Discrimination

This makes for an interesting continuation of other discussions we have had here about racism  and religious intolerance and other forms of intolerance.  This one goes to the continuing existence of racism in our culture.

While the explanation about chemicals sounds to me like it is somebody scrambling to get their bits out of the proverbial ringer, I have to wonder why if this was directed at one person only, that person wasn't asked to wear some kind of shower cap or swim cap.  I also have to wonder why this speaks to an entire race or ethnicity of people, despite ostensibly targeting only one person.  Certainly not all individuals use chemicals.

As someone who grew up with a swimming pool, where I was conversant with how we cleaned the pool, and controlled the quantity of chlorine, as well as the filter system and backwashing to deal with skin oils an suntan lotion, I find the concern that one person's hair chemicals would make that large a difference to the clarity of the water, or that any problem could not be resolved by simply running the filter system a little longer.  It certainly appears to me the building manager is telling a bald faced lie.


From MSNBC.com and the AP:

Landlord fights 'White Only' pool sign ruling

By The Associated Press

CINCINNATI - A landlord found to have discriminated against a black girl by posting a "White Only" sign at a swimming pool wants a state civil rights commission to reconsider its decision.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission found on Sept. 29 that Jamie Hein, who's white, violated the Ohio Civil Rights Act by posting the sign at a pool at the duplex where the teenage girl was visiting her parents. The parents filed a discrimination charge with the commission and moved out of the duplex in the racially diverse city to "avoid subjecting their family to further humiliating treatment," the commission said in a release announcing its finding.
An investigation revealed that Hein in May posted on the gated entrance to the pool an iron sign that stated "Public Swimming Pool, White Only," the commission statement said.
Several witnesses confirmed that the sign was posted, and the landlord indicated that she posted it because the girl used in her hair chemicals that would make the pool "cloudy," according to the commission.
Hein, of Cincinnati, hung up when The Associated Press called her for comment Tuesday. A message was left at her lawyer's office.
The commission's statement said that its investigation concluded that the posting of such a sign "restricts the social interaction between Caucasians and African-Americans and reinforces discriminatory actions aimed at oppressing people of color."
Commissioners were scheduled to hear Hein's request for reconsideration at a meeting Thursday in Columbus, commission spokeswoman Brandi Martin said.
If the commissioners uphold their original finding, the case would be referred to the Ohio attorney general's office, which would represent the commission's findings before an administrative law judge, Martin said.
Penalties in the case could include a cease-and-desist order and even punitive damages, but the administrative law judge would determine any penalties, Martin said.
It still would be possible for the parties to reach a settlement before resorting to legal action, she said.
Any decision by the administrative judge could be appealed to Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in Cincinnati, Martin said.