There are many things that you can do within the game Second Life.  After some encouragement from a friend I decided to join a motorcycle club (MC). For 5 weeks I prospected to become a member of the Illryderz motorcycle club.  Prospecting wasn’t very difficult and at times proved to be extremely fun. I had gotten to know some great people, one of which is the feisty fashionista En Ch! This sisters riding skills are impressive; moreover her in game combat skills are superior! The first time I had ever tried riding a motorcycle within Second Life was during the prospecting process. At first, I found the bikes to be hard to control. I was not a fan of using the arrow keys to control my bike! I then tried hooking up my Xbox controller, thinking that this would make it easier – WRONG! I was less coordinated using the controller to ride the bike than I was with the arrow keys! Eventually I had gotten use to using the arrows to ride my bike. Currently, I can comfortably ride my bike in fourth gear. On the last day of prospecting each prospect had to choose which group they would be joining within the IRMC.  Originally I had decided to join DBD, but at the very last second I had decided to go with joining the First Ladyz.

Why the First Ladyz?

Many times we as women are doubted when it comes to leadership and running a group in an orderly fashion.  Black women are especially expected to fail when it comes to having a tightknit group that runs effectively, efficiently, and is internally drama free.  Currently the First Ladyz are composed of all African American women.  Moreover, majority of the group is college educated. Some of us have post baccalaureate degrees.  The meetings are run in such a way that SL sororities would be envious. Honestly, the meetings closely model real life organizations, it’s clear that someone has basic knowledge about Roberts’s rules of Order.  The group is very active.  After only a few minutes you can tell that the members enjoy spending time with one another.  Most of all, the women enjoy riding motorcycles!

Fearless, African-American motorcycling pioneer Bessie B. Stringfield drove across the United States eight times during the 1930’s. She dared to drive through the Deep South alone, during a period of severe racial prejudice and inequality. Reporters called her the “Negro Motorcycle Queen” and later the “Motorcycle Queen of Miami.” Her love for motorcycles started at a very young age. She dismissed the then popular notion that “good girls do not ride bikes”. During World War II she served as a motorcycle dispatch rider for the United States military. Stringfield was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002.  The award bestowed by the American Motorcyclist Association for ‘Superior Achievement by a Female Motorcyclist’ is named in her honor.

Not only do some First Ladyz enjoy riding motorcycles virtually, some are motorcycle enthusiast in real life. As an organization we strive to have the same courage, determination, and wisdom as the triumphant Bessie B. Stringfield.