Bessie was a Black women born in 1911. At age 16 she taught herself to ride her first motorcycle, a 1928 Indian Scout! When she turned 19, in 1930, she became the first African-American woman to make a solo motorcycle trip across the United States! She eventually made 7 more long-distance rides, eventually traveling through all 48 of the lower states, Brazil, Haiti and even Europe! How did she afford this? Well, she earned money performing motorcycle stunts in carnival shows!!! Unfortunately, she was often refused accommodations on her travels due to her skin color. Or when entering flat track races, they would ultimately refuse to give her her winnings due to her sex.
When World War II began, Bessie trained to be a civilian courier to the US Army. She would carry and deliver documents between army bases while riding her blue 61 cubic inch Harley-Davidson. She crossed the United States 8 times while working for the Army, but was regularly faced with racism on her travels.
After the war, she moved to Miami, Florida. Unfortunately she was regularly pulled over an harassed by the police, being told Black women are not allowed to ride bikes. That didn’t stop Bessie though, she confronted the Police Captain, who then had her prove her riding abilities to him at a local park. She of course blew them all away, gaining the captain’s approval and freedom to ride about Florida with no trouble. She continued to show off her skills at motorcycle shows, and the local press dubbed her “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami”.
In 1993, Bessie passed away of a heart condition, but had been seen riding right up until the time of her death. She was a beyond incredible women, living in a time of immense oppression, but refusing to let it keep her down. In 2002, the American Motorcycle Association inducted Bessie into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, recognizing her as a trailblazer, for defying traditional roles imposed on her by society!
What a women! I would loved to have had the opportunity to have known her. However, Ann Ferrar, not only met Bessie, but had the wonderful honor or being her friend, fellow rider and protégé. Ann is a non-fiction author, who Bessie personally tasked with keeping her memory alive. And that she did, writing about her in her book “Hear Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles and the Rapture of the Road”. Though you can also read a good portion of Bessie’s story, by Ann, on BessieStringfieldBook.com
I have only shared a bit about this amazing women, and am currently reading through all of Ann Ferrar’s book. I highly recommend looking more into Bessie as she truly is the embodiment of strength and perseverance.
I’m neither black nor a woman (not that either of those things should need to be said). I am an avid motorcyclist and freelance moto-writer, and I find Bessie’s story, and in particular her tenacity and courage, to be inspiring.
Hi John, thank you so much for your comment! Bessie’s story is absolutely inspiring and I wanted to help share it as best I could. Do you post your moto-writings somewhere? I’d love to read them!