Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - "Alpha Walk" (also known as the "Ape Walk") videos and comments

 

Drkch03, Apr 21, 2008

A Phi A Ape Walking at FISS 2008 Greek Fest

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - May 7, 2023

This pancocojams post showcases six videos of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc's Alpha Walk (also known as the Alpha Stroll, the Ape Walk, and other names.)

This post also presents two essays from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Historians who are critical about the use of  "ape" as a referent and/or symbol for members for that historically Black Greek letter fraternity. 

In addition, this pancocojams post presents some comments about the Alpha Walk ("Ape Walk") from discussion threads for four of these YouTube videos.  The other two videos have no comments in their discussion threads (as of May 6, 2023). 

Note that there are other YouTube videos of the Alpha Walk (also known as the "Ape Walk" or "Alpha Stroll"). 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.
-snip-
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  [for instance: Alpha Phi Alpha pancocojams] to find other posts in this series.

**

A version of this pancocojams post was published in 2019 and was accidentally deleted. Some of the content in this post is different from the content in that previous post. 

**
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.

****
STATEMENTS FROM TWO ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. HISTORIANS

Statement #1
From https://www.facebook.com/btlalpha/posts/a-moment-in-alpha-history-alpha-man-or-ape-manthe-historical-context-of-this-mom/734498876564239/ 

Beta Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

October 29, 2013 ·

A Moment In Alpha History: Alpha Man or Ape Man
..."It was a little over four decades after slavery and sixteen years after the first African-American students graduated from Cornell University, in the 1905-1906 academic school year, the response came after the feeling of isolation and the real challenges of being black students scattered broadly across a wide Cornell University campus, it was then that a few educated black young students, not apes, decided to create a social study club. This club served the dual purpose of helping the men with scholastic studies as well as providing a structure to build a community and a fellowship. The young men who envisioned a solid foundation of leadership, scholarship, and brotherhood to conceptualize a model for all other black Greek-letter organizations to follow, transformed the lives of its members, and provided the country with some of its most distinguished leaders.

On the sloping hills of Cornell University, on December 4th during a period through the racial barriers of time, seven young men founded the conception of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, in Ithaca, New York. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity revered those young men as our “Seven Jewels”, saw the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in this country not apes. ”Society offered us narrowly circumscribed opportunity and no security. Out of our need, our Fraternity brought social purpose and social action. We wanted more than the traditional American college fraternity. Our job ahead required a fellowship, which would embrace those millions outside the ’talented tenth.’ We realize that the leaders of any people emerge chiefly from the best-trained, best oriented members of the group”. Jewel Henry Arthur Callis.

I say all of this today in this moment whereby I was in conversation with another gentlemen from another fellow Greek fraternity spoke to me and greeted me “What’s up Ape Man”? Little did he know he caused a firestorm of a response, which led to an apology on his behalf? The efforts of our founders and the opportunity to join this great fraternity, I was not look upon as an ape but at a young man to say what I can do for Alpha. I dare not belittle the dream of the founders to refer to my fellow Alpha men as an Ape Man. I even had a small thought what if we replace some poems with “There goes an Ape Man” or “To be an Ape Man” or “Test of an Ape”….

Our founders, just in case you forgot, Jewel Callis, Jewel Chapman, Jewel Jones, Jewel Kelly, Jewel Murray, Jewel Ogle, Jewel Tandy, were well inform, educated, intellectual young black men, who set the standards of other men to follow. From a period where black men were ridiculed with the “N” word or with the mocking of being associated with an ape or monkey as our place of origin or classification, but our founders saw a different black men to represent our heritage as Noble, educated, men of class and of industry. What disappoints me is to constantly see the misrepresentation of Alpha Phi Alpha associated with presentation of an Ape as our symbol, sounds or moniker. Have we gone back in time to Jim Crow or should we live in the future. I take the stand to no longer support the continuation the use of the APE out of the context that it is intended to be the face for Alpha. I ask you today what symbol do you want to represent Alpha Phi Alpha now or in the next 50 years. But I can assure you today and when I’m called into the Omega Chapter, that I’m not an Ape-man. I stand before you as an Alpha man. This is your moment in Alpha History.

Brother Sean Hall, Historian"
-snip-
I reformatted this excerpt to increase its readability. 
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_r5zdPkDZE for a YouTube video entitled #1 Alpha Phi Alpha Stroll 2009 BE. ( NC A&T )". This video shows Alphas doing what is described as an "old school" stroll while wearing a t-shirt with the word " APE".

