Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides quotes about hand signs (gestures) that are used by members of historically Black Greek lettered organizations (BGLOs) and showcases BGLO videos that include hand signs.
This post also includes information about BGLO calls because of the close connection between historically Black Greek lettered organizations' calls and hand signs.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
This post serves as a companion to a two part pancocojams series on historically Black Greek lettered organizations calls. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/black-fraternity-sorority-calls.html for Part I of that series. The link for Part II (videos of BGLO roll calls) is included in that post.
The comment section below includes links to two blog posts/articles about the use of hand signs among PWI (predominately White [Greek lettered] Institutions). The 2015 article announced a ban on the publication on social media of photographs for members of Kappa Kappa Gamma if those photographs included hand signs. Most of the published comments with that article were critical of that decision. For the folkloric record, in this post's comment section, I've quoted a small portion of that article as well as several comments.
Although I've not quoted any of the comments in that linked six page blog post, some commenters in that discussion noted that hand signs are not only the norm among historically Black Greek lettered organizations, but are also the norm among Latino/a, Asian, and multi-cultural university based Greek lettered organizations.
****
QUOTES ABOUT HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTERED FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES HAND SIGNS
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Quote #1
This is an excerpt from the pancocojams post on BGLO calls whose link is given above:
From http://www.afa1976.org/Portals/0/Membership_Intake_Guide_NPHC.pdf NPHC National Membership Intake Guide: A Statement About Calls & Hand Signs By National Pan-Hellenic Council
"Hand signs and calls have evolved into another historical facet of Black fraternal organization life. According to Kimbrough (2003), the concept of calls is embedded in both African and African-American tradition. These sounds were a form of yodeling known as whooping in the Congo and Angola tribes. Additionally, these audible sounds, also known as cries and arhoolies, could he heard being sung by slaves. It is not clear when calls were first used, however, it seems possible that calls used by NPHC organizations became prevalent during the mid-1970’s.
Much like calls, the exact origin of hand signs cannot be pinpointed. According to Kimbrough (2003), pictures from college campuses of Black fraternities and sororities indicate that hand signs became a part of the Black fraternal experience during the 1970’s. Although it is not clear how calls and hand signs evolved, these traditions are long standing.
These universal symbols can be seen as exclusive outward expressions of pride and of strong organizational identification."
-snip-
Added August 29. 2016
"I'm a very inactive member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Gamma Zeta chapter, New Jersey, 1967). During the brief time in 1967 that I was active with that sorority, I definitely recall hearing and performing that organization's signature call "Skee Weee". I also definitely remember seeing and doing the organization's secret handshake. I know how to do AKA's hand sign, but I'm not sure that I remember seeing or doing an AKA hand sign before I voluntarily became inactive (which, for various reasons was shortly after I "went over" - i.e. officially became a member of that organization)."
-snip-
I should also note that the handshake and hand sign both feature the pinky finger.
**
Quote #2
From https://books.google.com/books?id=LHLySACMxdcC&pg=PA11&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false [Google Books]
Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities (Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 2003) By Walter M. Kimbrough
[page] 122
..."Calls are audible sounds made by members as a means to signify or acknowledge membership in a particular organizations, or to acknowledge or “call” a member who might be in range where they could hear the call and respond. Instead of yelling the person’s name, the fraternity brother or sorority sister would use the call to get the person’s attention. These actions are also steeped in African and African American traditions. Alternately named whoops, hollers, cries, and artwhoolies, they were a form of yodeling employed in the Congo and Angola among tribes (whooping), or sung by slaves (cries and artwhoolies). Call was also the name of the practice of black vendors who peddled and advertised their products.
Being verbal customs, it is difficult to determine when or why they appeared. Discussions with older members of the organizations yield varying responses as to when calls were first used. In a dissertation, Marcella McCoy explores some customs of Black Greek-lettered organizations. The topic of calls was raised through interviews with persons initiated throughout a period of 1941 to 1994. Some of the subjects said they heard calls as early as the late 1960s, but there was a great deal of inconsistency. One of the ways used to determine the origins was to look for these phrases written in student publications. At Alabama State in 1981, the phrase “OO OOP” was viewed on a T-shirt of Delta Sigma Theta members on the campus. Three years later at Alabama A&M, the phrase “SKEE-WEE” appeared. It is probable that these calls were mid-1970s inventions, but a much more detailed analysis of this aspect of Black fraternalism is needed and warranted.
[page 123 is not available online}
[page] 124
[quote begins on page 123 and appears to be a description of a photo]
[Virginia?] “Beach in the early 1980s showed a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority holding their sorority hand sign, characterized by holding out the pinky finger. Even though a seventies invention, within a decade, hand signs became ubiquitous. Since that time, practically all undergraduates pose for pictures while using their respective hand signs."
