Bessie B. Stringfield, often known as “BB,” was the primary Black girl to finish eight long-distance solo excursions throughout america on a bike. Within the Thirties, she bravely rode by areas infamous for racial violence and prejudice, incomes the nickname “The Negro Motorbike Queen.”
Her travels prolonged past the U.S. to Brazil, Haiti, and components of Europe. Remarkably, she selected her subsequent locations by tossing a penny on a map. Using by the Jim Crow South, the place secure lodging was typically unavailable to her, BB would typically sleep on her bike, utilizing a blanket for consolation.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Stringfield moved to America as a toddler and was given up for adoption. On the age of 16, her Irish adoptive mom, whose identify she was not allowed to say, gifted her a bike—a 1928 Indian Scout. It was stated that her adoptive mom gave her something she desired, supplied she prayed to “the person upstairs” first. This bike ignited BB’s ardour, and he or she finally owned 27 bikes over her lifetime. BB relied on her religion in God for defense throughout her travels, calling her coin-selected journeys “penny excursions.”
Throughout World Warfare II, Stringfield served as a civilian bike dispatch rider for the U.S. Military, delivering important paperwork between navy bases. She was the one girl—and certain the one African American—in her unit. Her petite stature, at 5 toes 3 inches, and her outspoken nature disarmed potential threats as she courageously navigated harmful territories. Regardless of her small body, her boldness and religion carried her by difficult conditions.
In her 40s, Stringfield settled in Miami after experiencing six marriages and divorces. She secretly entered bike racing contests disguised as a person, solely to disclose her gender after profitable. Regardless of her victories, she was incessantly denied prize cash. Having misplaced three infants throughout her first marriage and by no means having extra kids, BB discovered pleasure performing in stunt reveals together with her canine. She grew to become often known as the “Motorbike Queen of Miami,” based the Iron Horse Motorbike Membership, and labored as a licensed sensible nurse.
Later in life, Stringfield confronted well being challenges as a consequence of an enlarged coronary heart. When her physician suggested her to cease using, she famously replied, “If I don’t journey, I gained’t dwell lengthy. And so I by no means did stop.” Her indomitable spirit and achievements have been acknowledged posthumously. In 2000, the American Motorbike Affiliation (AMA) established the Bessie Stringfield Award, honoring ladies who encourage others to take part in motorcycling. In 2002, she was inducted into the AMA Corridor of Fame. Stringfield handed away in 1993, abandoning a legacy of braveness and resilience that continues to encourage.