****

Statement #2
From https://apa1906.net/the-derogatory-meaning-of-the-ape-a-perspective-from-the-national-historian/ "The Derogatory Meaning Of The Ape From The National Historian"

..."When racists want to denigrate African Americans, they usually compare us to animals, more specifically “apes,” as Roseanne Barr tweeted on Monday, May 28th, about Valerie Jarrett, who served in the White House as Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. White racists, who could not stomach the presence of African Americans in the White House in any capacity other than as servants, often referred to Barack and Michelle Obama as “apes.” 

[...]

Many Brothers want to use some form of transformation to mark the transition from pledge to member of Alpha Phi Alpha. They have seized on the metaphor of evolution from “ape” to “man.” But that metaphor is fraught with stereotypical dangers with which we should not want to be associated. Other than evolution, we could use other models such as metamorphosis. Or, we could use qualifications for membership in a guild from apprenticeship, to journeyman, to master craftsman. We could adapt rites of passage programs that avoid stereotypes. Stereotypes die hard, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity of all organizations should not be complicit in perpetuating them. The image of the “ape” is not one with which we should want to be associated. It runs counter to everything that Alpha Phi Alpha was built on and stands for. In its verb form, “to ape,” means to imitate. While others might base their organizations on brute strength, men of Alpha are leaders and men of intellect who set the standard for others to follow. We do not “ape” anyone or anything and need to abandon the image of the “ape.”

Bro. Robert L. Harris Jr., Ph.D.
National Historian"
-snip-
No publishing date was given with this statement, but it was probably published in 2018. Click https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roseanne-barr-racist-valerie-jarrett-tweet-also-compared-susan-rice-to-ape/ for the May 30, 2018 article entitled "Roseanne Barr compared Susan Rice, another black Obama official, to an ape in 2013".
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE VIDEO EMBEDDED AT THE TOP OF THIS PANCOCOCJAMS POST
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKMGpWnzm5k

1. carolinaNatl, 2008
"Yep it's called the "Alpha Walk" here in GA. The Delta Eta chapter at Savannah State University started it even before I came in (in spring 02). Mic Checka by Daz Efx is the official song thanks to our old heads - and thanks to our many roads trips and step shows, everyone knows it! AAAAAA PHHHII!!!!!

Phi-Skee!!!"

**
2. carolinaNatl,2008
"The original is a lil bit different though"

**
3. pettisk28, 2009
"Not sure who this is, but I read your post and wanted to correct you...The Alpha Walk was created by the Beta Nu Chapter of A Phi A at Florida A&M in the early 1990s when Mic Checka remix came out."
-snip-
"Mic Checka"  by the Hip Hop group Das EFX was released in  July 1992. source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mic_Checka .

**
Reply
4. carolinaNatl, 2009
"Wow...uh ok. I heard of the florida walk that your band used to do (correct me if I'm wrong). I see this is pretty important to you. No one trying to take credit away. Thanks for your 2 cents...Great job...

We spread it through roads trips (always visiting another school - especially here in GA) and of course conventions. I think we deserve a little credit for it's popularity - and no one does it like us either (not that I care). Do you guys still do it?"

**
Reply
5. pettisk28, 2009
"My bad for coming on so strong, but the reason why I responded like that is because far too often, proper credit is not given for certain things especially within the frat.  

Anyway, yes, we do the alpha walk at the end of each party we have, as well as other parties and we do it at steps shows, frat house BBQs, etc.  I think if you search Beta Nu Alphas, you may be able to see same clips of the current guys doing it.

Take care of yourself bruh, and thanks for doing the Alpha walk."
-snip-
Showcase Video #6 in this post shows some Beta Nu Alphas doing this stroll in 2021.Tw

**
4. Shawn Skinner, 2012
"whats the name of the song they strolling to?"
**
Reply
5. Ben Moore
"Mic checka das efx"
**
6. LooseEnds06, 2009
"Another thing, although I don't know who started doing if first, but from my recollection, the Ape Walk was being done by brothers all over the country.  I remember going to my first Nat'l Conv in the 80's and being in awe at 100's of brothers in line doing the Ape Walk around the ballroom after the stepshow.  Although we called it the Ape Walk - that was pretty much the only thing that we glorified of the Ape image.  Alpha men held up the true frat images of the SPHINX, PYRAMIDS and PHAROAHS!"

**
Reply
7. radiorasun,2022
"Say it again brother"

**
8. bulletsnr, 2009
"In the midwest, it's called the 'Old Man'.  No matter what it's called, it's the ish and I miss that ish!

#2 Khafre, Fall '97, Bloody O!"

