#Bessie Stringfield

[mimi-0007]

Bessie Stringfield (born Betsy Beatrice White; 1911 or 1912 – February 16, 1993), also known as the "Motorcycle Queen of Miami", was an American motorcyclist who was the first African-American woman to ride across the United States solo, and was one of the few civilian motorcycle dispatch riders for the US Army during World War II. Credited with breaking down barriers for both women and African-American motorcyclists, Stringfield was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The award bestowed by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) for "Superior Achievement by a Female Motorcyclist" is named in her honor.

[profeminist]

Bessie Stringfield the "Motorcycle Queen Of Miami"

"At the age of 16 Stringfield taught herself to ride her first motorcycle, a 1928 Indian Scout. In 1930, at the age of 19, she commenced traveling across the United States. She made seven more long-distance trips in the US, and eventually rode through the 48 lower states, Europe, Brazil and Haiti. During this time, she earned money from performing motorcycle stunts in carnival shows. Due to her skin color, Stringfield was often denied accommodation while traveling, so she would sleep on her motorcycle at filling stations. Due to her sex, she was refused prizes in flat track races she entered.

In the 1950s Stringfield moved to Miami, Florida, where at first she was told "n*gger women are not allowed to ride motorcycles" by the local police. After repeatedly being pulled over and harassed by officers, she visited the police captain. They went to a nearby park to prove her riding abilities. She gained the captain's approval to ride and did not have any more trouble with the police."

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Stringfield

[mias-playground]

Bessie Stringfield (1912 – 1993), also known as the 'Motorcycle Queen of Miami'. Bessie at Wikipedia

[kaijuno]

When Miami police wouldn't let her get a motorcycle license in the early 1950s, Bessie Stringfield demanded a meeting with the department's white chief. He took her to a park and asked her to perform a number of difficult motorcycle tricks — and she nailed them all.⁠ ⁠ "From that day on, I didn't have any trouble from the police, and I got my license too." It didn’t take long for her to earn the nickname of "Motorcycle Queen Of Miami."

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

💙 YA Book Releases August 2024

🦇 Good afternoon, my bookish bats. I hope you have a good book, hot cuppa, and sweet snack within reach! No TBR is complete without a few young adult novels, and plenty were released in August! Here are a few YA releases to consider adding to your shelves.

❤️ Which of these are on your TBR?

✨ August 6 ✨ 💜 The Girl with No Reflection - Keshe Chow 💜 Ami - S. Jae-Jones 💜 Death at Morning House - Maureen Johnson 💜 Better Left Buried - Mary E. Roach 💜 Silent Sister - Megan Davidhizar 💜 Dance of the Starlit Sea - Kiana Krystle 💜 Witty in Pink - Erica George 💜 This Is Not a Dead Girl Story - Kate Sweeney 💜 A Family of Killers - Bryce Moore 💜 Medici Heist - Caitlin Schneiderhan 💜 This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings 💜 Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch - Codie Crowley

✨ August 13 ✨ ❤ The Dark We Know - Wen-yi Lee ❤ Zombie Apocalypse Running Club - Carrie Mac ❤ Return to Sender - Lauren Draper ❤ Ghostsmith - Nicki Pau Preto ❤ Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies - Abigail Hing Wen ❤ Under the Surface - Diana Urban ❤ Hemlock House - Katie Cotugno ❤ Holly Horror: The Longest Night - Michelle Jabès Corpora

✨ August 20 ✨ 💙 A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 💙 Love Requires Chocolate - Ravynn K. Stringfield 💙 Prince of the Palisades - Julian Winters 💙 Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo - Adam Cesare 💙 Something Like Right - H.D. Hunter 💙 Drown Me with Dreams - Gabi Burton 💙 Wisteria - Adalyn Grace 💙 My Salty Mary - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows 💙 House of Thorns - Isabel Strychacz

✨ August 27 ✨ ❤ Mysterious Ways - Wendy Wunder ❤ Everything We Never Had - Randy Ribay ❤ The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal - Ambika Vohra ❤ Libertad - Bessie Flores Zaldivar ❤ One House Left - Vincent Ralph ❤ Sync - Ellen Hopkins ❤ Fyrebirds - Kate J. Armstrong ❤ Practical Rules for Cursed Witches - Kayla Cottingham ❤ Our Shouts Echo - Jade Adia ❤ Don't Let It Break Your Heart - Maggie Horne ❤ The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry - Ransom Riggs ❤ With Love, Echo Park - Laura Taylor Namey ❤ The New Camelot - Robyn Schneider ❤ Come Out, Come Out - Natalie C. Parker

