Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., his son Larry Wise and his daughter Laura Wise also work with him at the skating rink. For their day jobs, Lawrence is a police officer for the East St. Louis Parks District, and his son Larry is a police officer for the Shiloh Police Department in Shiloh, Illinois. "The parents appreciate the police presence," said Lawrence.
"Pre pandemic, we'd have three to four hundred kids on the weekends", said Skate City owner Lawrence Wise, "It gives them something to do, keeps them off the streets, out of any trouble".
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Skaters glide past the entrance to the skating rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., and his son Larry Wise, daughter Laura Wise and wife Patricia Wise also work with him at the skating rink.
Skaters glide past the entrance to the skating rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12,...READ ON
Skaters glide past the entrance to the skating rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., and his son Larry Wise, daughter Laura Wise and wife Patricia Wise also work with him at the skating rink.
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Larry Wise, son of Lawrence Wise, Sr., the owner of Skate City, answers a phone call in between checking in customers at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. When not helping out at the skating rink, Larry is a police officer for the Shiloh Police Department in Shiloh, Illinois.
Larry Wise, son of Lawrence Wise, Sr., the owner of Skate City, answers a phone call in...READ ON
Larry Wise, son of Lawrence Wise, Sr., the owner of Skate City, answers a phone call in between checking in customers at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. When not helping out at the skating rink, Larry is a police officer for the Shiloh Police Department in Shiloh, Illinois.
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A Cardinals jersey for St. Louis police Officer Tamarris Bohannon, who was shot and killed while on duty in August 2020, hangs with shirts #Hypethestripe movement created by the Unpaid Labor Contribution Project to acknowledge the first twelve generations of Africans that were forced into slavery in the United States at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis.
A Cardinals jersey for St. Louis police Officer Tamarris Bohannon, who was shot and...READ ON
A Cardinals jersey for St. Louis police Officer Tamarris Bohannon, who was shot and killed while on duty in August 2020, hangs with shirts #Hypethestripe movement created by the Unpaid Labor Contribution Project to acknowledge the first twelve generations of Africans that were forced into slavery in the United States at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis.
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David Smith from Belleville, right, takes Narda Davis' temperature to check for COVID-19 symptoms before she can roller skate at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Davis is a regular at Skate City, "I've been coming here a long time since I was a little girl", Davis said.
David Smith from Belleville, right, takes Narda Davis' temperature to check for...READ ON
David Smith from Belleville, right, takes Narda Davis' temperature to check for COVID-19 symptoms before she can roller skate at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Davis is a regular at Skate City, "I've been coming here a long time since I was a little girl", Davis said.
Skate City is full of reminders of the intersection of black American culture and civil rights. At the counter, Wise sells #Hypethestripe movement shirts and an American flag with a black stripe across it, the symbol of the movement, hangs on the wall outside of the rink. The #HypeTheStripe movement started by the Unpaid Labor Contribution Project was created to acknowledge the first twelve generations of Africans that were forced into slavery in the United States.
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Jimmy Davis from East St. Louis skates by an American flag hanging on the wall of the rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. The black stripe across the flag represents the #HypeTheStripe movement by the Unpaid Labor Contribution Project to acknowledge the first twelve generations of Africans that were forced into slavery in the United States.
Jimmy Davis from East St. Louis skates by an American flag hanging on the wall of the...READ ON
Jimmy Davis from East St. Louis skates by an American flag hanging on the wall of the rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. The black stripe across the flag represents the #HypeTheStripe movement by the Unpaid Labor Contribution Project to acknowledge the first twelve generations of Africans that were forced into slavery in the United States.
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Latish Scott from East St. Louis, center, checks her phone as she skates past the wall with the Skate City tag line "Where the good times roll" at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis.
Latish Scott from East St. Louis, center, checks her phone as she skates past the wall...READ ON
Latish Scott from East St. Louis, center, checks her phone as she skates past the wall with the Skate City tag line "Where the good times roll" at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis.
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Lawrence Wise, Sr., center, owner of Skate City, and his son Larry Wise set up the DJ booth as skaters are showing up at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. For their day jobs, Lawrence is a police officer in the East St. Louis Parks District, and his son Larry is a police officer for the Shiloh Police Department in Shiloh, Illinois.
