#afropunkfest2016

By: Ashnelle Hall

The Summer has officially come to an unfortunate end Thursday September 22nd preceding the autumn equinox that night. Summer sixteen happened so fast it left us all in a world wind and threw us back into a world of reality and responsibilities. The summer was filled with barbeques, adventures, long hot days, concerts and festivals; among the many festivals such as Governors Ball Music Festival and South by South West (SXSW) Afro-Punk Festival is one of the most cultural diverse.  

Afro-Punk Festival itself is a movement of love and positive energy. The main motto of the movement is "No Sexism No Racism No Ableism No Ageism No Homophobia No Fatphobia No Transphobia No Hatefulness" which is practiced at the festival as well. The Festival celebrates everyone from all walks of life by creating an all inclusive experience that is unforgettable by having a smorgasbord of music, food, fashion, politics, art and film into one space. 

The experience can be overwhelming but don't worry, the festival is split into two days so that gives you plenty of time to enjoy everything. There is a diverse line-up of music artist that are spread across four stages- the gold stage, the green stage, the red stage and the black stage. The choice in food trucks are plenty and will entice your taste buds. The market vendors range from handmade jewelry, beauty products, hand made clothes and natural hair products as well. Also, for those who do not want the party to end after the festival there is "Afropunk After Dark" which is a collection of events after the festival is over such as movie screenings, parties, and more performances.  There is something for everyone to do and be engaged in at this event.  

Historically the festival was known for being a free event which was appealing to many. However, in 2015 the event became priced ticketed event. Luckily for those who didn't have the means to pay, they can earn a ticket through a volunteering program that allows one to earn points that go towards getting a free ticket. There has been much controversy about this new priced ticketing system because the festival was once free; however, with such an event of its magnitude it takes much financial resources in order to execute and expand. Also, as the festival gets more popular there going to be high expectations therefore more money needs to go into the event in order to make the event great.

I attend Afro-Punk Fest every summer and its always something I look forward to going to, this summer was no different. With a line-up filled with great artist like Janelle Monae, Tyler the Creator, Cleo Green, The Internet and Ice Cube there was no way I was not going to have fun. I stopped by a few vendors in the market and made a few purchases which is a great way  to support local business. I sang my heart out and danced until I couldn’t dance anymore. Most importantly I met so many beautiful people with amazing personalities and spirits.  

Earlier this summer, I was invited to go to a music festival in Brooklyn by one of my oldest friends, Zoë’s mother, Valorie. She is like another mother to me or like my aunty. I have so much love for her and Zoë so I jumped at the opportunity.

The festival was called AfroPunk and I really knew nothing about it. I wasn’t familiar with too many of the artists or vendors that would be featured but I wanted to go because I wanted to feel the experience. And that might have been the greatest thing I did for myself in years. Those of you who know me, know that I was not raised in a very Afrocentric environment. I was sort of deprived of that type of culture because being adopted, our born cultures differed. Not to say that I am resentful at all, because I am not. It is what it is. So being handed this opportunity- to be thrown right into the middle of my culture and just absorb was not something I was going to pass up.

I can honestly say it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I am forever grateful to Valorie, Kirstin, Keyasia, and  Christina who shared that weekend with me. I have never in my life seen that big a gathering of beautiful Black People. The crowd just oozed love, and acceptance and just….peace. Coming from that weekend I’ve been able to see myself in a new way. I have a new sense of self-confidence, self-love that I never thought I would have; simply because I didn’t realize I was lacking it. That was the first time I think ever, that I’d been surrounded by a huge group of people and not felt like a total outsider. And that had nothing to do with race, because in all honesty some of my biggest bullies were fellow black women(but that’s a different blog). I could unapologetically be myself, and thankfully I got to take that feeling with me.

While I am eternally thankful for the new sense of self that I’ve been opened up to, I sit here trying not to cry. Trying not to think too deeply about the things that happen daily to my people. We are being murdered. While I was having a weekend to remember, a weekend that helped me to better appreciate my culture, my people, and myself, someone was getting shot, someone was getting racially profiled, someone was being judged for existing. It breaks my heart.

Today when I opened my phone, and went to my Facebook app, the first thing that I saw was a black man being shot, hands in the air. I cried. Why is this happening? It is 2016, I am allowed to vote, I am allowed to get married to someone of another race, I am allowed to walk down the street on the same sidewalk as a white man, but a man of my same skin tone, gets shot because his car broke down? What was the threat here?

         On a daily basis I worry about money, my job, my education etc, but lately I wonder “why does it even matter?” because they are killing us. They are MURDERING us. We go to work and go to school because we are told we need these things to survive in this society, but what’s the point, if we live in a society where we are being mass murdered and no one is doing anything to stop it? How can I survive serial killings with no motive? What can we even do? So many of us are ‘woke’ but I still feel so hopeless. I am scared. I am terrified. I don’t like being outside anymore, I don’t like being alone at night, my body goes rigid when I see cops, and I don’t trust anyone. This is no way for anyone to live. Why is this okay?

WHY.