[alwaysbewoke]

In 1930 Bessie Stringfield became the first black woman to ride her motorcycle across the United States solo. Her feat was credited with breaking down barriers for both women and African-American motorcyclists. Born Betsy Leonora Ellis on February 9, 1911, in Kingston, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, she was the daughter of Maria Ellis, a domestic servant, and James Ferguson, her employer. Betsy and her parents migrated to Boston, Massachusetts but both died of smallpox. Orphaned when Betsy was five years old, she was adopted by a wealthy Irish woman who raised her as a Catholic. It is unclear when and why Bessie rather than Betsy became her given name. On Bessie’s sixteenth birthday, her mother gave her a motorcycle, “even though good girls didn’t ride motorcycles.” In 1927 Ellis climbed aboard her first bike, an Indian Scout. Although she had no prior knowledge of operating the controls, she started the motorcycle and easily mastered it. Between the 1930s and the early 1940s, Ellis made eight long-distance solo rides across the United States. During this time, she earned money from performing motorcycle stunts in carnival shows. Due to her skin color, Ellis was often denied accommodations while traveling and was forced to sleep on her motorcycle at gasoline stations. During World War II, Bessie Ellis worked for the U.S. Army as a civilian motorcycle dispatch rider, carrying documents between domestic bases on her Harley-Davidson bike. The only woman in her unit, she completed rigorous training maneuvers including learning how to weave a makeshift bridge from rope and tree limbs to cross swamps. Ellis regularly encountered racial prejudice while on the road. Once she was followed by a man in a pickup truck who deliberately ran her into a ditch, violently knocking her off her bike. In between her travels, Ellis wed and divorced six times. After she and her first husband were deeply saddened by the loss of three babies, she had no more children. Upon divorcing her third husband, Arthur Stringfield, she said, “He asked me to keep his name because I’d made it famous!” By the early 1950s, she ended her motorcycle odysseys across the United States and became a nurse.

[naimee]

black biker history is one of my like back of the brain hyperfixations. this virtual exhibition from the museum of uncut funk put me on to bessie stringfield!!

[houseofcatwic]

Bessie Stringfield (1911-1993) - Motorcycle Queen of Miami. First African-American woman to ride solo across the USA

[lboogie1906]

Bessie Stringfield (March 5, 1911 – February 16, 1993) became the first African American woman to ride her motorcycle across the US solo. Her feat was credited with breaking down barriers for both women and African-American motorcyclists.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she was the daughter of Maria Ellis, a domestic servant, and James Ferguson, her employer. They migrated to Boston but both died of smallpox. Orphaned when she was five years old, she was adopted by a wealthy Irish woman who raised her as a Catholic. On her sixteenth birthday, her mother gave her a motorcycle, “even though good girls didn’t ride motorcycles.”

She climbed aboard her first bike, an Indian Scout. She started the motorcycle and easily mastered it. She made eight long-distance solo rides across the US. She earned money from performing motorcycle stunts in carnival shows. She was often denied accommodations while traveling and was forced to sleep on her motorcycle at gasoline stations.

During WWII, she worked for the Army as a civilian motorcycle dispatch rider, carrying documents between domestic bases on her Harley-Davidson bike. The only woman in her unit, she completed rigorous training maneuvers including learning how to weave a makeshift bridge from rope and tree limbs to cross swamps. She encountered racial prejudice while on the road.

She wed and divorced six times. She and her first husband were deeply saddened by the loss of three babies, she had no more children.

When the American Motorcycle Association opened the first Motorcycle Heritage Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, she was featured in its inaugural exhibit on Women in Motorcycling. The AMA instituted the Bessie Stringfield Award to honor women who are leaders in motorcycling. She was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #womenhistorymonth

[hillslicensing-blog]

Riding in Style: The Impact of the Female leather biker vest

New Post has been published on https://ashipwreckinthesand.com/riding-in-style-the-impact-of-the-female-leather-biker-vest/

Riding in Style: The Impact of the Female leather biker vest

Empowering Wheels: Female Bikers’ Fashion Evolution

Female bikers have changed motorcycling’s male-dominated narrative. The female biker vest, a symbol of empowerment and fashion, drives this movement. This vest, sometimes decorated with patches, symbols, and vivid designs, symbolizes individuality, strength, and belonging in a male-dominated group.

