1/
“Dude. Is that old VW making your left leg bigger?”
Wait what?
Before my teammate pointed it out at cheer practice that day, I’d never noticed. But there it was. A defined, asymmetric bulging of my left quadriceps muscle compared to the right. It was undeniable.
Oh snap.
“Dude. Is that old VW making your left leg bigger?”
Wait what?
Before my teammate pointed it out at cheer practice that day, I’d never noticed. But there it was. A defined, asymmetric bulging of my left quadriceps muscle compared to the right. It was undeniable.
Oh snap.
2/
I was 16 and that ’69 VW Beetle was my 1st car. On the outside, it gleamed with a new candy-colored paint job. But on the inside? It was old and manual as manual could get. Only 4 speeds. And a clutch so tight that it called for herculean leg effort when shifting.
Whew.
I was 16 and that ’69 VW Beetle was my 1st car. On the outside, it gleamed with a new candy-colored paint job. But on the inside? It was old and manual as manual could get. Only 4 speeds. And a clutch so tight that it called for herculean leg effort when shifting.
Whew.
3/
In those first few months of driving it, my left thigh would throb in pain every day. But the more I rolled around southern California in my bug, the easier it became. And eventually, the musculature of my nondominant leg would bulk up and adapt to that clutch.
Yup.
In those first few months of driving it, my left thigh would throb in pain every day. But the more I rolled around southern California in my bug, the easier it became. And eventually, the musculature of my nondominant leg would bulk up and adapt to that clutch.
Yup.
4/
Want to see your body change? Keep doing something that redefines what your body thinks is normal. It will adapt to handle whatever you keep bringing.
Because that’s what bodies do.
Pretty clutch, right?
But not always.
Want to see your body change? Keep doing something that redefines what your body thinks is normal. It will adapt to handle whatever you keep bringing.
Because that’s what bodies do.
Pretty clutch, right?
But not always.
5/
That got me thinking.
If every person in a community for multiple generations had to step on tight clutches in manual old school VWs every single day? Their babies might eventually be born with the dense left leg muscles necessary for clutch-pushing.
You know, to adapt.
That got me thinking.
If every person in a community for multiple generations had to step on tight clutches in manual old school VWs every single day? Their babies might eventually be born with the dense left leg muscles necessary for clutch-pushing.
You know, to adapt.
6/
I live in Georgia. And I’m black. ~ 80% of COVID-19 hospitalizations here are in black people. Which is similar to the story being told all over the US.
Partly because of risk factors that are “more prevalent in blacks.”
Hypertension.
Diabetes.
Obesity.
Poverty.
I live in Georgia. And I’m black. ~ 80% of COVID-19 hospitalizations here are in black people. Which is similar to the story being told all over the US.
Partly because of risk factors that are “more prevalent in blacks.”
Hypertension.
Diabetes.
Obesity.
Poverty.
7/
The messaging comes to us in different ways. Some subtle. Some less so. We’re admonished to make better choices--if not for ourselves then for our big mamas, granddaddies, pop pops, and abuelas.
But here’s what I’m wondering:
When are we going to talk about the clutch?
The messaging comes to us in different ways. Some subtle. Some less so. We’re admonished to make better choices--if not for ourselves then for our big mamas, granddaddies, pop pops, and abuelas.
But here’s what I’m wondering:
When are we going to talk about the clutch?
8/
So check it:
Suppose your granddaddy came up in a time where clutches were so tight that certain folks would break their legs trying to push them. And HIS granddaddy before him lived in a time where it was legal for some folks' legs to get cut off altogether.
Just 'cause.
So check it:
Suppose your granddaddy came up in a time where clutches were so tight that certain folks would break their legs trying to push them. And HIS granddaddy before him lived in a time where it was legal for some folks' legs to get cut off altogether.
Just 'cause.
9/
Then YOUR daddy went to the dealership in the 60’s & 70’s and there was a big red line down the center of it. Automatic transmissions on one side. Manuals on the other.
Even if your daddy COULD afford an automatic, your family wasn’t eligible for one.
Just 'cause.
Then YOUR daddy went to the dealership in the 60’s & 70’s and there was a big red line down the center of it. Automatic transmissions on one side. Manuals on the other.
Even if your daddy COULD afford an automatic, your family wasn’t eligible for one.
Just 'cause.
10/
Over time, the big red line wasn’t as easy to see. But everyone knew where it was.
After a while, some folks whose granddaddies ALWAYS had automatic transmissions didn’t even know what a clutch was.
Secretly they’d wonder: “Why do they keep getting the same crappy cars?”
Over time, the big red line wasn’t as easy to see. But everyone knew where it was.
After a while, some folks whose granddaddies ALWAYS had automatic transmissions didn’t even know what a clutch was.
Secretly they’d wonder: “Why do they keep getting the same crappy cars?”
11/
Some said out loud: “Hey! Why won’t you just push harder, man?”
Some in your generation had the chance to get automatic transmissions. But they still had those hypertrophied muscles. An evolutionary relic of people who had to push harder clutches than others.
Yup.
Some said out loud: “Hey! Why won’t you just push harder, man?”
Some in your generation had the chance to get automatic transmissions. But they still had those hypertrophied muscles. An evolutionary relic of people who had to push harder clutches than others.
Yup.
12/
Most remained on the other side of the red line, though.
A lot can keep a clutch stiff or makes driving hard?
Stress.
Rust from lack of access to maintenance.
Someone taking a wrench and tightening it on purpose.
Or shackling legs to make sure you can’t drive at all.
Most remained on the other side of the red line, though.
A lot can keep a clutch stiff or makes driving hard?
Stress.
Rust from lack of access to maintenance.
Someone taking a wrench and tightening it on purpose.
Or shackling legs to make sure you can’t drive at all.
13/
So what do we do?
I’d say step 1 is realizing that if you’ve come from a long line of descendants with automatic transmissions? Or if you didn't but DO have ready access to them because of who you are? Know that you’re privileged.
Step 2 is to think about the clutch.
So what do we do?
I’d say step 1 is realizing that if you’ve come from a long line of descendants with automatic transmissions? Or if you didn't but DO have ready access to them because of who you are? Know that you’re privileged.
Step 2 is to think about the clutch.
14/
Ask yourself:
Why is the clutch so tight?
What can be done about that?
Especially after years and years of manual shifting for some people--and cruise control for others?
What would happen to me if I had no other option but a clutch like that?
Hmmm.
Ask yourself:
Why is the clutch so tight?
What can be done about that?
Especially after years and years of manual shifting for some people--and cruise control for others?
What would happen to me if I had no other option but a clutch like that?
Hmmm.
15/
While there may be some free will involved in clutch-pushing, I’m realizing that this isn’t the real narrative.
It isn’t.
We need our mechanics--many of whom are in the same lineage of those earlier mechanics--to pay attention. To the clutch, man.
The clutch.
While there may be some free will involved in clutch-pushing, I’m realizing that this isn’t the real narrative.
It isn’t.
We need our mechanics--many of whom are in the same lineage of those earlier mechanics--to pay attention. To the clutch, man.
The clutch.
16/
My heart feels sad when I see the #COVID statistics on the news.
A man steps to a microphone.
We are told to do better.
Push harder.
A tiny voice asks, “What’s wrong with us?”
"Nothing!" I say out loud.
I will drown out that narrative.
My heart feels sad when I see the #COVID statistics on the news.
A man steps to a microphone.
We are told to do better.
Push harder.
A tiny voice asks, “What’s wrong with us?”
"Nothing!" I say out loud.
I will drown out that narrative.
