Herman M Gay, Jul 13, 2014
The Union Town Church of Christ ushers participate in a
grand march as a closing activity for their 2014 Ushers' Anniversary.
-snip-
Notice that the ushers wear a cap on their head and hold their white gloved left hand behind their back. The ushers wear white gloves on both of their hands. These are three old school usher customs.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents a definition of what "Grand March" means in the context of African American churches.
This pancocojams post also presents some responses to the question "Why are [church] Grand Marches done?"
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these showcase videos, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click
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WHAT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH USHER BOARD "GRAND MARCHES"?
In the context of African American churches, "The Grand March" is a processional (procession/march) in which a ministry of the church-in this case "the usher board or usher boards" marches around the sanctuary or the convention auditorium during that ministry's anniversary or during that ministry's convention. I refer to church Grand Marches as "march arounds" because the marchers usually encircle the sanctuary several times.
Grand Marches ("march arounds") shouldn't be confused with "march ins" when the marchers enter the sanctuary or the convention auditorium or some other large room for the beginning of Sunday church service (particularly in the case of the choir/s) or when the marchers enter the sanctuary or another room at the beginning of their anniversary program.
EXPLANATIONS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES "GRND MARCHES"
Here's a response that was posted to the question in the discussion thread for the YouTube video given as Example #7 below:
Here's a comment from the discussion thread for this video that was written in response to the request " Does anyone know where the tradition come from???”
BlindFocus1. 2018
"If you look at African and indigenous cultures all over the world, dance and vibrant expressions were forms of worship. I would imagine that the same logic applies here. Historically, African American Protestant Christians in the US incorporated the few remnants of their African heritage into their worship services, as church was one of the only placed where they found liberty of expression amidst an oppressive society. Also, historically, SOME protestant churches in the US have been more expressive especially qhen compared to Catholic masses, allowing their members and attendees for freedom for various types of expression. The minister's words at the end speak volumes about how the house of the Lord is to be a place of creativity and rejoicing."
Basically that same question was found in the discussion thread for another YouTube video on church usher board Grand Marches:
Here are three responses to that same question:
1. Gerald Haynes Jr, 2018
"Hey can someone explain 2 ME, what the march is about. N does it have 2 do
w worship. I'm uninformed on this
way. Thanks 4 ur positive response now. 😁"
**
Reply
2. omooshun, 2018
"Usually the ushers do this March on their annual day. It's
for appreciation for their service basically."
**
Reply
3. rachelmm05, 2018
"Its part of a special anniversary/service that honors the
choir, deacon board, ladies group, men group, the ushers, etc. They march so everyone can see whose being honored for
that day. Its usually some guest churches and a speaker. None of it is required
or mentioned in the bible, its long standing traditions of men."
**
Reply
4. Azizi Powell, 2018
"This type of march that encircles the church sanctuary which
is done in Black American churches has its earliest roots in the religious ring
shout. Here's some information about the ring shout from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_shout:
"A shout or ring shout is an ecstatic, transcendent religious ritual,
first practiced by African slaves in the West Indies and the United States, in
which worshipers move in a circle while shuffling and stomping their feet and
clapping their hands. Despite the name, shouting aloud is not an essential part
of the ritual.
The ring shout was practiced in some African American churches into the 20th century, and it continues to the present among the Gullah people of the Sea Islands....
In the twentieth century some African-American churchgoers
in the United States performed shouts by forming a circle around the pulpit,[3]
in the space in front of the altar, or around the nave"...
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I agree with the other two responses that were written, but I wanted to add that information for its historical and spiritual perspectives.
I also believe that "Grand Marches" are done as a big nod to African Americans (and other Black people's love and enjoyment of pageantry.
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Here's a memory of usher marches that was shared in the discussion thread for this YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y45ar50oNFw, Saint Paul Baptist Church 96th Anniversary Celebration Usher
March
David, 2021
"Who remembers when the Usher board used to March around
and put their offering in first then we go behind them that's real Church what
we have now is not church"
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I'm not sure when this "march around" occurred, Was it during the regular Sunday church service or during a special event such as the usher's anniversary program?
These videos are given in no particular order.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Ushers Marching To The Glory of God
JorNic96. Nov 2, 2010
The Church Ushers Association of Brklyn & L.I March
the way ushers are suppose to
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - New Bethel MBC of Los Angeles Sr. Usher Board
ljhshorty, May 23, 2013
2013 Usher Annual Day Grand March by the Sr. Usher Board.
-snip-
The influence of military marches is clear in this example.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - FWC Usher Celebration 2007 pt1
clltube1, Aug 26, 2007
This is the style of worship received at Family "What a
Church" where worship is a family affair.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- FWC Usher Celebration 2007 pt 2
clltube1, Aug 26, 2007
This is how Family Worship Center Greeters Welcomes their
guest into the Lords house.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 -True Life Community Worship Center Greeter/Ushers March
Walking Mary Mary
meekie true life jones. Oct 1, 2016
09/30/16 Ushers/Greeters Program
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 - VICKIE WINANS "HOW I GOT OVER" Ushers march
Tanya Nemley, Apr 16, 2011
-snip-
This usher's march is a very creative choreographed routine of 1940s style interpretive Jazz dancing. A commenter in this discussion thread (or the discussion thread for Part II) wrote that the man who is leading the dancing is the choreographer of that dance. Unfortunately, the choreographer's name wasn't given.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #8 - Westbury Gospel Tabernacle Usher's anniversary Part 2
Tanya Nemley, May 12, 2011
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