Essence Fest Vendors Step Forward & SpeakOut!

Taking a stand against the Forces of Disenfranchisement

Owner/Partner Ed Robinson of L&R Security, a 34-year-old local, award-winning business provider.

By Rhodesia Jackson

Writer

NEW ORLEANS -- buzzup continues the probe into the issue surrounding Essence Festival pushing out local African-American vendors.

           

A growing number of former vendors are stepping forward and speaking out about the matter.  Mr. Edward J. Robinson of L&R Security explained his case.

In business since 1979, Robinson's DBE-certified company had been with Essence Fest at its very inception.

"I was right at the table, helping them to formulate the anniversary celebration into an annual event," he recalled.  

For over a span of 15 years, L&R provided services to Essence Fest without incident and through the turnover of Essence ownership from African American to "non" with Time Inc. and of producers from Festival Productions Inc. to Rehage Entertainment Inc.  

Five years, he suspected that he was being "pushed out" when he provided partial services under Rehage.  "The big company they brought in couldn't meet the need," he said. "So they called us back in to provide a multiple layer of security."

That did not happen this year with the new producer, The Solomon Group, which local African-American media hosts criticized for employing one "token" African American. The company's website pictures only one African American on its team.

"It didn't matter that I had the proper insurance coverage, employee background checks, the criteria kept changing," stated Robinson.  "They told me some exorbitant figure and ambitious clause that my insurance company wouldn't cover.  And when I inquired in writing about that, I was told they didn't have to respond to those questions. 

"It was obvious that they wanted us out," he added, throwing up his hands.

Another former vendor, Burnell Scales of Scales Strawberry Lemonade and Caribbean Fruit, experienced a similar fate. He was told that his product would violate the exclusive drink sponsor's agreement.

"I was out just like that," he said.

What Robinson and Scales described bears the unmistakable resemblance of economic disenfranchisement which works by denying "biased groups" access. 

Siddhartha Kara, a Harvard lecturer and human rights expert, explained during an engagement: "There are deliberate, malicious forces working around the clock to keep biased groups (particularly ethnic minorities) in a particular lot in life," he stated.  "It's not by accident; it's modern-day slavery."

"People need to know what's going on. They need to know that Essence is no longer the Essence we believe it to be, so that they can make an informed decision, said Wardell Bourgeois. "It started off being this party with a purpose, celebrating culture, empowerment seminars by day and concerts by night that included African-American-owned businesses. 

"It just doesn't seem right that a corporation that strives on dollars from the African-American community should turn its back on African-American-owned businesses."