East Bay Dragons facts for kids
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| Founded | 1959 |
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| Founder | Tobie Gene Levingston |
| Founded at | Oakland, California |
| Type | Outlaw motorcycle club |
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Region
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California |
The East Bay Dragons MC is a special motorcycle club from Oakland, California. It was started in 1959 by Tobie Gene Levingston, who passed away in July 2020. This club is unique because all its members are Black men, and they all ride Harley Davidson motorcycles. They are known as an "outlaw motorcycle club," which means they operate outside the usual rules of other motorcycle groups, but they are also very involved in their community.
Contents
History of the East Bay Dragons
How the Club Started with Cars
Tobie Gene Levingston first created a car club in 1955. He had just moved to Oakland from Louisiana. His main goal was to give his younger brother and his friends something positive to do, keeping them away from trouble on the streets of Oakland.
The car club officially became known as the "Dragons Car Club" in 1958. A member named Joe Louis added "East Bay" to the name to show where they were from. By 1959, the East Bay Dragons car club was known to the Oakland Police Department. They sometimes got into fights with other groups from East and West Oakland. One time, at a party, a fight broke out, and a member accidentally drove his car into the building!
Becoming a Motorcycle Club
Because of constant attention from the police, Tobie Gene Levingston thought about ending the car club. But his good friend Sonny Barger suggested a change. He thought they should switch from cars to motorcycles. Bikes were less noticeable, easier to take care of, and cheaper to fix.
So, in 1959, the East Bay Dragons officially became a motorcycle club. It was also hard to keep a car club going because many families in their community could only afford one car. Club members often had to wait until weekends or late at night to use the family car. Motorcycles were much more practical because they weren't shared by the whole family.
In 1959, it was difficult for Black customers to buy new motorcycles from dealerships in the Bay Area. So, all the original members had to buy used bikes. This was also much cheaper; a new bike cost around $500, but a used Harley Davidson could be bought for as little as $30.
Before the East Bay Dragons, the only other Black motorcycle club in the Bay Area was the Frisco Rattlers MC, based in Fillmore. The East Bay Dragons are one of the oldest surviving Black motorcycle clubs in California. Other old clubs include the Chosen Few MC and the Los Angeles Defiant Ones MC (started in 1957). The East Bay Dragons, LA Defiant Ones, and Outcast MC (started in 1969) are the oldest Black motorcycle clubs that require members to ride only American-made motorcycles.
Community Involvement and Support
Working with the Black Panther Party
Sometimes, law enforcement would confuse the Black Panthers with the East Bay Dragons Motorcycle Club. In the spring of 1967, East Bay Dragons member Joe Louis opened a restaurant called Papa Joe’s Soul Food. It was very close to the Dragons' clubhouse. The Black Panthers' first headquarters was also just a few blocks away. The Black Panthers' founders, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, often ate at Joe’s restaurant.
The East Bay Dragons already had a strong presence in East Oakland. When the Black Panthers were just starting, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale asked the East Bay Dragons for ideas and support. When Huey P. Newton was arrested in 1967, many Dragons members went to "Free Huey" rallies at De Fremery Park. Many members would attend weekend rallies to show off their bikes and listen to speeches from important leaders of the Black Power movement. Because these two groups supported each other, some Black Panthers even joined the East Bay Dragons after the Black Panthers ended.
Helping the Community
The East Bay Dragons have a long history of helping their community. They have supported many local charities. For example, they have ridden their bikes to raise awareness for breast cancer, AIDS, and violence.
- Every Labor Day Weekend in September, they host big block parties at their clubhouse. They use the money raised to buy school supplies and gift cards for families in East Oakland. This helps families buy school clothes and supplies for their children.
- Every November, they hold an annual turkey drive for Thanksgiving. They provide turkeys and other food to families who need help.
- During the Christmas season, they organize a toy drive. They deliver toys to Oakland children on their bikes, often dressed as Santa Claus.
Golden State Warriors Celebration
The East Bay Dragons were part of the 2015 victory parade in downtown Oakland. This parade celebrated the Golden State Warriors winning the 2015 NBA Championship.
Music Connections
Oakland rapper Richie Rich is a long-time member of the East Bay Dragons. He has shown the club in many of his music videos.
Club Symbols and Colors
The East Bay Dragons have a special symbol, called an insignia. It's a large square patch. On it, the club's name is written in red letters over a yellow background. There's also a green dragon logo.
On their vests, called "cuts," they wear two patches at the bottom that show their territory. One rectangular patch says "Oakland" in red text on a yellow background. Below it, another rectangular patch says "California" in red text on a yellow background.
The main colors of the East Bay Dragons are red and gold. Their club name is shown in red text on a yellow background, similar to the Bandidos Motorcycle Club and Flaming Knights Motorcycle Club. However, the Dragons are not connected to these other clubs. The East Bay Dragons were actually founded before both of them.
What Makes Them Different
Motorcycle Drill Teams
Before 1959, most Black motorcycle clubs were "Drill Teams." These teams were often made up of World War II veterans. They would perform amazing group routines, doing stunts and difficult maneuvers. They would weave their bikes through cones and around other motorcyclists. Unlike other African-American motorcycle clubs of that time, which rode large, fancy touring bikes, the East Bay Dragons rode choppers. Choppers are motorcycles that have been customized, often with extended front forks and raised handlebars.
Club Growth and Rules
Since they became a motorcycle club, the East Bay Dragons have chosen not to open many chapters in different places. They have only one chapter, and they have stayed at the same clubhouse in East Oakland for over 45 years.
Unlike most motorcycle clubs, the East Bay Dragons do not have a long "prospect" or "probation" period for new members. They believe you are either a member or you are not. People who are thinking about joining and spend time with the club are called "rookies" by the members. They are carefully checked out before the club votes them in as full members.
Patches and Territory
In the 1940s and 1950s, the main patch and logo of most motorcycle clubs were round or oval. But car clubs often used square or rectangular patches. Because the East Bay Dragons started as a car club, they kept their square-shaped patch even after they became a motorcycle club.
Also, unlike many other motorcycle clubs, the East Bay Dragons do not claim an entire state as their territory by wearing a curved bottom patch, called a "rocker." Their bottom patches, which show their territory, are rectangular, not curved.
Cultural Influence
Kurt Sutter, the creator of the TV show Sons of Anarchy, has said that a fictional motorcycle club in his show, called The Grim Bastards, was inspired by the East Bay Dragons. He was especially interested in their relationship with the Hells Angels. This relationship helped them overcome racial barriers in the 1960s and 1970s. The 1DOWNMC, an actual Black American motorcycle club, played the Grim Bastards in the show.
