The festival started at 10am. I got there at 1pm. Soon as I got off the K Line at MLK & Crenshaw (buses that drove through there had to detour), the alluring scent of Shabazz fish, wings & fries Crip walked on my nostrils…only to find that it was crowded on the street.
I was already mentally exhausted walking to Coliseum Street, practically drained from having to say “excuse me” fiddy-lebm-hunnit times. Being gridlocked with all those people immediately had me on edge. I had been there for a half-hour and was ready to go.