The early 20th-century origins of women in motorcycling are crucial to understanding this phenomenon. Dot Robinson and Bessie Stringfield bravely navigated harsh terrain and social norms—their heritage-inspired modern female bikers ride for fun, expression, and empowerment.

This transition is reflected in female biker fashion. Women motorcyclists had to wear men’s clothing, often enormous and ill-fitting until the industry acknowledged them as a market. However, demand for women-specific motorcycle wear has increased, resulting in more comfortable, functional, and stylish designs. Female biker vests, jackets, gloves, and helmets now come in various sizes, colors, and styles, allowing women to keep their femininity without sacrificing safety and comfort.

Social media and influencer culture are crucial to promoting female bikers. Female bikers post their travels, tips, and fashions on Instagram and YouTube. These online forums allow women to interact, learn, and inspire each other, helping female bikers rise.

Women-only motorcycle groups have also grown. These clubs organize rides, events, and charity gatherings to foster community. The female biker vest typically unites these groups, fostering brotherhood. Each vest is unique, with patches and insignia telling stories, celebrating achievements, and honoring departed members. It depicts personal and collective stories.

The fashion factor goes beyond the vest. Women bikers are revolutionizing motorcycle fashion with style and purpose. From complex leather coats to bespoke boots, gear reflects personal taste. Brands are listening and working with female bikers to build collections that suit them.

The emergence of female bikers has also affected motorbike design and marketing. Manufacturers are making bikes with lower seat heights, lighter frames, and lower power outputs to appeal to more riders. The marketing storylines now emphasize diversity and women riders’ empowerment.

Motorcycling affects women psychologically as well as physically. Riding is therapy for many to escape daily stress and establish independence. Bike riding on wide roads is exhilarating and liberating. This has helped attract more women to riding, giving them confidence and empowerment in other areas of life.

Female cyclists have also grown due to education and safety initiatives. Riding schools, safety classes and women-only bike competitions teach skills and responsibility. These measures have fostered a safety-focused culture, encouraging more women to ride.

Female bikers influence pop culture and fashion. Fashion runways, publications, and movies have featured the biker look with leather jackets, boots, and jeans. This fashion-biking crossover has made biker chic a widespread style statement.

Social perspectives are also changing because of female bikers. Women riders are fighting stereotypes and biases by becoming more visible. Women can now engage and thrive in riding. This movement goes beyond motorcycling and reflects society’s shift toward gender equality and breaking gender roles.

Women riders also like motorcycling’s environmental benefits. As ecological consciousness rises, motorcycles are considered more sustainable than cars. They use less fuel, emit less, and are easier to make. Environmental awareness matches the values of many female motorcyclists seeking eco-friendly lifestyles.

The future of female biking is bright. Technology, electric bikes, and inclusive design are lowering entrance barriers. Motorcycling women are riders, influencers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. They are changing the landscape, demanding more representation, and questioning the norms in this male-dominated field.

Mentorship and representation become more critical as we see this transformation. Veteran female riders mentor novices and offer advice. Mentorship helps prospective motorcyclists gain confidence and expertise, developing a solid female riding community.

The economy is also affected by this rise. More women are biking, driving demand for many products and services. Businesses are realizing this growing market and offering motorcycle clothing, bike tours, and events for women. This economic approach supports the sector and encourages product and service innovation.

Female cyclists have unique challenges. The route, from social judgments to skepticism in a male-dominated sector, is challenging and isn’t easy. Despite these obstacles, female bikers have united and strengthened their community.

The increase in female riders shows how motorcycling and society are evolving. It promotes inclusivity, empowerment, and gender equality. Fashion, especially the classic female biker vest, symbolizes identity, tenacity, and freedom.

This movement is a societal revolution altering standards and empowering new voices. Women are spearheading a movement changing motorcycling and beyond as they get on their bikes, put on their vests, and hit the road.

