When I was in northern California a couple weeks ago, I had to take a trip to the legendary East Bay Dragons motorcycle club. Four years ago, at the beginning of photographing Ezy Ryders I came across the book by the Dragons’ founder and president, Tobie Gene Levingston, called “Soul On Bikes.” In it, Levingston reminisces about how he fell in love with Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but back in the 1950s, the few MCs that existed didn’t allow African-Americans. He started the East Bay Dragons in 1959, America’s first all-black MC. They became a crucial part of Oakland’s history and the history of American MCs.
Thanks to the Dragons for welcoming this stranger from across the country, to your clubhouse. Check out the @ezyryders instagram for more on black motorcycle clubs.