George L. Cook III, May 17, 2025 #HBCU #bootsontheground #virginiastateuniversity
At Virginia State University's graduation they had their
"Boots on the Ground"! #virginiastateuniversity #VSU
#bootsontheground #HBCU
Music:803Fresh - "Boots on the Ground" (first released December 2024)
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
These two videos are a small sample of YouTube videos that document the "Boots On The Ground" record being played at several other HBCU graduating ceremonies or those university's marching band performing that line dance song.
This pancocojams post also includes some comments from the discussion thread for Showcase video #1 These comments document the varying opinions about including dancing to the line dance song "Boots On The Ground" in that university's graduation ceremony. Some commenters really liked that song being included in the graduating ceremonies while others really didn't like it being included.
The Addendum to this post showcases a YouTube video of the marching band at a New Orleans, Louisiana high school performing "Boots On The Ground" and some graduating seniors dancing to that song during their high school graduation.
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to 803Fresh for his "Boots On The Ground" record. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the producers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Boots on the Ground at #JCSU 2025 Graduation
@JCSUniversity, May 18, 2025
Where them Grads at!? Johnson C Smith University President
and Commencement Speaker Sheryl Underwood
-snip-
This YouTube video short doesn't have any comments (as of May 24, 2025 at 9:19 AM).
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #1
All of these comments were published between May17-May 24, 2025
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmRx_hLKvUM
1. @helloooo7703
"NOTHING like an HBCU graduation!!! 👩🏾🎓👨🏾🎓.
Congrats to all the new grads. May their futures be bright and successful 😊❤."
**
2. @JEFFREYCONYERS-r2b
"Great to see the staff let the grads enjoy themselves going
on a highlight day."
**
3. @GladysGrace001
"That was Fan-Tastic. ❤❤❤❤"
**
4. @patriciajones5605
"Congratulations to the class of 2025
keep them boots on the ground for your future👩🏽🎓👨🏽🎓❤️🙏🏽"
**
5. @PrivilegePearl
"When I tell you I love this, I mean I love this. VSU is next on my list for my monthly June donation to HBCUs"
**
6. @conradgilliam8847
"This is most inappropriate for an academic ceremony. Where is the pomp and circumstance?"
**
Reply
7. @AAReports
"@conradgilliam8847 This was before the actual ceremony and the
President wanted the students, staff, and guests to have some fun. It's a
celebration not a damned funeral"
**
Reply
8. @elainemarylee
"What makes it inappropriate? They’re celebrating their
accomplishments, so let them have their moment."
**
9. @exquisitecaribbeanqueen7198
"And they were criticizing them, calling them Rachet.....All
they're doing is enjoying themselves. People minds a crazy, we should be happy
to see our young black children graduate period.?
**
Reply
10. @noble604
"Pay people no mind. Anything Błack people do is considered
“ratchet.” Cultural expression doesn’t apply to Błack people, just to everyone
else."
If they were all Greek at a Greek school and they jumped up
and danced and hopped in circles, that would be cool and Greek. If they were
Hawaiian and started doing hula dancing, that would be beautiful and of
Hawaiian culture. If they were Irish, you know what that is... you get it.
Black people aren’t supposed to have a culture.
Pay people no mind. Enjoy these expressions of coming together in celebration.⭐️⭐"
**
Reply
11. @kelj4517
"@exquisitecaribbeanqueen7198
It’s the truth it’s a ratchet graduation!"
**
Reply
12. @exquisitecaribbeanqueen7198
"@kelj4517 Whatever..... As a man thinketh so is he ..."
**
Reply
13. @lovetotravel780
"noble604 To Noble604 I would express the same opinion
about the individuals and examples mentioned in your message.
I am not suggesting that students, faculty, and guests should be somber or silent. However, I believe there is a time and place for exuberant behavior like dancing, yelling, or barking, and an academic event is not one of them.
This is a college graduation, not a cookout or family
gathering.
I have witnessed similar behavior at other universities.
I wonder if this trend indicates a departure from tradition
and tact in educational institutions.
If this behavior continues, do not be surprised if some
perceive these graduates as belonging in a circus rather than on a stage
celebrating their achievements."
**
Reply
14. @noble604
"lovetotravel - May I suggest you forward this and all other
of your concerns to the universities
themselves? Their governing bodies hold
authority on the way they conduct their events and ceremonies. If the
universities not only allow it but participate in it, clearly, it is in
alignment with the code of conduct of that institution. If you’d like to change
the culture of these institutions, it might be helpful to take it up with them.
⭐️"
**
Reply
15. @lovetotravel780
"@noble604 To noble604 I will not be forwarding anything
to the university authorities. This is my personal observation regarding the
choices, behaviors, and patterns I have noticed. It is amusing and somewhat
predictable that Virginia State University chose to celebrate in this manner."
**
Reply
16. @fareladee5970
"@noble604 THANK YOU
FOR THIS COMMENT! 💯 To GOD BE THE GLORY🙏🏾🙌🏾 CONGRATS GRADS!🥾 💃🏾
🕺🏽
❤"
**
Reply
17. @michelejohnson1001
"This is their moment to shine ,so don't hate , surely you
can't top this or stop it no matter how much you racist haters try"
**
Reply
18. @starsandlakes8576
"@kelj4517 then so be it lol, they worked hard
and they're happy. So they win😊"
**
19. @jamalhartley4413
"We black we do it better and different over here"
**
20. @pamelajohnson8515
"I love it, I love it, I love it!!!!!! These young people
have picked them up and put them down for 4 + years, they needed that send off.
