Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
So after hearing my friends talk about 'Roo for several years, and lurking on this board for quite a while, I've decided that I wanna be a part of Bonnaroo 2010 (can't go next year)!
My only hang up is that I'm black, my husband is white, and frankly, I'm kinda nervous!
I keep hearing about the wonderful community and vibes at Bonnaroo, then I come across a few negative comments about "the blacks" and their "bunk NO NO WORD!!!" and a whole lot of "I'm not racist, but" comments. I also hear that Manchester isn't too friendly to people of color.
I wanna 'Roo, but I don't want to pretend not to hear people whisper the "N" word behind my back or deal with a bunch of gawking rednecks. I deal with that enough as it is in Alabama
Just a black hippie (blippie?) looking for fun in the mud, some tasty corn, and good vibes and music!
Any 'Rooers of color willing to share their experience?
There are all sorts of people from all over the world that attend Roo. You might encounter racism is some backwoods southern town on the way to Roo but never on the farm itself.
You'll encounter a lot less than you would in a random selection of 80,000 of the general population, but it is a fact that the attendees are disproportionally white, even at the black artists sets.
You will encounter weirdness that you can interpret as you wish...
i highly doubt you would encounter any problems of the sort at bonnaroo my friend who is mexican went with me in 05 and at roo no bad vibes, everyone is the same at roo. we did have some weird shit happen to us at this lil bbq place we randomly stopped in like they didnt serve us for ever and served first two families that got there after us so we just left.
I also hear that Manchester isn't too friendly to people of color.
Manchester is a warm-hearted country town down South. It's just like any other small country farm towns. The townfolk just get ansy when 'Roo comes around because 'Roo represents a style and culture that is a polar opposite to what Manchester has been since it's founding--an extremely conservative Bible Belt town.
If you are treated with any disrespect, it's because you likely encountered a religious conservative that is anti-Bonnaroo which there are plenty of here.
Yeah, there are not a lot of black people at the 'roo, but you'll be alright. Everyone is cool with everyone there. The only thing I might see as an issue is the "thug" type black people (don't take this the wrong way) that you typically run into downtown that don't have a lot of respect for others. At the 'roo its all about how you treat others. If you respect your fellow 'roogoers they will respect you back. Thats pretty much it.
nothing to worry about honey. Most attendees are in fact white but i think most of us wish this wasnt the case. I havent ever been able to figure out why most black people stick to either R&B or hip hop and i find it... very impresive,refreshing,exciting... really cant think of a good word here but I like it when people explore different kinds of music. I hope to see you in 2010.
edit: Rest assured, any public display of Racism at Bonnaroo will be met with a ... large, unanimous (sp) display of anger and 100 hippies will rush to your defense.
Post by plasticpepper on Jul 4, 2008 1:27:35 GMT -5
Not being black myself I guess I wouldn't necessarily be aware of how accepting the environment was, but I would be AMAZED (and saddened) if there was any sort of problem. And like spiral said, for any person who doesn't want you there, there's a few thousand who DO want you there. If anyone says anything or even looks at you funny, just yell "CORNCAT" and all us Inforooers will come rushing to give the offenders a good talking to!
Black people are more than welcome at Bonnaroo! In some areas of the south, you may experience very overt racism, but not on the farm. That reminds me of something I experienced on Thursday or Friday of the fest. I walked past two black guys. For no reason at all,I turned around to see them tilting their heads and checking out my ass. It boosted my confidence a bit.
Post by johncagebubblegum on Jul 4, 2008 1:46:58 GMT -5
yeah you should be fine, although i would make sure to go the speed limit along the small towns on the way there, just to be safe.
it seems like you probably already suspected this, but bonnaroo is like ridiculously racially undiverse. probably something like 96-97% white. i hope that bonnaroo's increasingly diverse line-up will change that.
if that doesn't bother you then you'll probably have a fine time. for those four days in june, manchester/bonnaroo is probably the most tolerant town in the south, except for maybe certain parts of atlanta or new orleans or something. from my albeit limited experience, racism is definitely uncool with the overwhelming majority of us.
that said, neither i nor anyone replying to you so far is black (please correct me if i'm wrong!), so it's hard to say exactly how you will feel, or if maybe there is more subtle racism that we aren't noticing. perhaps there is a black inforooer that can share their experience.
Lets think about this logically. The south generally gets thought at negatively when it comes to racism due to primarily at least, the strong conservative leanings of the majority. I'd say a good 90% of the Bonnaroo population align themselves as liberal.
Now, don't get me wrong, a great amount of conservatives are not rasist, and there are a good bit of liberals who are, but if we're generalizing, thats how it is.
Now due to the high liberal population (and general open-mindedness regardless of socio-political bias) of Bonnaroo, I'd guess that an overwhelming majority of the crowd is not ignorant enough to even care what race you are. I'm sure that 99% of the attendees would welcome you or anyone of pretty much any race, or anything else.
As someone else said, Bonnaroo is one of the last places in the world you'd have problems like that.
Everyone is welcome at Bonnaroo except Kanye West.
^this
and the golden rule at Bonnaroo: no matter where you are or what show you are attending or what line you are standing in; take care of thy neighbor, and thine neighbor will take care of you.
Bonnaroo welcomes all people, no matter what their skin color, religion, sexual orientation or nationality may be - as long as you're tolerant of others and just want to have a good time and listen to some good music, there will always be a spot for you on the farm. As others have said, although the Bonnaroo population is overwhelmingly white (moreso than the general population of the U.S.), it's also a very liberal, open community. Most people (99.5%+) will not discriminate against you at all. If you do encounter racism on the farm, odds are everyone around you will rally around and come to your defense. Hope to see you and your hubby on the farm in 2010, isisleone, and welcome to Inforoo!
