“At its peak in 1994 and 1995, more than 200,000 mostly black college students would flock to Atlanta, causing massive traffic jams as men would literally get out of their cars to taunt, videotape or grope women.
“But by the time it ended in 1999, politicians and police had made movement in Atlanta so restrictive that for the students, Freaknik was hardly worth it anymore.
“I was disappointed by what it became,” said Sharon Toomer, one of the founders of Freaknik. “Its original purpose was to be an annual event to encourage camaraderie between historically black colleges. It was a rare opportunity for black college students to get together.”
TheStateOf . . . Freaknik. I (J) went to Freaknik in 1992 when I was in high school - and it was TIGHT. College students everywhere. By the time I got to Morehouse, Freanik has already begun falling off. It turned into Bebe kids running around naked. I won’t tell you guys about what Rich, DG, Maceo and VDT used to do back at Freaknik. (smile). Looking back, I can’t believe I participated in such debauchery!!
Yea, it was a phase. I was shocked, I say shocked that such things went on. I would say Freaknik 95 was the tipping point. That’s when the you could literally walk up and down on the 75/85 connector meeting women and being friendly with them with a short amount of conversation. I saw it happen.
After that, the city of atlanta had had enough and I believe, looking back, we knew it was getting out of hand. By that time we were juniors and trying to get our buts into some grad school or trying to get a job or hugged up.
It was grounded in decency but then became commercial and then became corrupt.
I was wondering why J is such a staunch social conservative and this post validates my assumption.
I just wonder if the other two members of the TSO Triumvirate had similar experiences before they married and became guardians of hearth and home.*smile*
LOL Big J. I was hoping that you (and everyone else) had forgotten my Freaknik stories.
I’m glad that Rich “saw” the conversations and wasn’t an active participant.
Freaknik 94 was a thing of beauty! It was great to see the openess and general fun that was being had by black college students. All I can remember from those days was a good time.
Freaknik 95 was the start of something ugly. I remember driving all night on 285 because the police would not let an AUC STUDENT exit off the highway. A great college celebration had been basterdized and ruined. For 95 and future years I only participated half heartedly. Partially due to Rich’s observation that by junior year it was time to be ’bout yor hawg killing (I’m a Southerner) and the fact that I didn’t see or interact with many college students in the later years. It was sad to see a beautiful thing ruined!
Man, I never got to attend Freaknik. Only in 11th in 95. But those stories made their way all the way to LA!
Man, I never got to attend Freaknik. Only in 11th in 95. But those stories made their way all the way to LA!
in 94, the fellas and I piled into two trucks and rolled from HU to the Atl. I think it was one of the best times of my life. Of course in looking back, it was immature. Not it…I was immature. I was degrading to women and the whole nine….But, I liked it!!!
I just hope those pictures never come to light!!
RJEsq = Jail Bait
Colonized I’m 29 now. Then I was what…17. Damn, only 16!
Tell some actual stories yall. Stop being so uptight in your old age.
SAme here, RJ. I was only in high school then and never got to see it for myself. My friends and i had heard so much about it and had all this talk about trying to go. I heard great stories…..
I think the ATL PD’s “Blue flu” was the beginning and end of Freaknic as we knew it. I want to say that was 95. The city had to make drastic changes after that.
I remember going to Piedmont park on freaknic saturday 94. I’d never seen that many black people in one place. To this day the Caribbean Day Parade in Bklyn is the only thing I’ve seen that compares.
RJ,
You are definitely jail bate.
It was pure debauchery, but it was the highlight of the school year. Girls from across the nation came down to ATL. My freshman year, Cleezy got drunk off three Miller Lites - what a biyatch! I was 18 and I remember drinking MD 20/20 and standing in a parking lot with a bunch of friends. Then the 20/20 hit me and the next thing I knew I was TOTALLY out of control. I couldn’t even stand up anymore, so I just laid down in the parking lot on the ground and went to sleep. When I came to a while later, my wallet was laying next to my face. A dude got hit by a car that night and was killed. It was really foul. He died in the middle of the street and people were snapping photos of him while he threw up blood.
