want their money back. They want a good place for their children to swim, which is what they paid for.”
"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, according to NBC Philadelphia.
Fox News reported Duesler admitted that club members had complained about the campers, but said the complaints were not race-related and insisted that the club’s decision to suspend the camp’s use of the pool had nothing to do with race.
I called the club several times to try to get a comment on this situation and was greeted with an upbeat voicemail that promoted plenty of club membership openings. I couldn’t leave a message because their mailbox was full. I also tried reaching them by e-mail and have not yet received a reply.
CNN reported that one of their producers was told to leave the premises. The TV station said they were told Duesler had no comment, but that another man who said he was the one who had complained to the director spoke to them. CNN reported that he said space not race was the issue and that there were other camps using the pool too and it was just too crowded.
Several parents are reportedly considering taking legal action against the club and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) is planning to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim to find out exactly what happened.
"The allegations against the swim club as they are reported are extremely disturbing," Specter said in a statement. "I am reaching out to the parties involved to ascertain the facts. Racial discrimination has no place in America today."
YodadogProductions put a video on YouTube that examines the photos on the club’s website.
In the meantime, the Creative Steps Day Camp kids will have a place to swim this summer. Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, has invited the campers to swim at their facilities.
Watch AP Video:
Message Edited by Chelsea-Badeau on 07-09-200904:13 PM
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You know we as ADULTS can act as Childish as we want, we know what we are doing, But when you act out like this to children you set them back in thier self esteem and their trust that people are generally good. Believe me this is a great teachable moment for the school director to use to teach about ignorance and intolerance.
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These children are not to blame for Kensington, Juniata, Wissinoming, or Mayfair. They're children, it's hot outside, they want to go swimming. With so many problems in our world, shame on anyone who would deny them that opportunity.
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From my experience with community pools and local YMCA pools, the skin color doesn't matter when it comes to 20-30 young daycare children entering and exiting a pool approx. every half hour all summer. To relax and have any decent conversation with one's own family members above the noise level required us to carefully plan our pool times around the exit of the daycare groups. Pool members and day care kids were both black and white, but large groups of kids DO change the quality of your pool experience especially when looking for good old "R&R" (rest and relaxation)for your family!
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It was a stupid mistake for the private club to accept the money and enter into the agreement in the first place. I, like many others, prefer a certain atmosphere when I'm relaxing alone or with my family. And lets just be honest, race issue or not, some children aren't accustomed to the proper etiquette of these private clubs. So it was also a bad idea for the group to subject the children to the more refined customs of the club members. The woman's concern for her child may or may not have been appropriate. But if the children were acting uncivilized, regardless of race, it would be a concern of mine as well. We shouldn't automatically assume that this was completely about race. I am African American and I have neighbors both black and white that come to my home to play with my children. Those children that don't seem to appreciate the idea of acting civilized aren't encouraged to return. Their race is not an issue.
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There are two sides to every story and yes I can see some people making a racist comment. However, I used to frequent commumity pools where summer camps and daycare centers go all the time. I spent one morning and counted. There were over a hlaf dozen groups each with at least one full school bus or two "mini" busses. There were an average of two adults, four or five "Counselors in Training" none of which appeared more than 14 and up to 12 campers per CiT. This meant basically 2 adults for a busload of kids under 14. The Adults and CiTs would go off and talk or lounge and ignore the kids. The lifeguards were not able to do their jobs as they were finding themselves babysitting, chasing out of control kids and many people would leave for safety sake. Yes, there were always a couple "Well what do you expect from THOSE people." But most of us realized it was not the kids of a specific race but the fact that there was inadequate supervision by the couple of adults and young teen/tween playing adult. I saw this happen with groups of kids of all races from these daycares and summer camps. And yes, one disabled child almost drowned and guess who was blamed - the lifeguards. Well, when due to adults we charge to care for our kids FAIL and they expect the lifeguard to do their jobs plus keep kids safe in the water, something is bound to happen. I saw this week after week, summer after summer. Sadly, if this group of kids happens to be of a different race or ethnicity and this happens, it just gives fuel to the fire of those who feel that this behavior is typical - eventhough we all know improperly supervised children of any group can behave poorly. Maybe there was a legitimate reason for them being asked to leave and just a few people were actually being racist. But I will tell you, after what I have seen at our pools, there mat be a legit reason due to safety issues at the heart (though a few racist freaks at the pool made the complaints - there are always a few). It got so bad here that the community was considering having to restrict all daycares and camps for the general safety of all at the community pool.
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suburbanmom, I agree that large groups are noisy. My wife and I always go to matinees so that we can enjoy our movie experience without having to worry about frisky teenagers. The situation with this pool is different. The Valley Swim club accepted the group's money in advance. That means that they knew the number of children that they were admitting.
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There is no defense for this. They accepted the money, they knew the numbers. No other conclusion can be drawn. The only moral thing for the members to do is withdraw with disgust from the club.
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These children will never forget this incident. I would not have done this to the child of my worst enemy. This event may very well change their attitude about white people for the worst. I pray that it does not. America can't afford for the cycle of hate to continue.
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What are they teaching these children (and their own) at such a young age? That this is the way the world should behave towards them? America likes to project itself as a "progressive country"...and we've progressed to where exactly? I'm not a big fan of attorneys but I hope that the day camp finds one that dogs this club until the cows come home...
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It is a shame that these children did not get to play.. It is a worst shame that they got to see what their parents warned them about happened. The elite pool that the school decided on was a bad choice let a lone a learning experience. the next time their school decides to go somewhere I hope they ask if their color is a problem. I am considered white because my skin is light, and I know if this was done to my child I would be upset also. I don't think it should be blown out of propotion I would explain to the children that some people are ignorant and think they are better because of hteir skin color and move on. Spent your time on getting these children somewhere else to swin. In West Deptford NJ right over the bridge there is a nice club called River Winds. I am sure they would love to have you and the pool is inside with a beach atmosphere. Plus they are open from 7:00 am. to 11:00 pm.. I hope this helps. Good luck explaining what happened to children and try not to focus on the negative affects of some people.
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