DUELING IDENTITES: THE CHRISTIAN
BIKERDOREEN ANDERSON-FACILE
Pastor Marty and Debbie Edwards Founder and National President
Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ Motorcycle Ministry
THREE TYPES OF HARLEY RIDERS
• Outlaw Bikers – Club Members (Hells Angels, Vagos)– Active members of the biker subculture
• Saloon Society– Actively involved with the biker subculture but are
also members of mainstream culture• Weekend Warriors
– Middle class America– Weekend riders– Christian Motorcycle Ministries
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• Symbolic Interactionism (Mead and Blumer)• Identity theory
– Identity• Multi-selves (external (role) internal (identity))
– Commitment • Depth and breadth• Emotional attachment
– Salience – Self-knowledge
• ability to manipulate role performance
RESEARCH METHOD
• Qualitative/Ethnography• Participant observation
– Personal experience• In-depth interviews
– 1 - 3 hours– Sample Black Sheep members (Southern
California chapters)
Questionnaire
• Demographics• Background (childhood, motorcycle,
Christian)• Black Sheep membership• Biker community• Christian community• Identity
Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ Motorcycle Ministry
(organization)• Founder Marty Edwards• History• Mission
– "Know Him and Make Him Known"• Activities
– Meetings, club events and rides• Ministry work
– Service, hospital visits, financial
Black Sheep HDFC Patch
FINDINGS• Demographics (background)
– Childhood experiences– Divorce– Christian
• Reason for joining Black Sheep– Mission– Social benefits– Outsiders – not traditional Christians– Unconditional acceptance– Positive/negative feelings– Other members
FINDINGS
• Christian persona• Biker persona• Image
– Self– Others
• Christians• Bikers
• Identity
CONCLUSION• Identify as outsiders• Identify as Christians not bikers• Like the persona of the rough tough biker• A way to walk in both worlds (safety net)• Black Sheep HDFC more of a social club• Inconsistent commitment • Conditional salience• Self-knowledge tied to being an outsider