Musings on Dance, Food, Geek Stuff
The story of Eroseanna Robinson, a bad ass Black skate activist in the 1950s. It was another young African American woman who would take the most blows from the skaters intent on keeping Skateland [a segregated rink in Cleveland, Ohio] white. Eroseanna (Sis) Robinson was a young staff member at a Cleveland community center in…
I just started reading Race, Riots, and Roller Coasters: The Struggle over Segregated Recreation in America by Victoria W. Wolcott (2012). It’s about how the fight for Black people to be able to access public spaces was not just about lunch counters and busses , but also amusement parks, pools, roller rinks, and other recreation…
From the US Library of Congress.
Unknown who the other subject is of what film this was for. And of course I had to make a meme of this…
These photos of Black folks skating at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago from 1941 are just priceless. Look at how dressed up folks are! And love how joyful and silly everyone is. Oh and apparently photobombing was always a thing? Photographer: Russell Lee, 1903-1986 Source: Library of Congress
I’ve been thinking about how learning to skate is both a physical and a mental skill. Of course you need to be able to physically move your body in certain ways, and involves a certain amount of strength in your legs, butt and core. But perhaps the harder aspect of skating is building up the…
A skater asked me today how long I had been skating. It’s a question I get a lot from beginners. I understand — you see someone do something that you aspire to, and you wonder how long it will take you to get there. I answered, “About four years… But it isn’t the years, it’s…
“Hey ChatGPT, based on what you know about me, draw picture of what you think I look like.” ChatGPT’s explanation: “Here’s an image inspired by your unique style and love for roller skating outdoors! I aimed to capture the blend of K-pop flair, 90s R&B, and vintage swing-era jazz in your look, along with the…
Check out my Halloween costume this year: the Soul Train. I’m pretty proud of myself for conceiving of and executing this year’s costume. Every year I try and challenge myself in some new way. This year it was all about coming up with a dramatic reveal and a participatory costume. My concept was to be…
Every day at the rink I see skaters working on “unlocking” a move — backwards skating, transitions, spins, crazy legs… I see their knitted brows and frowns as they concentrate on getting it down, sometimes for five minutes, sometimes for weeks or months. I don’t always offer tips or help, because not everyone wants that….