Obama’s Saturday visit to Ghana shows just how far humanity as a whole has come, but situations like the Valley Swim Club incident in Pennsylvania display how far it still has to go.
During Obama’s Ghana trip, he visited Cape Coast Castle, which is a fortified building with dungeons that used to hold slaves. Obama visited the area with his wife, Michelle, and children, Sasha and Malia.
The president’s trip to Ghana brought further attention to the underprivileged situations facing parts of Africa, but this need has not gone unnoticed nationally. Many people volunteer their time to travel to Africa and willingly offer whatever financial assistance they can, even during times of economic uncertainty.
UCF students have also made their voices heard about the needs faced by the world’s second largest continent, whether it is through protests or clubs and organizations volunteering their assistance.
After his visit to Cape Coast Castle, Obama said, “It was a remarkable reminder that, while the future is unknowable, the winds always blow in the direction of human progress.”
With so many people focusing on helping others outside of their own country, human progress can be seen on both national and international levels. But there are events that show that humanity has room for improvement.
The Swim Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. is under public fire for its treatment of kids from the Creative Steps Day Care. The day care paid $1,950 for the kids to use the club’s pool for the summer.
On their first visit to the club, kids from the day care noticed hostile reactions from others. African Americans were being questioned about why they were at the pool. When the Swim Valley Club sent the $1,950 check back to the day care, the president still insisted it was due to safety reasons and denied that there was any racism behind it.
Racism arising as a possible factor in this situation shows that it still exists as an issue.
Just like any other oppression, what we do has major influences on our future.
Obama’s Ghana visit should serve as a reminder of the human progress that has taken place and help us take equality to another level nationally and abroad.
6 comments
Photo? i asked? For what purporse? So the lifegaurds can recognize you. But I haven't even joined yet, paid the first penny of dues and you want a photo BEFORE you accept my application. Right.
That's the Pittsboro Pool in Pittsboro, NC