Throughout her many years on earth and riding motorcycles, it is evident from those who were acquainted with her that Bessie Stringfield was a true force of nature. While this is not a tale about myself, as a female rider who only began riding after Stringfield had passed away, her story has been incredibly motivating for me.
I am aware that I am not the only one who feels this way, which is why it is crucial to continue passing on her legacy.
She accomplished what many women riders aspire to do: she lived life on her own terms and refused to let anyone dictate what she could or could not do. And if someone dared to say she couldn't, she simply went ahead and did it anyway.
Performing stunts to support herself? Serving as a dispatch rider for the Army during WWII? Riding the Wall of Death in the past? Yes, yes, and yes. And she did it all as a proud Black female rider, crisscrossing the US numerous times on her collection of Harleys during the era of Jim Crow. It is truly remarkable.
But that's not all. In the 1960s, when the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) did not permit women to be full members, Stringfield managed to establish her own officially recognized motorcycle club. In fact, this is one of the documents that you can view up close in the current exhibit. When I saw it in person, it truly took my breath away, and I am not exaggerating.
If you are wondering why there hasn't been a documentary about her yet, there actually has been. It is part of the reason why the upcoming Bessie Stringfield: Motorcycle Queen of Miami exhibition is set to open at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. During the production of that documentary (interview with some of the creative team in the link above), the filmmakers gained access to numerous photos, documents, and other items from Stringfield's estate, which will soon be on display at the Harley Museum.
Recently, I had the chance to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum Archives and talk to the archival team about the upcoming exhibit and Bessie's life. We will be sharing a video about that experience soon, as well as a more detailed post about it.
If you are interested in visiting the Bessie Stringfield: Motorcycle Queen of Miami exhibition at the Harley-Davidson Museum, it will officially open to the public on September 25, 2025. It will be housed in the Clubs & Competition Gallery for at least the next three years, so be sure to make time to see it if you can.
Keep an eye out for our behind-the-scenes feature on the Bessie Stringfield exhibition, coming soon to RideApart!