What about fun for everyone? Photo: havenholidays
After the election and inauguration of Barack Obama to the US presidency, some analysts suggested Americans were entering a post-racial era. Maybe they should visit Philadelphia’s Valley Swim Club.
“A ‘Whites-Only’ Pool in 2009?” That was the subject line of an e-mail that landed in my inbox a few days ago.
According to this story from NBC’s Philadelphia affiliate, black kids from the Creative Steps Day Camp visited a private pool in Philadelphia (having paid over $1,900 for the “privilege”) and were asked by pool attendants to leave because “minorities [were not allowed] in the club.”
Guess the pool administrators forgot to ask the camp leaders the race of the would-be swimmers.
In a follow up story, Valley Swim Club President John Duesler didn’t mention the pool attendants’ remarks, saying only that a comment about the kids “changing the complexion” of the club was “a terrible choice of words” that was “blown out of proportion.”
He added that the real reason the kids were asked to leave was because there were concerns about safety and the total capacity of the pool, though why such problems weren’t anticipated before both parties signed on the dotted line remained unclear.
The club has since invited campers to return, but in the interim, at least one lawsuit was filed and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission opened an investigation, scheduling a visit to the club for the end of this month.
Community Connection:
What’s the most offensive form of discrimination you’ve experienced or witnessed at home or during your travels? What did you do about it? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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14 Comments... join the discussion!
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@Adam: Wow– I think that’s all I can say.
@Lola: When I travel with Francisco, he often gets the same treatment, based on similar assumptions. People have even tried to tell him that there “is no such thing as a black Cuban.” And they’re not from Cuba!
@Carlo: That reminds me- I’ve still got to see that documentary, “Prom Night in Mississippi.”
@Ryan: Again, wow. That running story is incredible. You’re right– we’ve come along way. But I think that the most persistent, insidious, and difficult form of racism to eradicate is the more subtle kind that we insist isn’t racism, but something else– whether it’s “safety” or some other excuse.
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The story definitely made me sick. Hidden racism. The worst kind.
Well, traveling as a black female opens me up to a different set of experiences. Most of the time, I’m mistaken for a local immigrant, sometimes served last, the usual, etc.
One of my memorable experiences was chronicled here – http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/01/the-most-valuable-thing-you-can-pack-on-the-journey/
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I’m a black female too, eighteen years old. I’m actually afraid to travel out of America because of the possible racism that I may experience. After all, if I went to Alabama and some parts of Mississippi and were treated with disrespect, what would happen in a different country where I’m not protected by the laws of America? How would I know where to and where not to go in the world? I’ve heard amsterdam doesn’t like people of African descendant but I’m sure they aren’t the only ones in the world. I hate not being accepted because of the color of my skin.
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Hey Leeann
I definitely understand your fears. I was once there and I have experienced the gamut of emotions – from total acceptance to total rejection.
Though it may be hard to believe me, your experiences will actually be more positive than negative. Being different will naturally incite curiosity and people will want to know more about you and where you’re from.
You can then use those opportunities to share your own story and bust some stereotypes – http://www.women-on-the-road.com/stereotypes.html
Another excellent resource is http://www.blacktravels.com where you’ll get to meet a lot of travelers just like you, and you can learn from their unique experiences. Again, most of them positive.
The world is so beautiful and richly diverse. Don’t let the fear of the unknown limit you from exploring beyond your culture.
If you’d like to chat more about this, definitely email me at lola [at] matadornetwork [dot] com.
I am also the editor of Matador Goods – http://www.matadorgoods.com
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Horrible. Right up there with those segregated proms.
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#1 Thailand
Well, I can’t say my example is outragous and it didn’t affect me personally, but it was recent so I’ll share anyway. My girlfriend and I are teaching English in Thailand and our school recently held a mini-marathon for the teachers. My girlfriend was very excited as she is a runner herself. However, about a third of the way into the race (probably less than that), she was told to turn around and start her way to the finish line while the men continued on for the full length. She was very upset and when asked why this was the case, the director simply said “women are not strong enough to run the whole way.” For crying out loud, she would have beaten me for sure and I won first place! This is only one of her many struggles as a women in Thai society.#2 Czech Republic
The number of Romanian immigrants (or refugees, I’m not sure which) in Prague is quite high. However, when I asked a young boy if he had any “Roma” friends or classmates, he laughed. I guess they are segregated in the school system and the Czechs despise them. Unfortunately, as is often the case in these situations, certain groups of the minority only perpetuate negative stereotypes.I’m sure there are much worse examples than these but I can’t help but notice how many of us Americans take our progress for granite. Certainly, the pool in Philly is nothing to be proud of but having some so far in a relatively short amount of time, I’d say we rock in respect to human rights (for the most part).
