Segregated YMCAs

When I moved to Seattle I joined the Y, and since I worked Downtown that's where I went for the most part. The men's locker room had it's own separate hot tub, sauna, and steam, and (obviously) showers.

I like seeing these old nude photos from the YMCA, but since I was born in the late 70s I didn't have a chance to experience them. But I always notice in these photos that I don't see people like me. It's always these in shape model looking white guys hanging naked with each other. I always hope to see a bunch of naked Black guys hanging out without a care, or a mixed group of guys doing the same. But I know now that such things didn't happen in the 50s. "Negroes" weren't allowed in many of the public pools.

Side note: if anyone does have any photos like this in a YMCA type setting please share.

Anyhow, my local YMCA posted an article about the YMCA and the Civil Rights Movement. Apparently the Y couldn't just integrate in the early 1900s since not just the law but public sentiment wouldn't allow it. However, they were very open to having separate YMCAs to serve Black communities. Article here: A Brief History of the YMCA and the Civil Rights Movement.

It's worth noting that the "Rosenwald Ys" as they were called provided a place for young Black men to develop as leaders, and were friendly with the other YMCA chapters. They included dormitory rooms and eating facilities where visitors of color could find clean, safe accommodations, free of the demeaning exclusion that was the rule of Jim Crow.

Segregation at the YMCA as a policy ended in 1946, but it took about 20 more years for all of the facilities to adapt to this. Many of the YMCAs in Black communities are closed now, save for a few in southern urban areas. The YMCA currently works toward inclusion in many ways. I do wonder if they still had the same naked swim activities, and if these young men were able to enjoy themselves freely and without clothes inside those walls and temporarily safe from racial scrutiny.

More here if you're interested: A Brief History of the YMCA and African American Communities

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