tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post8499342397073086211..comments2024-03-28T07:58:41.643-04:00Comments on pancocojams: Four Stomp & Shake Videos - Winston Salem State University Cheerleader's Victory Circle (2013)Azizi Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-16752048777041927432015-05-16T10:49:50.506-04:002015-05-16T10:49:50.506-04:00As an African American folklorist who is intereste...As an African American folklorist who is interested in children's game songs, it occurs to me that the format for much of WSSU's victory circle is a ring (circle) with two people in the middle. This is similar to the "show me your motion" circle games that generations of Black girls have played and still play, but to what appears to me to be a much lesser extent.<br /><br />I'm also interested in the fact that a number of the female WSSU cheerleaders in that 2013 squad had short hair styles. I believe that is a change from the long (flip your hair) hair styles that most Black cheerleaders have worn and still wear (I believe) in conformity with White cheerleaders. For example, a female judge at a HBCU (Historically Black College & University) Dance Audition Prep event says to the women "I wanna see some hair movin" in this video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tlkhi8-bUM" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tlkhi8-bUM</a> "Stand Routine Practice and impromptu" <br /><br />In response to that comment, the dancers make sure they emphasize flipping their hair from side to side while they move. The cultural meaning of that gesture is that the woman knows that she is looking good. While the same braggadocio gesture can be done with short hair, it may not have the same effect.<br /><br />The same flipping your hair back and forth gesture is the basis of Willow Smith's song "Whip My Hair ". Azizi Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.com