Safe and stylish: Female Biker Vest Features

The female biker vest is both fashionable and essential for motorcycle safety. As manufacturers acknowledge the unique needs of female riders, motorcycle vests for women have evolved. Safe, stylish, and comfortable, these vests are no longer downsized versions of men’s clothing but are created for women’s demands and body shapes.

Know the value of biker vest material. A classic, leather is durable and abrasion-resistant. Modern vests also use Kevlar and Cordura, which have remarkable strength-to-weight ratios. These materials prevent abrasions, which is crucial in a fall or slide. The vest should be lightweight for women cyclists to move around while providing safety.

Reflective vest detailing improves visibility, especially at night or in low light. Reflective pipes or panels can make riders more visible to other road users. This element is often integrated into the vest’s design, ensuring safety without sacrificing style.

Another critical factor is adaptability. A one-size-fits-all female biker vest doesn’t work because women’s bodies vary widely in size and shape. Adjustable waistbands, side laces, and stretch panels offer a snug fit to keep protective elements in place. A well-fitting vest improves protection and comfort on lengthy rides.

Pockets seem trivial, but their design and placement can affect safety and convenience. Zippered or robust pockets keep belongings safe during a ride. Some vests have inner compartments for back protectors, adding safety without changing the vest’s look.

For riders in warmer areas, ventilation is crucial. Breathable vests or ventilation zips minimize overheating. Women need this function since overheating can distract and be harmful on a motorcycle.

A noteworthy improvement is the addition of armor to female biker vests. Traditional armor was thick and uncomfortable, but current vests have small, flexible armor that fits. Viscoelastic foam armor hardens on impact, offering protection without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics.

Customizability also makes female biker vests appealing. Women can express their style while meeting safety needs by adding or removing patches, choosing colors, and tailoring the fit. Personalization is about connecting with the gear, which might encourage more frequent and proper use.

Another factor is maintenance ease. Easy-to-clean vests are worn more often. Safety elements like reflective materials might lose efficacy if not correctly maintained.

Integration with other riding gear is crucial beyond the vest. A vest should complement gloves, jackets, and pants for complete protection. Loops or zips connect the vest to additional gear to keep it in place and protect it.

Technology in female biker vests evolves. Modern vests may have LED lighting or smartphone connectivity for navigation or emergency alerts. These elements may look futuristic but reflect modern motorcycle safety gear innovation for riders.

Remember that the best vest is worn constantly when examining all these aspects. Comfort, elegance, and personal taste are as important as technical safety. A comfortable, stylish vest is more likely to be worn on the road.

In conclusion, the female biker vest represents motorcycle culture’s changing dynamics. Safety, comfort, and style are combined to meet women riders’ needs. Female motorcyclists are increasing, and their clothing, especially vests, shows the industry’s dedication to diversity and safety.

[csajokamotoron]

Dokumentumfilmet mutatnak be a legendás Bessie Stringfieldről

Bessie Stringfield az amerikai motorozás igazi legendája. Ő volt az első fekete nő, aki 1930-ban, mindössze 19 évesen egy Harley-Davidson motorkerékpárral szelte át az Egyesült Államokat. Stringfield a második világháborúban a hadsereg diszpécsereként is dolgozott, és karneváli kaszkadőrként is tevékenykedett. Későbbi éveit Floridában töltötte, ahol a "Miami motoros királynője" becenevet érdemelte ki, miután motoros bemutatókon lépett fel, és megalapította az Iron Horse Motorcycle Clubot. Még a 80-as éveiben is motorozott, mielőtt 1993-ban elhunyt. Stringfield jelentős szerepet játszott a női motorosok és az afroamerikai motorosok előtt álló korlátok lebontásában, és örökségét 2000-ben az Amerikai Motoros Szövetség az ő tiszteletére adta át a "Női motorosok kiemelkedő teljesítménye" díjat. Stringfieldet 2002-ben beiktatták az AMA Motoros Hírességek Csarnokába. Stringfield hihetetlen történetét a hamarosan megjelenő To Myself, With Love, The Bessie Stringfield Story című dokumentumfilm is elmeséli. A film Stringfield motoros életét mutatja be, ritka felvételeket, fotókat és interjúkat tartalmaz. A film körül egyre nagyobb a felhajtás, miután nemrégiben beválasztották a kaliforniai Palm Springsben, 2024. március 23-25. között megrendezésre kerülő AmDocs filmfesztiválra. https://csajokamotoron.hu/bessie-stringfield-miami-motoros-kiralynoje/ A film producerei Diane Fredel-Weis (A háború kisebb balesete), Beth Hubbard (Citizen Ashe) és Kim Dawson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), executive producerei pedig az Emmy-díjas Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI) és Gabby Revilla Lugo (Illegálisan barna). A film, amelyen jelenleg az utolsó simításokat végzik a Los Angeles-i MOCEAN utómunka stúdióban, a tervek szerint 2024 elején indul a fesztiválokon. Forrás, címlapfotó: LMC LLC Read the full article

