Detroit music festival sets ticket prices based on race
The AfroFuture music and arts festival in Detroit is facing controversy after ticket sales began to use different pricing for people based on the color of their skin.
The pricing offers lower rates for tickets purchased by “people of color” than it does for “non-people of color.” Early bird tickets for “POC” are $10 and $20 for “Non POC.” Later date pricing offers “POC” tickets for $20 and “Non POC” tickets for $40. The method of confirming race and identity of ticket purchasers was not immediately clear.
The organizers of the event, which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 3, explained the discrimination in their “Frequently Asked Questions” section of their website. “Why do we have POC (people of color) and NONPOC (white people) tickets? I’m glad you asked! Equality means treating everyone the same. Equity is insuring (sic) everyone has what they need to be successful. Our ticket structure was built to insure (sic) that the most marginalized communities (people of color) are provided with an equitable chance at enjoying events in their own community (black Detroit),” the page said.
Tiny Jag, a biracial rapper based in Detroit was set to perform at the festival but pulled out and insisted AfroFuture Fest remove her name from all promotional material. “I was immediately enraged just because I am biracial. I have family members that would have, under those circumstances, been subjected to something that I would not ever want them to be in … especially not because of anything that I have going on,” she told the Detroit Metro Times.
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