Also, click the tags below for more pancocojams posts on African American drill teams
**** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE: This drill team organization was randomly selected for this pancocojams post because I happened upon multiple videos of their performances.
I'm not affiliated with Sophisticated Sounds & Steppers or any other drill team organization. I've never seen this drill team in person and I have no knowledge about them other than the videos that I've watched.
I wasn't aware that the Sophisticated Sounds & Steppers Drill Team And Drum Squad was the drill team that was featured on Jennifer Hudson's nationally syndicated talk show until I happened upon that video and read its summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfevlp9M9fo Impressive Drill Team Led by Adorable 5-Year-Old Captain —
Extended Performance, Jennifer Hudson Show, Sept 21, 2024 . Watch the Sophisticated Sounds & Steppers Drill Team
& Drum Squad from South Los Angeles blow away Jennifer Hudson on “The
Jennifer Hudson Show.” -snip- Notice that the summary for that video indicates that the Sophisticated Sounds & Steppers Drill Team And Drum Squad is located in South Los Angeles, California.
** It's likely that I will showcase other African American drill team organizations in subsequent pancocojams posts.
****
ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos showcase one video each of the age levels within this drill team organization. (A video of the Seniors is showcased at the top of this post.)
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their publishing date on YouTube.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - Sophisticated Sounds & Steppers Adults @ Black Diamond 22nd Annual Drill Team & Drum Competition
DrillTeamMagazine, Dec 7, 2013
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Sophisticated Sounds & Steppers Drum Squad @ Black Diamonds 2018
Sophisticated s, Nov
11, 2018
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Sophisticated juniors at Las Vegas high stepper competition 2019
@ Black Community Festival ( Central District Area)
Seattle, WA, July 1994
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post documents the influence of African American communities' drill teams on Stomp and Shake cheerleading movements.
This post is presented without any comments or editorial notes.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks for all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/04/five-videos-of-early-1990s-african.html for the related pancocojams post "Five Videos Of Early 1990s African American Children & Youth Parade Drill Teams (Seattle, Washington)".
Also, click the tags below for more pancocojams posts on African American drill teams, African American parades, and Stomp and Shake cheerleading. **** ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - Xplosive Pee Wees @ Black Diamond Competition 2010.mp4
DrillTeamMagazine, Nov 15, 2010
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Black Diamond (Seniors) @ G Town Competition 2011
DrillTeamMagazine, May 4, 2011
The G-Town Royalettez & Knightz Drill Team & Drum
Squad
16th Annual Drill Team & Drum Competition
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -IRS Drill Team
IRS Drill Team, Jul 10, 2011
Our Performance At The First Beginning CIA Annual
Competition In Cincinnati, Oh. We Scored First Place And Best Captain In
Precision Division.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - JAZZ STEPPERS DRILL TEAM
Richard Isbell Aug 13, 2012
Jazz Steppers of North Chicago, IL, 1st place winners of the
2012 "SHOW UP &
SHOW OUT" PT.5 drill team/drumline competition, held in
Mich City, IN July 21,2012
Great hambone technique from Archie Shepp's drummer Steve
McCraven.
Recorded in Tunisia at the Tabarka International Jazz
Festival.
video: Stephen Smith
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents seven examples of body percussion in various African American performing arts.
"Body percussion" is also referred to as "body patting", pattin juba", hambone, or "doing hambone).
In no particular categorical order, these examples are from singing, drill team routines, historically African American Greek letter fraternity and sorority stepping, stomp and shake cheerleading routines, dancing, and strutting down a Jennifer Hudson Show Spirit Tunnel.
The Addendum to this post showcases a YouTube video of doing body patting while they sing and dance.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
The overarching purpose of this post and all pancocojams post is to encourage people to recognize, respect, acknowledge, study, appreciate, promote, and celebrate the origins, evolution, and current practices of African American and of other Black cultures around the world.
In no way are these posts meant to suggest that we (Black people) should prohibit non-Black people or people of other Black communities besides the originators of specific cultural practices from respectfully and knowledgeably learn about and/or participate in these cultural practices.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these YouTube videos and thanks to all the videographers and publishers of these videos on YouTube. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/10/pattin-juba-hambone-and-bo-diddley-beat.html for a closely related 2011 pancocojams post with the title "Pattin Juba, Hambone, And The Bo Diddley Beat".
**** ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
With the exception of Showcase video #1, these YouTube videos are presented in chronological order based on their publishing dates. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - 1st Place Winners for Chicago Sprite Step Off - Alpha Phi
Alpha (Central State University)
Gowhere Hip Hop, Jan 30, 2010
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Babynetts & Electronetts @ Black Festival 1994
SeattleDrillTeamHistory Jul 18, 2013
Babynetts & Electronetts Drill Team
@ Black Community Festival ( Central District Area)
Seattle, WA, July 1994
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -Cheer Phi Smoov's "Let's Go, Broncos"
Christopher Blacksher, Oct 4, 2015
Fayetteville State University's own cheerleading squad
performs their signature and most poplar cheer during the FSU vs Lincoln
University of Pennsylvania football game on October 3, 2015.
Whip my hair by Jaiya
-snip- This is a video of my then almost three year old granddaughter Jaiya Hughes dancing to Willow Smith's 2019 record "Whip My Hair" during the seventh Powell-Hughes family lip-synch battle party.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 -when the band forgets to show up
Jason Fieler, May 24, 2024
Bobby McFerrin performing "Drive". Original
video: • Bobby McFerrin - Drive (Live
from Mon...
