I was ready for another night out on the town with my public health ladies. We were looking good and one of my friends had sent me a text message earlier in the day letting me know the club that we would be checking out on U street would be:
The Republic Night Club and Lounge at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/bars-clubs/the-republic,792247.html#readerReviews
My friend told me to text “313131″ and the word “gratis” before midnight to get in free. I thought the whole process was pretty random but what do I know I am really not up on the club scene. I texted the number without asking too many questions, who doesn’t want to get into the club free? Especially when you are BROKE. I received the following text in a reply message:
“NBA BLOWOUT Deshawn Stevenenson & The Wizards MANSION FRI The Republic 1355 U ST NW FREE CIROC 9-11*FREE B412 W/TXT* Reply STOP GRATIS to end”
I knew things were bad to start off when the line outside the door was short. The next thing I know the bouncer out of the blue said “are you hitting on me?” when I was stating the fact that is was cold and “why aren’t you letting us in?” Finally all 10 of us walked in the door and were asked for our text messages, and greeted by a Russian Bride type dressed in what I thought had to be the most tacky, slutty looking dress with a large “O” like shape in her dress, she asked for my e-mail for “further events” and without even thinking I signed my name. Little did she know or the Club. . . the rage and the knowledge I had of what I was about to see with my own eyes.
Trust me when I say the video above was NOT like The Republic. There were not that many people in the club. The KOOL paraphelnia was limited to what I could see as far as napkin holders, green lights and a russian mail order bride in an awful dress if I had been on my game in the beginning I would have had my photo taken with her.
My friends and I walked upstairs and I was as usual the only white person in the crowd. (which is VERY pertinent in this post) I walked over to the bar to get a sprite (yes really, a sprite) and then it all started flooding in. . . like the great floods, my blood started to boil and steam started to blow from my ears, I looked down and what did I see??
KOOL Napkin holders
all the green started flooding in like lighting. . . the chick at the front door. . . I ran down and sai
d
“Give me that list- I REFUSE TO SUBSCRIBE to
LUNG CANCER and one of the #1 Killer of AFRICAN AMERICANS”
I then scratched my name off the list and she looked at me and she looked me with the dumbest look on her 
face.
The rest of the night I chatted with the bouncers (who were frankly awesome, hard working down-to-earth), the MC Doug E.D (two thumbs down and then some) 
who under a sea of green lights just made me more angry. I also chatted with his promoter who seemed to not know that KOOL was one of the sponsors he said:
“well I don’t smoke.” I then continued to discuss menthol use among the black community.
He said “well I am just trying to promote good music” and I said “well you have already failed at that. . “ and I said “Are you black?” He said “Well clearly you are intelligent, obviously.” I then said “take a look at the crowd, what does your demographic tonight appear to be?” he answered “black.” I continued by explaining my disgust and how I would never return and to watch for this post.
On a sep
arate note I personally did not notice DeShawn Stevenson but there was a “special VIP section” where I could smell Menthol (which any of my friends will attest to I am like a blood hound when it comes to menthols) fumes where he could have been chillin‘ but my concern is that the Washington Wizards are on board with DC Tobacco Free Families in their efforts to help the residents of DC quit smoking. SO WHY WAS HIS NAME ON THE EVENT?
In my heart I was giving a big shout to Ms. Wright from the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network and her courage to speak out against the Tobacco Companies and knowing what I know now from her workshop on Tobacco Marketing to the Black Community that I attended in DC a month ago, I could not be silent. That is the reason for this very explicit post and the reason I will do my best to distribute to educate my friends and DC residents about the evils of the Tobacco companies. I am mortified, disgusted and I find it deplorable that any club in DC that serves a predominately black club goer would perpetuate one of the #1 killers in the black community.
FORMER TOBACCO INDUSTRY MANAGER SPEAKS OUT…
Follow the Signs (FTS) is a training program that raises awareness about how Big Tobacco specifically targets Black communities. It was developed by NAATPN’s West Region Director, La Tanisha Wright. Ms. Wright is a former tobacco industry manager. She has expertise in tobacco marketing, merchandising and advertising.
Interestingly enough I found this on the ground today the surgeon generals warning was so small and the silver lettering blended in with the box:
SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING CIGARETTE SMOKE CONTAINS CARBON MONOXIDE. What about everything else???Here is what Mr. RJ Reynolds states from his company website:
- Smoking causes serious disease.
- Nicotine in tobacco products is addictive but is not considered a significant threat to health.
- No tobacco product has been shown to be safe.
- An individual’s level of risk for serious disease is significantly affected by the type of tobacco product used as well as the manner and frequency of use.
Hopefully those involved in last nights events that will be alerted of my experience will take notice to recent news in menthol related Tobacco Control:
http://www.trdrp.org/burningIssues/1008/BurningIssues-menthol1008.asp
“Today, even though Kool has receded in prominence and Newport has ascended as the main menthol brand, still African Americans disproportionately smoke menthols. . .”
“ . . . by failing to ban menthol, the bill caves to the financial interests of tobacco companies and discriminates against African Americans—the segment of our population at greatest risk for the killing and crippling smoking-related diseases. It sends a message that African American youngsters are valued less than white youngsters.
“To make the pending tobacco legislation truly effective, menthol cigarettes should be treated the same as other flavored cigarettes. Menthol should be banned so that it no longer serves as a product the tobacco companies can use to lure African American children.
“We do everything we can to protect our children in America, especially our white children. It’s time to do the same for all children.”
-Executive Director Bill Robinson, National African American Tobacco Network
