Very interesting and informative thread Carlton. So do you have a belief why there are so few black collectors in our hobby?
Chris
My opinion is that its an socially economic thing. It's a very expensive hobby.
Socio-economics is one facet of the absence of blacks in this hobby. But that’s just skimming the surface…we need to dig deeper to understand the complexities and peel back the onion?
First, we must recognize there are cultural distinctions between blacks and whites.
The hobby of collecting vintage bicycles has an emotional connection with many Caucasian collectors, its a time to reflect warm and fuzzy memories, or a retrospective when life was uncomplicated and every boy & girl had wishful thoughts of owning a new bike.
For many white kids owning a bicycle was more then a status symbol, it was the introduction to freedom; the means of getting around, travelling, or visiting friends.
Something many young blacks never experienced or were denied.
Purchasing a bicycle was beyond the reach for most working black families. Buying a new bike didn’t have a real practical value.
Instead owning an automobile had a deeper meaning for blacks. A car helped blacks to escape the insults of Jim Crow.
American blacks faced some of the harshest indignities of legal segregation on public transportation; buses, streetcars, and trains. Black and white passengers were separate and unequal. Black passengers were required to sit at the back of buses and trolleys--and to give up their seats to whites on demand. Black passengers who challenged Jim Crow on public transportation systems faced insult, personal injury, arrest, and even death at the hands of angry whites.
Negroes who could afford a car, recognized it as a partial emancipation from “Jim Crowism" resisting the everyday racial segregation of buses, trolleys, and trains. “Race was almost completely ignored on the highway.... It seemed equality came at about twenty-five miles an hour or above."
On the other hand, blacks who could afford a bicycle was indeed a moving target…easily vulnerable to blatant assaults, provoking angry whites that resented the notion that a Negro could afford a two-wheel luxury!
Lastly, we must examine the centerpiece of the African American expression...Colorful adornments!
This is an important form of communication among African Americans, its a signifier of group membership in the community. Our outer appearance is an art form, and just like “in music and movement, there is an aesthetic of individual expression that is really important and ultimately equates to “look at me!”
How we dress is a declaration that I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I’m fierce. I look good. This serves as self-assurance to the mainstream invisibility.
Like I said, there are cultural distinctions, between blacks and whites; If you look within the black community you’ll quickly recognize African Americans are consumed with pretentious indulgence…and colorful adornments!
This stems from our heritage, peeling back the anthropological discoveries, it’s a known fact our origins is robust with styles, colorful graphics and design patterns done to beautify, complement, or showcase the tribesman or warrior. Via body art; Scarification - Piercing - Stretching - Filing – or Deforming, these are all indicators of status, and group identities, and/or spiritual empowerment.
Over time we have acclimated to Western civilization, evolved from our tribal lifestyle, but not from our cultural behavior of adornment indulgence.
Ever noticed the many blacks that owned Cadillac’s in the 50’s, BMW’s in the 80’s and now we style in Mercedes! We’ll go in debt for our personal facades before we invest in our personal growth.
“Keeping up with the Jones” is systemic in our culture, quietly kept in the inner circle. We are purveyors of the “Cool” factor…soliciting attention with “Bling” or ostentatious living. It’s an art form, and just like “in music and movement, there is an aesthetic of individual expression that is really important to us and ultimately equates to “look at me!”
Thus collecting a classic bicycle just doesn’t cut it, it doesn’t have the swag! It doesn’t make a visible impression within the community! It lacks the head turning interest. Most commonly owning a vintage bicycle is viewed as owning something rusty, tired and old! Suggesting that a person who’s addicted to spending money on a crusty metal toy is absurd and crazy! After all you could’ve bought some 2o’s for your Hoopty or a fake Rolex with zirconia diamonds?