It appears to me, if you read the small print on the sign, "Selma ALa with a date of 14 July 31" that something isn't exactly right with this story. Maybe it's just me. In any case, someone is still living in the dark ages and needs to catch up with the rest of the world.

Yeah, looks like that sign is a part of History. Might even be worth a penny or 2 in someone's museum....

@Cub T.

When I observed the old sign my initial thought was that it was meant as a joke toward ignorance but the landlord claimed a black girl's hair products clouded the swimming pool.

From the landlords comment, he or she stood behind its intent regardless of its antiquity value.

So otherwise yes, someone is still living in the dark ages.

This woman is a moron.

This is 100% wrong in every sense. You don't put up a "only white" sign at the pool. You put up a sign letting people know if they have hair gels, chemicals and other stuff in their hair that they need to rinse their hair out before getting into the pool.

I hope every black and white person that opposes to this sign and goes over to this home and protest daily and tear that damn sign down, and the four people that voted on this saying the sign stays up. They all need to be removed.

We are not living in the 50's and 60's where blacks had to use separate bathrooms, water fountains, restaurants and sit in the back of the bus.

What the hell is wrong with these people in Ohio.

Boycott these people and make their life a living hell is what needs to be done.

Sad that this even exists.

Old sign....from the south....likely the old man's sign. My guess is he hasn't let his racist ways go.

tell him to go to wal-mart report it to the greeter...

Am I the only one that sees the real issue here? Look at the picture again.

There is a basketball goal right next to the pool. Shouldn't we expect some controversy here?

Or is this just some kind of racially motivated setup?

YELDARB27--what does the basketball goal have to do with the pool? The pool has a fence up, beyond that fence, you see someone else's garage and some other houses (that aren't associated with the apartment building). The garage has what is probably a driveway up to it or a back patio beyond it (it's hard to tell if this is the front or back of the garage), and there is a basketball goal one the side of what is probably the concreted area (one can't see the ground). Where I live, it is pretty typical to see a basketball goal beside a driveway because it gives the kids in the neighborhood somewhere to play basketball when the local school is closed.

The sign is very clearly something that the landlord either found in her basement/attic or bought from an antique store (some people find such signs valuable for their historical interest). If she had it lying around her house already, then she was probably just looking for an excuse to post it and used the young girl and her hair gel as an excuse.

I don't have an objection to the landlord being concerned about products in the pool--but it is far more likely that the pool was cloudy because of the use of sunscreen by her European-American tenants than from the hair gel of just one girl. The landlord's reasoning is really just a clear exposure of her racism, as racists always have some excuse for their behavior--they don't think they are "racists"; they think they are "truth tellers."

The truth here is that the landlord had every right to put up a shower and require anyone using the pool to rinse off before going into the pool--but that's all she had a right to.

Wow! Took a very small joke and analyzed it to pieces. I bet you are a real cut up at parties.

And as far as the actual story goes: What one does on their own private property is strictly their own business. We can have our opinions of it, both pro and con but, they just don't matter. I do agree with you that racists always have their own reasoning just as much as the other side of the coin that clearly shows racists running around trying to create racist situations where there are none. They like to keep it going so they can claim to be victims for monetary gain and public recognition. Al Sharpton and few others come to mind.

Publicly own land is a whole different story.

Bean must have been born with a sense of humor vitamin deficiency.

Probably inherited it from a Klancestor. If you look closely, it says "Selma, AL 14 July 31"

Klancestor is the best new word in a long while. Perfect for where I live in central FL.

that sign is a very interesting part of history. would like to see it @ a museum in dc. I also feel that the business owner should have a right to run thier business the way they please. If it cost you more to serve your product to one type ...at the least...be able to charge a fair price. I am a volenteer at a state park and i would guess that 80% of the african american parties cost 2 extra man hours to clean up after. If It was a private park and I were the owner and had to pay someone to cleanup. I would want the right to exclude or charge the afican american extra.

Really 8thwonder?? Your racism isn't even barely concealed.

Wow 8thwonder!!! Are you serious???? It's 2012!!! And your mindset is that of someone from the 1960's or even better yet, the days of Abraham Lincoln!!!!! We have an african-american president! Get over it!

