Members Of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Wearing Gold Boots & Military Fatigues In Their Step Show Or Probate Performances

 

Shawn Johnson, Feb 16, 2022
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Cincinnati, Ohio 

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision -March17, 2024

This pancocojams post showcases seven YouTube videos of members of the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi wearing gold boots and military fatigue pants and/or military fatigue shirts during their step show or probate* performances.

*"Probates" are performances when new members of Black Greek Letter Organizations are introduced to the public for the first time.

An article excerpt about the influence of some branches of the United States military upon the cultures of historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) is included in this post. This post also includes my editorial notes on the Omega Psi Phi custom of wearing gold boots and military fatigues in many of their step show performances.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all past and present members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the producers and publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to Tamara Brown for her quote on the United States' military's influence on the cultures of historically Black Greek letter fraternities. 
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Please help identify the city/state and/or university of the Omega Psi Phi chapters that are showcased in these videos. Thanks! 

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ARTICLE EXCERPT
From African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision edited by Tamara Brown
Google Books, p 327-329
"The military has played a large part in the formation and continuation of BGLO chants and steps. One might even say that the performance behaviors of both the military and BGLOs exist in a type of symbiotic relationship.... As a result of blacks entering the military before, during, and after attending college, one find BGLO behavior in the military, and military behavior in BGLO system.

The brothers of Omega Psi Phi with their paramilitary garb, trace stepping back to the military influence of the 1900s. Ex-soldiers attending college would incorporate marches and drills into their BGLO performance…Shannon Rawls of Kappa Alpha Psi elaborated: “Members of black organizations, brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi...who went to the military for World War II in the late ’30s and early ‘40s would come back home and incorporate some of the same cadence and military style back into....the stepping style, or into the dancing style that they did.”

Stepping during that early period was called lining, descriptive of the formation in which soldiers march. Some Omegas and other BGLO members still refer to stepping as marching on account of this early military influence.

This military behavior is further observed in the clothing, stance, and marching of BGLO members. Part of the basic working military wardrobe consists of camouflage pants, or fatigues, and combat boots. These garments, though found in all fraternities, are especially prevalent in brothers of Omega Psi Phi..."
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"BGLO" = Black Greek letter[ed] Organizations
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/military-influences-on-fraternity.html for the closely related 2013 pancocojams post entitled "Military Influences On Fraternity & Sorority Steppin."

Additions and corrections are welcome.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES
This pancocojams post doesn't mean to indicate or imply that members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.always wear gold boots and/or military fatigues during their step show or their probate performances. Omegas (Ques) may wear other clothing with gold boots or with black boots during those performances. 

Members of other historically Black Greek letter fraternities may wear military fatigues, but they have not and never will wear gold boots. Purple and old gold are the colors for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and wearing gold boots indicates that  men are members of that brotherhood. I believe that Omegas wear gold boots only during their performance in step shows or during other special occasions.

The custom of members of historically Black Greek letter fraternities wearing military fatigues reflects the heavy influence that the United States military, particularly in the Marines and the Army have had upon the formation and cultures of historically Black Greek letter organizations. 

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS 
These videos are numbered for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - FISS 2011 UF Omega Psi Phi

Chloe Clark, Feb 21, 2011

Lamar Abel Tribute R.I.P.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - TAU Chapter Spr 2018 Probate Show

CraftyDog5, Jun 10, 2018 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Desert Dawgs of DAA OMEGA PSI PHI 2022 Hop Show

Fisher Junk, March 2, 2022  

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Alpha Iota Iota Chapter Spring 23' New Member Presentation - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

TJ Riley, May 23, 2023

North Dallas Ques 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - The Funky Four Corners Of Omega Psi Phi! 12th District

@set.thever!, 2022 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 - The 2014 Texas State University Yard Show: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.



Jordan Moments L.L.C., Sep 16, 2014

 The 2014 Texas State University - San Marcos Yard Show was hosted by The National Pan-Hellenic Council at Texas State University. This is a video of the Xi Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. from Texas State University performing in this event.

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