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U URBAN IRON MAGAZINE Columbus, Ohio Marc Mayo Publisher DPI Graphic Design Derek Payne Layout & Graphics Marc Mayo Marketing Marc Mayo Editor in Chief Contributing Writers Marc Mayo
This is why we ride
rban Iron Magazine was born out of curiosity of the Urban Bike life and a love for the people that ride. I knew that there were plenty of positive stories that was not being told as well as plenty of good going unreported. Urban Iron Magazine will put an end to this as well as create an atmosphere in which we bring to you the best of what we have to offer. It is this dedication to bringing this content that lead us to the Zulu MC. I was able to get the exclusive and hang out with the National President and his
cabinet. Then I was blessed to be able to catch up with the Saddletramps MC and
Michael Brown must not be forgotten
Photography Marc Mayo
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man, do this group no how to treat a guest then I had the privilege of partying with Diamond and the Diamond Clusters for one hell of a night. Sure we will be dedicated to bringing you the best content and we will always show you where the fun is. If your club is hosting events this year please submit them to Urban Iron Magazine and /or email them to mrmarcmayo@outlook.com . Eveyday we will be about that life. Ride Hard Marc Mayo
In a Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 file photo, protestors autograph a sketch of Michael Brown during a protest, in Atlanta. Michael Brown Jr. was on the verge of starting college, eager to launch himself into the adult world. Instead, on Monday he'll be mourned at his funeral, more than two weeks after his fatal shooting by a white police officer. (Credit: AP/David Goldman)
Inside look into this unique perspective into the lives of young black men in America. This article will serve as a starting point on which direction we should go when it comes to protecting our future. In My opinion we are all at fault. If we do not place value on our lives should we expect other to. I am looking to hearing what you have to say on the
subject Respond to the article or just submit your opinion in next months newsletter. If it is not published next month it still may make our January Launch Issue. Either way we are looking forward to hearing from you. After all this is your magazine. Together lets see what we can do. Ride Hard!
Pictures of the month’s events Urban Iron Magazine in proud to bring you pictures of this months events. That’s right this month. All in the month of November (That’s just how Scorpios roll) We always turn up for our month and this year was no exception I will share those photos with you. Be on the lookout for Urban Iron Ride Hard! Jokers Wrath turning up at the Zulus MC ►
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the idea... 4 ■ URBAN IRON MAGAZINE
hen the idea was born to create Urban Iron our staff to hit with a bang. The only person that we could agree to launch our magazine was none other than the National President of the Zulu Nation MC. The story that we wanted to do was one that showcased just one night being the president of this prestigious organization. Once we agrees to that the next thing that we had to do was try to contact him and then ask him can we follow him and document a night in his life for our readers. The staff decided that the only way to do it is to do it. So we began looking n our contacts to see who could get us in touch with the elusive (and as we found out, very busy) man. After about two weeks of making contacts to get us closer to him we finally got information to contact him Now all we had to do was ask his permission to follow him for a night to allow us mere mortals to peek inside behind the veil of this staple in the MC community. To our surprise not only did he allow us to follow him into his world he even allowed us to bring our cameras and he took the time to give us an exclusive interview. Here is the verdict on the night. If you want to party the Zulus are the way to go! This man can go all night. And I mean ALL NIGHT! The Zulus are not just about Party and Bullshit they contribute to many positive things in the communities wherever there is a Zulu Chapter. Be on the lookout for the full interview next month. This newsletter just will not suffice in relating to our special readers the events of the night so check us out in December’s newsletter as well our official Black Steel Launch in January. This issue we will introduce you to the vice president Highway who shed light on the positive impact that the Zulus bring your way. So stay tuned. When you meet Highway for the first time you immediately get the impression that this MC life chose him. “I just want to make a powerful positive impact and bring unity to and through the clubs.” As I was introduced to the other members of the organization I found the running theme that runs through the heart of everyone. “Family” was the answer that was to almost every question that was presented to the group. When I asked one member “Out of all of the Clubs that you could have ridden with, why did you choose the Zulus?” before the question could be finished the reply was an exclamation of “FAMILY!” As I made my way through the rest of the club I was introduced to the one and only Diamond from the Diamond Clusters MC, the Impressive Jokers Wrath then I was introduced to A Block of the Saddle tramps (look at their story in this newsletter as well) who was in full attendance. The DJ of the night kept the party jumping and the night was in full effect. I looked at my watch and it was one am Smiley looked at me and said “You ready to start the night with me?” I was ready to go to bed but hey how many opportunities do you get like this so I offered the best response to that question “Hell yeah, where to next?” It seemed as though the whole club was thinking the same thought (Like most families do) and said, “We going to the TOROS!” So we were off to the TOROS and that was just the beginning of the wonder night……..Tune in next month for the rest of the story. … It is well worth it. Marc Mayo
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hen talking to Highway, of the Zulus you can tell that he is serious about everything that he says. The first thing that stands out is the fact that he is very dedicated to his commitment to ride and that he want see more corporation between the clubs “ You don't have to put down another club, just to build yours up.” was a statement that Highway made when the question was posed to him, “What would you do to improve relations between Clubs?”
