tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post5198600430568429298..comments2024-03-29T08:48:14.872-04:00Comments on pancocojams: Black Fraternity & Sorority Calls (Information & Comments)Azizi Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-40428879520206804572022-09-17T07:27:56.900-04:002022-09-17T07:27:56.900-04:00Anonymous, thank you for adding to the historical ...Anonymous, thank you for adding to the historical record about historically Black Greek letter organization.<br /><br />I appreciate it. For the historical record, I love it if you had shared which organization created its call in the 1940s and where and what its call was.<br /><br />As I mentioned in this post, I'm an inactive member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc (Gamma Zeta chapter, New Jersey). I became inactive shortly after I went over in 1967 as I decided to devote my attention to college and to the afrocentric organization The Committee For Unified Newark). The only direct information that I have about historically Black Greek letter organizaions since that time is my attendance at step shows, and knowing friends and other people who have joined these organizations.<br /><br />For the historical and cultural record, I would appreciate other corrections you or others make to my posts about historically Black Greek letter organizations.<br /><br />And I agree with you that these organizations benefit their communities.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Azizi Powell <br /><br />Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-40844673304504330282022-09-17T00:47:26.832-04:002022-09-17T00:47:26.832-04:00As a member of one these organizations, who comes ...As a member of one these organizations, who comes from generations of family being members of the Divine 9; SO much of the information you've given is plain old wrong. I'm a direct descendant of a member of one of the organizations who became a member in college. This Family member was on "the line" that came up with our organizations call. If my family member were still alive, she'd be over 100 now. Our call was made in the 40's; not the 70's lol. That's just ONE example. I know, personally, from one of the people who invented it, how and why the call was developed...and it's not even close to what I've read in anything I've read here, lol. Organizations of the Divine 9 have their own traditions; some are acceptable to be done in public and a lot are not. That's just how it is; certain things are sacred and you will never get the actual real answer unless you become a member and learn the history beyond what's available to the public. Even people who tell you they aren't active members anymore and will tell you how "it really is", probably aren't giving you accurate information; not purposely, but because they just have misinformation that is widespread. I'd probably be just as ignorant, even as a member, if my family hadn't been so involved since the 1940's. Its very to similar to attending an HBCU (Historically Black College or University). Traditions are sacred and go back to when the schools began. Traditions seem silly to people who didnt attend. The attire required for certain ceremonies, the reason people continue to attend Homecoming and reunions for the rest of their lives, etc; its all about the history taught during that 1st week freshman year. Following tradition shows how much sacrifice went into instilling a way for marginalized young men and women to be able to get an education. Giving back and donations are just one way to help other marginalized youth achieve their goals and attend college; its not to throw a party. Lastly, I just want to add that everyone joins their organization for a different reason. Everything from wanting to be "part of the group" for the "prestige" to fully believing in their particular organizations purpose and being dedicated to the work; believe me, these are like businesses and members work HARD to reach goals set to help their communities; both immediate and global. I guess you can get an idea of why I became a member, lol. It's a lifetime commitment to helping others; I see more members of the Divine 9 cleaning up playgrounds, going door to door to help people register to vote, start mentoring programs for youth of all ages, organizing food drives for local shelters and food pantries than I've EVER seen throw a party or a cookout. If that's all people see, that's all they want to see. <br />Regardless, thank you for trying to shine a brighter light on the greater purpose behind black Greek Organizations 🙏🏽Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-33966427769335221672019-12-23T12:00:48.402-05:002019-12-23T12:00:48.402-05:00Anonymous, thank you. I didn't catch that misi...Anonymous, thank you. I didn't catch that misinformation in the excerpt I quoted from that university. I'll add a note in that post with the correct information that you've shared.Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-38041244482808013272019-12-23T09:26:13.940-05:002019-12-23T09:26:13.940-05:00@Azizi Powell
You posted:
