The Ms Miami Interview

Ms MIAMI - A Real Life Biker Boy (C)

A TRT 'On 2 Wheels' Exclusive Interview

By: "The Real" Jeff Stewart

As you can see this biker is no boy! I met Ms Ortiz, AKA Ms. MIAMI, the Latin Jefe (Boss) back in December 2008. This dude I’d ridden with a couple of times asked me if a young lady he knew could roll with me and the fella’s the next time went riding. She was somewhat new to the area, and was looking for bikers to cut corners with. Itold him no problem, but really I was
thinking I hope this chick can keep up! The day Dee (her nickname) and I met she went riding with my crew on her two month old Suzuki GSXR 750. What an introduction it turned out to be; she saw first hand me falling off my Busa – I crashed that day and she was right behind me. I thought that was the last we’d seen of her. My bike was in pieces and blood all over my jeans and boots from a hole in my knee, but she didn’t flinch. Oh yeah by the way, she can handle that Gixxer! She kept in touch while my bike was in the shop and she’s been one of the
crew every since. Dee is sorta quiet and laid back but also very interesting when she did open up. So I asked her if I could interview her for TRT’s ‘ON 2 WHEELS’ and to my surprise she said ‘cool’. Check her out . .

The Real Deal

The obvious first question is how long have you been riding?
“I’ve been riding for roughly 2 yrs now minus a 15 month deployment by the Army.”
How & when did you develop an interest in motorcycling?
“I think I developed an interest at a very early age when my aunt took me on the back of her bike when I was 11. I just loved the adrenaline rush of being on the road so freely. It wasn’t till about 11 yrs later that that interest resurfaced and I got more serious about actually getting one.”
How does your man (sorry fella’s!) feel about you riding, especially since he doesn’t own a bike?
“He’s cool with it. He actually wants to get one too one day, but times are tough and he’s in school. He’s more into the chopper scene though but it’s all good. I can’t hold that against him!”:D

You’re in the Army – What made you decide to enlist, how long have you been in, and how do your Army buddies and coworkers react when they find out you ride a sport bike?
“I joined because I thought that this was the life for me. I wasn’t going
to college and I didn’t wanna work at (fast food) for the rest of my life. I’ve been in for 6 yrs so far. Most of my friends react the same way anyone else would react when they find out a female rides. They gimme that look like “really?” - “Yeah really!!!”

Is this your first bike?
“This is actually my second bike. My first was a Kawasaki ZZR600 and even though I loved riding, I wasn’t really feeling that bike. So I traded it out for my GSX-R 750 which I love to death. He’s my boo! Johnny Goodlove, that’s what I call him.” (Hmm – Johnny Goodlove? sounds kinda corny!)

Do you feel there are any advantages or disadvantages of being a female biker?
“I don’t think of myself as being at an advantage or disadvantage cuz I’m a chick. I make rookie mistakes jus like any other rider but that’s the best way to learn.”

You ride mostly with guys – is this by choice or is it difficult to find women to ride with?
“I’ve found it really difficult to find other female riders. Most of the ones I have ridden with ride like ‘lil’ girls. I’m not down with that. I like to gun it with the guys.”
Do you feel female bikers in general have to prove they can ride with the boyz?
“That seems to be the stigma, but guys have to prove themselves too. I’ve ridden with a few guys that ride like sissies so it’s nothing new to me.”

You have ridden with females before though – so which do you prefer, riding with the guys or the girls?
“Definitely the guys! They ride more my style. I don’t like to ride like a pansy ass, like I’ve seen a lot of women ride. I don’t like to generalize but it seems to be the case more often than not.”

You attended your first Atlantic Beach Bike Week (also known as Black Bike Week) in Myrtle Beach in May 2009 – How was that experience?
“It was interesting but I wish they would have had more biker shit to do. It was a good experience overall, though.”

Unfortunately you had a front row seat when I crashed my Busa. What was going through your mind at the time; that is, besides trying not to run over me?
“Yeah that was a crazy experience. I just kept thinking “did that really just happen?!?!” It was all too surreal. It’s kinda funny looking back at it now. You came down real funny, kinda like you were praying to God. Maybe he heard you!”

