I want to share racial problem I am experiencing at the YMCA by the CEO.
The Y that I attend is known as the Black Y since 98% of the members are Black Americans. The Y is in East Winston Salem and East Winston Salem is a Black American community so it not a coincident that the membership of the Y I attend is 95% Black Americans 4% Mexicans and may be 1% White.
For the past few years the White executives has been complaining that is carrion an annual deficit of $400,000. They decided to make some changes and one of those changes is to eliminate the pool. Other things they mention was that membership has decreased and the reasons and excuses goes on.
They showed us figures to justify making the changes. However, some programs that was an income was moved to a White Y.
At the end of the meeting no one e.g. the executives and the members were expecting the solution I suggested. I said that the presentation justifying the changes to me is your explanation of why the Y has been failing the membership and the Black community. Therefore, I suggested that the executives give the Black community that Y since I believe we can manage it better than the executives have been doing.
The executives were stunned but agreed that they would seriously consider it if we the members would present them a comprehensive plan. The members one after the other began to say that I was right. I asked the members to have a meeting to make a pathway towards the objective of owning the facility.
Soon after the meeting started every one of them that said I was right started going in another direction. I jumped up from my seat and interrupted the meeting and asked them had they change their minds that I was right.
They began to explain with fear in their hearts to let go the hands of the White executives. They said Harry your way is a giant step and we should be taking smallest steps at a time. My anger increased and I started walking to the door. A few of the women hollered out my name and told me to come back and sit down, so I did. I told them that what they wanted was more of the same and I'm not going to tolerate it since you all said and can see that I am right. I said that no matter how steep the climate is we will be successful because God is with us.
Our ignorance and stupidity as a people is not isolated to this site, it is as though it is actually part of our DNA to be stupid, ignorant and fearful people.
For the past few years the White executives has been complaining that is carrion an annual deficit of $400,000. They decided to make some changes and one of those changes is to eliminate the pool. Other things they mention was that membership has decreased and the reasons and excuses goes on.
They showed us figures to justify making the changes. However, some programs that was an income was moved to a White Y.
At the end of the meeting no one e.g. the executives and the members were expecting the solution I suggested. I said that the presentation justifying the changes to me is your explanation of why the Y has been failing the membership and the Black community. Therefore, I suggested that the executives give the Black community that Y since I believe we can manage it better than the executives have been doing.
The executives were stunned but agreed that they would seriously consider it if we the members would present them a comprehensive plan. The members one after the other began to say that I was right. I asked the members to have a meeting to make a pathway towards the objective of owning the facility.
Soon after the meeting started every one of them that said I was right started going in another direction. I jumped up from my seat and interrupted the meeting and asked them had they change their minds that I was right.
They began to explain with fear in their hearts to let go the hands of the White executives. They said Harry your way is a giant step and we should be taking smallest steps at a time. My anger increased and I started walking to the door. A few of the women hollered out my name and told me to come back and sit down, so I did. I told them that what they wanted was more of the same and I'm not going to tolerate it since you all said and can see that I am right. I said that no matter how steep the climate is we will be successful because God is with us.
Our ignorance and stupidity as a people is not isolated to this site, it is as though it is actually part of our DNA to be stupid, ignorant and fearful people.