[faithbethhyden]

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

Young Adult Book Releases August 2024

✨ August 6 ✨ 💜 The Girl with No Reflection - Keshe Chow 💜 Ami - S. Jae-Jones 💜 Death at Morning House - Maureen Johnson 💜 Better Left Buried - Mary E. Roach 💜 Silent Sister - Megan Davidhizar 💜 Dance of the Starlit Sea - Kiana Krystle 💜 Witty in Pink - Erica George 💜 This Is Not a Dead Girl Story - Kate Sweeney 💜 A Family of Killers - Bryce Moore 💜 Medici Heist - Caitlin Schneiderhan 💜 This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings 💜 Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch - Codie Crowley

✨ August 13 ✨ ❤ The Dark We Know - Wen-yi Lee ❤ Zombie Apocalypse Running Club - Carrie Mac ❤ Return to Sender - Lauren Draper ❤ Ghostsmith - Nicki Pau Preto ❤ Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies - Abigail Hing Wen ❤ Under the Surface - Diana Urban ❤ Hemlock House - Katie Cotugno ❤ Holly Horror: The Longest Night - Michelle Jabès Corpora

✨ August 20 ✨ 💙 A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 💙 Love Requires Chocolate - Ravynn K. Stringfield 💙 Prince of the Palisades - Julian Winters 💙 Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo - Adam Cesare 💙 Something Like Right - H.D. Hunter 💙 Drown Me with Dreams - Gabi Burton 💙 Wisteria - Adalyn Grace 💙 My Salty Mary - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows 💙 House of Thorns - Isabel Strychacz

✨ August 27 ✨ ❤ Mysterious Ways - Wendy Wunder ❤ Everything We Never Had - Randy Ribay ❤ The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal - Ambika Vohra ❤ Libertad - Bessie Flores Zaldivar ❤ One House Left - Vincent Ralph ❤ Sync - Ellen Hopkins ❤ Fyrebirds - Kate J. Armstrong ❤ Practical Rules for Cursed Witches - Kayla Cottingham ❤ Our Shouts Echo - Jade Adia ❤ Don't Let It Break Your Heart - Maggie Horne ❤ The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry - Ransom Riggs ❤ With Love, Echo Park - Laura Taylor Namey ❤ The New Camelot - Robyn Schneider ❤ Come Out, Come Out - Natalie C. Parker

[vavuska]

Lovecraft Country, Episode 7, Season 1, “I Am.”

With Hippolyta voyage's and her dimensional experience we meet:

Bessie Springfield (1911 or 1912 - 1993)

Bessie Stringfield (1911 or 1912 – February 16, 1993) was an American motorcyclist who was the first African-American woman to ride across the United States solo, and was one of the few civilian motorcycle dispatch riders for the US Army during World War II. Credited with breaking down barriers for both women and Jamaican-American motorcyclists, Stringfield was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The award bestowed by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) for "Superior Achievement by a Female Motorcyclist" is named in her honor.

Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954)

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, she employed a naïve folk art style to explore questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. Her paintings often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. In addition to belonging to the post-revolutionary Mexicayotl movement, which sought to define a Mexican identity, Kahlo has been described as a surrealist or magical realist.

Born to a German father and a mestiza mother, Kahlo spent most of her childhood and adult life at La Casa Azul, her family home in Coyoacán – now publicly accessible as the Frida Kahlo Museum. Although she was disabled by polio as a child, Kahlo had been a promising student headed for medical school until she suffered a bus accident at the age of eighteen, which caused her lifelong pain and medical problems. During her recovery she returned to her childhood hobby of art with the idea of becoming an artist.

