Black culture is one of the hottest commodities in America, so why can't black people get the same type of appreciation?
While working for a Historically Black University on the east coast in 2005, our boss decided to take the upper level staff on an annual retreat to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
After a long day in the conference room we all decided to go out for the evening. It was our last night there so we would really have a chance to wind down and have some fun. Familiar with the area we decided to ride further down the coast to the tourist spot Ocean City, Maryland. The only club that consistently plays black music is a spot called Secrets.
So we all got dressed and set off. Our party included eight young black professionals, all with degrees, four of us at the advanced level. As we waited in line we were in good spirits. Some of us hadn’t been out in ages, bogged down with work the reggae blasting out of the club was a welcomed lift to our spirits. A few of us were of Caribbean extraction so a touch of home was an exciting prospect. However, it became increasingly apparent that this was not going to be our night.
While waiting in line a number of white patrons had simply walked passed us in line and walked freely into the club. All the blacks waited patiently in line, none receiving such privileges. The one black person ahead of us was refused entry because his shorts we the wrong length! I was astonished, he was dressed very preppie, everything close fitting and tucked in, not hat, no braids, no timberland boots; none of the usual points of dress discrimination that are used as grounds to exclude blacks, particularly young black men, form any number of activities and establishments. Moreover, a white man with the same shorts walked right past all of us and got in without a glitch.
Our turn to get into the club came…tune in tomorrow to find out Secrets’ secret!
