Teenage Utopia: Skating Through the Lockdown
- Text by Alex King
After November’s Paris terror attacks in which 130 people died, attention quickly shifted to the Belgian capital, Brussels. Police raided properties believed to have been used in planning the attacks and the city was put on a security lockdown. The terror alert was raised to four, the highest level. Army convoys cruised the streets, businesses were closed and police requested a social media blackout.
Huck travelled to Brussels to meet a multicultural group of teenage skaters and see life under the lockdown through their eyes. We wanted to find out about their experiences of growing up in a place being described by some as the poster child for failed integration: a divided city of immigrant ghettos, no-go zones and Europe’s radicalisation capital. Huck found something different altogether.
At Ursulines skatepark in central Brussels, we met kids from all different backgrounds coming together to skate, to jam and just hang out. Fatima, 21, a student from Casablanca, Morocco; Ramy, 19, who grew up in Barcelona with Moroccan/Egyptian roots; and Daniela, 17, who’s Belgian/Bolivian, are part of a diverse group of friends, including Belgians and first and second generation immigrant kids from Thailand, Poland, Greece, Turkey and elsewhere.
The crew invited us to their evening hangout at The Hangar, an indoor DIY skatepark next to the Brussels canal, where they skate and play music together as Rumble Pit. Through spending two days in their world, we found music, skateboarding and the kids’ punk attitude to life proved stronger than the cultural, racial and religious differences that many would expect to drive them apart.
Subscribe to Huck’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss another short film.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
Meet the hair-raised radical women of Berlin’s noise punk scene
Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy within the German capital’s female-only bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms
Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.
Written by: Jack Styler
Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”
What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.
Written by: Uwade
Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets
“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.
Written by: Hannah Bentley
Frazer Clarke: “I had a hole in my leg, I’m very lucky to be alive”
Hard Feelings — For our interview column on masculinity and fatherhood, the Olympic boxing medallist speaks to Robert Kazandjian about hard graft, the fear and triumph of his first fight, and returning to the ring after being stabbed on a night out.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian
Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer
Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.
Written by: Miss Rosen