Notes: I only notated the actual sung notes instead of
things like breaths and the body percussion. Also, in the section toward the
end with the super low stuff, those notes are just the fundamentals but it also
sounds an octave higher, as is true for the double stops he's singing. -snip- This video includes the music score.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 -🔴NATURI NAUGHTON AT
JENNIFER HUDSON SPIRIT TUNNEL ❤️#naturinaughton #jenniferhudson
#dance
@Madmedianews27, Jan 5, 2025
**** ADDENDUM - YouTube Video
Traditional Jola dancing. Video 1. July 2006
Ulf Jägfors, Sep 29, 2006
This video shows traditional Jola body patting and dances
by girls from Mlomp, Casamance region, Southern Senegal. It was recorded at The
Akonting Center for Senegambian folkmusic, Mandinari, Gambia July 2006 -snip- The Jola are an ethnic group in Southern Senegal, West Africa.
zayre85, Nov 5, 2006 -snip- "PSS" = Philly Sophisticated Steppers
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases eight YouTube videos of African American drill teams with drumlines from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These videos
from 2006 to 2015 and are just a small sample of videos of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania drill teams with drumlines that I found on YouTube.
This pancocojams post also includes comments from some of these videos' discussion threads.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to all people past and present who were/are associated with parade style drill teams in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip- This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series about African American drill teams.
Also, click the tab below or Google pancocojams: African American church drill teams to find other pancocojams posts on this subject. -snip- Some of these groups and some commenters refer to themselves as "steppers". One YouTube video that isn't included in this post refers to the drill team's movements as "step dance". I believe that's a good referent for most of the drill routines that are shown in these showcase videos.
I'd love to know if these showcased drill teams/drumlines are still active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and/or if Philadelphia has other active drill teams and drumlines in the city as a whole or in different neighborhoods of that city.
Please share any information that you know about this subject in the comment section below.
**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 WARNING- These comments are part of bragging and/or insulting exchanges between members of or supporters of different Philadelphia drill teams. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Robert Cole, 2006 "Why are yall playin
our beat knowin yall are not good
L>O>G>A>N" -snip- Two video clips of Logan's drumline are given as Video #2 & Video #3 in this pancocojams post.
** 2. Don Travers 3, 2008 "IF YALL GONNA START WIT DAT BEAT ATLEAST
DO SOMTHIN DECENT 2 IT..
..224 ALL DAY(we may be gone but the stepz r still fire)"
** 3. Art J, 2009 "ctfu,@loganquint, cause actullay this type off stuff, came
from logan, so basically they doin yall style, yall should be happy ppl wanna
be like yall, nd @mya03091, if conestoga aint better than yall, why did they
win 1st plce at the last competition??" -snip- The comments attributed to loganquint and to mya03091 are either no longer found in video's that discussion thread or the commenters changed their names.
** 4. Travis Scott, 2013 "it took me 6 yrs to comment on this. and for six yrs yall
hating asses been hating! so ima sum it up like this. we came, we saw, we conquered!
we was young as hell doing our thing. nothing positive to say outta ya philly
teams mouths. n that's what made pss (PHILLY SOPHISSSSSSSTTICATED STEPPERS!)
different. YOU SAY THEY AINT SH-T* , COME TO AMA, YALL PLAYING OUR BEATS. NOW
LET ME SAY WE DID COME TO AMA N BEAT COMPETITIONS, 1ST,2ND,OR 3RD. CONSTANTLY
WALKED AWAY WITH TROPHIES N AS FOR OUR DRUMMERS -snip- *This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
**** ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS (with comments from some of the discussion threads for these videos) These videos are given in chronological order based on their publishing date. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - logan drummers 3
Scubieglp, Mar 23, 2007
07' 3rd qualifier at sharon hill
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Youth of East Logan 2008 Championship
Lilbambam1, Apr 27, 2008
Drillin -snip- Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Don Travers 3, 2008 "Logan Yall Deff Did Shut It Down Real Wrap...I Miss 224."
** 2. Akeela Bolling, 2012 "I miss mrs harriet and mr. jack. but now they are dancing more in the drill
team I like there new change of syle" -snip- Example #5 in this pancocojams post showcases a video of the Post #224 drill team.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - ICONIK 2011
mothertracey1, May 10, 2011
Iconik @ 224 day May 7 2011
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Post 224 Drill Team is Back!!!
SDH Fitness, Jul 16, 2012 #224
The Open Squad Of Post #224 ! -snip- Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread that includes the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania slang word "jawn" that is an an all encompassing substitute for any person, place, or
thing:
andrew wallace, 2012 "We chopped that jawn watch out cause there is more to come
!!!!!!" -snip- Here's an excerpt of a page with no date that contains information about the history and the staff of post #224 drill team: https://post224.angelfire.com/staff.html ..."FOUNDER-MARK "SHARK" WILLIAMS Mark a.k.a "Mark Shark"is the founder of Post 224.
Without a great thinking mind like his, none of this would be possible. Mr.Mark
with his military background and love for kids, founded Post 224 Drill team.
His mother would run thinngs while he was away in Iraq on military leave. He
was one of the people the team has needed in the worst of times. Mark Shark is
very dedicated to the team and would do anything to keep the name of Post 224
alive.
DIRECTOR-JACKIE WILLIAMS
Ms.Jackie Williams has carried post 224 on her back for more
then seventeen years. She has done things like fed the team, sheltered, and
defended them when it got rough. She was even a guardian to two members of the
team.
DRUM INSTRUCTOR-DARRYL "D-MONEY" ALEXANDER
Darryl "D-money" Alexander is the one who
organizes the drum line. Darryl was a drummer himself so he knew almost every
aspect of the sport. Darrly was the first person in drill history to start a
young drumline. Everybody looked at him like he was crazy, but when it all came
down to it, he had one of the top drumlines in the A.M.A league, Darryl has
tooken the A.M.A league to another level. He took a bunch of dedicated kids and
made them champions.
DRILL INSTRUCTOR-JENNIE "POOH" SLEDGE ALEXANDER
Jennie "Pooh" Sledge is the one who get the
steppers organized. She is the wife of Darryl Alexander so they both kind of
keep it in the family. Jennie has been with the drill team since the
beginnning. She has been around drill teams her who life, so she knows every
aspect also."...
