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Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Videos & Comments About Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternities/Sororities "Old School" Step Shows


John Sharkey, Feb 13, 2011

Let's see how many folks out there enjoy seeing an old school Step Show.  This Step Show was before School Daze.  I hope you all enjoy it.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases five YouTube videos of historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority "old school" step shows. In order of their appearance, these videos feature: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 


In this post, "old school" means "before 2000."

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this post, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/01/alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority-1987-step.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority - 1987 Step Show At Howard University, (Part I & Part II videos & comments)".

That post includes a video and some comments that are showcased in this 2023 post. However, that 2021 post also includes explanations for BGLO terminology such as “crossed” (cross over; crossed the burning sands”).  

This 2023 pancocojams post includes a few explanations that aren't included in that 2021 post. 

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This is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities. Click the tags below or google [the name of the fraternity or sorority] pancocojams to find other posts in this series.

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Historically Black Greek letter fraternity & sorority chants and songs are part of African American culture that can be appreciated by people inside and outside of those organizations. Examples of these performances and compositions are cultural artifacts that should be collected, preserved, and studied along with information and comments about those performances/compositions.

However, in accordance with the cultural traditions, historically Black Greek letter fraternity & sorority chants and songs should only be recited and/or performed by those who are members or pledges of the specific organization that is affiliated with that particular chant.

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COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR VIDEO #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3kzXh-MtmY&t=199s

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1. Adrian Michael Green, 2001
"Old School showmanship.

Quality is there, and they had fun.

Look at the threads of the bruhs and those watching."

I appreciate the post!


2. KingJames432, 2001
"i'm an Omega.. but love how all the greeks stepped back in the days..""

Less being 'hard' and more showmanship.
-snip-
"Omega" = a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

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Reply
3. Hyphenated08, 2001
"@KingJames432 How about going 'hard' AND showmanship.  Cause this 'ish is mad LUKE."

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4. Derrick Landers, 2013
"Class, showmanship and entertaining...good show all the way around - Dougie Fresh said it best..."Let's take it back to the Old School!" "

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5. Eddie Francis, 2013
"This is the kind of stepping I learned. This is when cats didn't take themselves so seriously. Loved watching this. \^^^/ '06!"

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Reply
6. M Mcintyre, 2020
"Frat Double A was always serious from 1979, when I first saw them and after I took my last line over in 1986.......and one of the Bruhs is a choreographer of Broadway and Vegas and another was the Lion King & Mr Color Purple. In the touring company of  Color purple//////our biggest lose was not voting Grammy winner Donald Lawrence to be on that spring 1982 line..."

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7. randall bergeon, 2015
"This is when Bros. pledged and stepped.  We would soul step and sing for 20 mins. at Pi Chapter parties back in the early 70's.  06 my Brothers"

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8. dayo4ever, 2015
"Get post,we need to see more old school videos like this. 10 mins without breaks or skits that eat up time, very nICE! 06
-snip-
"Get post" probably a typo for "Great post".

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9. Corruption Fighter, 2019
"Think about the transitions, there were no delays to take a breather, just one step after another - I was made back in the old days (over 30+ years ago) and you  tried to wait for a few greek calls and claps and just kept moving - makes me tired just thinking of all that energy

I like new school stepping too because over time we should change and/or improve for the betterment of the organization as well as adjust and adapt to the present times so to Old School and New School I say, - Get It Greeks!

Oh yes and can we all at least recognize the other D9 organizations (you dont have to give homage, just say Greetings Most Noble Greek of ... for the men and for the women, Greetings to the Women of... or Greetings to ... Sorority Inc.).  We are still one NPHC

A Silver Soror of AKA"
-snip-
NPHC= The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative umbrella council composed of historically African American fraternities and sororities also referred to as Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council 
-snip-
The "Divine Nine" is an informal referent for the BGLO (historically Black Greek letter organizations) as a group. The Divine Nine consists of five historically Black Greek letter fraternities and four historically Black Greek letter sororities. 

