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We, as a culture have come so far, yet still have so far to still go.

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.

“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. [via]


James Hicks

James is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of HicksNewMedia, a Digital Publishing and Technology Consulting team providing effective and relevant solutions to individuals and businesses looking to more effective utilize the social interweb. Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.

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  • Except that it's not a “whites only” pool.

    While the racial make-up may not be as diverse as the community, it still has current members of other races. Read what really happened. The club originally INVITED the camps, knowing that many kids were minorities. The pool got overwhelmed with too many kids. Some parents complained. Some simpleton parents may have brought race into the equation – those people deserve to be thrown out themselves. The board however agreed that the camps brought too many kids based on the capacity of the pool – and said the camps had to go. Then one board member made an asinine comment that was at best incredibly poorly worded and at worst personally racist. The club has issued a strong statement since.

    Now, this is a mess that hopefully will provoke some important convos in the community and nationwide. Minorities have every right to be pissed. But if you're going to take a side, you HAVE to get the facts right. Using a phrase like “whites only” when it's not TRUE is awfully inflamatory, and actually undermines the ability for those who were truly offended to be taken seriously.

    • Sarah:
      I thank you for your comment on this unfortunate incident. Your point of view is valued and appreciated.

      We will continue to track this and all situations of interest to society as a whole and, to your point, make every effort to always have more fact than hear-say in our reporting.

      Keep INFOtainment News on your short list of frequented websites !!

  • Except that it's not a “whites only” pool.

    While the racial make-up may not be as diverse as the community, it still has current members of other races. Read what really happened. The club originally INVITED the camps, knowing that many kids were minorities. The pool got overwhelmed with too many kids. Some parents complained. Some simpleton parents may have brought race into the equation – those people deserve to be thrown out themselves. The board however agreed that the camps brought too many kids based on the capacity of the pool – and said the camps had to go. Then one board member made an asinine comment that was at best incredibly poorly worded and at worst personally racist. The club has issued a strong statement since.

    Now, this is a mess that hopefully will provoke some important convos in the community and nationwide. Minorities have every right to be pissed. But if you're going to take a side, you HAVE to get the facts right. Using a phrase like “whites only” when it's not TRUE is awfully inflamatory, and actually undermines the ability for those who were truly offended to be taken seriously.

  • Sarah:
    I thank you for your comment on this unfortunate incident. Your point of view is valued and appreciated.

    We will continue to track this and all situations of interest to society as a whole and, to your point, make every effort to always have more fact than hear-say in our reporting.

    Keep INFOtainment News on your short list of frequented websites !!

James Hicks

James is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of HicksNewMedia, a Digital Publishing and Technology Consulting team providing effective and relevant solutions to individuals and businesses looking to more effective utilize the social interweb. Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.

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