OPINION: LET’S TALK ABOUT SIPS, BABY— AND THE OVER-POLICING OF YOU AND ME

Just as kids await summer camp, long days at the park and chasing the ice cream truck, many adults in the city feel the same way about Center City Sips. Now in its twenty-first season, Sips has established itself as a summertime favorite in the City of Philadelphia! It was created with inner-city professionals in mind, a weekly citywide happy hour curated to keep the city lively and its commerce thriving throughout the summer months. Like summer camp for grown folks, Sips offers a midweek escape. Every Wednesday since 2004, from 5-7 p.m., participating restaurants and bars alike offer discounted food and drinks to customers.

Although Sips is accessible to anyone 21+, its festivities have become extremely popular amongst Philly’s Black community. Local bars and lounges that attract Black business normally extend beyond the traditional happy hour mold. Sips after-parties have become a norm, making Wednesday nights the new Saturday nights, and personally, I love it!

But this year— there’s been a noticeable shift. Due to social media and word of mouth, Sips is now known— not only in Philly, but throughout its surrounding areas. What started as an ‘if you know, you know’ experience based on convenience is now a regional attraction, garnering the attention of young adults in their twenties.

However, this popularity has triggered an extreme uptick in police presence on Wednesday nights—particularly around 13th and Sansom streets. This area specifically caters to Black nightlife. This monitoring is unsettling and prompts the question, ‘Are large groups of Black attendees not the intended demographic for Center City Sips?’

The thing is—we are. We are educated, employed and spending. Oh right, and we’re Black, youthful, and vibrant. Dear Center City District and bar owners, is the latter the problem?

“More and more people are not coming out,” said Akeem Jones, 31, on Wednesday evening outside the gates of Dilworth Park. “Last year was way way better… This is not the normal DJ we have. It be like club DJs or lounge DJs.”

Jones names what many of us are feeling: a cultural shift. In years past, Dilworth Park, located right outside of City Hall, acted as the meet-up spot for Black young adults participating in Sips. This past week, the crowd was sparse, and diverse in terms of age and race. The music catered to that diversity.

Frequent Sips attendee, Jay, 34, from Chester, says she hasn’t picked up on any additional police enforcement. “I’m not really looking for that. I feel like when you’re having a good time you don’t even worry about it,” said Jay.

For the first time in weeks, the 13th and Sansom block was accessible on Wednesday night —but was lined with officers until about 12 a.m. DBG, Time, and Vintage—three mainstays of the Black Sips scene—are no longer participating this summer.

Being young and Black should not be taken as a threat, but here we are, again. If Sips is truly meant to reflect the collective energy and diversity of Philadelphia— why eliminate that culture? Call to Action: Accommodate, Don’t Reject. Summer Camp is definitely less fun when counselors are restricting you from fully participating.