Detroit’s Afrofuture Festival, which happens August 3 at Feedom Freedom farm in Detroit, MI, originally listed ticket prices for “NONPOC (WHITE PEOPLE)” as double the price of tickets for people of color, but have now set a standard price for everyone ($20). The New York Times reports that the backtrack came, according to founder Adrienne Ayers, after right-wing websites posted about the pricing which led to threatening and harassing calls and emails to the owner of the venue and co-director of the festival. Ayers said the original price structure was implemented because “events often designed for marginalized black and brown communities can easily be co-opted by those with cultural, monetary and class privileges,” adding, “our goal is to ensure that the youth of our community can participate in the building of a more just society, one that specifically promotes equity over equality.” Here was the explanation on the Eventbrite ticket page:
EQUALITY MEANS TREATING EVERYONE THE SAME
EQUITY IS INSURING EVERYONE HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
OUR TICKET STRUCTURE WAS BUILT TO INSURE THAT THE MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES (PEOPLE OF COLOR) ARE PROVIDED WITH AN EQUITABLE CHANCE AT ENJOYING EVENTS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY (BLACK DETROIT).
AFFORDING JOY AND PLEASURE IS UNFORTUNATELY STILL A PRIVILEGE IN OUR SOCIETY FOR POC AND WE BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO RECEIVING SUCH.
WE’VE SEEN TOO MANY TIMES ORGASMIC EVENTS HAPPENING IN DETROIT AND OTHER POC POPULATED CITIES AND WHAT CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS IS PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITING MOST FROM AFFORDABLE TICKET PRICES BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO WEALTH.
THIS CYCLE DISPROPORTIONATELY DISPLACES BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE FROM ENJOYING ENTERTAINMENT IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
AS AN AFROFUTURIST YOUTH LEAD INITIATIVE THE VOICES OF OUR YOUTH INFORM OUR RESISTANCE.
HERE’S WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY
” IF YOU DON’T SEE MY BLACKNESS, YOU DON’T SEE ME. PERIODT!”
The Times reports that the festival, which describes itself as “Essence Fest Meets Afro Punk,” is expected to draw “at least 200” and that the original 13 tickets set aside for non-POC had been sold. “There were a lot of white people who were telling us they didn’t mind paying extra,” Ayers told the Times. “Quite a few.” One performer, Tiny Jag (real name Jillian Graham) pulled out after learning of the original pricing structure. “I just felt as if the wool was over my eyes,” said Graham (who identified to the Times as biracial). “It was soon followed with just an overall recognition that this is just wrong. It wouldn’t matter what race I was, I knew that I didn’t agree with it.” Ayers said no other 2019 performers have dropped out.
The Times also spoke to civil right lawyer Tiffany Ellis who said the pricing structure was “discriminatory” and could have resulted in lawsuits, but private organizations like this one have more leeway with whom they do business and how they do it. Though tickets are now $20 for everyone, Ayers said there will be a “suggested donation for non-people of color.” Fifty percent of the profits from the AfroFuture festival will go toward Afrofuture Youth, which focuses on giving black middle and high school students the resources to create a “new, more equitable world.”