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 -Conestoga Angels Drill Team from West Philly
Bria James, May 26, 2013
Conestoga Angels from West Philly came to 224 post day and
did their thing. They were the talk of the day. 11 minutes worth watching, they
killed it all the way thru
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 -The North Philly Footstompers Invade The Skorpion Show BBQ
theskorpionshow, Aug 20, 2013 -snip- Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Clacci38, 2013 "I LOVE our city drill teams...jus to hear the drums around
my way reminds me that these kids are about something, and dedicated to being
better. Saves them from running the streets, go in Philly!"
** 2. Luv2Game, 2013 "Do they just come out of nowhere and perform on the streets
like this? Looks fun!! :)"
** 3. Kareem Nesbitt, 2013 "Love it! reminds me of my old block parties in Queens, NY
back in the early 90's"
** 4. Mary, 2013 "The drum line in on point!"
** 5. Kelly Nicole,2013 "This takes me back to my childhood I miss stepping"
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #8-- Philadelphia PA LABOR DAY PARADE 2015 DRILL TAEM CHALLENGE
James L. Dennis Jr., Sep 16, 2015
This year I was little late for the Parade, but on time for
the Drill Team Challenge. I'm sure you will enjoy the Video as much as I
enjoyed taping it -snip- Here are all of the comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Lori Smith, 2016 "Man this bring me back lol ima royal eire ave bangers lol
ask about us blue an red lol"
** Reply 2. Sincerely Lema, 2022 "Lol it does! I was on Conestoga Angels!"
** 3. officiallymoe, 2016 "i was i one of the drill teams there royal legacy"
** 4. Melinda McCree,2022 "Where is the real drill team? Youth o East Logan."
This was the 40th Anniversary of leadership by The Honorable
Minister Louis Farrakhan for the Nation of Islam after the departure of The
Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. The East Coast Regional Drill Team created a
drill showcase of both the FOI and Jr. FOI honoring The Minister for his
dedicated service and obedience.
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases eight YouTube videos of Nation of Islam drills.
This post also includes selected comments from one of these videos' discussion threads as well as a Final Call 2019 article excerpt and other information about the Nation of Islam and its drills.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are associated with these Nation of Islam drills and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. -snip-
This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series about African American drill teams.
Also, click the tab below or google pancocojams: African American church drill teams to find other pancocojams posts on this subject.
**** ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT THE NATION OF ISLAM DRILLS From https://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/Annual-Saviours-Day-drill-competition-excites-the-crowd.shtml "Annual Saviours’ Day drill competition excites the crowd" by Anisah Muhammad, last update Feb 20, 2019 "CHICAGO—The Nation of Islam’s annual Saviours’ Day Drill
Competition took place February 16 at the McCormick Place here. "Drill, as described by the Nation of Islam, is the exercise
of the Gods. Its purpose is to instill discipline and to teach the idea of
moving as a unit.
Like previous years, the competition started with students
from Muhammad University of Islam praying in Arabic. Rapper Neelam Hakim
followed with a performance of her song “I’ll Be the King.”
The competition was co-hosted by Ilia Rashad Muhammad from
Memphis and Qadir Hakim, also known by his rap name “Goalden Chyld.”
“This is no anger type of competition. You’re looking at
different brothers and sisters from different cities, but they’re all one
team,” Ilia Muhammad said.
The categories by which teams were judged were military
posture, creativity, precision, degree of difficulty, appearance and the voice
of the drill instructor.
Judges consisted of student MGT and FOI captains, student
ministers and former drill champions.
[...]
The Jr. MGT of the Nation of Islam were the first up to
perform. Teams from Detroit, Miami, Chicago and Atlanta lit up the crowd.
Teams have three minutes to perform. At two minutes and 45
seconds, a warning is given. If they go past the three-minute mark, they are
penalized.
Jr. FOI teams from Houston, Los Angeles and Miami were next
on the stage, followed by MGT from Richmond, Va., and Detroit.
[...]
The Vanguard is a highly contested category every year.
Teams from Newark, Atlanta and Chicago performed their drill routine. Following
them were FOI from Detroit, New York and Chicago.
After the drill executions, martial artists demonstrated
during intermission, the period when the judges deliberate about winners. The
intermission also included a rap cypher featuring Goalden Chyld, AK47 and Kenny
Muhammad, also known as the Nation of Islam “Human Beat Box.”
First place winners were Chicago Jr. MGT, Houston Jr. FOI,
Detroit MGT, Chicago Vanguard and Chicago FOI.
Ruqaya Muhammad competed on the Chicago Vanguard team. In
the past, she competed as a Jr. MGT.
“I got on the Vanguard team. This my first time drilling
with them. I was very nervous because I’ve never drilled with a hat on,” she
said.
She said when she’s on the stage, nothing goes through her
head.
“I literally zone everything out,” she said.
Lakeisha Muhammad from Houston was attracted to the energy
and the spirit of all of the drillers.
“Just to see them gave me tears to know that we are here to
push forward and represent the Minister and let the Minister know we got his
back. He got some warriors,” she said."... -snip- This article also includes photographs of the winning teams
in this competition.
**** COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE FIRST VIDEO THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THIS PANCOCOJAMS POST
1. Lany Ken, 2018 " "Can you stand the test, 40 years no rest, our leader
is the best" BARS!"
** Reply 2. Brown Knoo, 2020 "Real BARS" -snip- In the context of this comment, the word "bars" is a high compliment that refers to the creativity of the lyrics hitting the beats. The word "bars" as a compliment is closely associated with Rap/High Hop. Click https://pinkwafer.club/2022/04/11/what-is-a-bar-in-rap/ for more information about "bar" particularly in reference to Rap/Hip Hop.
