The holiday season is here, and if you’re looking for gifts that celebrate skating, fun, and fitness, Roll With Soul® has you covered. These are all original designs, created by me!
Whether you’re shopping for your skate crew or treating yourself, here are a few fun gift ideas (and someone’s new favorite shirt!).
To those participating in economic justice boycotts and spending-awareness movements, such as We Ain’t Buying It, Mass Blackout, and others. I also stand with you using your purchasing power to advocate for equity and systemic change. ✊
Did you know? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared October National Roller Skating Month in the United States.
Roller skating was more than just a fun pastime, it was a cultural cornerstone in Black communities, deeply connected to both civil rights and the evolution of popular music. Segregation at the rinks failed to stop the culture from thriving; in fact, Black skaters would create their own opportunities where the moves and the music would eventually impact our entire culture!
For example:
When hip hop artists were often barred from performing at mainstream venues, roller rinks welcomed them, giving the music a stage and a fanbase.
Many hit dance records were first discovered at the rink. If the skate DJs were spinning a track, it was a sign it was hot, often propelling it to radio and wider audiences.
The more you know!
This is a long read but probably one of the BEST and most comprehensive articles on the impacts of roller skating on culture. I’m so glad electronicbeats.net put it back online.
I designed this in 2022 for 6th Ave Skating Place, one of the country’s only permanent outdoor roller skating spaces. Most Sundays, it feels like a family reunion: music, movement, and generations together on wheels.
Fun fact: The mural wasn’t painted. It was built using colored asphalt to preserve the smooth surface skaters need, while also ensuring durability. That technical feature shaped the minimalist design.
It’s pretty cool to know this piece is now visible from orbit. Welcome alien overlords!
If you’re visiting San Francisco, make sure to stop by!
Since stepping away from social media, sharing fun skating articles and videos isn’t as easy as it used to be. But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped. I’ll try to share them here instead.
I had the pleasure of meeting Terrence and Ellen at Skate-a-thon a few years ago. If you live in the area, you should definitely look them up! RollTrain.com
I started my Roll with Soul® apparel brand around 2013 because there was little to no representation in contemporary roller skating apparel outside of aggressive derby slogans or cutesy, retro aesthetics.
As a former professional apparel designer in the music industry, I wanted to make high-quality roller skate themed designs available for people who skate outside those margins.
Since then, there’s been some wonderful growth in this space, so I want to showcase some incredible black-owned roller skate apparel brands that are creating some of the coolest, authentic skate fashions out there!!
Rolling away from social platforms that profit from hate and exploitation – future updates at RollWithSoul.com
Dear Friends and Skate Fam,
After over a decade of connecting with you all and sharing the incredible talent and joy of the roller skating community on social media, I’ve made the decision to step away from social platforms like Meta and Twitter. I can no longer ignore the dangerous ethical failings of the spineless billionaires who massively profit from spreading hate and misinformation while exploiting our creativity and invade our privacy through these platforms.
But this isn’t a goodbye. I’ll be focusing my future energy creating and sharing here on rollwithsoul.com
I’m also embarking on a new personal project related to my illustration/artwork. I hope you’ll sign up for my newsletter and be a part of the journey here: portraitsofexcellence.com
Thank you for the support and love over the years. See you at the rink!
The refrain of “Why does it matter?” from some white skaters has been echoing across social media lately, often dismissing reminders of black roller skating culture and its creators. It’s essential to understand the significance of preserving accurate roller skating history and the far-reaching consequences of this problematic reaction.
We know that skating has existed for hundreds of years and has taken on many forms. But we need to acknowledge that the people being celebrated on TikTok right now aren’t typically skating like Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, they are skating more like Bill Butler, a black man who played a huge role in giving roller skating its modern flavor, and popularity – but is largely unknown to most.
So, let’s talk about why it’s easy for some of us to take this issue for granted.
The Significance of Names & Creators
Dismissing the importance of named routines, techniques, creators, and history erases the experiences and contributions of black skaters who have nurtured this activity and culture decades before the 2020 pandemic.
