Freaknik started out innocently enough two decades ago as an Atlanta-based spring break celebration sponsored by black college students. By the time it was shut down in the late 1990s, it had descended into a weekend-long orgy of lewd, unruly, unlawful and mob-filled street parties that attracted tens of thousands of young blacks from around the nation that clogged up Atlanta’s main arteries and incited fear in local businesses and homeowners.
Now it’s back.
This time it will be Freaknik on steroids. Riding on the theme “Super Freak,” Freaknik is being billed as a series of private events that promises to operate within the confines of the law.
“Freaknik is a private event for members only. You must register on this site and pledge to not break the law.” The Web site says, adding, “There are no nude pictures on this Web site.”
Newly-installed Mayor Kasim Reed is not so sure it will be orderly. “I don’t believe it will materialize and it’s not my intention for the city to be supportive of it.” He points out that nobody has filed for a permit.
Despite his stance, Freaknik is going down April 16–18. It even has a Facebook page with nearly 3,000 fans that promotes celebrity-packed events in various locations in metro Atlanta. Promoter J.K. Jones said he does not need to apply for permits since the events are being staged at private venuess, and he had to seek legal representation to repel city efforts to block him.
“They’ve asked me to cease and desist,” Jones said. “That’s why I’ve had to hire two attorneys to fight back.”
Freaknik’s membership-only Web site details a weekend of events including a foam dance party at the Atrium in DeKalb County where women in bikinis can get in for half off. There will also be a block party and car show from noon until 8 p.m. on Saturday at Club Primetime on Covington Highway in Decatur and a mansion and pool party on Sunday at an undisclosed location at a mansion off Cascade Road.
Not surprisingly, older and established black families in the upscale Cascade community are not happy about the upcoming event. –terry shropshire
