American Morning
Swim club penalized over racism complaint
(CNN) - The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission issued a finding of probable cause Tuesday that racism was involved in the decision last June by a suburban Philadelphia swim club to revoke privileges of a largely minority day care center.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/US/09/23/pennsylvania.swim.racism/art.pool.campers.pdn.jpg caption="Some kids from the Creative Steps Day Care center say club members made racist remarks."]
The commission ordered monetary damages for humiliation and embarrassment and a civil penalty of not more than $50,000.
The decision noted that none of the club's 155 paid members this year was African-American.
Last year, according to the decision, there were "179 paid memberships, none of whom were African American."
In addition, the decision noted that in 2009, the Valley Club "made a concerted effort to expand the geographic range of its membership by engaging in a marketing campaign.... The Respondent efforts were mainly directed at areas with overwhelmingly Caucasian populations.... The Respondent made no effort to direct such marketing efforts at areas with significant African American populations...."
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regarding their marketing campaign: According to Wikipedia, Huntingdon Valley is in Lower Moreland Township, Montgomery County, PA. The racial makeup (2000 Census) of the township was 95.36% White, 0.53% African American... Swimming is a local activity; people swim near to where they live. So any marketing campaign would target a majority white population.
just a guess
The swim club's membership fell 13% from 2008 to 2009; someone had the bright idea to make up for lost revenue by opening up to day campers. Management failed to inform its members. Then, 25 kids showing up irritated membership of this private club.
question
WTF is the Human Relations Commission? It sounds like a politically-appointed pressure group.
NICK DO NOT TURN A BLIND EYE, IT IS RIGHT IN UR FACE, DO NOT BE A HYPOCRITE!!
Having attened a hbcu(tsu) from 69 thru 73 we resisted the inclusion of. White students because we thought that we needed our own institutions. Since then white students have become active members of the student body without any backlash from students of color. Having experienced segregation and jim crow in the sixties and witnessed freedom marchers and tent city inhbitants of both ethnicities I saw no reluctance on the part of black folk to disenfranchise the white folk that were sincere in their intentions. In my minnesota home town I see white folk patronize the black night clubs as well in my frequent travels to nashville and atlanta I see the same phenomena.That said I am comforted that our folk generally do not hold white folk color against them, or otherwise disdain their presence in their company. It may be unusual to see them at predominently black functions and they are more of a curiousity than a nusance.
Perhaps we can be more open in all our encounter and less aprehensive and whatever the stares and upturned noses we not become affected and dogmaticly dump the situation into a inditement againist folk not used to inclusiveness from theother side.
Nick: don't be a tool, of course they would if someone complained and brought it to anyone's attention. What a silly thing to say.
Politics and BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a few points to make about the report mentioned in this article:
This story states: 'Last year, according to the decision, there were “179 paid memberships, none of whom were African American.”'
-- But this does not mentioned if there were any African American applicants. If none applied, there could be no members.
The story also states: 'In addition, the decision noted that in 2009, the Valley Club “made a concerted effort to expand the geographic range of its membership by engaging in a marketing campaign…. The Respondent efforts were mainly directed at areas with overwhelmingly Caucasian populations…. The Respondent made no effort to direct such marketing efforts at areas with significant African American populations….”' - A business like a swimming pool is only going to have members that live or work nearby. If the marketing campaign was directed towards local residents, and the local areas were mostly white residents, wouldn't the marketing campaign have to be targeted to "overwhelmingly Caucasian populations" with "no effort to direct such marketing efforts at areas with significant African American populations" as the report says?
Also, what is the legal foundation for a Human Relations Commission to levy fines?
GM, I appreciate your thoughts, but find them to be off-base. I often find african-american organizations to be even more exclusive and discriminatory than others. I'm not sure what the motivation is, but perhaps it's a feeling of payback, that they have felt discriminated against so they want you to feel the same. Either way, from any race, it's not ok. But it's foolish to think it doesn't happen. As a white person who has gone to football games at black schools in my neighborhood just to cheer on the local team, or has gone to predominantly black restaurants or bars in my area, there is no question that I'm not wanted there, and they are not shy about letting me know. It would be nice if african americans were above being discriminatory since they know the pain of it so sharply, but unfortunately, my experience is that they perpetuate the problem just as badly, if not moreso, than other ethnicities.
Swimming Tzar, thats the answer
Know for certainty that Black folk do not keep whites out. There is not a problem in the Black community with segregation. We are too busy trying to receive fair and equal treatment by our neighbors. Black social clubs are not challanged to let white folk become members. If wite folk want to play tennis at the predominately Sugar Creek golf and tennis club there wil be no one at the door to keep them out nor will they find any rude or otherwise unruly behavior towards them by club members. If they want to swim at the MLK pool in Atlanta there is no effort to keep them out. If white folk want to attend North Carolina A & T there is no one to tell them that they can't come in. If a white child wants to go to the Johnson's Learning center for pre-school youth, they will not be turned away at the door . If a white collage graduate want to find employment at Thor construction Company he will not be told we're not hiring at the moment only to find that the next qualified black applicant breezes through the process.
Please stop trying to turn the tables by inferring that disadvantaged folk who historically and currently are disproportionately underrepresented are the problems and that they take unfair advantage of white folk whenever its possible.
Being a member of a fitness club in California, I can easily say I would be upset also should it be invaded by thirty, forty kids, splashing and cavorting in our pool, a ll at once. I go there for rest and relaxation, paying a high fee to enjoy a few minutes or an hour of using the privileges to which my membership entitles me.
Perhaps attention should be paid to the behavior of the little guests invading the pool, all in an exuberant mood and excited at this moment of childish pleasure. Perhaps their guardians should use good sense and take a few at a time in place of invading enmasse.
Their sitters should think of the the rights and expectations of the rest of the membership instead of demanding complete concession of the premises to their group.
An African Americans club would not only try to recruit African-Americans; because I think their thoughts and feelings are not as discriminatory and would not try to exclude other ethnicities.
I hope the same penalty and publicity would happen to that establishment Nick. I am so happy to live in the rual areas, whereas I don't have to worry about the "enclave" mentality as you city-folks.
To answers Nick's question (even though it is rhetorical).
If a predominately black institution was found to be forceably keeping white kids out, I believe the same penalty should be applied.
But let's not kid ourselves, how many times do you see white people allowing their kids to go to a black establishment.
Ignorance is bliss, Nick.
Would a predominately African-American establishment have many white people trying to become members?
The question is rhetorical, of course, because we all know what the answer would be.
So, does that excuse their behavior because you assume an African-American establishment would do the same? Always an excuse for acting like the White Anglo-Saxon barbarians you are.
Would a predominately African-American establishment be similarly penalized for trying to recruit more black people and keeping white people out?
The question is rhetorical, of course, because we all know what the answer would be.