Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:11 PM Jun 2018

A black woman was at the pool on vacation. Then a man insisted she shower before swimming.

A black woman was at the pool on vacation. Then a man insisted she shower before swimming.
By Eli Rosenberg
June 15 at 10:35 PM

Carle Wheeler was doing what one does on a vacation in the sun, hanging with her 5-year-old daughter in the pool of the hotel in Pasadena, Calif., where they were staying, when a man approached them.

The man, who is white, asked Wheeler and her daughter, who are black, if they had showered before getting into the pool, Wheeler wrote on her Facebook page, “because people carry diseases into the pools and he doesn’t want the health department to shut the pool down.”

The two moved to the other end of the pool, but he approached again and she confronted him on what appeared to be “blatant racism,” she said. He claimed he worked for the health department when she asked, Wheeler said in an interview with The Washington Post.

“I let him know that being black is not a disease and showering would not wash the BLACK off our skin,” Wheeler, 33, a software engineer and single mother from Dallas, wrote on her Facebook page. “I think it’s awful that ANY man would think it’s okay to essentially ask a woman and a little girl if we took off our clothes and scrubbed our naked bodies before getting into a hotel swimming pool.”

More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/06/15/a-black-woman-was-at-the-pool-on-vacation-then-a-man-insisted-she-shower-before-swimming/?utm_term=.bad346c24758

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A black woman was at the pool on vacation. Then a man insisted she shower before swimming. (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2018 OP
So I have a question since I cant access the article Kilgore Jun 2018 #1
Yes, I see those signs too radical noodle Jun 2018 #2
At our city pool the lifeguard and attendent enforces the rule Kilgore Jun 2018 #3
I have a WP subscription radical noodle Jun 2018 #4
Yes I would of told him to fuck off or I'm calling the front desk or manager . They are not going lunasun Jun 2018 #5
Yeah... radical noodle Jun 2018 #6
That's true what the hotel said it's a security issue also, he could return agitated . Kicked out lunasun Jun 2018 #7
Yep! radical noodle Jun 2018 #10
Thank you, radical noodle, for making that video available. Very helpful. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2018 #11
You're welcome radical noodle Jun 2018 #13
That nails it Kilgore Jun 2018 #9
Thanks for posting the article. I'm shocked that Hortensis Jun 2018 #14
Yes spike91nz Jun 2018 #12
We all have to resolve to support our fellow citizens in these situations. Girard442 Jun 2018 #8

Kilgore

(1,733 posts)
1. So I have a question since I cant access the article
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:22 PM
Jun 2018

If the they were singled out, there is a problem.

Its not uncommon to see "shower before swimming" signs posted at public or hotel pools. Our local city pool has one posted

http://www.health.com/mind-body/clean-pools-can-still-pose-health-hazards

radical noodle

(8,003 posts)
2. Yes, I see those signs too
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:26 PM
Jun 2018

but has anyone here ever been asked if they showered unless there's a person checking everyone going into the pool area?

Kilgore

(1,733 posts)
3. At our city pool the lifeguard and attendent enforces the rule
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:29 PM
Jun 2018

We had the pool shut down for contamination a few years ago and since enforcement has been tightened up.

radical noodle

(8,003 posts)
4. I have a WP subscription
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:38 PM
Jun 2018

The article stated the guy did not work for the hotel, nor was he a health inspector. He lied about that. He also didn't ask anyone else in the pool about showering (the rest were white).

The hotel’s manager, Carl Sprayberry, released a statement that expressed regret for the way Wheeler was treated by the man.

“Harassment on any basis is not tolerated,” the statement said. “We are continuing to investigate this serious matter and deeply regret that one of our guests experienced this type of behavior.”

The Pasadena Health Department told the television channel KTLA that the man is not a health inspector and that no inspector had been at the Westin recently. And an inspector would not confront patrons if there had been any sanitation issues at the pool, a spokeswoman said.

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
5. Yes I would of told him to fuck off or I'm calling the front desk or manager . They are not going
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:48 PM
Jun 2018

to put up with that harassment on thier property . Phone vid helps prove its happening though

radical noodle

(8,003 posts)
6. Yeah...
Fri Jun 15, 2018, 11:52 PM
Jun 2018

Someone recorded part of the confrontation when a hotel employee tried to settle the problem. Here's a video of the news report on Youtube:

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
7. That's true what the hotel said it's a security issue also, he could return agitated . Kicked out
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 12:06 AM
Jun 2018

but the daughter will remember.
Like the woman said no progress and kids experiencing the same things as the 60s just a new generation of haters
Oh and a software engineer at a Westin now how's that economic equality conquers any racism thingy work again ?

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
14. Thanks for posting the article. I'm shocked that
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 12:54 PM
Jun 2018

anyone here would comment about supposed health department procedures without learning more about this incident. I hope the hotel identifies and blacklists this despicable harasser.

spike91nz

(180 posts)
12. Yes
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 02:02 AM
Jun 2018

I have been told several times over the years though, in fairness, not so often since I have advanced toward retirement. I was told at community pools and at a motel pool. Seemed to be more an issue when the was young. My appearance is quite caucasian. So, maybe a power issue as much as it is racial, though each time I was told it was “the rule” as justification.

Girard442

(6,081 posts)
8. We all have to resolve to support our fellow citizens in these situations.
Sat Jun 16, 2018, 12:11 AM
Jun 2018

It won't be pretty. It won't be comfortable. You'll probably feel you're making an ass of yourself. But we gotta do it.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»A black woman was at the ...