Good Afternoon, Yesterday I had the pleasure of having a great open dialogue with many of the BTR Family and as well as others in the community. I thank those who participated in the conversation as well as call in to voice there opinions. For those who might not have had the privilege to know what occurred on the show, let me give you recap of the show. It was HOT TOPICS Thursday on the 24hrmom online radio show. It was about the topics that are on our minds lately. As said before it was a great opportunity to have an open dialogue about the topics that sometimes we don't get to talk about often with one another. Some of the topics were but not limited to was the incident of the Racism in the pool (the incident that occurred at the country club in Pennsylvania), Judge Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearings, the continuous saga of Michael Jackson, the debate of how old is too old to have a baby, DNA Testing (making sure you get one you are in doubt or might land in jailed). There were so many topics that we tackled but the one that got everyone really talking was the incident at the Huntington Valley Country Club and the day campers of Creative Steps Day Camp program. Racism in the Pool!!! If many of you don't know what occurred, let me give you a brief recap of what occurred. On June 25, 2009 the campers from the Creative Steps Day camp summer program was schedule to attend the Country club pool facility and when they got there they were fad with whispering members of the country club saying," Why are all these black kids here, some even told there children to get out of the pool because they were afraid they were going to hit them or steal from them. The nut shell of the story is that the president of the club later refunded there money for assigned contract of using the pool facility for the summer and made a statement saying,"There was a concern that a lot of kids would Change the COMPLEXION and the ATMOSPHERE of the club", John Duesler, President of the Huntington Valley Club".He later retracted the statement w/o using the words of complexion and atmosphere. To begin I thought that this incident was very sad that we as a country of many ethnic background is still facing such ignorance in 2009. We fought so many avenues to get to the point where people see us as people not by the content of our skin so why are still here. I was very saddened by this and especially for those children because those children did not ask for such acts from people who were totally ignorant and totally oblivious of what is going on. What concerns me is that as Black Americans we are being judge by the few bad apples? Those kids were being judge by the acts of others that has been interpreted that all blacks kids or adults will steal, fight everyone they see. How do we correct that? It starts at home, we have to start modeling for all kids the right way of doing things regardless if we are black, white, Chinese,and Hispanic. It is not about the color of our skin it is about the person and what we can offer. As Black Americans we have to set high standards for ourselves as well. We have to show others that we are not those few bad apples, we are smarter and better than that.We need to go school and not let our surroundings be the fall of us.I believe that we can all make it. We have to teach our children our history, where we came from and how we got here. We have to instilled pride in them. We have to lead by example. As people we have not get caught in how the media thinks we should look but to look the way god blesses us. We have stand up and be proud. For instance look at the Judge Sonia Sotomayor hearings, some of the senate is concern with the,"Wise Latina comment that she said in other venues of discussion is it really about that. Here it is a lady who has built her self up despite the struggle of her early childhood and is now on the verge of becoming the first Hispanic Judge. We need to have diversity on the court circuit. But are they focusing on here record of accomplishments, no they are focus on her comment which some believe that she will not impartial. Although for the most part she will be confirm, what the grip about her is really. Is it about really comment or she is not qualified? The inauguration of a diverse president is start of change of people recognizing that we are smart and able to do it. Having Judge Sotomayor had a judge in the highest circuit says we can do it. Tips for Parents when there Child is facing Racism: By Today's Show contributor www.nbc.com/todayshow 1. Talk to them before it happens 2. Get Involved in your child life, Join the school PTA 3. Suggest implementations of programs or activities at your child school so that others can be aware of your culture. 4. Be aware of your own Bias 5. Explain differences early 6. Instill pride 7. Address racism when it happens
Good Afternoon,
Yesterday I had the pleasure of having a great open dialogue with many of the BTR Family and as well as others in the community. I thank those who participated in the conversation as well as call in to voice there opinions. For those who might not have had the privilege to know what occurred on the show, let me give you recap of the show. It was HOT TOPICS Thursday on the 24hrmom online radio show. It was about the topics that are on our minds lately. As said before it was a great opportunity to have an open dialogue about the topics that sometimes we don't get to talk about often with one another. Some of the topics were but not limited to was the incident of the Racism in the pool (the incident that occurred at the country club in Pennsylvania), Judge Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearings, the continuous saga of Michael Jackson, the debate of how old is too old to have a baby, DNA Testing (making sure you get one you are in doubt or might land in jailed).
There were so many topics that we tackled but the one that got everyone really talking was the incident at the Huntington Valley Country Club and the day campers of Creative Steps Day Camp program. Racism in the Pool!!! If many of you don't know what occurred, let me give you a brief recap of what occurred. On June 25, 2009 the campers from the Creative Steps Day camp summer program was schedule to attend the Country club pool facility and when they got there they were fad with whispering members of the country club saying," Why are all these black kids here, some even told there children to get out of the pool because they were afraid they were going to hit them or steal from them. The nut shell of the story is that the president of the club later refunded there money for assigned contract of using the pool facility for the summer and made a statement saying,"There was a concern that a lot of kids would Change the COMPLEXION and the ATMOSPHERE of the club", John Duesler, President of the Huntington Valley Club".He later retracted the statement w/o using the words of complexion and atmosphere.
To begin I thought that this incident was very sad that we as a country of many ethnic background is still facing such ignorance in 2009. We fought so many avenues to get to the point where people see us as people not by the content of our skin so why are still here. I was very saddened by this and especially for those children because those children did not ask for such acts from people who were totally ignorant and totally oblivious of what is going on. What concerns me is that as Black Americans we are being judge by the few bad apples? Those kids were being judge by the acts of others that has been interpreted that all blacks kids or adults will steal, fight everyone they see. How do we correct that? It starts at home, we have to start modeling for all kids the right way of doing things regardless if we are black, white, Chinese,and Hispanic. It is not about the color of our skin it is about the person and what we can offer. As Black Americans we have to set high standards for ourselves as well. We have to show others that we are not those few bad apples, we are smarter and better than that.We need to go school and not let our surroundings be the fall of us.I believe that we can all make it. We have to teach our children our history, where we came from and how we got here. We have to instilled pride in them. We have to lead by example. As people we have not get caught in how the media thinks we should look but to look the way god blesses us. We have stand up and be proud.
For instance look at the Judge Sonia Sotomayor hearings, some of the senate is concern with the,"Wise Latina comment that she said in other venues of discussion is it really about that. Here it is a lady who has built her self up despite the struggle of her early childhood and is now on the verge of becoming the first Hispanic Judge. We need to have diversity on the court circuit. But are they focusing on here record of accomplishments, no they are focus on her comment which some believe that she will not impartial. Although for the most part she will be confirm, what the grip about her is really. Is it about really comment or she is not qualified? The inauguration of a diverse president is start of change of people recognizing that we are smart and able to do it. Having Judge Sotomayor had a judge in the highest circuit says we can do it.
Tips for Parents when there Child is facing Racism: By Today's Show contributor www.nbc.com/todayshow 1. Talk to them before it happens 2. Get Involved in your child life, Join the school PTA 3. Suggest implementations of programs or activities at your child school so that others can be aware of your culture. 4. Be aware of your own Bias 5. Explain differences early 6. Instill pride 7. Address racism when it happens