Bikerumor Podcast Ep #036 – A Conversation with a Black Cyclist

FFS, Tyler! Read the headline to this article. Read it again. Do you see a problem?! I know that you’re trying to bring attention to a massive ongoing slight of American history, but language matters. Anyone who can see the photo can see that Christian is a cyclist, who is black. Humanize him in the headline by writing his name and not pointing him out like an object.

Agreed. The title is horrible and reminds of the poor language used to describe vehicle drive and cyclist crashes in article titles. It should same something like, “A conversation with Christian, a black cyclist, and cycling industry veteran.”

This was great. Really interesting and thank you for your honest words Christian.

Wealthy and/or white men in power are the root cause of almost all problems in the world. Show me a problem that wasn’t created by a wealthy and/or white male. As a white male I’m ashamed. I’d like to see the day when I’m not referred to as white or someone of a different color is referred to as black. The labels themselves aren’t at all descriptive of the respective skin tones. Let’s just make it illegal to refer to anyone other than a “person”, a “human”, or a “citizen”. I wont listen to the podcast on the basis that I object to people being referred to as black or as white or as coloured. But I do support those in power that create the problems to be dethroned and made examples of.

John A. You nailed it. The worst headlines for our community start with “a cyclist…”. There is no such thing. There are assholes on bikes. Criminals on bikes. But the act of riding a bike does not define a group of people. This should have been titled as you suggested “A conversation with Chrisitan Mckinnie, a black person who not only cycles, but works in the predominately white industry”. Otherwise the title current title appears to as a ‘token’ article to show this websites ‘support’ for black people Gimicy. I mean, I’m pretty sure it’s not meant to be that way. But that title sure makes it seam that way.

Just finished listing and enjoyed the episode. I share many of the same experiences Christian communicated both growing up in a predominately white community, being the only Black person on a ride, and working in IT related groups in corporate America. As for the title….

Part of the sentiment conveyed in the interview is that no matter what space he was walking into, bike shop, group ride, office meeting, etc. the first thing some people noticed was that he was Black. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s the reaction/feeling/comments that come next. Is he going to steal something? How’d he get that bike? Wonder if he is even qualified for this job? I’m a Black American man. When I’m on my bike that makes me a Black cyclist; dinner with my better half: a Black husband; playing with kids at the park, a Black father. You get the gist. Could a different title have been chosen? Sure. But at the end of the day it was a conversation with a Black cyclist about his experience of being Black on and around bikes.