We are SO sorry…(that we got caught)…
I wasn’t going to blog about the swim club that kicked out the day camp in Philly. I read the story and wasn’t surprised that it happened; these types of things don’t shock me anymore. I read the story, got angry and let it go…just another day in the USA. Seriously, who thought that these types of things stopped happening? I know I didn’t.
But…there’s always a “but” isn’t there? lol
In light of the latest update, I feel the need to mention this story. Now, the swim club has asked the day camp to come back.
Hmmm…
I wonder how that came about? Nothing like having to explain yourself to a Human Rights Commission to make you see things differently. This is pretty much a case of, “Damn, we got caught…we look stupid, and we’re in trouble; lets suck it up, plaster smiles on our faces and invite those kids to use our pool. We can just drain the pool and disinfect it later!”
Now, if I were the director of that camp…after laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes, I would call that swim club and pretty much tell them to kiss my ass. I think that’s why I’m not the director of anything…I have a very low tolerance level for bullshit.
Again, I’m not surprised that this happened…too many people are stuck in racist mindsets for the problem to just go away.
I am going to put myself in the day camp director’s position one more time and say that maybe a little more research into the swim club, and it’s location may have been helpful. I know that we have the right to go anywhere we want to go, but we’re not always welcomed…even if nothing is said. A day trip to the Jersey shore would have worked fine for me in that situation. There are some swim clubs in Charlotte that I would not think of visiting much less taking a bunch of kids, simply because I’m neither rich nor white.
It’s unfortunate that it has to be this way 40+ years after the Civil Rights movement, but it is what it is; and we (Black Americans) have to stop thinking that racism no longer exists. It does…please recognize. I know that I’m being redundant, but I’m trying to get a point across.
I really hope that the day camp’s director does not accept their offer.
Smooches!
Just playing devils advocate for a sec. Suppose that there was a capacity issue (not saying that there was, but lets just say for a second). Is it possible that the club just badly mishandled the situation because of their mindset about race and it all spiralled out of control?
I look back and note that I have come across people in my travels that for what ever reason are so uncomfortable talking and dealing with people of color (sometimes for the most innocent reasons), that they screw up things. Saying exactly opposite of what they intended and then society goes pours gas on the fire. (Now having said that I will reserve judgement on the veracity of the claims made by the “pool people”.
Having said all of that and seeing the interviews of some of the kids who have reported having heard people making all kinda foul remarks about them, I just wish I had it so I could invite them to their own pool in their own neighborhoods like we had when I was coming up in the Bronx. All over the city they had neighborhood pools. If you didn’t like who showed up to jump in you had a few choices. They included stay home and fry or go to Orchard Beach and pray nothing “brown & round” bumps into your head.
I think the investigation should go forward and then if it is shown that they were trying to mess up some kid’s summer then they should suffer the full effects of any laws and civil remedies available to the kids. Then as a director I would tell the pool people to kiss someone’s butt (but not mine).
Thanks for your comment DJ…
I think that if it was a capacity issue, the fault still rests with the swim club…who should have found out exactly how many people were going to show up. This should have been done before anything was finalized, and before payment. That would have cleared up any capacity issues. Because when I hear day camp…I think large group of kids.
I’m just saying…
See ifn I wasn’t makin like a D.A. (devils whatchamacallit) I would say the same thing…but thats common sense and you know the saying about that right?
DJ…I hear ya. Orchard Beach…ewwwww! LOL I spent my summers at either Bear Mountain, Seaside Heights, Wildwood or Sandy Hook (I hate Sandy Hook!).
Ahhh yes Bear Mountain…memories of those caravans of buses heading north up the Deegan out of the city….great times.
I was in the Girl Scouts then, and we were always excited about going to Bear Mountain…mostly because of all those buses full of cute guys from the Bronx!
The only answer to this is for more African Americans to start their own pools, so that they can stop putting their money and time into a pool where they are not wanted.
Hi Ehav! I totally agree with you. We need our own swim clubs.
And it would have to be clear that AA would NEVER return to such places, EVER. That is no matter what they due. Almost like a self imposed social and financial segregation, yet the black swim clubs could make it public that they accept everyone. That would be an interesting turn of events.
Hmmm…that would be very interesting.