Atlanta tries - again - to tame Freaknik

After trying to kill black college party, city now planning, sponsoring events

Web posted April 13, 1997

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Associated Press

ATLANTA - Traffic comes to a standstill as stereos boom to the sounds of rap artists. Students abandon their cars to mingle and dance in the streets. Drinks are passed around.

That's the scene city officials and police want to prevent during this year's Freaknik celebration, an annual street party of at least 100,000 mostly black college students.

It's a scene that has irritated politicians and police, and has forced residents indoors, away from the lewdness and looting of the past few Freakniks.

This year, organizers and city officials plan to promote concerts and dances in an effort to change Freaknik's rowdy image.

But for most students, the three-day street party - from Friday to April 20 - is meant to be a roving exhibition for frisky young adults.

``The whole essence of Freaknik is not organized. It's about hanging on the street and having a good time,'' said Lidia Lanns, 20, a junior at Alabama State University in Montgomery.

``It's an uncontrollable event. It's no different than way back when people went to Woodstock. They were doing what they wanted, having a good time and not hurting anybody. It's no different,'' said Ms. Lanns. She has attended Freaknik twice and plans to attend this year's party.

Clinton Anderson, 23, a sophomore at Alabama State University, likes Freaknik the way it is.

``I personally go to meet the ladies,'' said Mr. Anderson, who attended Freaknik last year and plans to attend again this year. ``I don't think concerts are going to change it. It's all about hangin' out on the streets.''

The event took form in 1982, when students at Spelman and Morris Brown colleges hosted a picnic for about 65 students during spring break. The group dubbed the picnic ``Freaknik,'' after a popular dance in the 1970s known as the ``freak.''

Freaknik gained national fame in the late 1980s when it was mentioned on A Different World, a television comedy show about black college students.

``It's really a marketing phenomenon. It's completely spread by word of mouth. Students come from California, New York, from all over the place,'' said Sharon Toomer, one of the founders of the event.

In recent years, looting and lewd behavior have marred the event. Last year, a student from Ohio was shot to death. Five Atlantans were convicted of killing him.

Outrage from business owners and residents in downtown Atlanta and surrounding suburbs caused political upheaval.

Mayor Bill Campbell, who is black, was called an ``Uncle Tom'' several years ago when he advocated a crackdown on Freaknik. Police Chief Beverly Harvard, who also is black, sent notices to traditionally black colleges warning against everything from open containers to dropped trousers.

In a move to tame the event, Mr. Campbell - who refuses to use the word ``Freaknik'' - appointed a commission to plan organized events. Mr. Campbell also has asked organizers to call the event Black College Spring Break.

``Freaknik is degrading. In the black community, `freak' means you're easy to get. By calling it a `freaknik,' you're saying that's all these kids are interested in,'' said Chris Edden, an event organizer.

The commission has approved two street festivals, a dance competition, an interactive sports show and a concert. For $35, students can get into every event.

``There is a hope that planned activities will assist the city in dealing with the problem of traffic,'' said DeWayne Martin, Mr. Campbell's chief of staff. ``The mayor has said everyone is welcome. They just have to obey the city's laws.''

Mr. Edden, 26, whose Simply Greek company will host a step dancing show, said: ``You can't control 100,000 kids coming to cruise. But you can give them alternatives.''

``One of the reasons for this is to change the bad rap. The key is letting the students know about the events in enough time,'' said Zabrina Horton, an event promoter with Spring Jam 97, the concert promoter.

Meanwhile, this year brings an additional concern. After three bombings in Atlanta in nine months, and the anniversaries of the deadly inferno at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, and the Oklahoma City bombing falling during Freaknik, police, the FBI and the ATF are on alert.

``We are aware that the occurrence of Black College Spring Break falls on significant anniversaries,'' said Jan Northstar, spokeswoman for the Atlanta Police Department. ``We will be watching for suspicious packages and people acting in a suspicious manner. It's being taken seriously.''