** 3. Michelle Hunter, 2018 "Stepping with the NOI in Word and Deed Leadership of Justice
for All.👏 Bravo"
** 4. George T Davis, 2018 "I like how the new generation FOI are doing there thing im
looking looking forward towards the saviours Day 2019 drill competition"
** Reply 5. 3089280288, 2019 "Modern step s show with hardly any basic commands"
** 6. L E, 2018 "Way better and more significant than the Greek fraternities."
** Reply 7. David Quinn, 2022 "That's exactly what I was thinking!"
** 8. Qiydaar Yanaan, 2018 "That's some steppin there"
** Reply 9. Curtis Knight, 2022 "That's Military drill, not steppin, we don't step, we perform complex military drill maneuvers."
** 10. Ahmad Majid, 2020 "One of the best exhibitions of all I’ve seen. 🤲🏿✨💪🏿"
** 11. MEANMUG713, 2019 "Jaleel Muhammad this isn’t the Islam prophet Muhammad pbuh
taught us
Female and women together laughing and clapping, no
segregation; where in the Quran or Hadith did it say you should meet up and do
funny soldier dances"
** Reply 12. Jaleel Muhammad "Zuljanah Raspect First of all, the proper term is
drilling(the exercise of the gods). This instills disciple, unity, submission,
and precision. Secondly, during prayer and mosque meetings genders are
separated. Not all occasions call for separation but we do show respect at all times.
Thirdly, where in the Quran does it forbid what I just stated? Which is what
you see here."
** Reply 13. Aziatic B1ack, 2023 "This ain't a dance! This is a show of discipline. Peace."
** Reply 14. Darlene Rahaman, 2021 "@MEANMUG713 The "dances" are not a dance. Plus,
the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has women to speak from the podium.
There are female ministers. If your Islam is so correct, then how come there
are no female Imams, ministers in your way of Islam? TALK TO ME!"
****
ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order based on the video's publishing date..
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - 2012 Saviour's Day Drill Competition/Chicago FOI
jewels4 dmind, Apr 5, 2012 -snip- Here's information about the meaning of "Saviour's
Day" in the Nation of Islam:
"Saviours' Day is a holiday of the Nation of Islam
commemorating the birth of its founder, Master Wallace Fard Muhammad (W. D. Fard),
officially stated to be February 26, 1877. It was established by Elijah
Muhammad.
[...]
Louis Farrakhan reconvened Saviours' Day in 1981 when he
reestablished the Nation of Islam under his leadership.[4] Under Farrakhan's
leadership, the annual commemoration has become a three-day gathering with
speakers, seminars and workshops".. -snip- "Fruit of Islam" (FOI) is the name of the male Nation of Islam drill teams. -snip- Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (WARNING- One of these comments includes the pejorative referent "hymie") Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1.Arvence Muhammad, 2021 "I miss those days. We had so much fun performing this
routine. It was so emotional and spiritual. All praise is due to Allah! 🙏🏾"
** 2. 24Adrian24, 2021 "Crisp, sharp, movement!With great discipline comes great success!"
** Reply 3. Charles Coderre, 2022 "success at what?"
** Reply 4. 24Adrian24, 2022 "Anything."
** Reply 5. Charles Coderre, 2022 "@24Adrian24 When I was about 9 yrs old (early '60s) I
wanted to join the boy/cub scouts. My dad no way-I fought in WW2 against a
nation that had little boys marching around in uniforms (hitler youth). Why is
being being repeated today? BTW does "anything" include nuclear
physics, neurosurgery, quantum mechanics, anything useful at all?"
** Reply 6. 24Adrian24, 2022 "Hitler's youth praised Hitler. These young brothers praise God. Huge difference. Anything means everything."
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Nation Of Islam Drill Teams
Creative Truth Seeker, Feb 18, 2013
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Detroit M.G.T and G.C.C/ Vanguard at
mosque #1
Donna Muhammad, Mar 4, 2017 -snip- Here's an excerpt about the Nation Of Islam's MGT and GCC
The Muslim Girls Training & General
Civilization Class is one of the institutions established in 1933 by Wallace
Fard Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam.[1] He also established the
University of Islam schools and the Fruit of Islam in that year before
vanishing in 1934.[2] The classes were developed to teach domestic duties like
cooking and nutrition, sewing, cleaning, housekeeping, child-rearing, religious
instruction and the role of women in Muslim life and even personal hygiene and
self-defense. Classes are generally held at least once a week. [3]"
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Drill Competition Saviours' Day 2011 Part 1
The Official Final Call Inc. Store House of Truth, Feb 8, 2018
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - Drill Competition Saviours' Day 2012 Part 3
The Official Final Call Inc. Store House of Truth, Feb 5, 2018 -snip- Here is a comment exchange from this video's discussion thread:
1. Ms. Prissy. 2019 "Sorry for my lack of knowing, but where or when are these
drills used? Do they just do it for saviors day?"
** Reply 2. Naajia M., 2020 "Don't apologize, thank you for asking. Drill is the exercise
of the Gods, it teaches you to hear and obey and is also a form of military
training. During Saviours' Day, we (in the Nation of Islam) do have a drill
competition but this is not just something we do during Saviours' Day. We do drill exhibitions for events in the
community and as overall exercise to practice hearing and obeying just like
other militaries. The Nation of Islam is not an organization, its absolute
military."
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 -Youth Sunday Drill 4/21/19
Dinand Muhammad. Apr 21, 2019
Jr. MGT Drill -snip- Here's a comment from this YouTube video's discussion thread: Islamic Shinobi. 2023
"To those who dont know what this is, the NOI drills to
train/prepare themselves (I mean OURselves. Junior FOI here. >:D to listen
and take instructions. Now there's just something about the THUNDER that
drilling that people love, now we have drill competitions, and shows. These
sistas right here, they did REAL good! Why is Atlanta never mentioned with how
outstanding they are? 😅I wish I could drill
like that instead of the basics. SOMEBODY needs to host junior FOI class where
im from, cause I dont want anything to be overwhelming when I turn 16 and
register as an actual FOI.😅
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #8 - 2023 Saviours' Day Drill Competition - Los Angeles FOI WEST
POINT - February 26, 2023
OGMFG TV, Mar 3, 2023 #FOI
WEST POINT
We Are The Man Manufacturing Plant
We Stand On The Shoulders Of Giants
This Is Only The Beginning
The Takeover Is Here.