8th wonder, it's a "public" pool. Did you read the sign? You don't get to discrimate at a public place.

8thwonder - he may have the right to forbid the use of certain hair products by all the people who legitimately use his pool, but not to exclude a whole class of people on the basis of race, religion or ethnic identity.

8thWonder - You may be white, but your heart is filthy, lots of muck in there. Ask Jesus into your heart to rid of the hate. Or you are definitely hell-bound!!

The landlord "did not get it" He still living in the bad old days. What a moron!

8th wonder, You think just like Ron Paul does.

That said, you are a bigot. It will always be true that one family will leave more trash in a park than another, and if it is a private park, you have to recover the cost of cleanup. There are three solutions. Two are legal:

a) Legal: Charge all visitors the same amount of money, sufficient to cover the cost of cleanup,

b) Legal but not practical: When a family is leaving the park, assess their trash and charge them on the way out to cover costs. This would reward cleaner folks and put the burden on messy people to clean up after themselves. It is also impractical to implement.

c) Illegal: You can look at a person coming in to the park and guess at the cost to your park on the basis of their skin color and charge them more. This is called racism. This is what you suggested.

The fact that you even suggested the thing you suggested demonstrates that you failed the learn the lessons of the civil rights movement. It also demonstrates, for the rest of us, that the claims of modern day african americans is absolutely true: racism is alive and kicking in America.

What planet do you live on? This has been going since Man walked the Earth..I am so shocked that you poked your head out the Window...

It is a language called Troll speak. He blabbers unrelated garbage just to get others to pay attention to him. Do not feed the Trolls.

Tommy, if you read the Civil Rights laws, landlords with more than 4 units to rent are not allowed by Federal law to discriminate, period. Now it does not state how many units there are on the property, but since the ruling stands, I'm betting it's more than 4 units. The law is to protect people, read it. Unless the Federal laws are repealed, he is in violation, and should be prosecuted.

"Not enough info to make a judgement" Its 2012 NOT 1912. had the sign said Blacks Only and the landlord said that a white child's sun tan lotion was causing problems you'd be the first to take up arms in her defense.

Agree w/ the apt. rental laws... It's the Public Pool thing thats throwing me off. Is it only for tenants? For all tenants or only tenants of more expensive apartments or building? Are tenants' guests allowed? Is/was it open to the neighborhood? Could the complex just say (unless access is written in the lease) : Pool privileges are now restricted to the landlord and his/her personal guests..?

If she were telling the truth (which she's obviously not), then the sign should simply say, "swim caps required when hair products are used." or something of that nature, and should apply to everyone, including her. Face it folks, there's no legitimate reason for that sign, and its just plain RUDE, hurtful and provoking. Fact is, the young girl was probably too good to swim in her nasty old pool anyway, and the old coot is embarrassing herself as well as the rest of the country, by living in the dark ages.

Tommy, while it may be true that you have a right to deny access to your private pool, I'm assuming you would care enough to use the proper chemicals in your pool, therefore nullifying the need for such a rude sign. If you were that particular, or that rude, I don't imagine you would have to worry about throwing any pool parties because no decent people would want to attend.

Any tenant in his apartment building has the right to use all common facilities. This might also include their legitimate guests, but if so, would not be limited to white guests. The pool is not a part of his home. It is a part of the homes of all who rent or lease an apartment from him.

He has no more right to forbid his tenants use of the pool, then he has to forbid them use of the common hallways, the elevator, or the parking lot.

The landlord did not post a sign saying the pool may only be used by tenants, or only by people in the premium apartments. The sign says "Whites Only".

There's no ambiguity about this case. It was an attempt at racial discrimination, period.

To those commenting on the small lettering on the sign, you must have a better computer screen than I.

Tommy, the bi-racial girl that was discriminated against lived in the apartment complex with the pool and the 'white only' sign for which it was intended. The young girl along with her parents were, at the time, tenants, and so they had a right to use the pool. The landlord had absolutely no right to ban any tenant from the pool based on race.

