A pool in Wendell, North Carolina is facing criticism after rules posted at the business banned baggy pants, dreadlocks, weaves and extensions. According to ABC11, the owner says the rules are not racist.
John, who co owns the private outdoor recreation center with his wife Teresa, told the station the rules had been posted in the center’s office for about six years. He said people only objected after Teresa shared them on Facebook.
When the executive director of Justice Served NC asked him about the rules directly, John reportedly said his wife made a mistake in posting them, but he maintained the rules are not racist.
John explained that he does not want children at the pool around people with their pants hanging low. He also said hair in the water can get stuck in the pump and force a shutdown that takes about three days to fix.
The pool’s Facebook page addressed some of the policies. In one post that has since been deleted, John reportedly apologized for not understanding what the word dreadlocks means and said the policy should have simply read “no artificial hair.” The couple said the artificial hair policy came from a Certified Pool Operator class that advised owners not to allow hair extensions in the water.
A Certified Pool Operator instructor told ABC11 that hair in the water should not be a concern, because strainers are built to catch hair before it reaches the pump system.
John and Teresa said they plan to speak with their lawyer about what can be done about people who have publicly called them racist. John said anyone making that claim should put it in writing, and the couple would handle it in court.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
Critics online have called the rules discriminatory toward Black patrons, while the owners continue to deny that. We will keep you posted if the pool changes its policy.
