AfroFuture Fest is a Detroit music festival meant to be, self-described as venue for "collective liberation." Now, this festival's organizers have drummed up controversy by way of their ticket pricing for the event.
Previously, when someone went to buy a ticket on their site, they were greeted by a drop-down menu. In said menu, there were options to buy a ticket as a non-POC (or, "Person of Color") and POC. The non-POC were charged double the ticket price. Even more, the site suggested (and only offered this suggestion to) non-POC ticket-holders to make a donation to the event.
The legality in this practice is also dubious at best, as Sky News reported:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title II states: All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, colour, religion, or national origin.
One would-be performer was not happy with the policy. Bi-racial rapper Tiny Jag had asked to have herself removed from the festival and any promotion due to the regressive policy. She said the policy "seems almost like it has spite, and unfortunately with spite comes hate, and that's just not obviously going to be a good direction for us to go if we're looking for positive change."
After facing backlash, the festival organizers on Sunday changed general admission to $20, as opposed to $10 for POC buyers and $20 for non-POC.
The festival is scheduled for August 3.