Stay in Your Lane Bitches: The Social Clubs Problem

SUCKA FREE MC Guest Blogger: 
Ronnie Streeter

Oh, are you offended already?

If you are maybe that's a good thing because that's the reality of the world social clubs currently function in. As a member of a social club and a woman first, I don't think of myself or women in general as bitches but I know many who do, especially when you're not moving in your lane.

Staying in your lane isn't just an indication of where you're going but it's also a blueprint as to where you've been.  Social Clubs have a rich history and background that clearly defines and outlines their original purpose. Many Social Clubs were elegantly dressed men and women who were true to the call of being social. They threw parties, events and socials.  There were varying Social Clubs that date back as far as the 1800's when they were Mens Social Clubs. They were a place for men to gather away from home and work to smoke and drink and to “be men”.  African American Social Clubs of the 1930's (primarily women) were smartly dressed people hosting meetings in immaculate homes and venues.  Italian American and Irish American Social Clubs were historically made up almost entirely of men.  Social Clubs aren't new to outside world but are the "new" kids on the block in terms of the MC world. What I've read and moreover "heard" is that Social Clubs as it pertains to the MC world came about because Ole Ladies, girls and hangarounds (not the ho persuasion) were already doing the cooking for either the members of their old mans club or events and  all were NOT old lady's or Property and wanted a distinction. How true it is that Social Clubs were "sanctioned" per se is still being debated. What I do know is Social Clubs are here and don't seem to be going away. Men, Male Social Clubs in a highly testosterone arena as the Motor Cycle Community is a big NO. If you want to be a member of a Social Club, do it outside of the community..

Before our Social Club founders understood the layered bureaucracy of motorcycle clubs, which is a project all to itself, they were skeptical when initially approached to form a SC. That may have been well founded skepticism as we were going to be a SC that was going to be "under" a traditional MC and to my understanding, "wasn't all too interested" in having a SC supporting them. The primary reason for the in trepidation was because MANY of the SC's "on the set" had a bad name.  Women who were no more than party girls who were friendly with too many Toms, lots of Dicks and even some Harry's gave the SC general population a bad name. Thank goodness, a few members of our brother MC, one in particular, had a vision of the SC becoming an arm to an expanding body but, he had to get his brothers to see and catch the same vision. After a few lively debates, it was agreed that the SC would be formed. The officers were already in place and members invited to join. I won't bore you with details of the initial meeting between the MC and the SC but suffice it to say is, a number of years later, it appears to be a match made in heaven.

For people who aren't aware, our SC functions with our own officers, bylaws, code of conduct etc. We have our own treasury and our own annual event. We however are very MUCH what a wife would (should) be to a husband; in this case our brother MC. If you're familiar with the term, we are a helpmeet. We do the "cooking, cleaning and ironing" so to speak. We provide food for their functions and auxiliary help as well as support in all their endeavors. We initiate and organize the charitable and civic works. Like any true marriage, we each know "our place" and while the MC is our husband we do have a voting voice on issues and topics brought to the table. Yes, we are obedient "wives" but we understand, respect and adhere to the power and position we hold within our place in the pecking order of the MC community and with our club specifically.

We make sure rules are followed in particular the "no fraternization" policy.  Let's be real, men are men and women are women so I'm sure cookies have been crumbled in the cookie jar. If discovered, fines are in place. We have never had an issue which with discourse as it relates to men/women issues. We are truly a family.

Lest I have you believe that our brother MC could not function without us, I'd like to further clarify that they were doing just fine before we strolled our happy asses along. In other words, their lane was doing just fine without us. They agreed to bring us on board "their ride" and in doing so we always make it a point as a SC to "know our lane."  We are a true social club. Why are we true? Well, we're attached to an MC. There should be NO independent Social Clubs running around. Yep I said it. Who the hell you gonna call when some shit goes down? And shit always goes down. We're a true Social Club because we drive in OUR lane. We are NOT the MC nor do we act like we ARE the MC. Just like any good "wife", we are a true Social Club because we understand that a house is just that until a woman comes to make it a home (thanks Sincere :). STOP. PAUSE. Traditionalist stand-down and hold your fire. There are certain qualities that your ole lady brings to the relationship that make you stronger as a couple as opposed to by yourself. That's what we bring to the table. We enhance what was already a very strong MC by knowing our place and excelling at what we do and how we do it. We do this by neither being an ole lady nor a house mama. The women in our social club were all friends from different walks of life who were brought together by our founders throughout their various walks.

The first event we attend as the newly formed SC under our MC was a trophy party (Preacha has covered those).

What the hell? Meat market was my first assessment. By meat market I mean I stand and watch everything before I move or speak and what I saw was some men who clearly saw women solely as objects. If there was respect given to women, it was bestowed, grudgingly by some, upon women who rode. All the other women at best were background noise. At the beginning, we all didn't fully understand our purpose with our brother MC, but as we continued to grow as an SC, I understood more and more how crucial knowing MC history is.  As I moved on and began to gain MC history and knowledge and an acute understanding of it, I knew why many SC's (plus the other C's) were either only tolerated or flat out ignored by some MC's.

