Charlotte is still not ready for us.  Last week the CIAA was in town.  Unlike the ACC whose main focus is on sports, the CIAA tournament is about profiling and partying in addition to sports.  Black men and women of all ages are decked out in their finest threads, pushing fly whips and jockeying for high-post position at the hottest nightclubs, bars and restaurants.  What should be a weekend of fun and fabulousness is often ruined by white folks who are terrified at the mere sight of large numbers of black folks. While black folks are dropping hundreds of dollars a second on entertainment, many staff people at these "establishments," pun intended, are giving extra attitude while calling for extra security and extra help.

How do we handle large crowds of  black people? The same way that you handle large crowds of white people every weekend or during the ACC tournament or race week.  Perhaps, white folks have been watching too many episodes of The Wire, but most black people that come to this event are not the Timbaland-wearing, gun-toting kind.  They are merely here to floss and have fun, not to mention add to Charlotte's economy.  The CIAA tournament brings $28 million here every year in one week, yet black folks are still treated like intruders as opposed to consumers.  Jacking up bar prices and admission fees is not a nice way to welcome guests to the Queen City.  Again, I say that Charlotte is not ready for dynamic black folks.  You pretend that those that have been here do not exist and that those who are coming do not matter.  This is year three. Get with the program. Shame on Charlotte for being bad CIAA hosts, again.