Any crashes, falls, or near misses of your own you want to confess too?
“Other than the occasionally dropping of the bike and getting cut off but idiot drivers, I’ve only fallen once. I don’t think it was really a big deal. I was coming up on a red light and I started slowing down. As I was braking I hit a puddle and hydroplaned. Not even one second later I was laid out on the road. I wasn’t going fast at all so I didn’t cause too much damage. My frame slider came right off and I cracked the fairing and part of the engine case. All I can remember thinking was my poor bike. I wasn’t even concerned about myself! That was on my old bike though, and I traded it in 2 days later. Guess it was a sign to get rid of it.”
You were involved in a high speed chase involving the cops and you got caught – tell us about that incident.
“That was a $7,500 (fines and legal fees) mistake I’ll never make again. I (was speeding and) basically just gunned it when I saw those flashing lights. Didn’t think they were gonna chase me but they did. I came up on a red light and didn’t wanna chance it so I turned into a residential are. I had a red visor and it was nighttime so I couldn’t see if they were still behind me. So I pulled into a driveway, hoping they’d ride right past me but that didn’t happen. A few seconds later they were arresting me. That’s an experience I’ll never forget!”
Was there any fallout, either on the job or at home from that incident?
“I was definitely labeled a rebel child for that incident. My unit treated me
like the world’s worst criminal but they couldn’t really do anything since I hadn’t been to court yet. They just banned me from driving on post and gave me 45 days restriction. I kept pushing my court date back till I deployed so that really pissed them off. Everyone pretty much forgot about it by the time we got back” (15 months later.)

Any advice for a female who’d like to own a sport bike but maybe is a little apprehensive, or just plain scared?
“If she’s scared already then she’s getting off on the wrong foot. This ain’t a sport for the faint of heart. I think every rider has to have respect for the road cuz mistakes are that much more dangerous for us, but as far as advice goes; just get on and ride out. All that fear will go right out the window once you start having fun.”


Editor’s Note:
Dee, 25, is an Information Systems Analyst for the Army. She was born and raised by her Colombian mom in Miami, FL, along with her 2 siblings. (Her father was also from Colombia.) After doing 15 months in Iraq for Uncle Sam, she is currently stationed at Ft Hunter in Savannah GA. All the sport bike riders here in the 912 that have ridden with Dee know and respect her abilities on a motorcycle. She attends the local bike nights and goes everywhere the crew goes. She gets teased just like everybody else and can dish it out as well. Her goal is to attend UTI and become a certified motorcycle mechanic, then open up her own shop in her hometown of Miami. She also wants to learn to ‘stunt’ and build a stunt bike. Don’t get it twisted though; Dee is a lady and all women. But when she’s riding with the crew she’s just one of the boyz. And that’s FOR REAL!!

* Ms Ortiz and the staff at TRT Publications do not advocate speeding and trying to evade law enforcement. Dee admits it was a mistake and encourages all riders to abide by the traffic law of your state or county.

***Post Script***
On August 20th, 2009 around 9PM Dee was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident while riding on I -516 in Savannah, GA. Paramedics arrived within minutes but were unable to revive her and she died at the scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

This copywrited material my not be used without the expressed or written consent of TRT Publications. For more information contact “The Real” Jeff Stewart at trtpub@gmail.com

RGIII: A For Real Brother

 Robert Griffin III and Fiance Robecca Liddicoat

The Real Jeff Stewart                                                  2/6/2013

     Much has been made of successful African American men dating and or marrying non African American women. The latest to make the news is Washington Redskins rookie sensation quarterback Robert Griffin III, known affectionately as RGIII. As a lifelong fan of my hometown Washington Redskins, the non football related attention thrust upon RGIII caught my attention. Rob Parker, a black sports journalist and former ESPN First Take morning show guest wondered aloud on First Take if RGIII is a “real brother or a cornball brother”. He said when he goes to DC this is the feedback that he receives - that black folk in the Nations Capital are questioning his blackness. He pointed to his white fiancé and the fact the RGIII votes republican as part of his argument. To the latter I say if the republicans are the party that protects the wealthy, RGIII IS WEALTHY. (Parker was suspended and later fired by ESPN for his comments – here's the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdQL4aRSjPI). In an article written by Michael H. Cottman for Black Americaweb.com (Black Women: Is RG3 down With Me?) he recalled a conversation he overheard at Texas Stadium before a Dallas Cowboys game.