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10. keon sellers, 2020
"This sounds like the same step they did in school days"

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Reply
11. John Sharkey, 2020
"I agree.  We did this in 1984 in Omaha Nebraska.  So School Daze came out in 1986 [incorrect date].  It does look similar right?  Those were the steps back in that period."
-snip-
School Daze is a 1988 American movie about African American college life, including fraternities and sororities that was written and directed by Spike Lee. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_Daze

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M Mcintyre, 2020
"
FYI, notice no goddamn whistle,,,,,,,but that comes with PLEDGING
-snip-
Blowing a whistle during a BGLO stepping or strolling routine started after the popularity of Too Short's 2006 Hip Hop song "Blow The Whistle".

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a70sgirl63, 2022
"
Skee-Wee 💚💗1984; love ole school stepping and not all that ape stuff and kappa shimmy stuff."
-snip-
"Skee Wee" is the signature call for members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (AKA)

"ape stuff" refers to contemporary signature moves of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (A PHI A) 

"kappa shimmy stuff" refers to contemporary signature moves of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. ("Kappas", also known as "Nupes". 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -Part 1, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Chapter - Greek Show 1987, Howard University - #33QGOG



Linda Looney- YouTube, Aug 12, 2010

Howard University, Greek Show, 1987
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only

1. AKAhoneydip1908, 2012
"Wow, absolutely AMAZING!!! @LJBNews, Thank you so much for posting! I so love the sorority shout outs. You NEVER see such things now. Sorors you were/are classy, sophisticated and beautiful. I miss old school shows like this one. Great job Sorors! SKEEEEEEE WEEEEE!"

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2. Khei Burroughs-Kirkland, 2013
"that ripple was hot.. where they do that at now???????"

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3. Keisha Dobie, 2016
"Maybe I'm in a time warp, but I still believe that is how a step show should be performed.  Crisp, clean, and classy!!"

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4. Richie Hughes, 2017
"Linda Looney Bond I subscribed to you page! I love seeing the golden days. There was more class and elegance then. The AKAs of today do exemplify that, but we seemed more adult in our time. I crossed in 1995, APhiA"
-snip-
Click -http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/01/alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority-1987-step.html for Part II of that 1987 step show. 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - 1990 Homecoming Stepshow Kappa Alpha Psi

 

shadow8598, Jan 6, 2017
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only
1. CalBoy, 2018
"And, this level of Nupedom has my ♎respect.  It's been lost to the younger Kappas who carry but canNot step with and twirl their canes. All that shimmying is a 👎😯😒😱😵😷🤒 No for me!!  Where has This kinda precision and appreciation of their traditions gone!?  Sometimes, it seems the younger Kappas are too afraid of losing face if they drop their canes during a show to even try to incorporate Real ol'skool canework into it.  They rely on rolling their shoulders and squatting down instead.  Shit'd!  If you drop it, pick it up and geaux even harder afterward!!  It's Really odd and disconcerting to see some of the stark differences in the D9 and how so many of our newest members have begun to stray from the traditions of organizations built on traditions.  🤔🙄   Idk!  What I do know is that This is how I re♎all y'all getting down once upon a time and I wish it was how you still did.  This was engaging, entertaining, masculine, and slick."

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2. Gwen Renee, 2018
"Thank you.  I knew I could not be the only person wondering what happened to the Nupes.  The current days "nupes" have taken the shimmy to a place that is not a good look.  Lincoln U Kappa's stepped hard and smooth"

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3. HOWS FROM THE NUPE VAULT, 2019
"Bring my NUPE “KANE” BACK!!! The “Shimmy”  is okay but it should be limited in a Nupe step show. I mean very limited"

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4. Corruption Fighter, 2020
"It is all about the Kanes - Bring 'em back (more Kane less shimmy)

I LOVE the stepping for homecoming with the canes and I miss my favorite rhythmic step!!!!!!!!!!

it brought back so many fond memories 💚💗💚"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Slow Motion Que '95



Regina White, 
Oct 6, 2015
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only

