S7E07 - Rollerouge & Deesh (Jam Roller Skaters)

This Broken Mixtape

At the beginning of the pandemic, roller skating culture experienced a resurgence on social media and beyond. However, the recreational activity is more than just another nostalgic phenomenon-gone-viral; there's a rich history of black and brown skating communities that date all the way back to the '70s. Jared and Deejah, aka Rollerouge and Deesh, are two rising talents from Toronto's jam rollerskating scene. I sat down with them to talk about the cultural significance of roller skating in the black community, their unfortunate reality of having to navigate safe spaces, and their preferred soundtrack to jam skating sessions.