The Viral Valley

As a young girl, there were few places I would have preferred to call home than Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. Nestled against the farthest reaches of Northeast Philadelphia, my home, this hamlet of roughly 12,000, in Lower Moreland Township, is picturesque with rolling hills, winding roads, lush landscapes, sprawling homes, excellent public schools and very comfortable incomes.

We lived so close to Huntingdon Valley, it only entailed a short walk across the county line to get there, and I crossed over early and often. Be it Friday night block parties, sorority pledging, Lorimer Park, excellent Deli's, the Bowling Alley, or a favorite Disco, which served as a second home on Thursday nights, I spent considerable time in Huntingdon Valley and, 25 years later, still remember it with mostly fond memories.

When the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia first reported on the Valley Swim Club incident earlier this week, I tagged along, as I knew the story would go viral in a matter of milliseconds. Though I've never been to this particular swim club, I have been to many of the swim and country clubs in the general vicinity, and I'm not at all surprised at what occurred at Valley. And the truth is, since I left the city, virtually nothing has changed at these clubs. In a very perverse way, I'm almost glad that what I've known forever about the suburban hamlets bordering Philadelphia has finally come to light. It's a discussion we didn't dare have yet one which is long overdue.

So much of what is being posted on the Net by people claiming this couldn't have happened in "Philly" is ill-informed. After all, Philadelphia is a majority african american city today. But Huntingdon Valley is not Philly. It's a very affluent place that many white Philadelphians fled to because of the darkening "complexion" of the City of Brotherly Love. To be fair, there was also a desire and the means for these former city dwellers to reside in larger homes with even bigger lots. Another reason often cited to move out yonder was city taxes, but what residents of these well-heeled suburban enclaves pay in property taxes dwarfs the city tax liability, not to mention the hefty gasoline tab for commuting an hour or more, each way, to work in Center City.

Huntingdon Valley's demographics are 97% white. Any diversity the Valley Swim Club claims among its members is either token Asian or Eastern Indian professionals. Why Russians were mentioned by the club President to falsely demonstrate a diverse membership is beyond me, because last I looked, they, like all other Eastern Europeans, are Caucasian. It must be the pesky accents of newer arrivals. Jews were mentioned too! Why? Huntingdon Valley would be a shell of itself without them. The business my favorite Deli racks up on Shivah platters alone is mind boggling. Great stuff too and I'm already craving the Lox and Smoked Salmon just thinking about it.

For all the aforementioned positives about Huntingdon Valley, it's not what I think of today as the real world. Other than religious beliefs, there is a remarkable sameness among every family and that's precisely how they want it. They may speak of diversity and tell their children all the right things about those who are different, but there is little or no association with people who are not exactly like themselves, be it by race or socioeconomics.

These are people who gave Barack Obama the majority of their votes but have no black or hispanic friends, would never venture to at least half of Philadelphia, and don't expect to see people from those city neighborhoods showing up on their leafy turf. It's not overt racism, but simmering under the surface, and it came to a head when 65 children of color suddenly appeared at one of their pools.

Most public swimming pools in Philadelphia are closed this year because of budget cuts due to the economic crisis gripping Pennsylvania and the nation. Parents of the children attending the Frankford Day Camp paid the $35.00 fee to Valley Swim Club so their children could swim 1 hour a week, and enjoy an integral part of the summer camp experience. Valley was obviously looking to boost their numbers otherwise they would not have a website advertising memberships, where you could sign up and pay, online, for several plans. Funds totaling almost $2000 were exchanged and all seemed fine and dandy until the childen of color showed up to use what they paid for.

The people of Huntingdon Valley and all similar white "bubble" communities dotting the urban landscapes up and down the coasts need to move beyond lip service about diversity and open their hearts and minds with meaningful actions and real relationships, not wall themselves off and pretend another world doesn't exist, or worse, utter insensitive remarks, instruct their children to exit a pool, then close it down because of the embarrassment they caused themselves, not to mention innocent children, who just wanted to enjoy an activity that's taken for granted by their own kids.

More than a year ago, as a candidate for President, Barack Obama gave a speech on race in Philadelphia. Perhaps the reason why he chose my hometown is being revealed to us now. As far we've come, there's work to be done.