Loaded Quivers

… That as much as the “Scientific” community tries to tell us that there is such a difference between the ‘races’ ANYONE with an openly critical eye can see the GRAND SIMILARITIES ! In this, quickly reviving, section of Columbus, Ohio the historically ” NEGRO”, “BLACK”, ” AFRICAN-AMERICAN” section(- ed off) of town is started at Hamilton Avenue, ( just east of U.S. Interstate highway 71.), facing east,( from the west), and encompasses the area within the boundaries of Broad St., (south), Olde Leonard Ave., (north), and Champion Ave., (west). A proverbial HUB of businesses and culture extolled through the community of AFRICA’S stolen.

Now we have arrived at the rebirth of this ‘forgottenly’ rich piece of REAL estate. For the past three years that I’ve resided within these cunningly drawn walls, ( Columbus, Ohio IS where Samuel P. Bush, “Gee-Dub’s” “gram-p” started the ‘BUCKEYE STEEL’ company. AND not much has changed has it?). Yes you read cunningly, as to the fact that the time of “BLACK FOLK” owning successful enterprises often “drew” the type of “outstanding WASP youth” to the birthplace of the likes of the notorious “REEFER MADNESSES” and such just HAD to be “cordoned off’. Thus city’s the planners adopted the help of our “GUB-MINT” in that task. Originally designated ‘State Route 1′ I-71 was completed in November,1962.(The weeks before it was opened to traffic my cousins and I played on it, all 6 lanes.) The “problem” of access was solved by having the direct entry amputated, MOUNT VERNON AVENUE, by preserving U.S. 40, ( the old national road, started by the first funds allotted by congress in 1806. From Cumberland, MD.), for it’s historical value and one block proximity. So the “logical” action was to ” cut ‘em off at the pass”, so to speak, by bowing to the plea of the townsfolk of Bexley, Ohio wanting to keep their view of downtown without the sight of the new Freeway and the many cars “that would obstruct it’s beauty”… so the only part of I-71that was built below grade ‘HAD’ to have the sacrifice of ONE street… MOUNT VERNON AVENUE ! The ‘DIE’,(!), was cast in government, gasoline taxed, “stone”. But these walls weren’t made like the one in China, there’s nothing awe inspiring in their INTENT OR MAKEUP, so the latent “Jim Crow” assessments given to the Bronzeville area are reaching a beautiful demise in the coming Long Street Bicycle Races at the end of August. There may even be the next Marshall ” Major” Taylor, who won his first ‘bike’ race at age 13 then went on to hold 7 WORLD CYCLING records by 1899. Of Indianapolis, Indiana, Mr. Taylor gave the world a taste of the fight that he knew all too well through a very ‘HOOSIER’ mentality. Marshall \” Major\” Taylor: America\’s FIRST Bicycle Champion

NOTHIN' BUT LEFTS

And like most of OUR “HUED HEROES” of the past the LONG STREET BUSINESS ASSOCIATION has taken on the FIGHT FOR ITS COMMUNITY through a “simple” bicycle race…

(The race is held on, almost, a two city block ‘road course’, starting on Long St. riding east, turning at Garfield, north. The riders then turn onto Mayme Moore going west, tapping onto Martin Luther King, turning, sharply onto Hamilton Ave., again coming back to Long St.)

… By giving them NOTHIN’ but LEFTS ! Like NASCAR.