HBO Documentary ‘United Skates’ follows the dying subculture of skating rinks that have been the foundation of Black communities across America for generations.
United Skates follows the dying subculture of skating rinks that have been the foundation of Black communities across America for generations. As skating rinks across the country face closure due to rezoning and commercial development, an entire legacy and culture are threatened to become lost.
United Skates delves deep into the history of how skating rinks became more than just a place to dance and roll. The rink was a place where a new genre of Black music was able to thrive when the rest of society shunned it. The rink was a place where emerging hip-hop artist of the late 1980s was able to break out of being local celebrities into becoming mainstream acts when no place else allowed them to perform. “Roller skating was hip hop, it was a place where the streets, everybody met up,” says Salt of Salt-N- Pepa. Skating rinks ultimately became the first hip-hop concerts tours that determined your popularity as a rapper. Anybody who was somebody in hip-hop would perform at these rinks including Queen Latifah, NWA, Funkmaster Flex, Redman and Sal-N-Pepa. “Skating rinks were hardcore, if you could rock out in a skating rink then you know you were doing well,” says Pepa.
But the skating rink goes back further than hip-hop. The rink represents a generational legacy. “My family and I have been the owner and operators of this business for 10 years. We were born and bred into the roller skate culture. And it goes back as far as my grandparents.” says Buddy Love, former owner of Rich City Skates (a rink that has unfortunately closed down since the filming of this documentary.) It was the older generation of roller skaters who fought against racist laws that forbid integration and laid the foundation for roller skate culture in the Black community. The older generation of skaters also created various styles of dance and skating moves that newer generations have been able to carry on and add on to with their own unique style. “Everything I do is an evolution from what these people have done,” says Chicago roller skater, Batman.
But most importantly, skating rinks are a place of community. People go there for the love and sense of belonging. Skating rinks are a space where Black people are allowed to exist freely and unapologetically in a world that wants to contain us. It’s a place to release pent up energy or even find anxiety relief. “Something about hitting that floor, it’s where I can breathe. By the time that night is over whatever is bothering me, I’m feeling great, “ says Phelicia, a loving and hardworking mother living in LA. Skating rinks have also become a safe space for youth to spend time instead of hanging out in places that could get them in trouble.
Like most things in Black culture, Black roller skating was met with a lot of resistance. As rinks became more Black, skaters were met with heavy policing because people automatically associated an “urban” presence with crime. Endless attempts were made to have rinks frequented by Black people shut down. Skating rinks even became largely segregated. It became an unspoken rule that whites would roller skate during certain times of the week, while Blacks would roller skate during “adult night” ( “adult night” was racially coded language meant to signal when Black people were allowed to skate.) Also, arbitrary rules were created that disproportionately targeted Black skaters and prevented them from getting into the rink.
Unfortunately, all of these things, compounded with rezoning and commercial developments, has ultimately led to the shutdown of dozens of skating rinks across the country. “In the urban areas the land value is so high that people sell the rinks or like in our situation, they don’t renew our lease. The city and municipalities, they want a home depot that’s going to create hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax. They’re not here to serve the public any longer. It’s all about money now “ says Jerry, founder of Skate Depot.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Detroit, Baltimore, Ohio, Memphis, Atlanta, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Texas, St, Louise—roller skating culture has become the very foundation of community that has brought Black people from all across America together. Despite all the history and culture that is threatened to become lost, United Skates reminds us that Black joy can survive the most tumultuous conditions and that the strength and liveliness of a community is a source of great resilience. This was an exceptional documentary that I implore everyone watch. United Skates has the power bring mainstream attention to this dying subculture and thereby possibly save it. “This is my history. This is my culture. We want to protect it so we know that we have to continue. We have to bring in the next generation.” says Buddy Love.
A film by Dyana Winkler & Tina Brown, Executive Produced by John Legend, United Skates premieres on HBO Monday, February 18 (8:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT)
