brencia02, Nov 24, 2015
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases five YouTube videos of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. song "We Are Sorors (And We're Striving)".
"We Are Sorors" is an example of a historically Black Greek letter organization (BGLO) song or chant that is an adaptation of an African American Spiritual or an early Gospel song (i.e. composed prior to the 20th century).
"We Are Sorors" is based on the early Gospel song "We Are Soldiers (In the army)" . This song is usually sung by new members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Inc when they proceed in a single file line to their probate*. That song is also usually sung during the beginning of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. probates*. The word "soror" is a clip of the word "sorority" and means "sister'.
The lyrics for "We Are Soldiers" and the lyrics for "We Are Sorors" are included in this pancocojams post.
*A "probate" is a program in which new members of a particular sorority or fraternity are introduced to the public.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to the original unknown composers of the Gospel song "We Are Soldiers (In the army)" Thanks to the composers of the adapted historically Black Greek letter sorority song "We Are Sorors And We're Striving". Thanks to all those that are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/08/spirituals-as-sources-of-black.html for the closely related 2016 pancocojams post entitled "Spirituals As Sources For Black Fraternity & Sororities Songs & Chants."
Click https://aka1908.com/about for information about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
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LYRICS - "WE ARE SOLDIERS" (In the army) [chorus]
[unknown author, first documented in 1889]
We are soldiers
In the army
We've have to fight, although we have to cry
We have to hold up the bloodstained banner
We have to hold it up until we die!
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LYRICS- "WE ARE SORORS AND WE'RE STRIVING"
(composer/s ?, when this song was first sung ?]
We are sorors
And we're striving
We have to work
Sometimes we have to cry (we have to cry)
We have to hold on to Alpha Kappa Alpha,
And we’ll keep holding on until we die."
-snip-
Here's the definition for the word "striving" from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/striving
"the act or practice of trying hard to do, reach, or achieve something; vigorous effort"
-snip-
"The word "striving" can be used as a verb or as a noun.
-snip-
"We Are Sorors" is a "pledging song" that was composed by a person or persons some time ago when women went through a difficult emotional, mental, and physical process called "hazing" in order to become a member of a sorority (and men went through a similar process in order to become a member of a fraternity.) That is why the lines in this song say "We have to work/ Sometimes we have to cry".
Membership in historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities are considered for a lifetime. That's why this song says "We have to hold on to Alpha Kappa Alpha/And we'll keep holding on until we die".
-snip-
Click https://publish.illinois.edu/amandasharp/files/2016/05/Final-Paper-EOL-570-Final.pdf "A Critical Analysis About Why Hazing Occurs Within Black Greek Letter Organizations"
"n 1990, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which governs nine Black fraternities and sororities, banned pledging as a way to admit new members and prohibited hazing across its organizations. The new protocol was called the "Membership Intake Process" (MIP). However, some chapters may have continued to haze members in secret. "...
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The new members ("neophytes"/"neos") stand in a single file based on their "line number". ("Line" here is a referent in historically Black Greek letter sororities and fraternities for a group of people who are "striving" (working) to be members of a specific sorority or fraternity. The line number is usually given based on the person's height with the shortest person (also called the "ace") being #1 and the tallest person (also called the "tail") being the last person in that vertical line.
This same formation and terminology is used by members of historically Black Colleges And Universities (HBCU) majorettes dance squads.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/08/hbcu-majorette-dance-line-terms.html for the 2016 "What Bucking, Stands, Tails, & Other Terms Mean For Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Majorette Dance Squads"
**
This song is sung in unison and is repeated numerous times.
The words in parenthesis are sung by the entire group as a response to the group's "call".
Based on the YouTube videos of this song that I have watched, the members of the group stand in a single file facing forward holding their head slightly down. A usual way that new members perform this song, all of the new members (except for the last member) reach back to hold the hand of the person behind them. Throughout the entire song which continuously repeats itself, the line performs a signature processional stomping march to the rhythm while singing this song.
The line moves forward, then moves backwards while still facing forward and then doing move backward step again throughout this entire song.
*The backwards movement may be described as a slight bob or a slight hopping in place movement to the beat.
[Please help improve this description of the performance for "We Are Sorors". Thanks!]
ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Adande Piggott, Jan 15, 2014
****SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Fall 2019
Rattlers United, Nov 18, 2019
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Fall 2019 Probate FAMU 11.17.2019 [Florida A & M University]
-snip-
This song is sung from the beginning of this video to 5:35 of this video.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - BETA ALPHA CHAPTER OF AKA FALL 2019
Everlasting Memories by Ira Willis
Dec 22, 2019
BETA ALPHA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INC. FALL 2019 MEMBER PRESENTATION [Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida.]
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - We Are Sorors
Malaika Simmons, Apr 2, 2014 [location ?]
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