Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

CrieDeCoeur t1_iu7cd8s wrote

1826? Hell that's downright progressive compared to my city, where it was all over the press in the mid 80s when the uppity golf club allowed a Japanese professor play there one time. And they still don't permit Jewish members as far as I'm aware.

17

[deleted] t1_iu7f5x0 wrote

[deleted]

6

CrieDeCoeur t1_iu7ho9r wrote

Oh fuck yes. But that golf club was run and peopled by the same rich old white men that either payed local politicians or were the local politicians. Who was ever gonna police that situation?

I only learned about all that when I caddied there as a youngster. For an entire week. Fuck that haven for racist pricks.

2

Greene_Mr t1_iu8ed82 wrote

But did you get to blow up the course in order to catch and kill a dancing gopher?

1

starmartyr t1_iu7mqzm wrote

Unfortunately, it's not. Country clubs are private clubs that are allowed to discriminate when it comes to choosing members. There are still country clubs that do not allow black people or Jews and others that do not allow women. It's less common than it used to be, but it still happens.

1

chriswaco t1_iu7qlu1 wrote

Depends on the state and the type/definition of private club. In Michigan it's been illegal since 1976 for most family clubs:

>(2) If a private club allows use of its facilities by 1 or more adults per membership, the use must be equally available to all adults entitled to use the facilities under the membership. All classes of membership shall be available without regard to race, color, gender, religion, marital status, or national origin. Memberships that permit use during restricted times may be allowed only if the restricted times apply to all adults using that membership.

Of course, that doesn't prevent discrimination, it just makes it more difficult. We had a friend in the 1980s that was the first Jew at a major country club here. Typically two existing members have to sign the membership request and they simply wouldn't do it for Jews. He was an auto exec, though, and the thought of losing all of the execs from his company changed a few minds.

0

starmartyr t1_iu7r476 wrote

That's true, but there's currently no law against it federally and it does happen in some places.

1

[deleted] t1_iu7q2sa wrote

[deleted]

−1

starmartyr t1_iu7rg2e wrote

A private club is like a private residence. I can refuse to let black people in my house. It's a disgusting and racist thing to do, but it's perfectly legal for me to do so.

2

[deleted] t1_iu7s3uq wrote

[deleted]

2

starmartyr t1_iu7t5j8 wrote

Restaurants are open to the public. There are private dining clubs where only members are permitted to enter. Golf clubs do the same although some states have restrictions on this. I don't agree with the practice, but it is legal.

1

Major_Lennox t1_iu7r3h4 wrote

I don't think that's right:

> Marcy Frost, an employment attorney at Moss & Barnett, says it all depends on the word "private".

> "If you are truly a private club, and not open to the public, the answer is generally, yes, you're allowed to discriminate," said Frost.

> Why?

> "On the theory we have a Constitutional right of freedom of association," she said.*

1

FredTheLynx t1_iu965pa wrote

It is honestly kind of amazing how much progress has been made in the last 50-70 years and simultaneously depressing how long it took.

For like 99.999% of human history we have been an almost completely tribal bunch of murderous dickheads and many of us still are.

6

detasselers t1_iu8jm5n wrote

Professional golfer Tom Watson quit the Kansas City Country Club in 1990 after it denied membership to Henry Bloch, one of the founders of H&R Block, who was Jewish. They offered a membership to Bloch a week later, and he joined. Watson didn’t rejoin until 1995.

1