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I live about twenty minutes from this swim club. When I first heard the story, even before I knew where it was, I had already guessed. The area that this swim club is in is an affluent white area and there is an attitude of priviledge. The behavior of the members of the swim club doesn’t surprise me. It made me immensely sad that I live so close to such closed-minded, small-minded, backwards people. It is disgusting and they should be ashamed that they made little children cry because of their hateful comments and behavior, nevermind the fact that they showed their own children that it is OK to say hateful things to other people because their skin is a different color.
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You are outraged at a White’s only swimming pool – and it was outrageous they way it happened. But we have an NAACP, Black Congressional Causus, etc. And, I am sure that there are Black’s only swimming pool – it is just that White’s do not object to that the way Black’s do tot he White’s only swimming pool. Would a NAAWP or a White Causus in Congress be accepted or would it be roundly condemned as racist?
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You do have a great point. But as an African American in America, I really feel like America isn’t up to the level of maturity as far as racism goes to get rid of the NAACP or the Black only places. Long ago, we would never be allowed to go to the YMCA. But now, we can. America is working on it’s issues, but we’ve got a long way to go. And as for the NAAWP, well to me, whites in america already have tons of rights. In fact, they’ve never been taken away. So there’s no need for those organizations. There is no need for any white only organization in america. As far as the pool deal, hey, have a white only pool. It’s in a club after all, a private facility. But warn people ahead of time before agreeing to let people in! Those poor children must have been so confused over that bs.
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@ Lola Great response to Leeann – one of the biggest reasons to travel is to get over our fears and learn that they are most likely unfounded (due to over-hyped media usually).
While I’m not black, I am brown, and I can say I’ve never experienced racism on the road. That includes Amsterdam and many other predominantly white cities/countries.
Racism does exist of course, but you’re unlikely to encounter it. Even less likely would be that it would endanger your safety.
As Lola pointed out, traveling is a great way to break other people’s stereotypes. Not only are we learning about foreign cultures to us, but we’re also teaching others about our own culture.
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Leann,
African Americans outside of the US will experience just as much racism as in the US; humans are humans. That being said, however, from my own observations as an avid traveler, race is regarded on a much different level in other countries, meaning, people are not as politically correct, not as educated on race, and, again, in my opinion, aren’t as malicious when using un-PC terms. There are countries that just don’t see a lot of minorities, so you will be regarded as something unique and interesting. Their behavior shouldn’t always be taken as racist.
For example, I was walking on a street in Santiago, Chile, when a bus full of 11 year-old boys drove by with all of them yelling out the windows, “Cheena! Cheena!” (Cheena – “china” in Spanish – meaning Chinese girl. I’m Asian American).
There was nothing evil, nothing mean-spirited in their tone; they said this while smiling and waiving. I didn’t take offense, and actually felt a bit like a celebrity!
It was certainly a more pleasurable experience than having a car full of Hispanic men drive by yelling to me “Chee ching chong” in a Wal-Mart parking lot. This seriously just happened a few weeks ago. In Connecticut.
Anyway, the point of my long note is, don’t let racism get in your way of traveling and seeing the world. The world wants to get to know you as much as you want to get to know it.
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Great point Leanne, there is still a need for organizations that support African Americans in America. We’ve come a long way from the Civil Rights Movement and yes, we now have an African American president, but we still have a long way to go. Just look at the disproportionate number of African Americans (and other minorities) that end up in prison and are living below the poverty line. Racism is still unfortunately alive and well, only now a majority of it is indirect rather than direct and so harder to fight against. With any luck our children will look back on the ‘2000s’ as we now look back on the ’50s.
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What exactly would be the point of a NAAWP other than to continue the racist oppression of non-whites. If you are interested in white supremacy there are many groups that would certainly enjoy your support.
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