Motorcycle clubs evoke friendship and freedom, yet remain largely male and white. Showcasing women and women of color united by their love of motorcycling challenges these gender and racial barriers. Told by Black and Brown filmmakers, our story brings visibility to both sides of the camera.

THE STORY
WOMEN WHO RIDE is a first-ever short documentary glimpse into the sisterhood that comprises D’Vious Wayz Motorcycle Club, Oakland’s first Black all-women motorcycle club. Founded over 20 years ago, these 14 women are united by their signature royal blue and lime green colors, and the rare sense of freedom and camaraderie that comes from riding together on open roads. 

 

At the center of D’Vious Wayz MC and WOMEN WHO RIDE is Tish Edwards, the club’s no-nonsense yet motherly Founder and President. Raised in Berkeley in the time of the Black Panther Party’s teen program, Tish is a retired full-time caregiver for her quadriplegic son. She was introduced to motorcycles in the 1970s by a member of the Oakland Backstabbers MC and fell in love with bikes. Tish wanted to ride, but at that time women were only allowed to join the adjacent social clubs. After years of waiting for the all-male clubs to change their bylaws, in 2000 Tish and 19 other women came together to form D’Vious Wayz MC — and paved the way for female motorcycle clubs in the Bay Area. The other members of D’Vious Wayz MC similarly juggle numerous personal and familial responsibilities, in addition to maintaining the club’s status within their larger motorcycle club association. The club cannot thrive without consistent membership, and excitement and membership grows when the club is able to be together.

 

 

2020 was supposed to be a year of celebration and renewal. The 20th anniversary was to be a huge block party to celebrate the club and bring the entire Bay Area motorcycle community together. It would breathe a beautiful mix of nostalgia and new energy into the group and excite new potential members. But on March 15th, the CDC announced that until future notice, large groups are prohibited from gathering in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the group to permanently postpone their celebration and further limit their ability to come together as a club... 

STYLE & THEMES
WOMEN WHO RIDE will chronicle the formation of D’Vious Wayz and immerse the audience in their present-day joys and struggles of being a part of this sisterhood. The film will showcase strong women riding through California landscapes and these intimate moments with Tish and the members of D’Vious Wayz MC. Bike repairs in garages, parties, and house meetings where jokes and ensuing laughter demonstrate a close-knit group of women bonded by their passion for motorcycles — and one another — in this monumental year of the club’s existence. WOMEN WHO RIDE will draw cinematic inspiration from the landscapes and open roads similar to those in THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES, thrilling city scenes like in 12 O’CLOCK BOYS, and moments of Black joy seen in HALE COUNTY, THIS MORNING THIS EVENING. 

 

What does it mean to bring women together and be a part of a sisterhood and thrive? How do you look fear in the face and radically challenge gender norms? How do women find balance while pursuing hobbies they love? What does it mean to be a matriarch? We want audiences to come away from WOMEN WHO RIDE feeling empowered by the film’s relatable moments and the compelling imagery of women — particularly Black women — on motorcycles, touched by the community they have created and their commitment to one another.

 

WHAT ABOUT COVID-19?

Initially this film focused on D’Vious Wayz's anniversary party. While we had to pause filming for some time due to shelter-in-place orders, we were able to solidify trust and rapport with the club's members virtually during this time. This turned out to be a a silver lining that led us to a more dynamic story about the club, the women in it, and what D'Vious Wayz MC means to them. Our small crew is masked for every shoot, as are our subjects when they are not being filmed. In addition to mask-wearing and having the smallest-possible crew size, we will sanitize our equipment before and after every use. Crew and subjects are also regularly tested to ensure everyone's safety. 

 

WHY US AND WHY NOW?
WOMEN WHO RIDE is a real-life story of Black women directed, produced, shot, edited, and composed by Black women (and men). In addition to being a Black-biracial identifying Oakland-based filmmaker, creator Jessica Jones has a personal connection to the subject of motorcycling. Although she doesn’t ride motorcycles herself, she became interested in this subject after her older sister introduced her to the motorcycle community in Memphis (where their father grew up and much of their family live). It got Jessica curious about Oakland’s riding community and ultimately led her to Tish and D’Vious Wayz MC.

 

WOMEN WHO RIDE is a never-before-seen slice of Bay Area, Black, and motorcycle history encompassed by the real-life story of D’Vious Wayz MC and its members. The Bay Area has a rich history rooted in motorcycles and Black motorcycle communities, like the globally-recognized East Bay Dragons MC, that has yet to be immortalized onscreen. Although there is growing visibility for female and BIPOC motorcycle club and enthusiasts through social media, such communities have yet to receive dedicated and intimate portrayals in the cinematic realm. According to a 2016 Business Insider article, women account for 14% of all U.S. motorcycle owners. Yet the coverage of female motorcycle clubs is limited - and even less so for Black women. We as creators of WOMEN WHO RIDE are filling this void by immersing ourselves, and ultimately our viewers, into the lives of the remarkable Black women that comprise D’Vious Wayz MC. We want women and Black women everywhere who love motorcycles to come away from WOMEN WHO RIDE feeling affirmed and empowered in seeing their authentic selves — on and off their wheels — reflected onscreen. We also hope younger generations of girls and girls of color can watch this film and see motorcycling as an exciting hobby that can also offer them a sense of freedom, power, and community. 

 

As the future of D'Vious Wayz MC remains financially and physically uncertain due to the impact of the pandemic on its members’ lives, it is imperative not only that the club’s story be immortalized now but that they receive the anniversary celebration and love they deserve from their Bay Area and motorcycle communities through WOMEN WHO RIDE.

By supporting our campaign, you are providing our small and mighty filmmaking team with the necessary resources to document the lives of Tish and her fellow D’Vious Wayz MC members with the safety and integrity of subjects and of crew top-of-mind. Whether you love motorcycles or uplifting Black women — or both — you are fueling our efforts to bring a never-before-told true story of Black sisterhood to the movie-going masses.