Afropunk Atlanta crossed its fourth year over the weekend has the two-day festival took over the Terminus location just a half a mile from the stadium.
Also known as the Carnival of Consciousness is one of the least popular but still important events for black culture. Popular among indie and underground communities of the black community, Afropunk prides itself on being a safe space for all black people to be unapologetically black.
According to the festival’s website, “AFROPUNK is defining culture by the collective creative actions of the individual and the group. It is a safe place, a blank space to freak out in, to construct a new reality, to live your life as you see fit, while making sense of the world around you.”
In the current political and social climate, everyone is expected to follow the same idealization. Afropunk breaks that mold by curating a festival of black artists of many genres where everyone is expected to be their authentic self.
Walking around Afropunk, you’ll see drag queens and kings ready to death drop their way to the main stage. You’ll see Punk Kings and Queens with six-inch spikes jetting out of their shoulder pads. The festival doesn’t care what you bring to the table. Just that you are at the table.
Afropunk allows you to be your true self by banning a few things. The festival’s motto is, ” No Sexism, No Racism, No Ableism, No Ageism, No Homophobia, No Fatphobia, No Transphobia, No Hatefulness.” A motto that’s echoed only within the festival culture.
Afropunk teaches a culture of love and understanding while providing excellent music and good eats. And when I say excellent music, I mean precisely that. This year’s headliners include Anderson .Paak and Mahalia. Iconic vibey chill artists that are far from their peak. Food options range from melt in your mouth catfish to vegan burgers that make your mouth water.
But unlike most festivals, Afropunk aims to feed your mind body and soul. With their live podcast “Solution Sessions,” they discuss problems affecting the black community but not just internally. They review internal topics such as colorism and homophobia, but they also discuss how to use art to battle oppression.
They teach you how to create healthy organic snacks. To charge your phone, you have to paddle a bike-powered generator, encouraging clean energy. They also show you how to create natural face scrubs and body oils.
Afropunk isn’t just crucial for exposing fans to new music and artists. But it’s vital for creating conscious black people who will eventually go back to their communities. Creating conscious black people who will teach their communities the same things they learned at this two-day event. If you haven’t gone before, black or white, go next year. I hope to see you all there.