We have SC's running around as independent entities within the MC community looking for respectability though they came into the game as back mattresses professionals. Worse, they see their respect being achieved by them simply rocking a vest. Wearing a vest but not addressing the behavior of those particular ladies leaves them acting as SC's whose idea of helping is unzipping the pants of MC's. SC's that think they are MC's (wtf on the 3 piece's and pics of bikes on their vest) are violating so many protocols that they don't realize the level of disdain they breed in any biker who knows a smidgen about MC history and lives by those old school protocols. 

If what I described isn't your SC, that portion of the blog wasn't for you.

If you see your SC in the previous description, cease and desist immediately. The flip side is I've seen and know many SC's who are civic minded, community focused and who are an asset to their MC and community as a whole. Those Social Clubs who carry themselves with the highest regard at all times and I'm honored to work with and support. Although, I've been told by my MC friends whom I am close and share daily conversations about all things MC that I am not SC friendly.  I assume it's because when the conversations come up and the harsh realities of how they see some SC's, I'm generally in agreement with many of their views. I'm not easily offended so if you're telling the truth, tell the truth. However, I will and have defended those ladies in SC's who move and flourish in their (our) lanes. My SC is very concerned with our public image and we work hard to maintain a positive image privately and in the community. We're all adults and in a social atmosphere have a good time but we do frown upon, public drunkenness, lewd behavior, etc. How is that relative you say? I have always said that a woman can't do what a man does and still be considered a lady. A man who beds everything moving is a stallion but a woman with the same tenacity would be labeled a ho. Keep it behind closed doors.

Allow me to take you back a few paragraphs. Our brother MC (any time I say "our" MC it refers to my brothers) consists of quite a few men (nice looking men) and our SC quite a few women (nice looking women) so I'm certain a line or 2 has been crossed. Has it ever come up? Has it ever been an issue? Have we ever had to have a meeting about it? The bullshit has never, not once disrupted our business and more importantly, their business. What I will tell you is that we LOVE our brothers and they LOVE us. We love them because they have honored us as their sister whom they will protect. They love us because without a doubt, they know they can depend on us, period. A happy home is a strong home. This has truly become a family that I'm proud to be a part of. They have us on whatever we need and they expect and get the same thing from us. Understood that they don't need us as women to protect them, that's their job for us.

Before someone says (you've probably been saying it) "Who gives her the right to even be talking to us?" I want to be clear that Preacha asked me to share my thoughts on my point of view on the SC world. The SC is for better or worse, part of that MC world now and so Preacha approached me asking for my uncensored thoughts on the matter. Like I explained to him (since he was and might very well remain unconvinced) how a functioning SC could be an asset to an MC I wanted to share.  Anyone who reads Sucka Free knows his traditionalist point of view on all things MC but also, when I was asked, he stressed to me the point of Sucka Free is to learn and exchange ideas with the big picture being a deeper understanding between the segmented communities with the MC world.

Ladies (I can't even address you male Social Clubs), you have to get your minds right and you have to drive in your lane. I have holes inside my cheek where I've had to bite and cut my words when addressing our brother MC on issues and other MC's, because hello, “it wasn't my lane”.  Know that my brothers don't require us to sit in the corner pretty with no thoughts or opinions but also know, we know our lanes.  I won't even go into my reaction when I was new in the community and saw Property Patches for the first time. (*mofos, what?!)  As I learned more and more, I see where it was/is a necessary precaution and preventative violence measure. My SC is primarily made up of "seasoned" women who basically are women who understand a spirit of servitude.  Most grown women understand that it’s a position of power, not submission.

I said servitude. There is honor in that.We serve each other and our brothers and therefore the purpose is achieved. Again, a happy home is a strong functioning home. 1% and Outlaws, respectfully, I know we can never be a part of your world. I respect that and leave that alone because I do know when to be quiet. Those who may have room for us though, make sure it's a group of WOMEN, not girls, who understand and honor themselves as women who can and will add value to the bigger picture.

As my knowledge has increased and continues to grow, I see what once was will continue to be, but before it can flourish again (MC) a reckoning has to happen.

Some children learn by watching their brothers or sisters get their asses beat and some learn by GETTING their asses beat. Asses gotta get beat but it's not the SC's. Traditionalists don’t give a fuck about Social Clubs. It's the SUCKA MC's who are in-line for the CTJM  (Coming To Jesus Meetings) ass whuppins. I used to be one of those kids getting the beating. Now I have good enough sense to know seeing is believing and am over in my lane. If I sound a little "mannish" in my speech and thinking, it's because it's true. I'm all woman who likes men but I swear if I were a man, I have no doubt I'd think how men think. It's not quite, "we don't need your ass" but more "come hang these drapes up and sit pretty". BUT, I'd hope I'd be able to embrace the right group of women who stood for the things I would and who honestly, knew their roles. Let's be clear in understanding that there are roles and many roles ARE gender based.

I'm not sure if this is what Preacha had in mind when he asked me to write this but hell; don't ask me if you don't want to know what I'm thinking.

Did I mention some of my SC rides? On our OWN 2's? Yeah, but in our own damn lanes