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This is something that not only resonate within the MC community but the Urban (African-American) community as a whole. We must do what it takes to build each other up because it is important to express our love for our Bikes. I got my name Highway because of the miles I clock on the highway all year. I am proud of that because that says to other people “You cannot be stationary and want to travel with me. That goes for stationary thinking, stationary finances and stationary vision as well.
“ You don't have to put down another club, just to build yours up.” Highway Zulus
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From a Bet to a Banquet
The One and Only Miss D
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t is a brisk Thanksgiving morning in Columbus and the Saddle Tramps MC are unloading food and fixings for over one hundred people. There are smiles and laughter all around and one thinks that this is exactly how Thanksgiving is supposed to be. We are all in for a treat because Master Chef Radio of the Saddle Tramps MC has grilled over 13 turkeys for this feast. This is the annual event Started by the Saddle Tramps MC over a decade ago and today it has grown to include more clubs. Assisting the Saddle Tramps MC in this years event was Magnum Force and the Howling Wolves and the feast was joined this year by Jokers Wrath MC, V Twin MC, and the Diamond Clusters MC, This day all started with a bet among family members one Thanksgiving in the early 2000’s as to who can fry the best turkey. Like all good bets there has to be a prize for the winner. The prize for this event is more prestigious than the National NCAA Championship, Super Bowl rings, or the Heavyweight boxing belt. The prize for this event is affectionately named the” Gobblester.” (This is a trophy that is given to the winner of this event) The men decided to keep the judging impartial by asking anyone that walked by to try all of the turkeys to decide which won was the best. At this time the Gobblester is vacationing in Atlanta and after a very heated debate it is agreed upon by all of the con-
testants that DJ (the current owner of the Gobblester) won by a mile. After this event the men was left with plenty of turkeys and no one left to give them
it is growing.” The Saddle Tramps MC do not get any recognition for doing this and in the words of Ricochet “We do this because homelessness can happen to anyone. Any-
to. After all it is Thanksgiving one of us can easily end up in and everyone already has tur- this situation and it is good to keys, every one that is except know that I am a part of a the less forcommunity tunate. So that cares they asked “There was a numbness that enough to can they fell over the group that is assist.” donate the Even though still felt everyday” turkeys to this event the local started light homeless shelters. The turkeys hearted enough there has been were greatly appreciated and some tragic moments in conthe next year they decided to tinuing to provide this service. ride their bikes to homeless Thanksgiving 2009 Miss D shelter to feed the men and who is Ricochet’s, Radios’ women inside. The National and EZL’s Sister and the aunt President Ricochet stated to of “Biggie” (this is truly a me that “We have been doing family affair) was rushing to this since the early 2000’s and the event and she was deter-
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mined to ride her bike with the rest of the club and went down on her bike. No one knew at the time how serious the accident was and Magnum Force MC and the Howling Wolves MC and V Twin MC stayed at the shelter to continue to serve while the Saddle Tramps MC rushed to the hospital. That is the kind of love that exist and because of that gesture the MC’s share an unbroken bond. A tragedy like this could break most MC’s, to the Saddle Tramps MC this pushed them to continue the feast on thanksgiving. There was a numbness that fell over the group that is still felt everyday and you can hear the pain and the love for her and this event when it is spoken about. So now we all do it for Miss D and the dedication that she had for this event. She would have really loved the assistance from the other clubs this year the V Twins MC, Jokers Wrath MC and the very special and graceful Codak from the Diamond Clusters MC. The unity among other clubs is what is going to take our mission to the next level. In fact Next year the event has expanded to include another shelter in the city. This will take plenty of planning and coordination and we know it will be a great experience and opportunity to be thankful that we have something to give back. Tune is next month for the remainder of the interview… Marc Mayo NOVEMBER 2014
Big Shout out to This family also bring food to the shelter every year also to supply aid to the residence of the Shelter.
