Black History Month: Friends establish first biking club of its kind
{Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
If you see a group of women cruising through town on various types of motorcycles, chances are you may have passed the Dominant Divas Riding Club. Established last month by Lexington natives and residents, Faye Craven-Boger and Tammy Smith, the club is the first female African American bike club on record in the city. The name was chosen to represent the members being “strong minded, educated, respectful and classy.”
Planning for the group started four years ago. Craven-Boger and Smith, who are experienced riders, desired to create a space that was welcoming. Their mission “is to unite all women that love motorcycles.” Craven-Boger noted there’s a liberation that comes with riding through the streets on two wheels.
“The degree of freedom, individuality, and adventure in motorcycle riding and culture distinguishes itself as nontraditional in contrast with most car cultures. The strong social community formed by motorcycle riders reinforces the idea that our culture exists according to its own rules. We, as Dominant Divas, adopted a highway and adopted 4th Street Park for our volunteer commitment.”
Currently, the Divas have nearly 14 members from various cities in the Triad. They also have various professional backgrounds: a nurse practitioner, nurses, a teacher, a store owner, a forklift operator, a truck driver and other professions. Members Teresa Hoover Cade and Maggie Hicks Burns are veterans. Additionally, the women proudly identify as wives, mothers ad grandmothers.
Dominant Divas co-founders hope to establish chapters in other states in the future. Although the riding club is the first of its kind in Lexington, its open to women of all races. If interested in joining, contact Craven-Boger or Smith. The group’s first long distance ride will be to Franklin, VA for a bikers event on April 23rd.
Friday, February 13 from 6pm until 7:30pm. Free event. Register here.
