My people

When sdn sent me the article about the mostly Black group of kids banned from a local private swim club for "changing the complexion" of the place, my first reaction was shock and then, of course, fury.

I am now very, very sad.

Seeing the interviews with the stunned and disappointed little kids was heartbreaking to me. Why do white people keep doing this again and again and again and again?

I realize it's a certain type of white person; perhaps the white folks reading this want to distance themselves from them by saying: "private club -- wealthy," or "suburban," or whatever.

But a dearly loved relative of mine once denied admittance to an area club to someone for being a Catholic who worked for a Jew. It was a long time ago, but he still did it. Another relative whom I will not pretend to love is an ugly, petty part of Chicago's hideous racial history. They are family. I am not going to allow myself to pretend it's those "other white people over there."

When are we going to stop hurting little children in our insane and frantic desire to set ourselves apart as better, as special, as inherently deserving of the best things? Why do we keep doing it? Why why why?