She was a badass on a bike! Bessie Stringfield criss-crossed America eight times on the back of her motorcycle. But the roads were rough, and it was a dangerous time to be a Black woman riding solo.
It was the Jim Crow era, so when Stringfield wasn't performing stunts in carnival shows, things frequently got real on the road. She had to sleep on her motorcycle many nights after hotels refused to accommodate her, and once, a racist ran her off the road into a ditch, knocking her from her bike!
But she never stayed down too long. Stringfield was riding for the love of it, but she knew it was all much bigger than her. Today, many Black women follow in the “Motorcycle Queen's” tracks.
There's even a Bessie Stringfield all-women ride done in her honor every year. The collective also hosts educational classes to teach and empower young girls with a love of motorcycling.
Despite how white supremacy tries to put roadblocks on our paths, like Bessie Stringfield we can still live life on our own terms and create beautiful legacies that inspire the next generation!