Gabriella Beckles's Blog

Posted by Gabriella Beckles

We tried to separate ourselves into smaller groups so we would look less threatening. My companion and I were the first two – we got past the ID check, hooray! However, the next group up wasn’t so fortunate. The security had been eyeballing us the whole time and they found their opening. A picture ID showing your date of birth was required. One of our party’s Maryland driver’s license had expired two days before. So although it showed her date of birth and picture the security said it wasn’t valid for entry. She then produced her license from her home country Trinidad which again showed here picture and date of birth. However, according to ‘Secrets’ regulations, official ID from another country isn’t valid.

I found this incredible particularly given that Ocean City is one of the largest tourist location in Maryland. Although, Maryland has a more than colorful history of mistreating blacks, surely in a tourist community in the twenty-first century the residents and workers are more accustomed to interacting with people of different races and ethnicities.

A number of us tried to reason with the doorman, but he was rude, belligerent and unwilling to compromise. When we asked what other alternative ID she could use that they would accept, he simply said “if she hasn’t got a valid drivers license she’s not coming in.” Infuriated, incensed, and disappointed we all eventually walked away. We returned to the hotel, the uplifting and inspiring tone of the retreat washed away by a secret we are all too familiar with. No matter how sophisticated, educated, professional, or well dressed you are a black skin can get you rejected from anywhere and by anyone. Secrets’ secret is that it is a club making money playing black music, while it excludes black people.

Posted by Gabriella Beckles

While working for a Historically Black University on the east coast in 2005, our boss decided to take the upper level staff on an annual retreat to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

After a long day in the conference room we all decided to go out for the evening. It was our last night there so we would really have a chance to wind down and have some fun. Familiar with the area we decided to ride further down the coast to the tourist spot Ocean City, Maryland. The only club that consistently plays black music is a spot called Secrets.

So we all got dressed and set off. Our party included eight young black professionals, all with degrees, four of us at the advanced level. As we waited in line we were in good spirits. Some of us hadn’t been out in ages, bogged down with work the reggae blasting out of the club was a welcomed lift to our spirits. A few of us were of Caribbean extraction so a touch of home was an exciting prospect. However, it became increasingly apparent that this was not going to be our night.

While waiting in line a number of white patrons had simply walked passed us in line and walked freely into the club. All the blacks waited patiently in line, none receiving such privileges. The one black person ahead of us was refused entry because his shorts we the wrong length! I was astonished, he was dressed very preppie, everything close fitting and tucked in, not hat, no braids, no timberland boots; none of the usual points of dress discrimination that are used as grounds to exclude blacks, particularly young black men, form any number of activities and establishments. Moreover, a white man with the same shorts walked right past all of us and got in without a glitch.

Our turn to get into the club came…tune in tomorrow to find out Secrets’ secret!