When their creative work is changed or relabeled to appease or appeal to different audiences without their input, it impacts their ability to receive the recognition, opportunities, and financial compensation they deserve.
Sometimes Black skaters are even forced to perpetuate the altered versions in order to preserve the small amount of opportunity that is available to them, which sadly makes the problem worse.
Screenshot from a video picturing Rollerdance Man Richard Humphrey with the title: “The origins of the Downtown?” The video attempts to clarify the true name and creator of these foundational roller dance moves. The video was produced by a popular skating company who built an entire brand from a whitewashed version of roller skating.
Of course, extensive knowledge of skate history isn’t necessary for a fun day at the rink or the park, but being open to corrections about misinformation is important, especially when creating media content or sharing views that may be inaccurate. I think we all know that misinformation spreads like wildfire and rarely gets corrected in the fast-paced world of social media.
Lastly, it’s not our place as white skaters to dictate the history that makes us most comfortable. We should listen, learn, and show respect for the origins and contributions of black skaters if we are to participate in and emulate the culture and moves that they have created.
Disparity in Media Visibility
“Why isn’t there a dedicated book on this topic if names and history are so important?” This repeated question reveals the glaring disparity in media visibility between black and white skaters.
Despite their skills, black skaters often receive less recognition compared to their white counterparts. This perpetuates the cycle of erasure and undermines the talents of black skaters.
One significant book exception was Bill Butler’s “Jammin”, which was published in 1979 during the peak of roller skating’s “disco” mainstream popularity. It’s been out of print for decades and is now considered a rare collectible.
The lack of published material about black roller skating can be largely attributed to limited opportunities and resources for black skaters to produce materials with the same marketing power and reach as major publishers or platforms.
Despite this challenge, there has been a growing movement for black skaters to create and self-publish materials that document and celebrate roller skating culture.
Documentaries to Watch:
8 Wheels and Some Soul Brotha’ Music (2008)
Roller Dreams (2017)
United Skates (2018)
Books:
Rollerdanceman: The Biography of Richard Humphrey, by Carla Dometrius
The Motown Sound On Wheels: Rockin Richard Houston
The Evolution of Skating: Sk8rz Passion, Our Journey, by Amirah Palmer, Richard Humphrey, David Miles
The information is out there, but it may not be where you are used to looking.
Supporting Authenticity in the Age of Faux “Influencers”
In the era of social media, it’s important to look more closely at the authenticity and authority of skating “influencers”. Before considering someone an “expert”, confirm their involvement in the skating community as well as their actual skills and experience.
Black skaters played a significant role in creating the unique styles and moves that have made skating so popular. So, it’s disheartening to see people, especially white skaters, appropriating the creations of those skaters while centering themselves for attention, validation, and monetary gain on social media.
Let’s be honest here. We all know that people prefer to watch catchy videos than to read lengthy captions full of history facts. However, if you find yourself actively exploiting this viewer behavior for your personal gain, take a moment and reflect on your motives as well as the creators you may be harming.
Also note that media exposure doesn’t always equate to actual skill or influence. Supporting those who genuinely contribute to the growth and preservation of roller skating culture ensures that authentic voices are recognized and celebrated.
Look closely and you’ll see who is contributing TO the culture, and who is merely taking FROM it.
Moving Beyond Colorblindness
When white skaters respond with the assertion that “It doesn’t matter, roller skating is for everyone,” it reflects a form of “colorblindness.” This mindset assumes all experiences and contributions are equal and interchangeable, and dismisses the historical context that shaped popular roller skating as well as the issues that still persist today.
Advocating for historical accuracy and acknowledging black creators does not exclude anyone from participating in or enjoying roller skating. Instead, it aims to address systemic imbalances and give credit where it is due.
By acknowledging, respecting, and amplifying the true cultural origins of roller skating, we can start to right some of the wrongs that previously kept diverse voices and experiences from being highlighted and celebrated.