“This is the best Thanksgiving that I have ever had. Oh by the way, This is the best turkey that I have ever eaten” Marc Mayo
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Scorpio Party with Diamond and Onyx
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his Thanksgiving was one in which I was very thankful because I was able to spend time with my mother and talk about things about me that I forgot about. The talk then lead to us talking about her childhood in Phenix City, Alabama in the early part of the twentieth century. She does not see any difference between now and then. It is funny because the things that our children take for granted most of our black elders are wondering why are we not fighting for the future like they did. In other words don’t get it twisted. There is still more work to do. Our children (read AfricanAmerican) are dying at an alarming rate and we only seem to care when their death is at the hands of a white person or the police, more specifically a white police. While this is a major problem the greater problem seem to go unnoticed. We need to take to the streets every time we hear that a black person has killed another black person. There are many ways that this can be done but one thing we need to do is put an end to the glamorizing the death of the young black man. I listen to rap and hip-hop as much as the next person, I like Jay-Z, Jeezy, Nicki Minaj as well as plenty others and it is apparent that it is black hunting season. I mean Snoop Dogg once rapped that “I never hesitate to put a nigga on his back.” and todays Song “Hot nigga’ by Bobby Smurda continues in this vein. The thing about Black Hunting Season is that the season never ends. All of the artists above glamorize killing each other as a sign of street credibility. While this is not an indictment on rap or rappers, because as I said I listen to it very much. What I am saying is that there is no counter balance on the weight and the only message is “Hey lets go kill a black person.” I guess 12 ■ URBAN IRON MAGAZINE
that there are no points for killing white people or standing up for your rights. Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown and even the twelve year old baby Tamir Rice, who was killed by a white rookie cop in Cleveland all had one thing in common: They were young and black. That means that they fit the description and it was alright to kill them. Answer this question honestly, then ask those that you know “When you bought your gun, who did you visualize using it on?” Most if not all was ashamed to answer or they quietly answered “A black person..” So that leads us to believe that the thought to kill a black person was in your mind and heart know this all too well because I had the same answers as all of you. With the Police, the White militia groups, your neighbors, and everyone else aiming their guns on us, who can we turn to beside ourselves to have our back. You can count on Urban Iron and myself to be on the front lines to make a difference. There are plenty of Mike Browns, Trayvon Martins, and Tamir Rices right here in Columbus, Are we going to protect them or not.? Are we going to only get
upset when a white police kill them or are we going to begin policing ourselves. Make no mistake about it the police does not protect our neighborhoods, they occupy our neighborhoods. They are not occupying Bexley, They are not occupying Blacklick, They are not occupying Independence. The police are there to make sure that black people does not enter those neighborhoods. I live in a neighborhood that is in full gentrification mode and the older neighbors that cannot move says that they have never seen the police ride the street so much. One neighbor said to me “It used to be a time that the police only came when they were called. Now they are every where except when you call them.” I do not have all of the answers so I am asking you to write me with suggestion and comments because we need to find a solution together. It takes a nation of millions to hold us back and it will take a nations of millions to move us forward. Which million are you apart of? Send all of your comments: Title your comments “Who’s watching our children?” mrmarcmayo@outlook.com Thank you, Marc Mayo. NOVEMBER 2014
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Happy New Year Saddle Tramps MC Chicken
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ABATE of Ohio is an organization that coordinate the annual toy drive with Various MC’s from all around, Toys for Tots and the Fire Department. This years event went off without a hitch and I’m sure children around Ohio will benefit from events like these. Jokers Wrath MCwas in attendance and even held another toy drive of their own. Good job Jokers Wrath MC Here are a few bikes from ABATE of Ohio toy drive
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