Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why African American roller skating culture is under siege
World on Wheels is a roller skating rink on Venice Blvd in Mid City. It was closed for years, and that meant the end to local African American skate culture.
By Madeleine Brand • • 1 min readWorld on Wheels is a roller skating rink on Venice Blvd in Mid City. It was closed for years, and that meant the end to local African American skate culture. On certain nights, called “adult nights,” black people created a vibrant scene at this roller rink. They developed elaborate dance moves as they skated. In the 80s, rappers like Queen Latifah and Dr. Dre performed. The story of black roller skating culture is the focus of the new HBO documentary “United Skates.”