BTW, not sure if it came across in my previous postings but I wasnt trying to condone racism.. Just questioning the power that the federal govt has over what people are allowed to do with their property or businesses. like IMO if I had a sub shop and some @!$%# that bullied me in school comes in... I should be able to tell him to take his business elsewhere if I want.. He'd have the right to spend his money elsewhere and I'd have the right to not be forced to have his business.. or if the guy had an obnoxious attitude or something else that was irritating and "killing my buzz" so to speak.

Anybody know how those fancy nightclubs w/ doormen are allowed to let certain people in (maybe they are famous or pretty or stylishly dressed) and not others?

Just trying to bring in a little broader dimension into it other than just the race issue.

I see govt intrusion into personal lives more of a threat than the occasional racism. Occasional racism or sexism or handsome-ism (govt supported things should have more rules than private supported entities).. is a small price to pay to supposedly) live in a free society.

Discussion point: Are we free or are we not?.. Isnt that a huge topic? Am I free to move to a place I prolly wont interact w/ people that irritate me?.. maybe I'm a punk/heavy metal music guy and I'm all for areas where hippie/Greatful Dead types make a community... so can I also be against places where Punk/heavy metal listeners or to the extreme Christian Identity people want to make a community? ... Would I want to live there?.. no.. Can I take my $ and rent/buy somewhere else? .. yes...

If in a hippie/commune area shouldnt I be allowed to not accept a white power skinhead? and vice-versa?

I'm a socially liberal guy who thinks every one should be allowed their own opinion (even if they are wrong LOL)..... but dont think there are many reasons for intervention unless it uses tax/federal $.

if I had a sub shop and some @!$%# that bullied me in school comes in... I should be able to tell him to take his business elsewhere if I want..

...or you could just spit in his sandwich.

But seriously, Tommy, most public businesses reserve the right to refuse service to individuals who are troublesome, or have been in the past; people get thrown out of bars all the time, and are sometimes asked never to return. BUT, No public business is allowed to reserve service because of their race, color or creed ...or, for that matter, their suspected sexual orientation.

...and I'm absolutely fine with such limits.

In this case, the landlord is on even more doubtful ground. He is in the business of providing homes to people in return for money [rent]. The pool, the common entrances and stairways: these are all part of the implied contract into which he has entered with each of his tennants. When he forbids some of the tenants, or even his tenants visiting guests, the right to use the facilities on basis of their race, he is denying them equal protection under the law, and violating the terms of his rental agreement.

Yes, the Federal government sometimes is too intrusive. But I've absolutely no quarel with this ruling and what symbolizes.

BTW: Please, if you have a sub shop, don't spit in anybody's sandwich :-)

I must of missed that part. I had to read it over and still didnt see where the judge told anyone they were a jackass

Well said Linda!!!

Hmmm....it seems that you may be the mentally ill one here. The only society that is healthy is one that is diverse.

@ democrat hartzi: Racism is a thing of the past! Diversity is now and the future. It must be really hard for you to live in America.

Ok seriously this argument is kinda old and downplayed, but the whitey cracker thing is annoying. I myself as a black guy cannot just walk up a bunch of white co workers and just start calling them names that may actually offend them(Be it whatever really offends you, most dont even know what a cracker or honkey is, but definitely inappropriate). Bottom line is know your history, know why channels and forums like BET or hispanic news and channels exist. Beyond your blinders look at the other side of why its really never needed to have a white history month because there is white history all around you but you are blinded by labels of white and black... Irish days, german festivals. Slovack gatherings i can go on happen daily, yet you focus on "white" and "black"... Tell me what my heritage is before slavery and Ill celebrate nigerian day if i could trace... IF you can't, then be informed about something you dont belong or no nothing about... We all belong to the human race, and we all have our cultural and historical life altering differences... Some and most that need to be moved past.. Others that need to be celebrated.. And those that need to be remembered. Just my 2 cents sorry for the long response, it just gets old hearing the reverse racism claim..But ill admit some of it is justified :D

I agree white history is all around, and we are moving to reflect and change the history books, we have MLK day, not to mention a true African-American President, pretty big steps in the right direction, wouldn't you agree.

My point on BET etc. is these don't permit non-Blacks etc from even competing, did any white person win an award on the 2011 BET Awards, No.