Last Edit: Jul 4, 2008 3:18:21 GMT -5 by jack324 - Back to Top
sammy o
Stanky McNasty The Artist formerly known as Samus
the negative vibes you may detect on here towards the black people and bunk No NO's typically only come from those dudes with grills in who don't go see any shows, and just wander around with crappy bootleg shirts and baggies of BC powder
in other words.... they don't care about the community... they are there to make money by ripping off the 99.5% white population
*i like coconuts, you can break them open they smell like ladies lyin in the sun** *Hell I don't even know where I am** *for now I must sit here and ponder the yonder: The herbivores did well cause their food didn't never run** *We listen, if it feels good We shake** *You made a big impression for a girl of your size, Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.**
Post by fearthetruth on Jul 4, 2008 10:44:11 GMT -5
we put a chocolate chip in our roo cookie this year and the only time he even got a strange look was this guy who was looking at everyone/thing strangely.
Post by Steel_City_X on Jul 4, 2008 15:00:14 GMT -5
This was my first Bonnaroo, and I brought my 16 year old son who is multi-racial - mocha to espresso colored.
I was not too sure about the whole travel to the south with him. We actually left the farm on Friday to get a TB test (for his summer job) and went to the Health Department in Manchester. Now this was my only experience in town, but the staff was great, there were a couple people who looked at him in the waiting room.
At the festival, I was surprised to see a few blippies (I like the term). He was aware that he was in a distinct minority, but everyone we met was great and he had the time of his life. Yes, this is not a place where there is a great deal of racial diversity. But everyone there was enjoying music. So, be it in 2009, or 2010, i suspect that you'll do just fine.
The only thing that he commented about was a tent/sculpture over by the buskers that when he can out of the arcade tent looked like a Klan hood. I realized that he sees the world differently and looks for things that I may not see.
One of my very good friends went to roo with us and he's black and we go no strange looks on the whole trip, even at a podunk waffle house in murfreesboro. His pregnant white girlfriend came along for the roo also and more people were awed that a pregnant lady was at roo than the fact that they are a bi-racial couple with a kid on the way.
I was in handicap access camping this year and it was relatively diverse, much to my surprise. I don't think you'd have any problems. This was my first roo and I have been encouraging everyone I know to go to it or something like it. (and I'm an old broad 40).
The Bonnaroovians should be no problem. While blacks are definitely in the minority, Roo is a VERY welcoming and hospitable place. I've never seen race be an issue in all my Roos. While you can't rule out the occasional @sshole, I believe Roo is much more race neutral than most of society at large.
I did notice that groups of young black males got an inordinate amount of scrutiny by security. Whether that is because they stand out in the mostly white crowd or is due to racial profiling, who knows. Fair or not, black males should be extra careful when selling anything.
But being a black female and being in mixed company should make even this security situation no problem. And if your not selling, security won't hassle you anyway.
Actually - I noticed alot more blippies - as you call them - at 'roo this year - and truthfully - I don't think anyone looked twice at them - I cannot imagine a more welcoming place then Bonnaroo
Post by jigglyball41 on Jul 5, 2008 18:04:15 GMT -5
im white and i grew up in a predominantly black community. i never used the "n" word even around my black friends. when i went to college and met new people i was flabbergasted by the amount of kids from white communities that throw that word around aimlessly. i dont think that word should ever be spoken by a white person ever again or anyone for that matter. if you here someone at bonnaroo say the "n" word then tell them not to say it because it is uncalled for. just because one is not a rascist does not give them the right to use that word. with that said, you will fit right in at bonnaroo and i hope to see you there.
Thanks for all your replies guys! I can't wait to come down to the farm and meet all of you! Bonnaroo sounds likes a lovely place, definitely, although the weirdness factor may be a bit much for my dear hubby, lol!
Being from Alabama, we have had our share of racism, but it doesn't get me down. We just have to be wary of where we go together sometimes, as some places in the South just aren't safe for us. This is really the only reason I would start such a thread.
We will be easy to spot: we are such opposites, me in my long dresses and sandals, him in baggy shorts and pristine white sneakers and t-shirt. It's all love though...
Thanks for all your replies guys! I can't wait to come down to the farm and meet all of you! Bonnaroo sounds likes a lovely place, definitely, although the weirdness factor may be a bit much for my dear hubby, lol!
Being from Alabama, we have had our share of racism, but it doesn't get me down. We just have to be wary of where we go together sometimes, as some places in the South just aren't safe for us. This is really the only reason I would start such a thread.
We will be easy to spot: we are such opposites, me in my long dresses and sandals, him in baggy shorts and pristine white sneakers and t-shirt. It's all love though...
Oh, and thanks for the karma!
Ha! I went to roo for the first time this year and I didn't see much wierdness. Then again, I'm a strange one. Others have told me that the weirdness has been waining significantly in recent years.
You should tell your hubby that NO ONE at bonnaroo has pristine white sneakers. Well not after an hour or two. Where shoes that you're willing to burn when you get home.
Post by lordrockinhood on Jul 5, 2008 20:06:15 GMT -5
^^^ I put my Roo sandals through the washing machine with ALOT of soap today, different kinds... THREE times... and they are still slightly funky ... but I am wearing them to AllGood... THEN, maybe I'll burn them when i get home...
... and, even somewhat bad things at Roo, they, somehow ??? , turn AllGood later on... it's just how it is there...
