On Sunday, 16 members of the Young Rollers Social Aid and Pleasure Club danced out the door of the Treme Community Center with every outfit freshly pressed and perfectly decorated.
Ten years ago, Jahmad Randolph, then 15, instilled the club with a mission of nonviolence and launched it with the support of his parents, Markeith and Trishekka “Shekka” Tero, the musicians from Da Truth Brass Band, and his two younger brothers, Markiaj, now 16; and Aiden, now 15.
Markiaj and Aiden were in primary school at the time, but they remember it was their favorite parade. “It was the funnest year,” said Aiden. “It was something new. I felt a real sense of joy.”
Jahmad christened it the Young Rollers, to imbue the club with a certain state of mind, he said, one that was rooted in freedom and motion…