AfroFuture Fest ceases race-based ticket pricing following backlash
Afrofuture Festival, which is set to take place in August, just updated the ticket policy after they were criticized for charging white people more for tickets than people of color.
The festival takes place in Detroit, and was charging white people or “NONPOC” $40 while people of color were $20.
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The Eventbrite page explained the disparity in pricing among different ethnic groups.
“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,” it reads. “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 prosperity to wealth.”
After all of the attention, Evenbrite threatened to pull their festival from the site.
“Our mission is to bring the world together through live experiences,” Eventbrite said in a statement to The Independent. “We strive to provide a platform that enables people to gather for their chosen purpose, and that reflects diverse viewpoints, so long as they don’t violate our terms.”
The statement continued: “We do not permit events that require attendees to pay different prices based on their protected characteristics such as race or ethnicity.
“In this case, we have notified the creator of the event about this violation and requested that they alter their event accordingly,” the statement concluded. “We have offered them the opportunity to do this on their own accord; should they not wish to comply we will unpublish the event completely from our site.”
However, after the backlash, the company made all tickets $20 with a suggested donation for non-people of color.
The founder and co-director of the festival Adrienne Ayers said they changed the pricing due to “threats and harassment” after “right-wing websites highlighted the pricing.”
For the safety of our community, family, elders who received threats from white supremacists,& youth who were subjected to seeing racist comments on our IG pg,Afrofuture Fest has changed our ticketing model to $20 General Admission & suggested donation for nonPOC on @eventbrite pic.twitter.com/6wQXEjRKtt
— Afrofuture Youth (@AFYDet) July 7, 2019
One biracial performer Tiny Jag decided to cancel her appearance at the show due to the policy prior to the company changing it.
“This does not reflect the views of myself of the Tiny Jag team. I will not be playing this show. I apologize to anyone who may have been triggered or offended,” she wrote on Twitter.
sorry ily guys??? pic.twitter.com/MfhuQeEX0U
— TINY JAG?? (@tinyjaguar) July 2, 2019
Many people had a lot to say about the festival’s policy on Twitter.
Check out what they’re saying below.
I just feel like making a media spin of this Afrofuture fest shit is inherently evil. Equity isn’t wrong. Not wanting to participate is fine, but to go on a smear campaign against an organization that helps children is wrong.
— sista souljah. (@ChaniThaHippie) July 6, 2019
Gawd this is embarrassing. My white mom would be PROUD to pay more because she understands the history of economic exploitation of black folk in this country to benefit whiteness & she wants a better future for black folk, including her black kids.
— Ijeoma Oluo (@IjeomaOluo) July 6, 2019
So AfroFuture Fest is charging non-POC $10 more for their ticket and all i see is black people in the comments saying “if the shoe was on the other foot, y’all would be outraged”
Bitch. The shoe was on the other foot for approximately 345 years!
— brenda meeks. (@_trentonnn) July 6, 2019
Afrofuture fest is charging white people double to attend a festival located in black ass Detroit. Y’all wanna be part of black culture sooo badly you better be willing to pay us our worth
— Regine Stan ? (@DamnItsShanti) July 5, 2019
Charging white people more for a ticket is against federal law, a violation of the Robinson-Patman antitrust statute. Eventbrite, where the tickets are sold, allows you to report events for illegal or offensive behavior. #AfroFutureFest #AfroFuture
— Lance Faltinsky (@lancefaltinsky) July 7, 2019
Aye
Shout out to AfroFuture Fest for giving discounts to POC attendees
Honestly, as much as the world has juiced our culture we should get into all music fests w/black headlines 4free, Black people shouldnt have to wade thru droves of white ppl on Molly to see Beyoncé perform
— Spread light? (@comte_delroy) July 6, 2019
You can find more information about the festival here.
What do you think about the Afrofuture Festival situation? Sound off in the comments down below!
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