Lawrence Wise, Sr., center, owner of Skate City, and his son Larry Wise set up the DJ...READ ON
Lawrence Wise, Sr., center, owner of Skate City, and his son Larry Wise set up the DJ booth as skaters are showing up at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. For their day jobs, Lawrence is a police officer in the East St. Louis Parks District, and his son Larry is a police officer for the Shiloh Police Department in Shiloh, Illinois.
Regulars to Skate City show up for Monday Night Skate not just for the exercise and social aspects of skating culture, but also for the music. Larry Wise, Jr. selects the mix at the DJ booth and plays a range of music from classic disco to modern-day R&B and hip-hop. Lamont Sparks, a regular at Skate City, said, "We're not going to skate to any type of music. If we don't like it, it will probably show on our face".
Skate City is only having three public skating sessions a week for skaters at least 21 years old due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Lloyd Garner skates backward past the snack bar at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., and his son Larry Wise, daughter Laura Wise and wife Patricia Wise also work with him at the skating rink.
Lloyd Garner skates backward past the snack bar at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021,...READ ON
Lloyd Garner skates backward past the snack bar at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., and his son Larry Wise, daughter Laura Wise and wife Patricia Wise also work with him at the skating rink.
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Lamont Sparks, left, skates with Janell Barnes during the Monday night skate at Skate City on July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. "We're not going to skate to any type of music", said Sparks, "If we don't like it, it will probably show on our face".
Lamont Sparks, left, skates with Janell Barnes during the Monday night skate at Skate...READ ON
Lamont Sparks, left, skates with Janell Barnes during the Monday night skate at Skate City on July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. "We're not going to skate to any type of music", said Sparks, "If we don't like it, it will probably show on our face".
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Eric Cannon from St. Louis sets his skates on the floor before joining the Monday night skate session at Skate City on July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Cannon hand-painted his skates that pay homage to the city of St. Louis and his passion for roller skating.
Eric Cannon from St. Louis sets his skates on the floor before joining the Monday night...READ ON
Eric Cannon from St. Louis sets his skates on the floor before joining the Monday night skate session at Skate City on July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Cannon hand-painted his skates that pay homage to the city of St. Louis and his passion for roller skating.
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Adell Stephens, left, from St. Louis skates down the rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., and his son Larry Wise, daughter Laura Wise and wife Patricia Wise also work with him at the skating rink.
Adell Stephens, left, from St. Louis skates down the rink at Skate City on Monday, July...READ ON
Adell Stephens, left, from St. Louis skates down the rink at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., and his son Larry Wise, daughter Laura Wise and wife Patricia Wise also work with him at the skating rink.
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Rental skates line shelves behind the counter at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. "Pre pandemic, we'd have three to four hundred kids on the weekends", said Skate City owner Lawrence Wise, "It gives them something to do, keeps them off the streets, out of any trouble".
Rental skates line shelves behind the counter at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in...READ ON
Rental skates line shelves behind the counter at Skate City on Monday, July 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. "Pre pandemic, we'd have three to four hundred kids on the weekends", said Skate City owner Lawrence Wise, "It gives them something to do, keeps them off the streets, out of any trouble".
Skate City is owned by Lawrence Wise, Sr., his son Larry Wise and his daughter Laura Wise also work with him at the skating rink. For their day jobs, Lawrence is a police officer for the East St. Louis Parks District, and his son Larry is a police officer for the Shiloh Police Department in Shiloh, Illinois. "The parents appreciate the police presence," said Lawrence.
"Pre pandemic, we'd have three to four hundred kids on the weekends", said Skate City owner Lawrence Wise, "It gives them something to do, keeps them off the streets, out of any trouble".
Skate City is full of reminders of the intersection of black American culture and civil rights. At the counter, Wise sells #Hypethestripe movement shirts and an American flag with a black stripe across it, the symbol of the movement, hangs on the wall outside of the rink. The #HypeTheStripe movement started by the Unpaid Labor Contribution Project was created to acknowledge the first twelve generations of Africans that were forced into slavery in the United States.
Regulars to Skate City show up for Monday Night Skate not just for the exercise and social aspects of skating culture, but also for the music. Larry Wise, Jr. selects the mix at the DJ booth and plays a range of music from classic disco to modern-day R&B and hip-hop. Lamont Sparks, a regular at Skate City, said, "We're not going to skate to any type of music. If we don't like it, it will probably show on our face".
Skate City is only having three public skating sessions a week for skaters at least 21 years old due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Shular - Photojournalist
Photojournalist Daniel Shular captures compelling images focusing on politics, conflict and social justice movements around the world.