Three of the four hist...@Azizi Powell<br /><br />You posted: <br />Three of the four historically Black fraternities are members of NIC. Those historically Black fraternities are:<br />Kappa Alpha Psi<br />Alpha Phi Alpha<br />Iota Phi Theta<br />not Omega Psi Phi"<br />Source: http://nicindy.org/about/members/ [retrieved June 30, 2017<br /><br />Correction:<br />There are five historically black fraternities. You forgot and/or omitted Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc (which is a member of the NIC).<br /><br />Member Fraternities - NIC | North American Interfraternity Conference<br />https://nicfraternity.org/member-fraternities/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-44695261069894519382019-12-19T23:03:33.195-05:002019-12-19T23:03:33.195-05:00Pappa-Ra, thank you for sharing that information a...Pappa-Ra, thank you for sharing that information about the WSSU cheerleaders call.<br /><br />There's far too little information about WSSU cheerleading and other past and present traditions and customs associated with stomp and shake cheerleading. That is one aspect of African American culture that I've attempted to document, with particular attention to the oral traditions although the information and examples that I share in a number of pancocojams blog posts (tag: stomp and shake cheerleading) aren't from my direct experiences.<br /><br />For the historical record, please share more information and correct misinformation on the subject of WSSU cheerleaders and other stomp and shake cheerleading squads by writing more comments and/or contacting me at azizip 17 at yahoo dot com.<br /><br />Thanks again for sharing information and kudos for being a part of history as a former WSSU Cheerleader, Co-Captain, and CoachAzizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-66164834630099896792019-12-19T20:02:04.491-05:002019-12-19T20:02:04.491-05:00As a former WSSU Cheerleader, Co-Captain, and Coac...As a former WSSU Cheerleader, Co-Captain, and Coach, I think the waters have been mudded over the years with our (ad lib). Yes, our cheering squad does make a sound (PRESENTLY) that does sound similiar with an E-Yip of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. However, this has happened because our original sound (ad lib) has been transformed to what you hear today. Our original sound was more of a blllllrrrryip (rolling of the tongue) to make the noise. Unfortunately, the new members couldn't really make the rolling sound noise; thus, they make up for it with what you hear on youtube these days. AGAIN, WE WEREN'T TRYING TO SOUND LIKE A SORORITY CALL. Things just evolved that way.Pappa-Rahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09062383985547999020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-60446471698539723752017-08-18T00:14:29.694-04:002017-08-18T00:14:29.694-04:00Thanks for your comment, Dean. I assume that your ...Thanks for your comment, Dean. I assume that your comments refer to Black Greek Letter Organizations. <br /><br />I appreciate your beginning point that fraternity and sorority hand signs were created after the 1940s as there are no pictures of those signs in photographs before those years. (I also note that you included calls in that comment though it seems to me that photographs couldn't document calls.)<br /><br />I also recognize that the rest of your comment is your opinion and you are entitled to that although I very much disagree with most of what you shared, especially your last point that all Greeks do is "throw cool parties and barbecues in college". <br />Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-3652819279219594972017-08-17T17:53:32.011-04:002017-08-17T17:53:32.011-04:00The hand signs weren't part of the organizatio...The hand signs weren't part of the organizations, when they were created. Look at pics from the 1900s - 1940s approx. You won't see any hand signs. I personally think hand signs and calls are stupid! It's origination was on the net; I had read about it years ago. Stepping is okay, in the proper setting. No harm in asking when was it created, just like asking when was the org. created. 1906, 08, etc... No problem in disclosing that info. Some Greeks act stink. Most Greeks have no problem telling you. Don't ask what is the meaning, that's really none ya biz.<br />If your not in it...who gives f**k? Pay Greeks no mind. I've seen nasty ones and laugh as I refuse to donate a penny to their org. Older you get, the more irrelevant they become. They just throw cool parties and barbecues in college.Deanhttp://www.dean.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-56182522668437399152014-02-06T07:21:25.646-05:002014-02-06T07:21:25.646-05:00I just happened upon several comments in the viewe...I just happened upon several comments in the viewer comment thread of this video of Winston-Salem State University's stomp and shake cheerleading squad's call being similar to an [un-named] sorority's calls: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAVz7StUoow" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAVz7StUoow</a> "WSSU CHEERLEADERS FOR MTV (watch in High Quality)<br /><br />I believe that that sorority call the commenters referred to was that of Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc. However, the commenters who wrote in support of WSSU refuted that there was any connection between that squad's calls and the call of that sorority.<br /><br />Here's one of those comments:<br />"<br />lilpimpok, 2012<br />in reply to AORaines<br />They don't "eyyuppp" to mock sororities. They do it because the "eyyuuup" is more like an accent for the cheer. Its just to give the cheer a little more life and flavor. The majority of HBCU cheerleaders incorporate the "eeyyuup" in their cheers but of course it originated from the mighty WSSU cheerleaders A.K.A Cheer Phi!"<br />-snip-<br />HBCU= Historically Black Colleges And Universities<br /><br />A.K.A. in that quote means "also known as".<br />Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.com