1. M.510,2020
"95 is a long time! I say that to say these cat's  or nope my apologies  Those Dog's till got it. Ive seen young Q's only give half the effort  these  Oldschool Dog is giving. Not to dog some  Dogs but i believe these Oldschool  Q's could  take on just about any young one's  today and have a high percentage  then some of the youngs ones that give half effort"

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Reply
2. Yahari Butler, 2020
"Appreciate the compliments.   I am the one in front.   😁💜💛"

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Reply
3. M.510,2020
"@Yahari Butler  Wow ok thank you and I appreciate you speaking on that. My young brother, I sit back and put my head down sometimes because  of how I've seen you in a few videos 📹, and your just having fun and your fun and im sure have been just 60 % effort have been more intense of a show then some, really a lot of Q's video's ive seen or for sure other fraternities have had lackluster performance... but not you or y'all. Yall have it going on"

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Reply
4. Mike Robertson, 2020
"Exactly!  Very exciting to watch this group.  I remember when I was a Senior in high school and we went to a HBCU for a tour; our school bus passed the Ques. And we were yelling for the driver to stop, so we could watch them perform. It was phenomenal to watch Brothers with so much pride and agility! We stayed there for hours chatting it up with them. Great childhood memory.  I attend a lot of Greek gatherings, they just don't show OWT like ole school Ques. They better take notes, and watch the film!🤔🤔"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Stomp 1996 Champs - Delta Sigma Theta

cashe, Apr 17, 2011

Stomp 1996 Delta Sigma Theta from West Chester University and Temple University.  Rho Alpha and Epsilon Delta Chapters
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only

1. BookluverJas, 2011
"This was so awesome.  All the sororities should get back to steppin and less dissin of others.  Uplift their communities, and if they want to chant, make it something positive about their own group, or heck, be bold and be positive about someone elses. :)   This new school style of stepping, dissin, and dressin ( and booty shaking) , is bringing the image down of the sororities today."

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2. Mersadies07, 2011
"This is lovely. I wish I could have seen this type of stepping during that era. It sure would be nice to see this come back. Girls these days just want to be down and have letters but don't want to put in work."

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3. Moochie Paige, 2011
"Now thats the REAL OLD TIME DELTAS!!"

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4. Rhoyalgold, 2011
"..Well done, Old School Style, SistaGreeks. :)"

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5. Madam Thickness, 2012
"This is soooo 90's. Love it."

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6. Branton K. Smith, 2012
"As a newer soror,  I feel that we need to get back to stepping like this..NO DISSING, just positive chanting and promoting things such as today's election.  Even in 1996, they were promoting folk to vote. Coincidence, I think not."

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7. Sexygurl027, 2012
"I was just thinking that. I'm 16 but dang people don't do nothing like this now smh

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8. Ruby Joy White, 2012
"This is the most adorable video I've ever seen!! So positive, it was refreshing! I haven't seen/heard positive chanting like this in a while."

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9. January581,2012
"NOW THATS OLD SCHOOL, BUT THEY DID IT WITH THE UTMOST CLASS AND STYLE. 10 THUMBS UP!"

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10. Leiah Davis, 2017
"Deltas need to get back to this!!! It’s too much dissing nowadays!"

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11. Narutogamer um, 2017
"this is what real stepping is.they took the fun out of it today"

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12. Dee Rich, 2020
"They don't step like this today. Props, spectacle, videos, and sedentary circus shows now. lol."

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13. Chris Jenkins, 2020
"It’s too bad that it’s changed into booty poppin, dissin others, derogatory rap music and which girl can act the most ratchet.  Today they all act like they are paying tribute when in reality, the ladies from back in the day would be disgusted and embarrassed with what their sororities represent and how they carry themselves today."

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14. Careful Observations, 2022
"NOW WHEN THEY SAY…. “Y’all don’t step anymore!” THIS is what THEY are comparing YOU to.

This was nonstop STEPPING! Not recycling something you saw off YouTube, dancing, throwing diss that are lack luster, and not entertaining."

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