When I lost access to my own physical capabilities as a professional artist, a result of focal dystonia, a neuromuscular disorder, roller skating provided a valuable creative outlet for me. I’m so very happy that all these years later, my worlds have collided and I have the opportunity to celebrate San Francisco’s 6th Avenue Skatin Place through a new roller skating mural in partnership with with David Miles Jr., the San Francisco Godfather of Skate and the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department.
With community input, we spent months working through design concepts and I believe I we’ve landed on a fun design that celebrates San Francisco roller skating and checks all the functional requirements for park installation, safety, and maintenance.
As a longtime skater at 6th Avenue, my first instinct about doing the mural project was that it was important to acknowledge that it is the people, the skaters, who truly bring all the color and great energy to the space. (Just look at this adorable lil girl!!!)
Photo: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
So as the artist, I didn’t want to mess with that or compete with it. But I also know that this space has had a number of incidents of being vandalized or otherwise not being treated with respect.
My hope in putting this mural on the center oval at Skatin’ place is to celebrate the legacy of San Francisco roller skaters past, present, and future, and that it also serves to claim this space for roller skaters, so when they all go home, their vibrant colors and lively spirits remain as a symbol to others to have some reverence for this space.
As of February, 2022 we have now received all the necessary local approvals and I look forward to sharing more progress as the mural is installed in the Spring/Summer of 2022!
My friend Arlan Hamilton, once said, “Be yourself so that the people who are looking for you can find you.”
I think there’s probably no shortage of relevant quotes on this topic because of their inherent truth. To illustrate further, I’d like to share a personal story about roller skating.
“Skate Free or Die,” was the lifelong motto of Donn, a dear member of our San Francisco roller skating community. Sadly, as of 2016, he is no longer with us. Considering our ages and backgrounds, we became unlikely friends. Donn once shared this story with me about a time that he was recovering from a spinal injury. Perhaps enough time has passed that it would be ok to share with you now in his honor.
“One night, about 3 years ago … I showed up at Redwood City Skate. I was fresh off of a spinal injury that left me permanently without feeling in my left leg and foot. I could barely still roll – but I had not given up hope. I was struggling to skate that night … until I noticed you in the middle towards one end – doing your thing. And I thought – she’d never believe me if I told her I used to be able to skate (something) like that! But watching you made those ‘feelings’ come alive again – I could ‘feel’ what it felt like to skate that way … and wanted to do it again, no matter what. Quite the inspiration – you were certainly that night.
Look at me now – and all that I have regained since that night … and tell me: how does one repay that kind of debt? I owe you something that will be difficult to ever repay directly.
So … please forgive me for treating you like family – I consider you my Sister. And thank you for being you!”
Over next few years Donn attended more skate parties and put in more skate party miles than I ever have. You could always find him smiling and in the groove wherever there was skating.
In as much as I had inspired him, he had just given me this enormous gift that I will never forget. It’s one of the things that drives me to share my love of skating with others. Skating is a positive force, with the ability to create friendship, love and healing.
Very often new skaters take up skating because they were inspired by other skaters (which is great!), but get frustrated comparing themselves to someone who has been skating much longer. (not so great.)
This also applies when it comes to style – if you find that after significant practice you look and feel stiff doing a particular move, it may be that that move just doesn’t work for your body. (This is common in the professional dance world. What works for one performer may not look good on another.)
Side bar: Listen to this clip from world renowned choreographer Tina Landon discussing the challenges for choreographing for Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson at the same time.(14:35 minute mark)
For example, I wish I could dance like Janet Jackson or Gene Kelly, but I’m not made that way. I had to take the things I appreciated about those artists and find what works for my own body to create my own vibe and style.
(I mean…who wouldn’t want to skate like that?)
I actually started roller skating after a neuromuscular disorder called focal dystonia severely limited the use of my hand and nearly ended my career as an artist. I also developed cervical spine issues because of the ways that my body had compensated over the years. I have to be mindful of my body so as to not inadvertently do more harm.
When I skate, I always hook a towel in my hand to hide my odd hand posture. After awhile, it became a prop when I dance – just a part of my unique style.
White Chocolate - Roller Skating 