YOUR 2023 SAVIOURS' DAY FOI DRILL TEAM CHAMPIONS! -snip- Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread:
March 2023
1. Destiny Bomar "My favorite drill from Saviours’ Day weekend!"
** 2. Bilal Manj "Absolutely Awesome ❤"
** 3. THE NATION Youth "Done deal in the name of the Lord 🤲🏾
This pancocojams post showcases several; videos of St Agnes Church's March Of Faith drill team. St. Agnes (Baptist) church is located in Houston, Texas,
This post also includes comments from one of these videos' discussion thread as well as comments from a Facebook page for St. Agnes March of Faith drill team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to General Oscar Alexis, the founder and leader of St. Agnes March Of Faith drill team and the Founder of Texas Gulf Coast Drill Team Association. Thanks to all of those who have been and/or are now associated with St. Agnes African American church drill team. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series about African American drill teams.
1. missymiss86, 2007 "This drill team was ALWAYS good!! My old church used to go to these competitions every year...I haven't been since 2001 and that was the last time I drilled..."
** 2. Mario Jimerson, 2007 "St Agnes always brought the Heat. I havnt marched since 98 myself"
** 3. KimboBlade, 2011 "great performance but believe me when i say this is dull in comparison to the st agnes drill team back in the late 80's and 90's. i remember going to their practice when my church first formed a drill team. brother alexis (is he still there?) left an indelible mark on me. i took what he taught and applied it to when i was drill team commander in the rotc program of my high school. we were nothing to be played with and we snatched up trophies left and right;all 1st place. those were the days..."
** 4. karen henry, 2012 "what we still get 1st place dill team trophies every year we're still dynamic as use to be....trust i've been apart of this drill team since 2000 ,and i'm still marching with st.agnes...trust stuff we come up with is dynamic because no one could even Phaethon what we come up with....but its not all about how many people we can bring to christ...." -snip- "Phaethon" = a misspelling of the word "fathom"
** 5. Joshua Rodgers, 2015 "Man this brings back so many memories.. where is the footage from our area 98-02. We were deep. or when we marched with Pleasant Valley👌 -snip- "Pleasant Valley" = "Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church's drill team" (PVMBC) located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
** Reply vanessa phillips, 2020 "I agree . I remember the time we went to Florida, it was at least 100 of us!!!"
** 6. N.T /lil J, 2020 "I march for pvmbc drill team and this drill team was the best besides us"
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - St. Agnes March Of Faith
Texas Gulf Coast Drill Team Association, Apr 9, 2018
March of Faith performing at the 2018 Texas Gulf Coast
Church Drill Team Association Workshop and Convention
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - St Agnes March of Faith Drill Team (Senior Elite)
Texas Gulf Coast Drill Team Association, Jun 24, 2019
St. Agnes March of Faith Drill Team marching at the 2019 National Baptist Congress in Charlotte, NC.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF ST. AGNES MARCH OF FAITH DRILL TEAM'S FAACEBOOK PAGE
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.From https://www.facebook.com/groups/129015820526772/You know you were in St. Agnes Drill Team when... [Public group, 292 members] retrieved at April 7, 2023
1. Jay Runway, March 18, 2020 "I AIN'T GON LIE:
Nothing made you feel moe GANGSTA than being able to look
out amongst 150'lem drill team members, and say with yo chest: ((AT! EASE!😠))
THAT was some BOSS 💩! 😂
(I low-key need that back in my life)" ** 2. La Tonia Hooks, December 10, 2020 · "Wow! St.Agnes March Of Faith Drill Team - I remember this day as if it were yesterday. This performance was at the church, we would always March at the church the Sunday right before our trip to the Baptist Convention. We had 100 members during this time. Talking about memories these were some of the best times ever." -snip- An old photograph of this church drill team is attached to this comment.
** 3. Brittani Davis, December 11, 2020 "Just to be sure...when we get to Acts, are saying "The Acts of the Church, there was a letter to the Romans..." ** Reply 4. Chayla Alayne, 2020 "When i watched online I said the same..what happened to “the acts of the church” and “there was a letter” 🤣🤣🤣" ** Reply 5. Jay Runway, 2020 "I was listening and felt bad cause I heard
in Brother Alexis voice:
YOU DON'T KNOW IT, MAHN!
SIT DOWN, BOZO!"
** 6. Bracia Williams, December 11, 2020 "Does anyone have the video with the performance where we marched blindfolded??? Or the performance without calling cadence?"
** 7. Nakia Thomas, December 11, 2020 · "Flashback Friday... my brothers and I were proud members of the St Agnes March of Faith Drill Team in the mid 80s until the early 90s. Thanks you General Oscar Alexis for helping us grow from boys to men."
** 8. Clark Bentley, December 12, 2020 "It was good being HOME today and getting to see all of you...
I haven't "hit tha corner" in 20 years... now I gotta go soak in Epsom Salt and and rub some BioFreeze on my Achilles and Knee...
