In 1974 and over the next 10 years after that, the American Double Dutch League hosted a city-wide competition at New York City’s esteemed Lincoln Center. Two NYC police detectives, David A. Walker (Double Dutch founder) and Ulysses Williams helped to create the competition for purposes bigger than winning golden trophies; it was a space for young women from urban communities to see that their favorite street sport was a world class sport. This competition allowed black and brown little girls a stage to showcase their unique talents.
Fast forward 33 years later and we’re finally seeing this competition return to Lincoln Center with more excitement than ever! The Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA), in association with the National Double Dutch League, presented ‘Til the Street Lights Come On, a two-day event through Lincoln Center Out of Doors, that highlighted the black tradition of double dutch, celebrated the women of color who helped pioneer the sport and set the course for double dutch to become an international phenomenon that influences art and culture. The weekend featured demonstrations, inter-generational jumping, panel discussions, oral history of the sport, a film screening of Pick Up Your Feet, a photo exhibition, a hip-hop concert and of course, the competition. And let’s be real, seeing young black women (and men) jump rope is one of the most joyous and infectious things you could watch.
The founding director of WOCA explained the history of double dutch to The Root and how it’s rooted in blackness. Mr. Walker, who is said to be the founder of the sport said that Dutch settlers brought the game to New Amsterdam (which is now New York City). The game caught on like wildfire and it became a favorite for kids to play while singing rhymes.
By the 1970s, Walker and his partner, Williams made this street game into a sport and on February 14, 1974, the first Double Dutch tournament was held with nearly 600 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students participating. Now that this competition has returned, there’s a whole new generation of kids who not only get to play the sport, but learn about its rich history and impact on American culture. Check out the video above of this year’s double dutch competition to see how the sport has evolved and continues to grow!