We should have nothing separate, as you wrote we along belong to the human race, one in the same. I wear no blinders; I see things as they are.
All these gatherings as you mention exist, agreed, yet you fail to mention ALL are welcome, unlike for example the Latin Music Awards.
I don't think there are many Americans that can tell you what their heritage was before slavery, not just blacks; I'm not even sure why you brought slavery up?

We need to move beyond what divides us and work as a whole for the greater good, that is for better education opportunities for all, eliminate the illegal drug problem in America, clean up our cities, I could go on and on….we as one people united and seeing only us as …the American People.

Totally agree about the unity, if you watch BET there are white people on that channel, its not ALL black.. IDK if you watch everything on there or not, but it is meant and targeted for the black audience and what they want to hear listen and watch... I didnt really bring up slavery as the point of that statement was to clarify we have no REAL cultural relation besides being black to be proud of... A short story might clear that up about a class project of tracing back our roots when i was in jr high... There were so many amazing stories of itailian, german, chinese etc that it was just fun and intriguing, im a history buff mind you. Mine although beautiful and unique was very limited. That was my only point, it wasnt a target about slavery more of an Identity issue then anything. And I am all for inclusiveness and moving toward it. It needs to happen in all forums, but my other point was don't hate things that target minorities before knowing why and when they were established and why they exist. I believe in a world where there will not be a black history month and that all black historical moments and achievements will totally be in all curiculums, forums etc in AMERICAN history. Same for the japanese, the chinese rail pilgrims. The irish who went through there own discriminations what have you.. Thanks for the response and i agree with you that we do need to bring us together.

It wasn't the blocked sink that was blamed...it was the girls hair additives...

When a landlord allows tennants it becomes public, or rental property to an extent. If their money is good enough for a landlord to accept, and the pool is part of the property, access should be to all renters. And if you look at the laws on pools, they are considered an "attractive nuisance", thereby rendering any pool public.

but the sign seems to be outside for anyone to stare at, that's like being naked in the house and standing at a window.

@ Screwed Tax Payer: Actually, you don't have the right to create your own rules when it involves discriminating against one of your tenants.

Not as a landlord, you don't. I'm sorry buddy, but there was this bill passed about 45 years ago, which your party tried really hard to filibuster. It was called the Civil Rights Act. It attempted to eliminate favoritism to majority races/religions/genders/sexual orientations. To use your argument, if you privately own a company, you can discriminate against hiring an employee of a certain race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation? If you privately own a car company, you can decide which race may or may not buy your car. If you own a private bus company, you can decide which race may sit in the front??? No, you cannot to any of the above. I'm sorry, but no matter how racist you are, you are not allowed to discriminate against any of the protected groups anytime you are in a position of power. This is a federal mandate and if you don't like it, by all means please please please move to a different country, one where you are the disempowered minority, preferably. That way you can struggle your whole life to barely feed your family and pay your bills, but still must live life as a second class citizen.

Come on dude. Are you serious? Did you not read that the owner of the property SUED to be able to keep this very same sign up? The owner not only admitted to putting the sign up, but explained the reason for putting the sign up and claimed that she had a right because a girl (who happened to be African-American) had product in her hair. I don't mean to be a jerk, but please at least read the article before claiming that the landlord is being slandered. I can promise you that she doesn't think she is being slandered, at least not by the display of her sign which she did herself. Also... almost every apartment that I have lived in has had a public pool. In fact, most have had both a pool and a hot tub. Are you serious? Again, I don't mean to be a jerk or to be unfair but... come on dude.

Did you read all of what I wrote?

These special months and events only for minorities are discriminatory in that Whites cannot compete or apply etc. Come up with a "White Only" TV station, awards show or university and watch the uproar it would cause.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
-Abraham Lincoln

These special months and events only for minorities are discriminatory

That's like saying that played rests in music are discriminatory to the played notes. Celebration of white culture is the defacto default, it's everywhere, all the time. Celebrating differences in race and culture rather than suppressing them is good for everyone. You sound stingy.

