Staff Report

MIAMI, Fla. – With miles of road traveled in honor of Bessie Stringfield through dedicated rides all over the United States, 300 female motorcyclists are taking Florida by storm with an “All-Female Ride” starting in Daytona Beach to Fort Lauderdale, then Miami ending in Key West.

Stringfield was the first African American woman to ride a motorcycle solo across the country in 1930 at the age of 19.

Stringfield spent the last years of her life in Opa-Locka, Fla., where a ceremony will be held in her honor on Friday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. at her last known residence, 2400 NW 152nd Ter., and will feature special recognitions by State Reps. Felicia Robinson and James Bush III.

Tameka “Kurvez” Singleton is the founder and organizer of the Bessie Stringfield All Female Ride.

DAYTONA TO THE KEYS 

The ride was set to start in Daytona Beach with a “Chat and Chew” Meet and Greet to on Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Saint and Sinners Pub.

On Thursday, riders will then head down to Fort Lauderdale for a dedication stop at the Wawa gas station and stop in Miami to attend the ceremony that will be held the following morning.

Bea Hines, the first African American female reporter for The Miami Herald, is slated to attend and be recognized along with elected officials at the Opa Locka street dedication ceremony for the Motorcycle Queen of Miami.

SHE DID, WE DO

“My vision in the creation of this ride embodied all of Bessie’s accomplishments,” said organizer.

“She was a cross-country rider, we crossed the country. She rode the lower 48 states, we rode the 48 states. Bessie had 27 Harley-Davidson motorcycles. We honored Bessie in Milwaukee at the Harley-Davidson Museum with a dedication.”

Singleton further stated that the “ride was created to promote her legacy and encourage female bikers to ride outside of their comfort zone. Bessie is a legend and a pioneer and inspired so many to ‘Rise and Ride,’

Singleton stated. “Bessie will forever live on in our hearts and minds.”

“SUMMER OF BESSIE?” 

This historic ride will be filmed for a documentary about Stringfield helmed by Los Angeles producer Diane Fredel-Weis, a Miami native whose films have screened on Showtime and in film festivals worldwide; and Beth Hubbard, executive producer of the award-winning “Summer of Soul” documentary now in theaters, and producer of the upcoming CNN Films/HBO Max documentary about Arthur Ashe.

Along with a crew from Central Florida including producer Kim Dawson, and drone DP Mark Lynch (“Survivor”), members of the Valencia College Film Department headed by Eric Fleming will participate in helping film the ride.

“This will be the first substantial film about Bessie,” Fredel-Weis said. “The film, like this ride, is about gaining awareness of Bessie and her amazing achievements.”

For other information contact Brandyss Howard at brand2brandmarketing@gmail.com or 305-804-8071.