Lowriding During Quarantine

Prior to the heavily policing of our gente and their lowriders, the intersection of Story and King in the city of San Jose, California was a notorious location for late night cruises. These nights meant a lot to the community of SanJo as a great number of our veteranas and veteranos continue to reminisce on those times. And in the midst of COVID-19, the streets were further longing for the sound of hydros and oldies serenading the city’s skies. While many of our OG’s continue to take a trip down memory lane, our varrios have taken the initiative in bring the cultura back. As the weather heats up and our raza find ways to continue being in community, I have come to see that cruise nights are hitting the streets harder than ever before.

Homies like South Bay Visions have built the momentum in encouraging our gente to practice social distancing while enjoying the shine of the spokes and the rhythm of the hydros hopping up and down. Homies are told to stay in their ranflas and to not stop unless the gas has ran out. Stepping out of the car makes no sense as Nike Cortezs and Converse were completely in sync with the gas petal. And what’s the point of trying to hold a conversation when the sound systems are bumping Satana, Thee Midniters, and Rosie And The Originals.

This reviving of our varrios’ legacy and historical significance has encouraged nearby neighborhoods to do the same. The city of Salinas has followed the Silicon Valley’s footsteps by partnering with local car clubs to hold a cruise night against hunger. This cruise night lasted for hours as car clubs did what they are known for, organizing our communities and cruising low-and-slow. That same Saturday night, Downtown Hollister turned into a cruise strip for the first time in decades, bringing the town out of their garages and into the comfort of their classic cars.

While our communities find ways to bring our gente together during unprecedented times, it is importance to remember to remain physically distant and to wear our bandanna masks. And even though more and more cities are seemingly inviting of lowriders and cruise nights, let us not turn a blind eye to the police harassment still haunting our streets. ‘Though hard times remain, be sure to shoot a smile at each other through windshield of your candy-paint rides. And let us not forget, lowriding started off as a way to organize our communities and experience our definition of the American dream.