"Whites Only" Swimming Pool in America in the year 2009

Enough already. We live in a country with freedom of speech. Everyone has an opinion (and as the saying goes ... most of them stink), and I'm sure there were some -- maybe only a few -- self-entitled White moms laying around who were overheard saying something about Black kids being there. That doesn't make the president of that club nor the club in general racist. Also take into account OTHER groups of kids were asked to leave for the same reasoning as well, over-crowding.

I only hope that the kids' actions didn't cause the folks' reaction, b/c we ALL know that when you have a bunch of Black kids having fun they do so with the utmost dignity and respect for peace and quiet.

Let's take those 75,000+ names to task and ask them to all sign a petition to reach one and teach one. If we are to rise to the level of worldwide respectability it's up to us (and that's the innate goal of every man, to earn respect), no one is going to come into our homes and inner-circles and educate and rear our kids. But please, call off the wolves and let's focus our energies elsewhere.

Brother Craig with all due respect, I don't think stereotypes of Black kids have any place in this discussion even if it is coming from you a black man. Stereotypes are never good. Please see the links in order to give an informed opinion free of stereotypes and I write this in love to you.

Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/...

The story is what it is, but thankfully the kids are not having any "complexion problems" at the new pool.

Campers' "Complexion" No Problem for New Pool
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/...

Sister Irma I just post the stuff and anyone is welcomed to comment. I don't really see myself as one who sets rules for my blog posts. Call me a free spirit who just tries to post things that I find interesting.

Being the parent of a four year old boy, I felt the hurt the parents felt for their kids. Those kids were really hurt, disappointed, and confused. These are kids for goodness sakes, not grown ups that this happened to. Perhaps I would feel less passionate about it if it were adults and not innocent kids. Shame on the fools that would do such things to children.

"Freedom of Speech". This pool incident has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Its about a violation of the Civil Rights Act, Craig. And what's up with the sweeping generalization of black kids and how much noise they make when they play? I thought you were being sarcastic until I kept reading.

This is so ridiculous in this day and age. I'm sure it still happens all the time, it has just come out this time because it is more blatant than usual.

I agree with some of the things everybody has posted here but I particularly need to agree with Jen, there is no place for stereotyping Black children. We don't know how much noise these particular children were making, any more than we know the individual thoughts of every white member of this club. What we do know is that what happened amounts to racial segregation and is therefore unsatisfactory.

Also, Black people DO NOT "cause" white people's reactions. They are responsible for their own reactions. It doesn't matter how many Benjamin Bannekers, Dr. Charles Drews, etc. we produce, there are some white people who will always stereotype us. We are not responsible for what they think. We are only responsible for what we think. This is why I produce Black Success Stores and the More Black Success ebooks. We need to learn to love and appreciate ourselves and each other more and more every day.
http://www.squidoo.com/More-Black-Success

Thanks everyone who posted to this thread.

They did get caught and I hope that you all help us to spread the word through face book, twitter, other social networking sites, and via email in order that more people sign the petition. I already posted the petition to the BabyCenter Community social networking site for mothers when someone in the group Mamas for Obama posted the e-newstory from the Penn Paper. In my opinion that is what real change is about spreading the word; moreover, the original intent of this blog (to get the word out there) to help reach the target goal of 75,000 people signing the petition. Thanks again for all the comments, but please make sure you guys spread the word using the other social networking sites. (((smiles)))

..."we have to be ready to recognize them for what they are and stand up and deal with them when they occur"...

Amen. We have to stand up for our rights and not give up the fight for our families, our children, quality education, affordable housing, decent paying jobs, etc...

Hey Craig, wouldn't it be nice to have at least ONE Black mom in our Senate?Oh, what about a female of color on the Supreme Court...please stay tuned and may be ONE day you will be able to say something like this...aMERICA IS THE LAND OF THE F-R-E-E SO WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU REFERING TO?!?(smile)

WE, the people. of color know that getting a Black president in that former 'all' White should go some place and shut up, because we should know that this is a country where all are treated equal under the laws...thanks Craig, you know those Black people they are always crying about what they don't have in this land of the FREE...

You tell them Craig just like they are going to get this Sotomajor with her racist self and all of those like her to remember their place, right??????How dare they think that their V-O-T-E-S (hell don't they know by now they only get one little vote?!? IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!...)are going to make a difference, because they are still the minority....

The Whites have the corner on law making and changing, because they only have that token Justice Thomas who is on their side in Washington and that Token Black MALE body in the Senate had better keep his mouth shut and act like he knows his place so he can not be another Senator like Obama or he's going to end up in prison with the governor of his state, correction, former governor...

YOU TELL THEM Craig...you teach them their place those Tokens on Fox can not do every thing now can they?(smile) but, I still love ya Craig...

Jen, I was about to say to Craig what as a rule, I think of when I see a lot of his comments. I see Craig as a person who is so open and honest until he will tread on ground that we who are HYPOCRITES fear to tread...
but Jen my sister this is your blog and you set the rules for which I send you also my love and respects.

And, thank you for these informative and much needed blogs of your...

No, Jen, because I am the grandmother of a 4 year old and I am more protective of him than I was of my own children. Oh, I was this way with my children in the do not mess with my children in any way that is going to hurt them menatally which covers all subjects under prejudice/ bigots/ racism. But, when it comes to my 3 grand children, look O-U-T and I am a passive person out side of a court room on lack of equality for our race.(smile)