By Dr. P. L. Wright, Ph.D.
I can recall during 1959-1960 in Fort Lauderdale at Porkyâsâ Hideaway Night Club spot what happened. I was a member of the Afro Beats Band as one of the clubâs House bands who played 6 nights a week. It was quite a sight to experience. There were teenagers using loud, profane language, and the âNâ word used often when we were on stage performing. We also played for Jerry Butler and the Chiffons and other guest performers too. Porkyâs was always jam- packed with spring breakers who were teens drinking beer while some of them drank liquor, becoming drunk and out of order with racist comments loudly referring to our Black band. There was no professional security to keep order to enforce what was going on. In spite of it, we just continued to play our show. Our band was threatened often verbally and at times with threatening telephone calls to the club. I was only 16 or 17-years old myself. I never imagined that I would ever have to experience what was going on. The spring break was nearly 3 weeks for us to deal with the disorganized behavior of the spring breakers. Porky was a real person who actually did nothing to resolve the improper behavior of the spring breakers. They were always an overcrowded with white teens. During those days I wasnât aware of laws referring to teenâs freedom of alcohol consumption. There were bottles thrown onto the stage to intimidate our band that we ignored. We continued to perform but we had to watch out for any objects that might be thrown on the stage. This was my experience during spring break during 1959-60 in Fort Lauderdale at Porkyâsâ Hideaway night spot.
