ROYAL TREATMENT
Event and film honor ‘The Motorcycle Queen of Miami’
An event that honors the legacy of Bessie Stringfield — the first African American woman to ride her motorcycle across the U.S. — and unites female motorcyclists has reached its final year. The Bessie Stringfield All Female Ride was founded in 2014 by Tameka Singleton. That year, there were only about six participants, but each year, the event grew and so did the route, expanding to Mississippi and throughout Florida.
The final event began Aug. 18 in Daytona Beach with a “Chat and Chew” that allowed participants to connect, followed by an awards ceremony later that evening. Kickstands were up early Thursday at the Clarion Inn Ormond Beach at Destination Daytona. The group made a stop in Fort Lauderdale so southern Florida participants could join the ride before heading to the Stadium Hotel in Miami. On Friday, a special recognition ceremony with State Representatives Felicia Robinson and James Bush III took place at Stringfield’s last known residence in Opa-locka.
About 300 women registered for this year’s event celebrating “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami,” who made her first of many cross-country treks at age 19 in 1930.
“A lot of history gets lost if no one ever brings it up again, and when we found out who Ms. Bessie was and what she had done for female riders ... with the solo rides that she made during the Jim Crow era, we thought it was important to keep her legacy alive,” said the event’s historian, Lynette Wigfall. “We just want to make sure that her history is preserved.”
The annual ride is ending after eight years — the same number of trips Stringfield made across the U.S. A new film will document the legacy of both the event and Stringfield.
“It makes Bessie’s story relevant to connect it with this amazing group of female riders who ride in her honor,” said film producer Diane FredelWeis. “Their reason for riding is very similar to the reason for making the film: to gain awareness of Ms. Stringfield’s achievements.”
A Miami Beach native, Fredel-Weis was familiar with Stringfield’s story but was perplexed that no film deeply covered the trailblazer’s story. So Fredel-Weis set out to detail Stringfield’s life in a documentary.
“There’s no better time to tell her story and to let people know about her and her accomplishments and her passion and her courage,” Fredel-Weis said.
With some filming happening in Central Florida, Fredel-Weis enlisted help from Valencia College’s film program.
“One of the true joys of this medium is the fact that it is a collaborative art form and when the stars line up, opportunities to collaborate on meaningful projects are so rewarding,” Eric Fleming, professor and program chair of film production at Valencia College, wrote in an email. “The subject of the doc, the life of Bessie Stringfield, is perfect for our film program’s participation . ... We make great efforts to celebrate diverse narratives and empower diverse voices in cinema.”
Valencia has donated gear and equipment to the production. Students and recent graduates of the college’s film program are also assisting with the documentary.
“I’m just so happy that we can work together on this production and give students the experience of being involved in a real production,” Fredel-Weis.
Wigfall, who was interviewed for the film, is excited for people outside of the motorcycle community to learn more about Stringfield.
“I think that her legacy is important no matter what walk of life you are. I don’t think she’s only for motorcycle riders,” Wigfall said. “I think just to show how empowered women are is a good thing, and that this helps to empower future generations of women.”
Fredel-Weis hopes to complete the documentary next year in time to submit it to the film festival circuit. For more information about the ride, go to bessiestring fieldallfemaleride.com.