The chauffeured cars began pulling up at around seven o’clock. But children from neighboring housing projects began gathering outside as soon as a red carpet was placed on the street. By five o’clock, word got out on the news and the Internet that every African-American movie star from Denzel Washington to Will Smith to Spike Lee would be showing up along with the most recognized socialite faces from the Upper East Side—Samantha Acton, Grey Navez, and Adrienne Strong-Rodman. Among the anticipated guests were also the African-American CEO of Time Warner—the underwriting company for the event—the presidents of Disney, Sony Pictures, and Brown University, the Brooklyn borough president, the commissioner of cultural affairs, and the mayor. Awaiting their collective arrival were reporters from Entertainment Tonight, Black Entertainment Television, New York 1, and all the local stations.

As the guests walked down the red carpet, it became clear that the uptown socialites had taken the “Dress Ghetto Fabulous” salutation on the bottom of the invitation to heart. Adrienne Strong-Rodman arrived in gold lamé Dolce & Gabbana hot pants with a matching halter, while Judy and Albert Tremont dressed as Ike and Tina Turner. The African-American movie stars, on the other hand, were mostly in understated strappy gowns and fitted Armani suits.

“Samantha! Samantha!” At least fifty photographers began snapping pictures as she walked in sporting a vintage Halston gown worn by Diana Ross when she was still a Supreme. Samantha held on to Charlie’s arm as photographers screamed, “Samantha, you look great! Over here, Samantha. Who’s your husband dressed as?”

“He’s my pimp!” Samantha laughed openly. She grabbed Charlie, who was wearing an open shirt and multiple gold chains.

“Are you gonna sing tonight, Samantha?” the gossip stringers from Manhattan magazine asked.

“We’ve got 50 Cent in there and much more talented people than me to do that.” Samantha squeezed Charlie’s arm and walked inside.

The police had formed a phalanx of cars to protect the powerful and the glamorous. When Barry and the mayor arrived someone in the crowd screamed, “How come the only time you come here is for a party with white people? Why isn’t this kind of money going for education?”

The mayor took a microphone. “It is so great to be here tonight in Bedford-Stuyvesant to celebrate young African-American independent filmmakers. The arts are what make this city great. And I want to thank Barry Santorini for celebrating the incredible talent in this neighborhood and saying that the movie industry isn’t turning its back on New York.” Then the mayor put his arm around Barry.

The reporters began shouting, “Barry, over here! Barry, over here!”

Barry was wearing his traditional black sweatshirt and jeans. Clarice, on the other hand, was in oversized beaded homeboy pants, a backwards Yankee baseball cap, a matching beaded Oscar de la Renta twin set, and a Teflon vest.