“Why is RG3 dating a white girl?” one angry black woman asked her girlfriend. “I guess black women aren’t good enough for him.” “I’m just tired of it,” said another black woman.

     So are successful black men abandoning their black sisters for white women? Maybe. But I’m going to make the argument that more often than not, that may not be the case! Let’s take RGIII, who graduated from Baylor University, where he met his fiancé. Of the approximately 12,000 students who attend Baylor, 65% are white, 13% are Hispanic and 8% are black. 54% are female and 46% are male. So in terms of sheer numbers there are about 500 black women versus 6,500 white women at Baylor. For every 100 women RGIII passed in the hallways and on campus, only 8 were black. He didn’t necessarily have to seek out white women, they were just there. Conversely, he just didn’t see that many black women. Now of course it’s true if RGIII had gone to a historically black college or university, those numbers would have been reversed and then some and I’ll address that later in this article.

     Now let’s talk about successful black men in general. What was the most their common path to their success? What type of individuals and social and economic settings did this path lead him through? My point is, as these men climbed the ladder of success, the “air up there” becomes whiter. So once these men become successful and they look around for companionship, what do they now see in their more successful surroundings, black folks or white folks? So why is he now looking for companionship AFTER becoming successful anyway – because we all know a black woman doesn’t want ‘no broke ass man’. But all kidding aside I feel a big part of this has to do with choices and opportunity. As people become more successful, they have more choices at their disposal. So as black men become more educated, more socially and financially successful they too have more choices. The world is not so big anymore. Career paths, major colleges and universities, etc that were out of reach are now attainable. Sure RGIII could have gone too a Historically Black College. It would have been a bonanza for a Howard University or a Grambling University, where by the way Doug Williams, the only black QB to win a Super Bowl attended. The difference is how many white schools even offered Doug Williams a scholarship as compared to RGIII. RGIII had more choices. And Baylor’s games were televised. Their home opener in RGIII’s last season was on prime time ESPN.

     I have to talk about Housewives of Atlanta. Here you have black women who are married to or divorced from successful black athletes and businessman. And yet it’s nothing for one of them to get into an argument in public setting or social gathering, dressed in formal wear, talking about “I’ll beat that hoe ass”. Granted it is a reality show, a sometimes over dramatization of situations black men know to be a fact. So if there was an argument that successful black men have abandoned black women and seek out white women, the perception that black women can’t leave the hood mentality behind once they reach a certain level of success may be a reason. I’m just saying.

Keeping it Real from The Real Jeff Stewart 
Of course RGIII is a “real brother”. Or more importantly what we would want a real brother to be like. Within the sports world, RGIII is considered mature beyond his years and a leader from day one who was named a team captain as a rookie. You don’t really hear much about RGIII beyond sports, and that’s a good thing – that he’s NOT in the news. So people like the Rob Parker’s of the world try to dig up stuff. As a matter of fact I’d question if ROB PARKER was a cornball brother – look how he dresses. By the way, I don’t know where Rob Parker hangs out when he’s goes to DC, but I know it’s probably not with ‘real brothers’, because real brothers ain't questioning RGIII’s blackness (as Rob Parker alluded too).  All we want to know is will the man who takes our breath away on the field be ready to play next season after having knee surgery.

The Real Jeff Stewart

Now 54 years old black I was born and raised in SE Washington and latter bought a home in Upper Marlboro, a suburb of DC. I'm currently living in Savannah GA. I vote democrat, am married with a grown daughter and teenage son, with all the trapping of an upper middle class life style. My past relationships with women were always good and I’ve never had a women break my heart (although some may argue the reverse is not true). I have no animosity toward black women, and I’ve never dated a white woman. For more information or permission to reprint this copyrighted article please contact me: therealjeffstewart@gmail.com.