😭😭😩😩... -snip- “Hit tha [the] corner”= turn sharply at the corner at the bottom of the center aisle to march up the right or the left aisle ** 9. Taneccia Gibson, December 12, 2020 "Let’s not forget them penny loafers had to shine..". ** 10. Skylar Tennessee-Allen, December 13, 2020 "We are the only Drill Team that turnt a Luther Vandross song into a church song! “We Got Love!”" ** Reply 11. Tracia Washington, 2020 "Facts.....and executed the heck out of it too🤣"
** 12. Ikae G. Edwards, December 15, 2020 "I was sitting here thinking that we have Janet Jackson to thank for many of our out of the box moves, during the early days.... Bro Alexis was amazed by her execution." ** Reply 13. Valkeith Winters "You can thank Keschia Jones Holly Cherry Harris Katina Mitchell Meredith Gaines Dana Woodard and myself. Everyday after leaving Worthing we went to the St. Agnes Academy waited on Holly and started to create new moves... That's how Janet came about you can thank Rythm Nation for that.... Oh yeah Gene Moore new the whole executed routine as a kid lol" ** Reply 14. Gene Moore, 2020 "Valkeith Winters from start to finish lol"
** Reply 15. Valkeith Winters, 2020 "Facts 💯💯" ** Reply 16. Ro Williams, 2020 "Valkeith Winters This is why it’s so important for history to be written down, lest you (we) be written out of it. 👊🏽" ** Reply 17. Holly Cherry Harris, 2020 Valkeith Winters is right. That’s where the new marching hand movement came from ** Reply 18. CharlesandCrystal Allen, 2020 "Angela Jammer Yesssss. Girl we were laughing about what those uniforms would look like now...yellow ropes and tattered patches ** Reply 19. Angela Jammer, 2020 "CharlesandCrystal Allen that would be cool. And to have the old uniforms displayed. Too bad we can’t at the old St. Agnes where it all started!" ** Reply 20. Angela Jammer, 2020 "CharlesandCrystal Allen if they were to actually do it. They could try to get Bro. Alexis uniforms and do like a Museum" ** Reply 21. CharlesandCrystal Allen, 2020 "Angela Jammer That would be so cool" ** Reply 22. Angela Jammer, 2020 "CharlesandCrystal Allen It would!! Especially since he is the originator ** Reply 23. Jay Runway "I always loved our Maroon and Gray.
Or was that Burgandy???
Between TSU and GENTS, I dun forgot which is which.
Wasn't this our Drill Team official colors??
** Reply 24. La Tonia Hooks, 2020 "Jay Runway burgandy and gray.."
** Reply 25. Sonya Washington, 2020 "So beautiful, yes one of my favorite uniforms. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
** 26. Rhesa Nix-Hickman, December 17, 2020 "What year did you join the drill team? I joined in 1988!💕"
** 27. Katina Mitchell, December 18, 2020 "So people didn't understand,why you had to go through a process to become a Drill team member. And if you didn't make it was a reason! If you couldn't execute the basics,its just wasn't your time. But you had the next year to get it together! It wasn't personal it was just the structure that he was taught!" ** Reply 28. Cynthia Elaine Doss, 2020 "True"
** Reply 30. Tamera Wilson, 2020 "Talk about those tryouts lol if you didn't get it right either He'll call you out in front of everyone 🤣"
** 31. Jay Runway, December 22, 2020 "One of my favorite things at Practice, was when someone
would come and visit.
We used to march at Practice like it was Congress! The
visitor(s) would be so impressed! When they were asked to stand and make a
statement, they used to always say how inspired or empowered they felt by being
there! St. Agnes never had to brag. Between Bro. Alexis and everyone else, they
did the bragging for us!
I also miss standing in the center aisle at Congress, waiting
for our name to be called. Or after our name was called, we'd try to figure out
how many more Senior Elite trophies were left, and count how many more amazing
Drill Teams had yet to be called. 😩😩😩😱
Anybody else wanna add one of their favorite things?
** Reply 32. Warren G Tillman, 2020 "💯🎯‼️ I remember
me and couple others in the back of Woodson practicing on Lunch Break. Reciting
our Books of the Bible, etc...We had a crowd out couple times...Then standing
in front of Brother Alexis, just you and him, sweating you get it right.." ** 33. Tenia Manning Johnson Remember when we did that African Dance for Black
History.. Coming to America style..." ** Reply 33. Angela Jammer "Tenia Manning Johnson why I don’t remember that one. Is
there a video??" ** 34. Angela
Harden "There was a time we had close to almost
200" ** 35. Enedra Allen-McBride, 2020 "We were always sharp!!" ** Reply 36. La Tonia Hooks, 2020 "Enedra Allen-McBride Yes indeed. We had
so many good times." **** Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
2013 National Congress Performance - Phoenix,AZ
-snip-
total # of views as of April 13, 2023 = 4.689
-snip-
McGee Chapel Drill Team was (is?) part of McGee Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.
It's unbelievable that this video only has one comment. Here's that comment:
T Wyatt, 2015 "and THIS my friends is how we drilled in the real early to
mid 90's... Darn near brought tears to my eyes. I loved marching
against/with/near/ McGee............. Their female drill instructor was NO joke
back in the day... AWESOME JOB! AND
BROTHER YOU FELT THAT AT THE END. That's what I'm talking about. Passion and
Purpose!"
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - April 13, 2023
This pancocojams post showcases a 2013 YouTube video of the McGee Chapel drill team from Houston, Texas and a 2017 YouTube video of the Fountain of Praise (FOP) drill team from Houston, Texas.
This post also includes my general description of African American church drill teams. In addition, this pancocojams post includes one article excerpt about the history of African American drill teams in general and information about the Salem Stepping Saints drill team in Omaha, Nebraska in particular. An article excerpt about the history of the Texas Gulf Coast Church Drill Team Association is also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all of those who have been and/or are now associated with African American church drill teams. Thanks to all of those who are featured in this showcase YouTube video and thanks to the publishers of these video on YouTube. -snip- This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series about African American drill teams.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/04/videos-of-comments-about-st-agnes-march.html "Videos Of & Comments About St. Agnes March Of Faith (an African American church military style drill team from Houston, Texas)" for another post in this pancocojams series. Also, click the tab below or Google pancocojams: African American church drill teams to find other pancocojams posts on this subject.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - FOP Drill Team Texas Gulf Coast elite award winning routine
J Dubb - April 2, 2017 -snip- Total # of views as of April 13, 2023 = 1,941 -snip- This video only has this comment:
Danny Cook, 2017 "So I just seen this for the first time. FOP most definitely been putting in
work. To God be the Glory for this
church and ministry."
**** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES I happened upon a YouTube video of African American church drill teams this week (April 2023) and was introduced to a whole genre (or sub-genre) of African American performance arts that I wasn't previously aware of.
Unfortunately, African American performance art of church military style drill teams doesn't appear to be widely known, even among many Black Americans.
Additions and corrections to this 2023 pancocojams post are very welcome. I'm particularly interested in documenting the history of this African American performance art, for instance, which were the earliest African American military style church drill teams?
As documented in the article excerpt given as #1 in this post, there were African American church (dance style) drill teams with drum squads prior to African American military style church drill teams.
For the historical and cultural record, any information that you could share on these subjects in the comment section below would be greatly appreciated.
**** GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH MILITARY STYLE DRILL TEAMS PERFORMANCES by Azizi Powell, April 12, 2023 [edited April 13, 2023)
African American church military style drill teams is a type of African American marching/movement art. That marching genre includes military cadences, church choirs processionals, ushers processionals (known as "Grand Marches), nurses processionals , and dance style drill teams with drum squads.
African American church military drill teams are considered one of the churches' ministries (how church members serve God and His people).
African American church military style drill teams are composed of African Americans of all genders and of females of various ages from around six years old through young adulthood. (In most of the YouTube videos that I have watched the members are high school age and young adults. Also, in all of the YouTube videos that I have watched, all of the members of these teams are Black.
In many of the YouTube videos of African American church military style drill teams, the members wear fancy military style uniforms with the same type of boots, or the same type of loafer type shoes (not gym shoes). The females wear blouses and skirts or dresses and the males wear shirts and pants. In many of the videos that I've watched, members of these African American church military drill teams wear a beret..
African American church military drill teams perform without any musical accompaniment, including no whistles. These church drill teams carry no weapons or anything else (except for a few older videos that include two members in the front who carry a banner with the team's name).
In most of the YouTube videos that I've seen, the drill team march in twos down the center aisle of the church's sanctuary or of a convention's main meeting room to face their drill team leader. That leader calls out the commands which the drill team responds to those commands.
Very large drill teams also had (have?) members performing in the right aisle and perhaps also in the left aisle, although I haven't seen any video of drill teams also performing in the left aisle.)
Once they have marched in, the African American church military drill team perform choreographed hand and body movements as a group largely without leaving the individual place where they are standing. These movements are performed while the drill team leader is speaking or while the drill team is chanting and singing original or adapted religious songs. Members of these African American military style drill teams (except for the banner holders and the drill team leader)/s may also "pat Juba" (rhythmically perform individual hand claps that alternate with chest and thigh slapping). The drill team also respond to their leader's commands such as "ten hut". meaning "attention"), "salute", "your left", "right face", "to the rear" and "at ease". In some YouTube videos that I have watched, the military drill teams recite books of the Bible or names of people in the Bible. The leader's introduction to some chants reminds me of church testifying.
African American church military style drill team members also incorporate interpretive dance moves as well as some R&B/Hip Hop or Black line dance type moves (such as doing a dip when they march, doing a group ripple, and leaning back and holding that position for a brief time.
At their annual anniversary programs, some African American usher boards perform the same or similar interpretive dance type moves and R&B/Hip Hop or Black line dance type moves are also performed by some contemporary Black usher boards during their Grand March. That Grand March is performed during that anniversary program's and during usher convention's "collection" ("offering") segment. Some African American church choirs and nurses boards may also do the same or similar movements during the collection segment of their anniversary programs or during conventions. In contrast to African American church military drill teams, the church usher boards and choirs usually march to live or recorded Black Gospel vocal music or Black Gospel instrumental music. Also in contrast to church military drill teams, African American church usher boards, nurses boards, and church choirs do very little if any hand movements, don't "pat Juba", and are silent during their entire marches.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/marching-for-jesus-church-ushers-nurses.html for a 2011 pancocojams post entitled "Marching For Jesus (Church Ushers & Nurses) Black Church Processions Part III". -snip- This description is based on my watching a number of YouTube videos of church military drill teams and church usher/nurses marches, and African American church choir marches. The oldest YouTube videos that I have found for African American military drill teams are from 2007. Some commenters on YouTube discussion threads for these videos and on the Facebook page for St. Agnes March Of Faith drill team wrote that the hand movements in the late 1980s and the 1990s were more complicated than the routines that were/are done in the 2000s.
Please improve this description of African American military style drill team routines by adding your comments in the discussion thread of this pancocojams post. Thanks! .
****
ARTICLE EXCERPTS These excerpts are presented in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
ARTICLE EXCERPT #1 From https://www.ops.org/Page/1844 Stepping on Up... Drill and Step in Omaha Written by Ashley Dorn, University of Iowa. [no date cited] "African American music and dance have been powerful and
significant forces in the musical history of the United States. Drill and step
has roots in West African social and spiritual customs, resistance during
slavery in the United States, and cultural participation and innovations such
as military service, community and school-based teams, and Black Greek Letter
Organizations. Drill and step in Omaha dates back to the early 20th century and
continues to be part of community celebrations such as Native Omaha Days and
the Juneteenth parade.
