Tinka Nichols
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thread 1/4
BALTIMORE: DRUID HILL PARK
POOL NO. 2

Built: 1921
Desegregated: 1955
Drained: 1956

Public pools were common in American cities before the 1950s and most were officially “whites only”.
08:31 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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Tinka Nichols
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thread 2/4
When the Supreme Court declared segregated access to public amenities (such as pools) to be unconstitutional, cities circumvented integration by simply removing the amenities for everybody. In short, rather than integrate public pools, many cities decided to demolish them altogether.
08:31 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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Tinka Nichols
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thread 3/4
Subsequently, beginning in the 60s, there was an explosion in the popularity of backyard swimming pools in the suburbs which were, of course, mostly whites-only due to restrictive covenants and exclusionary zoning.
08:31 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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Tinka Nichols
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thread 4/4
In the name of racism and avoiding integration, American cities effectively eliminated a public good and privatised it for only those who could afford it.
08:31 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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TrevWriter
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In response to Tinka Nichols.
Yes, I remember them.
11:42 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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Ronald Alexander
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In response to Tinka Nichols.
Maybe it was the feature instead of a bug.
09:07 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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The Eternal Atheist
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In response to Tinka Nichols.
This topic is the metaphor that threads through Heather McGhee's The Sum of Us.
Such a great and informative read.
09:05 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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Jerry Wechsler
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In response to Tinka Nichols.
☹️ NYC has some public pools, open to all of course; but we could use many more. The pool right down the block from us is expensive, more than we can afford for a short summer season.
08:43 AM - Feb 25, 2024
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