JERRY BROWN HEAR ME NOW: LEGALIZE THE SIDESHOWS
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Legalize the Sideshows: An Open Letter to Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown
By: Adisa Banjoko, soulpolisher2001@yahoo.com
Dear Mayor Jerry Brown,
Thank you for taking the time to consider a very sensible solution to a problem that is plaguing the City of Oakland. My name is Adisa Banjoko, an author/ journalist from the Bay Area. I lived in Oakland a few years back in the early 90’s. This letter is to purpose that you legalize “sideshow’s” which have become so dangerously popular in your city. KALX DJ Billy Jam. originally gave this idea to me. It is a sensible resolution to a growing problem for the City of Oakland. Let me explain why.
When I first saw sideshows in Oakland, it was in the late 80’s. They were happening usually after a bunch of people got their cars detailed at the carwash. After cruising up and down the block, they’d spinout a few times and then take off.
These days however, I do not think anyone can disagree that the sideshows have become very dangerous and sadly, deadly for many youth.
Oakland would see a decrease in injury and crime if sideshows were made legal. As outrageous as it may sound, people feel the same way today about sideshows as they did about low-riders and cruising in San Francisco and San Jose 15 years back. The once frowned upon low-rider scene, which “haunted San Francisco and San Jose with accusations of criminal activity” is today a multi-million (possibly billion) dollar industry.
Oakland youth are not provided with outlets for creativity or fun. As a Mayor who is concerned with the growth of the community, you know this better than I do. The youth in your community is suffering. They live with the daily stress of having their schools shut down and community programs shutting the doors on them. The youth of Oakland, just as the youth around the world, need an outlet. If you do not give them one, they will provide one for themselves.
Currently, sideshows are more dangerous than the days of cruising because sideshows are spontaneous events that happen without warning. Cruising, which dates as far back (even farther) to the 1950’s was an expected weekend event in most American cities.
Most young people are avid listeners to rap music, which is a part of the subculture of Hip Hop. The fall of the American School Systems music and art programs created the rise of the Rap music industry and Hip Hop culture. Some believe the rise in Rap has lead to the increase of the sideshows in Oakland. I am not one of them. However, I do believe that rap music is the outlet all urban youth choose to express their sadness, anger and love.
These poets (rappers) are self-taught, because the American school system neglected to teach them effectively about the beauty of Mya Angelou, The Last Poets, and the importance of self-expression. Too Short, EA-ski, The Coup, Digital Underground and Balance are just a few of the world-class rappers that come from the great city of Oakland. But every element of Hip Hop culture was formed the same way.
Why is the above relevant to this conversation? Because when you ignore the youth of America- they always find a creative outlet. Car culture has always been a big part of urban life for many young people. The evolution of the sideshow is a direct result of cities shutting down the youth’s ability to cruise at a 5MPH pace throughout the night. Review all the overtime that the Oakland Police Department has cost you and the great city of Oakland. Can you afford NOT legalizing sideshows? For the sake of Oakland’s economy? You must agree that it is time to review the issue at hand and find a balance between the City of Oakland and its youth.
Take the pro-active approach and legalize sideshows. Gather a group of people who can provide a safe location and set of rules that will make sideshows safe and fun for all who attend. This will not stop spontaneous sideshows all together, but when they pop up, the Community can say take that to the track. Right now, all you say is “Get out of here!” or get a ticket (or worse go to jail). The young people, being as competitive as they are will more likely fill your “Sideshows Jams” then fill your streets with illegal activity. If you provide a safe place for the youth, they will come and in the end save the City 100’s of Thousand’s of dollars and grief. Sponsors can add value to the events (prize money, rim endorsements, local artists performances etc.) it is a win/win situation for the financial standing and the urban culture of Oakland.
Low-riding is now legal, monster truck events are not only legal, but also a multi-million dollar industry. Oakland’s sideshows can, and should, be legal as soon as possible. Its time to take a stand and save the lives of the Oakland youth.
I offer myself, and many others, who can help you make sideshows safe and fun for everybody involved. The longer the City takes to provide outlets that the Oakland youth are interested in and can enjoy, the higher the death count will be from these “illegal” sideshows.
The question is: How many young people will you allow to be killed or irreparably injured in the illegal sideshows – before it is legalized? How much overtime will OPD waste on chasing down sideshow participants?
How many innocent bystanders will be run over? How many drivers will die from crashing into telephone polls and buildings before you take a proactive stance on this?
There is a new song about to sweep the streets, by Balance entitled “Legalize the Sideshows”. It’s proof that I am not alone in my position. The people of Oakland and the rest of the world deserve legal, safe places to express themselves in this new evolution of car culture (and other urban arts). I hope you and those close to you are able to see the benefits of what I have suggested. Feel free to reach me anytime to discuss the matter further at your convenience.
Yours,
Adisa Banjoko “The Bishop of Hip Hop”
Adisa Banjoko is a respected journalist that has appeared in The Source, The Harvard Hip Hop Archive, XXL, Vibe, Yoga Journal, Daveyd.com, Rapstation.com, Pacific News Service, and Allhiphop.com. Under the pen name “The Bishop of Hip Hop”, he has entertained many with his work on Hip Hop culture, eastern philosophy, martial arts, Islamic culture, and African American social issues.
Banjoko’s knowledge has earned him countless invitations to lecture at prestigious universities such as Harvard University, Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley, U.C. Santa Cruz and San Francisco State, just to name a few. He has shared the stage many political and cultural icons such as S.F. Mayor Willie Brown, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambataa, rap legend Chuck D, and pioneer b-boy Crazy Legs. His current works include co-author to the upcoming book Chicken Soup for the Hip Hop Soul. [Also see Icicle Networks,
Seems like a real useful book
