In fact, Black people were first allowed to roller skate indoors at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago’s Bronzeville community on December 8, 1938 thanks to Jimmie Davis, the manager of The Savoy at that time.
I don’t have the newspaper articles back this up because the microfilm machines were down at the Vivian Harsh Research Collection center at Carter G. Woodson Library. I will share as soon as I am able to get copies.
Image: Jazz Age Chicago
[…] I don’t know when black people first started skating in Chicago (if you find out, please let me know). I do know that black people were first able to roller skate indoors in Chicago in December 1938 at The Savoy Ballroom in the Black Metropolis. More details are available at Marcie Writes. […]