Black Bikers Experience

Let’s stop this war of all against all by bridging the gap; each one teaches one.

I don’t think we understand that we gain civil rights in return for accepting the obligation to respect and defend the rights of others. When civilians & the police see you riding a motorcycle with a vest all they see is a biker that belong to a motorcycle gang. They don’t see the color of your skin or know your sex. There will always be a strain of individuals who will find a reason to discriminate with the intent to isolate. Let’s stop being part of the problem and become part of the solution by coming together, ironing out our differences, educate each other and be okay with agreeing to disagree with respect.

It is evident that the terms in which we are operating under are failing in some areas. When failings are found we must renegotiate to change the terms, using methods such as bridging the gap between in-law (99%) bikers & outlaw (1%) bikers and let’s not forget about women riders who ride motorcycles just as hard as our male counterparts.

  

I have a question. Do you violate these roadblocks that keep us at odds even when they are against your self-interest for the betterment of our culture at large? I say yes because the only way we can reach the next level successfully is to have all bikers and motorcycle clubs practice inclusion and open mindedness.

  

I’m very happy to be a part of the bigger picture even though I’m not welcomed to join a Facebook group that is for men only. I respect the intent of the page because it’s trying to get the men on-board before women are welcomed. I believe in natural justice. Natural justice is a pledge of reciprocal benefit, to prevent one man from harming or being harmed by another through education in our motorcycle sub-culture. Bikers or motorcycle clubs who are incapable of making binding agreements with one another not to inflict nor suffer harm are without either justice or injustice; and likewise for those who either could not or would not form binding agreements not to inflict nor suffer harm must be dealt with.

  

Natural law is the enemy of absolute monarchy. I understand that there are some damn well betters in the motorcycle community and those damn well betters must be consistently taught by those of us who have the knowledge and wisdom. Yes that means being open to be taught by another race or sex.

  

Hugo Grotius goes so far as to say in his “On the Law of War and Peace” that even if we were to concede what we cannot concede without the utmost wickedness, that there is no God, these laws would still hold.” The best thing about his statement is that it allows us to force history’s hand by making the necessary adjustment in the motorcycle club world. Since it suggest that power can ultimately go back to the individuals if the society that they have set up forfeits the purpose for which it was originally established, which is to preserve themselves and practice brotherhood and yes sisterhood too.

  

I believe we are under our own jurisdiction. People have rights as human beings but there is an explanation of those rights because of what is possible for everyone to accept morally; everyone has to accept that people as individuals are entitled to try to preserve themselves. We should, therefore, avoid doing harm to or interfere with one another under the guise of being the most dominant motorcycle club in the state. Any breach of these rights should be punished.

  

There are much better ways to communicate with one another to keep the lines of communication open. Fear and intimidation isn’t the answer. We all need to respect one another. OG’s must show respect to the New G’s and the New G’s must respect the OG’s. I seek to solve our problems holistically through prevention and education. Have you ever thought about what the impact of our decisions and behaviors are on our present and future community and world?

  

Nobody’s better than anybody else, especially when it comes to growing the motorcycle community at large. We must meet bikers where they are from newbie to OG. We all can learn a thing or two from one another. Let’s keep an open mind; that may leave room for a worthwhile thought to be dropped in it.

  

There has been talk that there are some OMC’s with police in them. Well from what I’ve been taught that’s like oil & vinegar; they don’t mix; especially when the PoPo was in a prime officer position; like President and National Sergeant At Arms. That does makes you go hmmm… Even though I know the police are one of the biggest gangs out there today along with Politician’s…there is no room for them in an Outlaw Motorcycle Club…LOL

What’s stopping you from bridging the gap? To be continued…

These are the words and opinion of Goldie not my club affiliation…just me black female rider extraordinaire.

Popularity: unranked [?]

  

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. The coined adage will hold true next year for bikers who will attend the 34th National Bikers Roundup. The turnout should be a lot better then this year. Las Vegas has so many attractions and things to do outside of attending the National Bikers Roundup. If you can’t stand the heat; then get out the kitchen. It will be hot; very hot so keep this in mind and prepare accordingly. We are Sin City bound Bikers, Black Bikers, Harlistas, Black Motorcycle Clubs and Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs.

  

CLICK THE PHOTO TO CHECK OUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN VEGAS!

You can plan early and take advantage of the savings before we get to Las Vegas.

  

Popularity: unranked [?]

Please read this article and tell me what you think. Do you feel the National Bikers Roundup organization should have funded this program all by themselves due to the revenue they make off black bikers every year?

