Black Women Ride Motorcycles Cross-Country to the March on Washington

“I am, after all, a free Black woman motorcycling across the country unimpeded—but I also believe it’s our job to make sure that dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare,” Porsche Taylor, Black Girls Ride founder.

The six women rode their motorcycles nearly 3,000 miles Cross-Country over four consecutive days, in the name of civil rights. The half dozen riders are members of Black Girls Ride, a movement founded by Porsche Taylor to expand female representation in motorsports.

Four riders originally engaged in the cross-country trek from California, to attend the March on Washington. The group originally left the west coast with four riders but two more joined along the road. Once in Washington, they’ll meet hundreds of other riders who’ve driven around the country.

Riding a bike, according to Black Girls Ride is all about finding joy on the open road, but these women are riding for something distinctive. Ridinga bike, according to Black Girls Ride is all about finding joy on the open road, but these women are riding for something distinctive. The ride is a manifestation against racism and in support of the movement against police brutality.

“After watching what happened to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others, it really stirred something up in us,” Porsche told Andrea Stanley, speaking from the road using a hands-free system that allows her to take calls from her helmet. “We knew we wanted to fight these injustices from the front line. I feel like I’m watching civil rights regress in this country and if we don’t stand up and speak up, we’ll be right back where we started.”

“It was like, whoa, this is a pretty big deal,” says Porsche. “My mind wanders back to the March on Washington 57 years ago when Dr. King stood in front of the crowd to give his speech about how he had a dream. I do believe we are a manifestation of that dream—I am, after all, a free Black woman motorcycling across the country unimpeded—but I also believe it’s our job to make sure that dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare.”