Parable of the Bike

Parable of the Bike

One of Plato Negro's students gave him a bike. It was a nice bike, a Schwinn. When Plato Negro rode to his Academy of da Corner and his brother came through, Plato showed him the bike. His brother said, "Nigguh you had to get 70 years old to get a Schwinn bike."

Plato replied, "Yeah, bro, you know we went to the junk yard to make our bikes. Didn't no nigguh have no Schwinn bike in the hood, not hardly. A passenger in a truck stopped at the stoplight heard the conversation and cosigned, "Yeah, couldn't no nigger's afford no Schwinn bike back in da day."

Plato was hopeful riding the bike would help him lose weight. His friend in D.C. had made him promise to do some bike riding as he does for exercise. When he was last in D.C., his friend, Baba Lumumba, gave him a bike so he could ride through D.C.'s Arboretum, which Plato actually enjoyed.

The Monday after Christmas he rode his bike from Berkeley to downtown Oakland. As he arrived at 14th and Broadway, he saw two of Oakland's finest police officers on their bikes passing the corner. He was familiar with these two black officers who patrol the downtown area and are known to dog the people, especially the young people.

As Plato stopped for the light, he observed the officers get off their bike to question a youth. Plato recognized the youth as one of his best students from the Academy of da Corner. This student had come through recently and seeing the latest book by Plato, picked it up and began reading aloud for all to hear. He is a young man who loves books and has obtained several from Plato. In truth, he is also a weed dealer and Plato knew the police stopped him because he was restricted from the downtown area.

Plato wished he could have assisted his student, especially one of his best students. Plato delayed crossing the street so he could watch the police arrest their usual suspect. He saw his student turn around and put his hands behind his back. They put on the handcuffs. They searched him up and down. And soon came the patrol cars to take him away. Yes, it took two cars to take away one black man.

Plato wished he could intervene, that he could tell the officers to release him to his custody, to allow him in the area only to attend Academy of da Corner. But he knew it would be a dangerous move that might get him arrested, joining his student on the long ride to Santa Rita Jail for New Year's weekend.

Plato knew the drill, a 24 to 48 hour processing time from his arrest to the time he'd enter his cell. During this time he would move from holding cell to holding cell, basically concrete benches and floors, packed with men crowded like sardines on the slave ships, some sleeping with their heads next to the latrine and toilet. The processing was worse than jail itself. At several points one must strip butt naked and show the jailers his asshole, hold his nuts and cough.

Plato didn't want to go through this, even to save his student as we entered the New Year. But it saddened him to see one of his best students in the hands of the slave catchers.

Plato wished he could connect with the retired black judge he heard was looking for him to get a copy of his book Pull Yo Pants Up fada Black Prez and Yoself, essays on Obama Drama. This was a progressive judge, Horace Wheatley, who used to sentence youth to get their G.E.D., and if they failed they were charged with contempt of court.
--Marvin X
12/28/10