**
9. LooseEnds06, 2009
"Let me put my 7 cents in - I pledged in the 80's before Mic Checka was ever a song and the Alphas were doing the Ape Walk back then even before I pledged!!! And yes, we called it the Ape Walk then! These brothers are doing the Ape Walk as we did then, but the Ape Walk was a smooth and cool party hop.  We also placed our right hand on the right shoulder of the brother in front of us while doing the Ape Walk too! And just as these brothers are saying "my leg, my leg, my %#& leg," we did as well!"
**
10. syion100, 2013
"The gorrilla mask guy and the one next to him was killing that sh-t.*"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Alphas Ape Walk at Sunshine State Classic

Dwayne Brown, Apr 6, 2008

The bruhs APE WALKING after winnning The 13th Annual Sunshine State Classic Stepshow at FAU

****

SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - FAU, FIU, Miami ALPHAS ape walk at the University of Miami Miss Black & Gold Pageant

FAUAlphasUT, Mar 19, 2012
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Infamous APhiA Stroll

BigMonayBlamz, Apr 17, 2012

Had to do an english project on something relating to FSU so I decided to do it on the NPHC and the MGC. This is just a part of my project, I recorded the Infamous Iota Delta Chapter of  Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc strolling at FSU's marekt Wednesday during Alpha weeek.
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSPTNseaq4k

1. DinnerPlateTheRapper, 2015
"Why is it infamous ?"

**
Reply
2. Zay, the Breakfast God, 2015
"+DinnerPlateTheRapper Infamous is their chapter's nickname. (Infamous Iota Delta)

**
3. M Mcintyre, 2016
"love this one,,,,mixing a little old school 1980's step with a little of the new.........and still under control enough so that a 60 year brother in Alpha can still jump out and step.      My first Alpha Walk,,,,had a frat on my line that had crossed in 1947 when I crossed in 1981."

**
4. JUMBO PAPER KLIPS 08, 2016
"....AIN'T NOTHING  LIKE THAT ALPHA STROLL!!...08!"

**
5. M Mcintyre, 2017
"OLd school Alpha Walkin'"

**
6. Myron Brown, 2021
"That looked like my ole school ‘walk’ from 1983!"

**
Reply
7. Robin Bryant, 2022
"06 frat if you look at their footwork it IS the same stroll we did in 83 with a few modifications."

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 -Alpha Male Walk 

deucesp11, Mar 30, 2015

.... This is how an Alpha Male walks.
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
M Mcintyre, 2017
"Old school Walkin' and with that you could walk with a 70 year old bruh just same as a 19 year old bruh,,,,,,,,,some things need to stay traditional"
-snip-
Alpha Phi Alpha's Alpha Walk (also known as the "Ape Walk") was performed long before mainstream social media's Alpha male meme. However, those positive memes about how dominant males (called "Alpha males" look and act undoubtedly reinforced that fraternity's positive view about theirAlpha walking. Click https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/alpha/ "alpha male/where does alpha come from"-July 13, 2018  and click https://www.politicsphere.com/how-alpha-males-walk/ "How Alpha Males Walk" Desmond K by Desmond K  May 7, 2022

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. | Beta Nu Chapter | FAMU

Everlasting Decisions, Sep 25, 2021
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqWnn3mfbyw

1. Van Wade, 2021
"Looking good Brothers.🖤💛🤙🏾"

**
Reply
2. Bishop The Poetry Man, 2021
"ICE!!! 🤙🏾"

**
Reply
3. Frozen Creative LLC, 2021
"Thats COOOOOOLD!!!! 🤙🏾"

**
Reply
4. MarleySheen, 2021
"ICE COLD🧊 as always 🤙🏾"

**
5. Imani Malik Butler, 2021
"Can anyone explain what these movements are about and where they come from? I don’t see anything that I recognize and I was a stepmaster in the mid to late 90’s (A PHI A, Alpha Delta, Spring ‘94). So I know the steps very well.  I know our signature train motions and the common fraternity movements that distinguish dancing from stepping and the styles that separate Alphas from Kappas and others.

 

But none of what I see in this video is familiar. And info on the source material, choreography, origin, significance, etc. would be greatly appreciated. ‘06"

**
Reply
6. MarQos MarQos, 2021
"Its called the Ape walk phrat. Its been around a long time. Search for videos on youtube. I pledged spring 92 Eta Mu. Peace."

**
Reply
7. videobrownsville,2021
"Everything must change...even strolls"

**
Reply
8. KAM, 2023
"@videobrownsville  they been doing this stroll for over 3 decades."

**
Reply
9. videobrownsville, 2023
"@KAM  I actually like that stroll

**
Reply
10. KAM, 2023
"@videobrownsville  it's timeless"

**
11. Dior, 2021
"What song in the beginning"

**
Reply
12. TherealCross, 2021
"Mic checka" 

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.