My heartfelt thanks goes to the President of the University for the foresight
to give all the graduates the opportunity to put their boots on the ground,
thank you for being so wonderful. Congratulations to all the graduates, if you
shoot for the moon and you miss, always know that you’ll be amongst the stars ⭐️
🌟⭐️🌟⭐️"
**
21. @msteach3082
"I LOVE US!!! ❤❤❤❤🧑🏾🎓"
**
22. @nurset2299
"Congratulations and thank you to the staff and
administration for that❤"
23. @nghtwtchr9
"
**
24. @yvonneeiland1150
"Nothing like a HBCU"
**
25. @Donna-e9d2j
"All that education and still
classless...This is so tacky on so many levels....Turning this special event
into a night club show..😥
And we wonder why they don't give us
respect or take us seriously....😢😢😢"
**
Reply
26. @benitbaby485
"You seem so bitter and unhappy. It's a celebration. The song fits the
ceremony at hand. They will be starting a new chapter in their lives. You
didn't hear any barking or hollering. No farm animals were present. The
President and faculty seem to be rejoicing with them."
**
Reply
27. @myraaustin6717
"Your comment is classless. I take great
offense to your unnecessary judgment. My daughter and her fellow classmates are
far from classless. It is unfair of you to judge an entire event off of a clip.
If you care to see what led to this joyous moment please watch the ceremony in
it's entirety on YouTube. Also, please refrain from tearing "our"
young adults and institutions down with your negativity. Lastly, if you are
truly one of "us," kindly follow the guidance of your past elders and
keep your mouth shut if you don't have anything good to say. May God grant you
inner peace and acceptance of yourself, black culture and how we express
ourselves. #Black People Aren't Defined by What Other People Think of Us!"
**
28. @strella22
"This made me smile for the first time
today especially seeing the Faculty dancing with the students. And don't you worry I was dancing with
them. I love it! Congratulations! Now go make your mark on the world and don't
let anyone tell you what you can't do."
**
29. @RueStCharles
"Tears of joy...I'm so full...Congratulations babies."
**
30. @melodythompson9748
"So awesome ❤"
**
31. @LouSmith-cg4vs
"This should be 2025 HBCU theme music...Dance baby"
**
32. @LouSmith-cg4vs
"That's my black people. CELEBRATE.🎉🎶🔥🔥🎵"
**
33. @cri1625
"Ain't NO people like MY PEOPLE!!!!! I LOVE ME SOME US!!!! 🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES 🪭🪭🪭 ✨️Asé✨️"
**
34. @bellaendale7174
"I had to be born black..ah..I love love love love love my
people..we infect the world with joy.
Joy is our act of resistance ❤🎉❤
Congratulations to the graduates 🎓"
**
35. @sabrinaestrada3590
"How fun! I love my VSU!"
**
36.@kjkjkj360
"A wonderful memory"
**
37. @elainemarylee
"Yes! Shout out to the 2025 graduates! 🎉🎉🎉"
**
38. @richingooddeeds1036
"🔥🔥🔥🔥....Yassssss"
**
39. @johnnetherly7878
"Dance at the graduation party after the
ceremony, but always keep the school graduation dignified and classy."
**
40. @octaviajohnson6989
"Go on and celebrate your accomplishments
❤ where dem fans at 803 Fresh❤ Y’all need a tambourine 😂🎉😂"
**
41. @HeyegherVibez
"Fixing those tired traditions... Y'all
welcome... Feel free to celebrate your loved ones when they walk so they know
they'll never walk alone and keep the energy for those that unfortunately had
to so they know they've just been adopted and have an entire family... "
**
42. @joyfra3549
"Congrats to everyone! Still we rise."
**
43. @TheBeverly7
"BRAVO❤"
**
44. @rhcsw1682
"Now that's a GRADUATION!!!!!!!! That's how it should be celebratory....."
**
45. @LucyBall-ox8dc
"This is so cool"
**
46. @MollieEverett-d5p1o
"Get it y’all"
**
47. @mildredpierce4506
"I need to invite myself to one of their
graduations, even though I don’t know any graduates."
**
48. @michelejohnson1001
"This is the way they chose to celebrate
their day the way wanted ,so why does it bother you 🤔"
**
49.@mjay8335
"My eyes welled up when I saw dancing the
people with the three-stripes-on-the-sleeves robes. OMG…Having a doctorate and
culturally engaged?!
#BlackBrillianceOurWay #AfrocentricErudition😱😎👍🏾🍫👩🏿🎓🎓"
**
50. @DFL_iBAIP
"For some reason this song as become the
new Blk national anthem"
****
ADDENDUM - New Orleans High School Graduation
@culturallydistinctpodcast May 15, 2025
-snip-
That video short only has three comments as of May 24, 2025. The first commenter posted a series of congratulations emojis. The second comment asked for the name of that New Orleans high school, and the third commenter shared that the school's name is "Landry walker"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment