It apparently rains in Miami on Memorial Day weekend every year. But the tension in Miami air was thicker than the humidity.
Amidst the NAACP call for a travel ban to Florida emergency, I went for an AfroNation musical festival. Thousands of people from across the Afro Diaspora and across the globe travel for this festival which was the first time in Miami. It was also my first time in Miami.
The real problem wasn’t that there would be rioting in the streets because Black and brown people would be dancing to Shensheea, Wizkid , Uncle Waffles or Burna boy It’s that Miami underestimates the power and ability of the people that was in their city because it doesn’t “look” the way they think it should.
There are parts that I understand and far more parts I don’t understand. But the one that bothered me the most was being exclusionary without being exclusive. Yes, they are both different versions gatekeeping but the difference between the two is quality.
Exclusionary can be the divisiveness that creates barriers of oppression. It's excluding people that really want change and are tired of their city’s reputation. Exclusive can mean being discretionary so that you create comfort and an expectation of service for friends and neighbors.
Take for example, Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen, a place that later decided because Trina showed up that my friends and I were no longer welcome. I had already purchased a Red Stripe for $10. I paid cash because it felt like the kind of place to use your credit card if you didn’t want to keep your money.
You don't want paying customers in your establishment so that you can give away free drinks and a section to Trina? Sorry. Let me be fair— I don’t know if her drinks were free. I do know that we left and came back later to see a Lamborghini sitting in front of a near empty club.
The experience also reminded me I should have re-watched HBO’s Rap Shit, as a primer to Miami.
So we ventured off to 800-Lucky to eat an abundance of food and then dance to a DJ playing AfroBeats. I had some of the best Spicy Seasame tofu.
That sauce said everything I needed to say about the food there.
The issue wasn’t just in that one location. It showed up multiple times over the course of time I was there. There was Sexy Fish which required a reservation and had a dress code that was one step away from tux and tails. It was also completely empty. The “Salt bae” restaurant hid their less expensive lunch menu in order to push an overpriced food experience. I will still never understand the appeal of a man running salt down his hairy arm onto your steak.
At the AfroNation festival, the VIP tickets meant being close to the stage but was standing room only. But the general admission sold for slightly cheaper with seats. In GA you could not go to the VIP section closest to the stage. I’m old, my legs and feet swell. I’ll take the seats and watch from afar.
I’ve heard a number of people who had been to Miami say they wanted more of Miami in the Bay Area. Please don’t. It’s hard enough in the Bay Area.
I actually got to talk to a few people at the hotel, restaurants and at the festival, they were tired of what being “exclusive” was starting to mean— posturing. How are you {insert expensive ass brand name here} down to the socks but you don’t have enough to buy yourself a bottle of water or anything more than french fries?
Exclusive means that there should be an expectation to maintain quality service that gives people. It's more than the appearance of quality. After living through the hoodie and dirty creased Air Force shoes venture capitalist (VC) version of California, I will say that appearances are deceptive.
Smart “club promoters” with access to a suite wouldn’t dream of losing money and access to said suite because they want show off they “got it”, when really they’re were also a guest. Shout out to Ethnic Ties for an air conditioned suite during the festival BTW.
I’m not saying I hated Miami, there were some beautiful people there. And trust me when machismo and masculinity is done right… GOOD LAWD HAVE MERCY. But that’s a blog for another day.
I am saying that there's a better way to make exclusive better for all of us.