{"product_id":"the-nile-swim-club-of-yeadon-a-history-paperback","title":"The Nile Swim Club of Yeadon: A History - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRobert Kodosky Phd\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eAnthony Patterson Sr\u003c\/b\u003e (Introduction by), \u003cb\u003eLamont Ferrell\u003c\/b\u003e (Foreword by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmerica's Oldest Black Swim Club\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen it opened in July of 1959, the Nile Swim Club welcomed over one thousand people to its pool. The only problem that day, remembers Bill Mellix, then 13, \"None of us knew how to swim.\" In the 1930s, an African American middle class began moving into Yeadon, leading to one of the nation's first Black suburban enclaves. By the end of the 1950s, Ebony magazine dubbed Yeadon Philadelphia's \"Black Mainline.\" The town remained majority white however, and strict racial segregation was enforced, including the local pool. Typical for the time, white residents maintained it as a private swim club to avoid public desegregation laws. The response of Yeadon's African Americans proved unique. They built their own pool and opened it to all, regardless of race. It attracted members from the Philadelphia area, including New Jersey and offered a variety of programming. Celebrities such as Harry Belafonte and members of the Supremes visited. Decades later, hip hop icon D.J. Cash Money and actor Will Smith started out at the Nile as MCs. Join author Robert Kodosky as he reveals the incredible history and legacy of the Nile Swim Club and the vibrant landmark it remains today. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 176\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.19 x 8.99 x 6.12 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 29, 2024\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51765005943072,"sku":"9781467156127","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/ff99b1494af571cfed93bd0fd7c55170.webp?v=1780260205","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/the-nile-swim-club-of-yeadon-a-history-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}