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My last post titled”Blacks can’t Swim” talked about how a group of Creative Steps Day Campers from the inner city of Philadelphia, were at first allowed to swim at a private, again read “WHITE” swim club only to face racial slurs and then told they had to leave because “minorities don’t swim here.” When the incident became public, the president of the club, John Duesler, stated “there was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.” When that statement became public, the excuse became “it was a safety issue.”
There has been a update to this story. The Valley Swim Club voted “UNANIMOUSLY” to allow the Creative Steps Day Campers to come back to the club. I had to laugh out loud when I read this story because the heat is on and this is what’s called “Damage Control!”
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) has stated that he finds these allegations “disturbing” and plans on launching a “full investigation.” The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which has opened an investigation, is to make a fact-finding visit to the club July 30. People have been picketing the Valley Swim Club. Could any one or all three of those reasons be why the vote to allow the Day Campers back to the club was UNANIMOUS???? Member Amy Goldman, who has been a member for two years, has stated that she hasn’t seen a “Black member this year.” Any takers that when the PHRC makes its fact finding visit on the 30th, that it will look like a revival of “The Wiz!”
Lastly, if you let me know, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that you don’t want me around, on what planet would you think I would EVER go back? If you want to apologize, fine. But 12, 13, and 14, year old African American kids, who probably saw their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents cry for the first time after seeing President Obama get elected, now know that we haven’t come as far as people want his election to indicate. And instead of these kids remembering “not in my lifetime” on November 4, 2008, as something positive, they are now hearing that again. Except this time, it’s what we expected. That racism is alive and well in America and an election did NOTHING to alleviate that FACT!!!!!
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What began as an innocent trip to a swimming pool on a hot Monday afternoon, turned into a Civil Rights lesson, for 65 African American kids who visited a private, read white, swimming pool.
From looking at the pictures of the children from the Philadelphia Creative Step Day Camp, most of them looked to be under 12 years old. These kids were told that they could come swim at the Valley Swim Club every Monday. Upon getting into the pool, most of the white kids either got out on their own, or were pulled out of the pool by their parents. Many of the Day Campers allege to have heard racial slurs aimed their way. They were then told by the lifeguards that they had to leave the pool IMMEDIATELY because “minorities aren’t allowed to swim there.”
When the president of the Valley Swim Club, John Duesler, was contacted, his initial statement was that “there was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.” After that comment became public, Mr. Duesler and many of the parents who pulled their children from the pool are now saying that it was a “misunderstanding.” Even a child can recognize racism when he or she sees it!
By the next Friday, there was such an outrage about how these children were treated and how these white parents acted, that Mr. Duesler was compelled to speak out.
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A few days after Barack Obama, (still sounds good doesn’t it?) was elected to the presidency, Oprah Winfrey had Will Smith on her show to hype his then new movie, “Seven Pounds.” She asked him how he felt about the elections. Smith said that he had all of his children around him and began to cry when the final numbers were tallied. At that point Oprah made a comment something to the affect “what does this mean for African America children.” And Will said “no more excuses.” At that point both Ms. Winfrey and Mr. Smith showed just how far from reality they both reside. Because one, the elections, certainly have NOTHING to do with the other, Black people’s success or lack there of! President Obama can’t stop law abiding citizens from being harassed by law enforcement and his election certainly doesn’t mean that it will end!
I have been harassed my the law enforcement agencies in San Diego, ca, more times than I care to remember. From being followed in El Cajon and La Mesa, ca, to almost having my car flip over after a tire blew out and having the Highway Patrol threaten to tow my car away because “your car is in the way.” (On the shoulder of an off ramp). None of these situations bring back fond memories, nor do they endear me to any members of law enforcement, straight or GAY! But hearing about a slick little trap in the small town of Tenaha, Texas, brought it all back for me.
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