Jim Crow swims here

photo: Mark Stehle / AP
Kelbin Carolina demonstrates Thursday in front of the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., in response to allegations that the swim club blocked a group of minority children from joining weekly swims at the pool.

Kelbin's sign says it perfectly. Something happened last week--either mispoken/misunderstood comments or outright racism--in Huntingdon PA, at a swimming pool, at a private club, to little children, where people with Jim-Crow attitudes swim.

(I first heard about it Friday at one of my favorite blogs, Hasta Los Gatos Quieren Zapatos. Those hermanas come up with an amazing variety of compelling news, and their own views can make you stop and think.)

A stock photo (?) from their blog illustrates the situation. What's wrong with this picture? NOTHING. Well, nothing to my eye. It looks like the kids on my block playing.

Here's the story. Headline:

Pa. swim club defends self against race accusation

(read it if you haven't already)

A weekend under the media's magnifying glass burned them into a rapprochement. The club wants to host the kids now, somehow. But the kids might not want to go back. Would you? Could you, even as an adult, full of grownup strength?

When the hurtful words they heard were how their presence would "change the complexion" of the club, would you want to take your complexion of color back to that same sinkhole of bigots?

Just asking.