Kahlo's interests in politics and art led her to join the Mexican Communist Party in 1927, through which she met fellow Mexican artist Diego Rivera. The couple married in 1929, and spent the late 1920s and early 1930s travelling in Mexico and the United States together. During this time, she developed her artistic style, drawing her main inspiration from Mexican folk culture, and painted mostly small self-portraits which mixed elements from pre-Columbian and Catholic beliefs. Her paintings raised the interest of Surrealist artist André Breton, who arranged for Kahlo's first solo exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York in 1938; the exhibition was a success, and was followed by another in Paris in 1939. While the French exhibition was less successful, the Louvre purchased a painting from Kahlo, The Frame, making her the first Mexican artist to be featured in their collection. Throughout the 1940s, Kahlo participated in exhibitions in Mexico and the United States and worked as an art teacher. She taught at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado ("La Esmeralda") and was a founding member of the Seminario de Cultura Mexicana. Kahlo's always-fragile health began to decline in the same decade. She had her first solo exhibition in Mexico in 1953, shortly before her death in 1954 at the age of 47.

Kahlo's work as an artist remained relatively unknown until the late 1970s, when her work was rediscovered by art historians and political activists. By the early 1990s, she had become not only a recognized figure in art history, but also regarded as an icon for Chicanos, the feminism movement and the LGBTQ+ movement. Kahlo's work has been celebrated internationally as emblematic of Mexican national and indigenous traditions and by feminists for what is seen as its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form.

Josephine Baker (1906 - 1975)

Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald, naturalised French Joséphine Baker; 3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French entertainer, French Resistance agent, freemason and civil rights activist. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted France. She was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 silent film Siren of the Tropics, directed by Mario Nalpas and Henri Étiévant.

During her early career Baker was renowned as a dancer, and was among the most celebrated performers to headline the revues of the Folies Bergère in Paris. Her performance in the revue Un vent de folie in 1927 caused a sensation in Paris. Her costume, consisting of only a short skirt of artificial bananas and a beaded necklace, became an iconic image and a symbol of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties.

Baker was celebrated by artists and intellectuals of the era, who variously dubbed her the "Black Venus", the "Black Pearl", the "Bronze Venus", and the "Creole Goddess". Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she renounced her U.S. citizenship and became a French national after her marriage to French industrialist Jean Lion in 1937. She raised her children in France. "I have two loves, my country and Paris", Baker once said, and she sang: " J'ai deux amours, mon pays et Paris ".

She was known for aiding the French Resistance during World War II. After the war, she was awarded the Croix de guerre by the French military, and was named a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur by General Charles de Gaulle.

Baker refused to perform for segregated audiences in the United States and is noted for her contributions to the civil rights movement. In 1968, she was offered unofficial leadership in the movement in the United States by Coretta Scott King, following Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. After thinking it over, Baker declined the offer out of concern for the welfare of her children.

Nawi, the last Dahomei Amazon (1879 - 1979)

The Dahomai Amazons were female warriors who left European colonisers shaking in their boots, foreign observers named them the Dahomey Amazons while they called themselves N’Nonmiton, which means “our mothers”. Protecting their king on the bloodiest of battlefields, they emerged as an elite fighting force in the Kingdom of Dahomey in, the present-day Republic of Benin. Described as untouchable, sworn in as virgins, swift decapitation was their trademark.

The last surviving Amazon of Dahomey died at the age of 100 in 1979, a woman named Nawi who was discovered living in a remote village. At their height, they made up around a third of the entire Dahomey army; 6,000 strong, but according to European records, they were consistently judged to be superior to the male soldiers in effectiveness and bravery.

Even after French expansion in African in 1890s subdued the Dahomey people, their reign of fear continued. Uniformed French soldiers who took Dahomey women to bed were often found dead in the morning, their throats slit open. During the Franco-Dahomean Wars, many of the French soldiers fighting in Dahomey had hesitated before shooting or bayoneting the N’Nonmiton. Underestimating their female opponents led to many of the French casualties as special units of the female Amazons were assigned specifically to target French officers.

By the end of the Second Franco-Dahomean War, the French prevailed, but only after bringing in the Foreign Legion, armed with machine guns. The last of the King’s force to surrender, most of the Amazons died in the 23 battles fought during the second war. The legionnaires later wrote about the “incredible courage and audacity” of the Amazons.