After thinking this through on both sides and looking at the statements of what happened (I know, terrible habit; I keep this up I'll end up in law school) I've come to the conclusion that there's a sort of middle ground which more or less says that it wasn't the kids' fault and the club owners weren't being racist. But that doesn't mean the club owners were right to do what they did.
The entire thing seems to have begun because of the club members. At least one, if not more, complained to the club staff. The club staff likely were unsure what to do here- because you're dealing with paying, long-time members and a group of newly-arrived kids who have a deal to use the club you know nothing about. And so they either made a bad call or they punted it to the owner.
And the owner basically decided that it was a question of being racist or pissing off his main revenue source (club members). Do you anger the group of people you depend on for your livelihood and whom you have to deal with on a regular basis, or the people you barely know, who paid you a relatively small lump sum and you won't have to see again (and who may not even know your face)?
So the club management can reassure themselves they're not racist (they're just looking after their members, in their mind), the staff don't feel their wrong because it wasn't their decision (and I expect the 'complexion' comment originated from a club member and was being used without citation), the club members don't think they're racist because it's their private club... and the kids get screwed over. Because everyone's convinced themselves they're not being racist, due to being more concerned about covering their own asses than the color of anyone's skin. With the exception of the club members, who don't have to own up to it because the club ownership are the ones who're taking the fall. But I expect they're likely rationalizing it to themselves as well.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2009-07-10 12:09 pm (UTC)The entire thing seems to have begun because of the club members. At least one, if not more, complained to the club staff. The club staff likely were unsure what to do here- because you're dealing with paying, long-time members and a group of newly-arrived kids who have a deal to use the club you know nothing about. And so they either made a bad call or they punted it to the owner.
And the owner basically decided that it was a question of being racist or pissing off his main revenue source (club members). Do you anger the group of people you depend on for your livelihood and whom you have to deal with on a regular basis, or the people you barely know, who paid you a relatively small lump sum and you won't have to see again (and who may not even know your face)?
So the club management can reassure themselves they're not racist (they're just looking after their members, in their mind), the staff don't feel their wrong because it wasn't their decision (and I expect the 'complexion' comment originated from a club member and was being used without citation), the club members don't think they're racist because it's their private club... and the kids get screwed over. Because everyone's convinced themselves they're not being racist, due to being more concerned about covering their own asses than the color of anyone's skin. With the exception of the club members, who don't have to own up to it because the club ownership are the ones who're taking the fall. But I expect they're likely rationalizing it to themselves as well.