From Forbes Hall (Morehouse dorm) to Piedmont Park is maybe 15 minutes with traffic on a nomral day. On Freknik Friday in 94 my boys and I jumped in the rented Pathfinder (fake it til you make it) and treid to get to Peidmont Park. A full 4 hours laters we had only made it to the the corner of Northside and Fair because it was so many people.
Unlike J I didn’t see anyone get killed, but I did see a couple getting ready to have sex in a clearly visible car on Peachtree until a ton of people surrounded the car and started shaking it.
I hope all of the videos from those years are destroyed. One of my boys who will remain anonymous was identified being invovled in some debauchery by a janitor. Some idiot had thrown the tape in the trash! Needless to say everytime the janitor saw my boy he would snicker!
Sounds like the party was originally intended to be raucus. But then the outsiders begin to come in. Same thing happened to the Greek picnic in Philly.
Wow, J! MD 20/20…. do they still make that shit?
I think they do still make Mad Dog, and Thunderbird.
Do they still make Cisco?
I’ve still seen Cisco in the store. The FDA needs to ban all of that….. Remember when they said Cisco was made with Windex?
Sasha,
My freshman year of college was the last time I had MD 20/20, and I haven’t seen it in the store in a long time!! I’d like to see how I could handle it now.
DG,
I think I was with you when that couple was doing it in the car. I recall a friend of ars reaching in the window and pulling the chick’s hair!!
I’m embarassed to say that I attended Freaknik in 94′ and it was one of the best times i’ve ever had. Better than Memorial Day weekend in Ensenada.
I stayed at a downtown hotel and paid a lot of money for my room. In my quest to be “the man” I ended up spending hundreds of dollars on drinks and food (mostly drinks) and stayed out all night and rarely stepped foot in my room. But having my own room paid off. So much, i stayed almost a week and had to re-book my flight. Had this one girl from Hampton ROCK my world and almost fell in love with her until I met this girl from Southern. Them damn Louisiana women i tell ya!!!
Remember when American Express had those damn vouchers…..LOL
Freaknik 1994 was and will forever be one of the best weekends of my life. 1995 had it’s moments and I have the VHS videotape to prove it!!! (DG holla…)
Seriously, I can remember being overcome with emotion after actually ‘talking’ to some of the people who were in attendance. Even though I had hopped in the back of a convertible with women I didn’t even know I was inspired by their stories. Where they were from, what they were studying, randomly realizing we knew some of same people. It made the world seem large and small all at the same time.
Lets remember that the same people acting out for that 3-4 day are doctors, lawyers, and on wall street now. Was it a rite of passage or a reason to ‘let the sap rise.’
You be the judge, I know where I stand.
J, I can’t believe how much smack you talk. You and your roommate got drunk off a 22 oz bottle of BUD ICE. Who the hell drinks that crap. You never let MD 20/20 touch your lips. You probably got drunk just looking at the bottle. Sad, so sad!
Drinks and debauchery. I remember coincidentally being in atlanta that weekend in spring 1993 as a senior in high school… and we’ve already heard about 1994. I guess I understand why all those college kids (and joe francis) run down to panama city or to mexico. The “Rites of Spring”
I lived within driving distance of Atlanta (Knoxville and Charlotte) in 1993-94 and never made it to Freaknik. I think I was too old. I’d been out of college more than five years then. I have friends who went and had a great time there.
“…1993-94 and never made it to Freaknik. I think I was too old. I’d been out of college more than five years then.” OCC
Dude, 5 years out of college is the PERFECT time for college chicks!
^^
LOL, Anon. I’m a woman, so five years out of college is not a good look for chasing college dudes. I didn’t want to be a 30-year-old woman dating a man nine or 10 years my junior.
i remember in 1994 in Piedmont Park late at night they held what was called “the blow show” where they would set up clocks and time women (who would gladly accomodate after a few drinks) to see how long it would take to make their man (who were strangers in most cases) ejaculate while performing fellatio. MAN THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!!! there was this one girl who made every guy she “did” pop off in 20-30 secs. her name was loretta..whew! i still keep in touch with her!