Thank you culheath, I stated this earlier... What exactly is white? Its a beautiful multicutural deep rooted historical triumph of many wonderful histories... Why down play irish independence, or the great stories of europe and old america by just having a white month... Theres so much already celebrated but you focus on my families and ancestors little bit of acknowledgement and celebration as reverse racism. Please do your history and know why it is pointless to have white history anything because your culture is the focal majority of american euro history man...

@ Me Living in Europe: Though I understand what you're getting at, I think your views are slightly off center and may not work here.

Historically, 'white only' anything was based on SHEER RACISM. When you speak of Black History month, Latin Heritage Month, BET, etc., you are talking about sharing, celebrating culture and history. Not excluding people based on race.

My views are my own opinions, off center or not, is your opinion which you are entitled too.

Here's an example, of "sharing, celebrating..." the Black Miss America contest, though I think now defunct, did exclude all non Black women.

We need to get past white, black, red, yellow, blue, green..... whatever and simply be American.

The "labels" we use will keep us divided, perhaps there is a certain segment that cultivates this in order to foster agendas, I don't know.

Just check the history of Black Miss America and find out why it exist. Things arent always as BLACK and WHITE as you make it. Things are changing, things have and will always melt together that we wont need such events to distinguish identity. Blacks werent allowed to compete or display their triumphs and acceptance of existance to the human condition so establish as the NAACP were formed or BET advertisements for shows that show what it is like to live as a minority in this country. We do need to be one, but we must always celebrate our cultures, and yes with acceptance... I'm glad you have your opinion and I am not trying to discredit it entirely... Just showing the otherside of the fence of the reverse racism claim because people just do not know history of why things are the way they are, and how we can include more openiness with that knowledge.

I know why the NAACP and BET exist, I was not born yesterday, and yes the Jim Crow laws in the south are a terrible stain on our great nation's history.

On the other hand establishing BET or a Black Miss America contest makes it "Black Only" there in itself a contradiction as to why the NAACP was formed.
Why live as a minority (read a label) in this country why not live as an American?

Celebrating our cultures, keeps us divided, we need to celebrate the American Culture, united.

Me living in Europe,

Celebrating our cultures, keeps us divided, we need to celebrate the American Culture, united.

That's totally absurd. America IS a collection of immigrants, races and cultures...it's not some monolithic thing like a cookie cutter a McDonald's restaurant, and perish the thought that it ever should be.

I celebrate the fact that there exists a bayou culture, a Latin culture a south and north west coast culture, a New York culture, a midwest culture or a northeast culture and that there are racial and cultural groups representing nearly every culture on earth. Melting all that wonderfully textured and complex fabric down to one sterile plastic, one-size-fits-all made for tv culture would be a nightmare and would impoverish what it means to be an American.

Our national motto may well be Pluribus Unum, "from the many, one", but that does not mean trying to pave over or eradicate the many in order to achieve the one.

I think you're wrong tommyb! We ARE co-existing... black, white, hispanic, asian... though with anything in life, there will always be differences of opinion, and that's okay, There will be some, that will NEVER be okay with change. But, there will be many, who are. That's the America that you're living in today.

I disagree. While we are all different and I think we should all celebrate our differences while embracing our unity (if it is possible which I think it is) I also think that coexistence is not only possible, but absolutely necessary. I don't think we should abandon our cultures and heritages and all become one ambiguous people, but we must unite as a country... and as a species and work toward the same goal... eliminating poverty and embracing racial/income equality. I know what you are thinking. What a dreamer. Maybe I am. However, there is nothing wrong with setting "stretch goals" and working toward achieving them. Also, the idea that since the various races are different, they are therefore incompatible is the other side of the coin that was expressed in the photo at the top of this page. As long as people believe in this idea, we will continue to see signs that say "whites only", "colored only", etc, and we will continue to see ridiculous comments like this. If we succumb to rhetoric that keeps races, genders, religions, etc, separated, then we have completely missed the point and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Al Sharpton, Malcom X, Medgar Evers, etc, have wasted their time, and in many cases, lives. I am white, and with that, I am sure that I have my own pre-concieved notions and prejudices, most of which I am probably not even aware of. However, I hope that I at least have enough common sense to see that by perpetuating all of these prejudices and racial myths, we are doing the human race a huge injustice. I mean, for God's sake, we are all human.