[…]
Salem Stepping Saints
Members of the Salem Stepping Saints drill team dressed up
in beautiful purple and red uniforms for a performance. The Salem Stepping
Saints of Omaha, Nebraska celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2017. The group
was founded by Phyllis Hicks and Jackie Bowles in 1967 as an outreach for the
Salem Baptist Church. The Stepping Saints is made up of students aged 12 to 20
who practice multiple times a week. They are best known for their performances
in parades like the Native Omaha Days parade. The Saints also have had many
opportunities to travel nationally to competitions and performances. The Salem
Stepping Saints are part of a long history both in Omaha and throughout the
United States of drill and step teams rooted in the music and dance history of
African Americans.
[…]
Drill and step were part of a larger musical scene in
Omaha throughout the 20th century, especially from the 1920s through the
postwar era. A variety of Black-owned and operated businesses and musical
clubs surrounding 24th and Lake Street hosted community events and big-name
musicians, including the likes of Duke Ellington.
Drill and step teams date back to the early decades of the
20th century but the roots of the music and dancing go much deeper. Scholars
have traced many characteristics to West African cultural practices and through
historical experiences of African Americans in the United States, including
slavery, resistance, military service, and social dancing.
Scholars have identified many West African roots – such as
call and response, polyrhythm, use of percussion, improvisation, and the
incorporation of pageantry as both ceremonially significant and for humor and
ridicule. Many of these elements survived the Middle Passage and were
incorporated into rituals and dances performed by slaves. Indeed, the bodily
percussion so integral to many step performances has been related to “patting
juba,” a dance developed in response to restricted use of drums and other
instruments. Furthermore, dances such as the “cakewalk” drew on traditions of
pageantry and subversive humor to ridicule slave owners.
Moving through the 20th century, a strong legacy of military
service among African Americans influenced the formation of drill and step
dances, in addition to evolving musical trends such as jazz and hip hop. While
drill and step share many characteristics, these two distinct styles are
developed and performed in different social settings. Drill teams often perform
in parades or public events with accompaniment by live percussion. Step teams
often perform in formal competitions and rely on bodily percussion produced by
the group members as part of the choreography, supplemented by recorded music
often utilizing rap and hip hop. Black Greek Letter Organizations were integral
to the development of step teams and collegiate competitions as Black students
formed networks and clubs of their own in response to formal segregation and
social exclusion.
Drill and step teams continue to this day, ranging from
informal community gatherings to high-budget, formal collegiate competitions.
The history of drill and step can be traced through the experiences of African
Americans in the United States as well as to West African social and spiritual
customs. The practice and performance of drill and step mirrors the history of
African American music in the way that it has both deep historical roots and is
ever-evolving in the present." -snip- Omaha, Nebraska's Salem Stepping Saints drill team is a dance style drill team which performs to the accompaniment of drums. Here's a link to 2011 video of that drill team https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azPo2xxZdlE. A 2010 video collage of the Salem Stepping Saints indicates that at 42 years old it is one of the oldest drill teams in the nation. I give a shout out to this drill team and recognize the fact (as stated in this article) that the Salem Stepping Saints drill team was started as an outgrowth of Salem Baptist Church.
However, the focus of this pancocojams post (and series) is African American military style drill teams.
"Hands were slapping, feet were stomping and the halls of
Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church echoed with that ever familiar refrain of
praise to God:
"Your left, left, left, right, left."
Well, familiar to a sanctuary packed full of church drill
teams decked out in what looked like military dress uniforms and practicing a
method of praise that tended toward the martial.
"Never forget that we are a church drill team, and we
proclaim the word of God in our performance," the Rev. Paul Prince,
associate minister of Progressive New Hope Baptist Church, told about 700
children and teens gathered at the church. "If you are up there just
shaking and baking until your mama lets you out, that's not what I'm talking about."
For corps of the devoted, marching in time has become a
popular way to express faith. For 27 teams earlier this month, the Texas Gulf
Coast Church Drill Team Association's convention provided practical and
spiritual lessons on marching for God. Most of the teams came from the Houston
area, but some drove in from Arlington and the San Antonio area.
The goal of the convention was to talk about mechanics and
purpose. But the conference concluded with a competition that allowed the teams
to strut their stuff and bask in the applause of a church filled with proud
parents pointing video cameras.
[…]
The conference was organized by Oscar Alexis, founder of the
regional drill team association and program coordinator for the National
Baptist Sunday School Congress. Winners of the competition -- including McGee
Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and Sugar Valley Church, both in Houston --
took home 12 nearly hip-high trophies.
"It's not just marching you are teaching these
children," Alexis said. "You are teaching them skills for life."
[…]
Now 58, he first began on a church drill team as a child.
After finishing high school and a stint in an airborne division of the U.S.
Army, he returned to Houston and St. Agnes Baptist Church. In 1980, he put
together the St. Agnes March of Faith Drill Team.
"At the time we were the only drill team around,"
Alexis said.
Since then, drill teams have grown in popularity, primarily
for children and teens at predominantly black churches, Alexis said. Regional
conventions are held throughout the country, and denominations also hold
national competitions to determine the best of the church drill teams.
"I didn't have any idea it would explode like
this," he said.
As the teams march in the aisles of the church, they move
rigidly and in strict meter -- with an occasional team busting out with a
syncopated rhythm or chant. A leader barks out commands, instructing team
members to change pace, direction or routine.
"Go left, go right, go left, right, left. Jesus. J
-E-S-U-S," a church gymnasium room of teens chanted to the calls of an
instructor.
"It is based on the military," said Bryan Pratt,
whose two children performed with Resurrection Baptist Church from near San
Antonio. "But the reason they march is to bring people in (to the church)
and function as a team, and that will help the kids as they get older."
But as instructors and participants reiterated throughout
the conference, the purpose of the marching is spiritual.
"It is the idea of giving praise to God," Alexis
said. "All of our adoration is to God." ”…. -snip- The African American church military style of marching while chanting and singing reminds me of this scene from the 1990 American movie Cadence when the soldiers were singing the song "Chain Gang". In Europe this movie is known as Stockade" :
cadence 1990 chain gang march (soul patrol shuffle )