I do! We continue to support this event without thinking about what they are giving back to the biker community after grossing millions of dollars. Do you think they should donate a portion of their proceeds from the National Bikers Roundup to God’s Wheels and not solicit the bike community at the event?

  

  

Bikers roundup charity donates more than 33 tons of food
Monday, August 9, 2010 | 6:50 p.m. CDT
BY Christina Stiehl

  

The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, formerly the Central Missouri Food Bank, recently gained a lot of weight — more than 33 tons.

God’s Wheels, a motorcycle ministry and the official charity of the National Bikers Roundup, collected money and nonperishable food from people and motorcycle clubs during the roundup. The donations to the food bank came in the forms of cash, checks made payable to the food bank and cans and boxes of food.

For every dollar it receives, the food bank can buy 20 pounds of food. Through that formula, and with the additional donation of non-perishables, the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri collected 66,563 pounds of food.

On Saturday evening, the Harley Davidson Motor Co. presented the food bank with a check for $2,500. The presentation, held on the main outdoor stage, was part of a set of live events including music performances and a fashion show.

God’s Wheels has been the official charity of the National Bikers Roundup since 1998. Harry Gumby, the founder and national president of God’s Wheels, established the motorcycle ministry four months after leaving his secular motorcycle club.

God’s Wheels collects money and goods on behalf of the local food bank in the hosting city of the roundup. Gumby said everything collected, except for some perishable food that was discarded, goes directly to the food bank.

Gumby called God’s Wheels “a good way to feed America,” because the roundup travels to a different hosting state every year.

Mike Desantis, a development associate at the Columbia-based food bank, said the organization was present at the roundup every day, transporting that day’s collectibles back to the food bank in vans and trucks.

Although the food bank does not serve people food directly, it services 132 agencies and 80 schools throughout 32 counties in central and northeast Missouri, according to its website.

Gumby said donating food for the underprivileged in the local hosting community is important to God’s Wheels.

“It’s not that we are just coming to take,” he said. “We are coming to give.”

Popularity: unranked [?]

Big Willie Car Products

  

  

This is Big Willie’s Story; he has been in the Automotive Industry for over 10 years. I’ve been told and will be able to personally let you know shortly how this product works. I should have my own bottle soon. I believe it will do what he says because Big Willie is my homie and my other homie “E” from the Rare Breed MC Atlanta Chapter sanctioned the product too. Big Willie’s Car Products will give you professional finishing to your motorcycles or your cars. Professional detailing at an affordable price; what more can you ask for.
The very best in the market!

Popularity: unranked [?]

SNCC photographer Clifford Vaughs is arrested by the National Guard, Cambridge, Maryland, May 2, 1964. Photo by Danny Lyon ©Danny Lyon/Magnum Photos

  

  

>

  

It is almost impossible to be concurrently a chopper rider and be a success in Entertainment Business world. These two scenes just don’t recognize or respect one another.It is almost impossible to be concurrently a chopper rider and be a success in Entertainment Business world.

  

But in California today there are three men – Frank Reynolds, Gut and Cliff Vaughs who have not only made it successfully in business but also have been able to maintain active memberships in two of the state’s most publicized clubs.

  

Freewheelin’ Frank has written an astonishing best seller about his experiences for Grove Press called simply “Freewheelin Frank” and already has a second volume of poetry in the works.

  

Gut is the colorful manager of one of California’s heaviest rock groups, the Blue Cheer, which has already released a hit single and smash album on Mercury.

  

But it is Vaughs who is the interesting because not only is he a chopper rider but a successful film maker, producer, civil rights leader and black. Vaughs rides with a predominantly black cycle club out of the ghetto area of Los Angeles. (The Chosen Few MC)

  

Vaughs is college educated, BA from Boston University and formally began his film career as a maker of documentaries. His “What Will The Harvest Be” a story of the thrust of black power in the south was shown several years ago on ABC-TV. This film featured such civil rights leaders as the late Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael and Julian Bond according to Cliff. It was later suppressed, I guess, because they showed it here twice in California and in Chicago. But it wasn’t pushed. I think this was done because this was the first public expression of black power.

  

From documentaries Vaughs went into film production, and it is significant to note that this is the first time in the Hollywood film industry, aside from Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby that an unknown black man has been able to break into production.

  

Chopper Magazine talked to Cliff Vaughs about his feelings toward the Hollywood manufactured cycle image, the integration of white outlaw clubs, Peter Fonda as a plastic hero and the emergence of the chopper rider as the final romantic American hero.

  

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD OF CYCLING?

  

“In terms of my own relation with my own motorcycle, it’s the final romantic expression that is left in this country. Obviously the frontier is gone. The cycle is the one thing that you can build from nothing—just a basket, and make something very, very beautiful and really put yourself into it. This goes from a simple question of chrome, to developing new designs, sissy bars, new ways of riding and things like that.”

  

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED WITH A CHOPPER?

  

“Certainly bikes attract a great deal of people who have basically been frustrated in their life. I haven’t been frustrated but I do view my bike as another way of relieving a lot of tension from myself. I have been riding since 1962. I even missed the March on Washington because I was building a chopper. I like my bike and I like Choppers and I’m very concerned about the restrictive legislation that is coming out from most states against the rider. Laws that are trying to keep Choppers off the road, and I think that a Chopper is a typically American expression.”

  

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHOPPER IN YOUR NEW FILM?

  

“In “Easy Riders” the cycle is just a vehicle to get around on. It’s like the horse from the old days. What we are basically doing is psychological western. We have two guys who have problems and are into their own bag. They are good friends, they’ve made one big score and are off to Miami to retire. Now in the course of the film a number of things happen to them on their trip. These are things that could happen to a guy if he were driving a car, flying in an airplane or riding on a train—except for the fact that being on a bike—they are more vulnerable to what’s going on.” Chopper asked Vaughs if the movie was going to say the same thing its predecessors from American International have said again and again.

  

“This is not what we are into. I think we can change the image of the cyclist, and make a significant contribution to changing the development of the cycle image. I don’t feel that Hollywood today is producing anything of much significance. And I think that this is the time to make the change, because the western has been the major success in this country. If we can change the vehicle from a horse to a cycle—and still develop good stories and good concepts then I think we have made a significant and artistic contribution to bikes and films.”

  

We asked Vaughs if any fulltime chopper rider could be trained by Hollywood into a Fonda role.
“No Peter and Dennis are very heavy into a lot of cultural things. They are in a position to be very, very socially aware of what’s going on. A lot of bikers just don’t know what’s going on because the whole weight of having to deal with everyday situations or hustling to live precludes any awareness of other problems. I mean, theirs is a hunting and gathering culture. You must remember that most bikers are not in a medium where they can project anything. Even if an average rider went on ”Meet the Press,” he would give the same rap about oppressed bike riders, patriotism, etc.”

  

He stated that before the film was started he indicated that one of the main things “Easy Riders” should do was break down the whole idea of black and white motorcycle clubs. “Because my investigation showed that white clubs had restrictive clauses and it’s only the blacks that are integrating. The Chosen Few has been integrated for a long period of time.”

  

“In this film said Vaughs we have a situation where the two main characters are riding across country. Their bikes break down and they run into about 50 black cyclists. They are very, very up-tight, scared and shaken up. But, it works out very well because the black cats just say, “Can we help you get some gas?” Everything is very groovy. And that to me seems a real situation.”

  

“I maintain if that situation can happen and it does in real life there is still some hope. There are many, many people that maintain that it can happen. “But I’ve seen it happen this way.”

  

Does Vaughs feel this situation is only confined to the cycle world? Naturally he answers in the negative.

  

“The cities are still going to burn despite the fact that these black cats stopped to help these white cyclists on the road.” That baby is reality.

  

CLIFF’S BIKE REFLECTS TRADITIONAL DESIGN. THE 68 ENGINE NESTLES NEATLY IN THE EARL RIGID FRAME. THE REAR SEAT HAS BEEN UPHOLSTERED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SISSY BAR, AND THE FRONT FORKS RAKED AND TENDED. THE EARLY BRAKE ROD HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A DC CHAIN, AND THE TANK HAS BEEN FANCIFULLY DECORATED WITH MULTICOLOR FLOWERS.

  

THE FRAME ON CLIFF’S BIKE IS A 57 HARLEY STRAIGHTBAR. HE EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL GLIDEFORKS 8 INCHES AND RAKED OUT THE FRAME 7 DEGREES.

  

THE MOTORCYCLE IS THE LAST ROMANTIC EXPRESSION LEFT IN THIS COUNTRY. THE FRONTIER GONE AND THE MOTORCYCLE IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU CAN STILL BUILD YOURSELF FROM A BASKET CASE.
Written in Chopper Magazine around 1968.

  

Below is a photo of Cliff Vaughs today.

  

Related articles by Zemanta

• Ten Best Biker Movies (cinemaroll.com)
• Amazing Motorbicycles- The Chopper (quazen.com)
• Afro-American History ()

Popularity: 1% [?]