****
Quote #3
From https://aytaylor.wordpress.com/
eview: Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities
Posted on April 26, 2014 by ancherise Standard
..."I’m sure African American students attending predominently Black colleges as well as predominantly white colleges have seen the Black Greek-Letter Organizations around their campuses repping their organization dressed in jackets with Greek letters, line names, colors, and numbers, as well as these organizations “throwing up” their traditional hand signs, and shouting out calls while stepping during parties. This book thoroughly explains the transformation of Black Greek-Letter Organizations and the history behind what these organizations have become in our culture today. It talks about the evolution of hazing and pledging, distinguishing the two. As I’ve stated in previous posts, people have different processes. It just all depends on the chapter and organization. This book highlights that. It brings some terms to pass that you might have heard around your campuses (paper, skaters, nupes, ques, wood, etc.). It also explains and attempts to date the history of stepping, and why these organizations throw up hand signs and shout out calls."
****
Quote #4
Google Books: African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision (University Press of Kentucky, Mar 11, 2005) edited by Tamara Brown
[page] 297
"What is a Call?
Calls, along with organizational colors, commonly serve as introductory features to BGLOs. Calls are vocal utterances, either words or sounds, coined for use of the respective organizations...Calls can be diverse in pitch and sound, ranging from a howl or a bark to a screech or whistle. It is understood that nonmembers do not use the call, because it is viewed as offensive and disrespectful toward the organization that coined it. The call is used to acknowledge and greet another member who is some distance away, to avoid yelling that person’s name. It is used to get the attention of another member and as a form of affirmation and approval in place of applause when members of various BGLOs are present. Common usage involves one member initiating the call and the member or members being addressed replying with the same call or another responding call....
Hand signals are used to accompany or substitute for the call in many situations. It is not uncommon for members to form the symbol of the group with their hands while posing for a photograph, especially if they are not wearing paraphernalia. The same exclusive rules of ownership that applies to calls applies to the use of hand signals."
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS THAT INCLUDE BGLOS HAND SIGNS
These videos are given in chronological order based on the founding date of these nine historically Black Greek lettered organizations. Note that I chose to feature a combined video of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc because that video extensively featured members of those two organizations throwing hand signs.
These videos are given without any viewer comments or any editorial comment (by me) except to note that it appears that all of these organizations have more than one signature hand sign.
Many of these videos showcase fraternity and/or sorority strolling because hand signs are often performed while doing that performance art. I tried to chose videos that were less than 10 minutes and which didn't include background music that contained any profanity or what is commonly known as "the n word". Please suggest additional links to YouTube videos that showcase hand signs as long as they meet those criteria.
Video #1: Alphas & AKAs Stroll
Charles Sueing, Published on Nov 3, 2011
Morehouse/Spelman Homecoming 2011
-snip-
This video showcases members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hand signs can be best seen around 2:09 of this video.
****
Video #2: The Lambda Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Presents "AcademiK Probation"
Lowdown Nupes Published on Aug 19, 2016
August 27th, 2016 | University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | Kappa Alphha Psi | UTC Nupes | @lowdownnupes
****
Video #3: Omega Psi Phi Talented 10th District Hop and Cadillac Hop
Mr. Party Promoter, Published on Jun 13, 2016
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Talented 10th District Hop and What they Live for "Cadillacs" Hop
****
Video #4: 2014 UMD Block Show: Delta Sigma Theta
Shegaw MekonenPublished on May 8, 2014
The sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc's Kappa Phi chapter perform at the University of Maryland College Park Block Show
****
Video #5: Phi Beta Sigma WINS 2017 Atlanta Greek Picnic Stroll off (Official Video )#AGP2017 #DewXAgp
Atlanta Greek Picnic Published on Jun 26, 2017
The men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc WIN the 2017 Atlanta Greek Picnic Stroll off. Saturday June 24th, Morris Brown College. Sponsored by Mountain Dew.
****
Video #6: Zeta Phi Beta, Tuskegee Stroll Off 2016
Kelli Lacy Published on Aug 31, 2016
Theta Beta Chapter!!! Stroll of Tuskegee Universtiy
****
Video #7: Sigma Gamma Rho Mu Xi Spring 2016 Probate Jacksonville State University #MovieMic Promos
MovieMIC, Published on Mar 15, 2016
#MovieMic my Alma Mater The Jacksonville State University
****
Video #8: Iota Phi Theta, Alpha Tau - Howard 2016 Step Show
Kaelan Laurence, Published on Oct 25, 2016
-snip-
This video replaces another video of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. that was originally embedded but is no longer available.
****
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Showing posts with label Bglo culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bglo culture. Show all posts
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Friday, January 16, 2015
Black Fraternities & Sororities Chants That Mention Crossing The Burning Sands
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - February 2, 2024
This pancocojams post provides some examples of historically Black (African American) Greek letter organizations (Bglos) chants that mention "crossing the burning sands".
The Addendums to this post presents some information about the Divine Nine (historically Black Greek Letter fraternities and sororities) as well as some information about "crossing the burning sands" in those organizations and in the Shriners organization.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and folkloric purposes.
Any copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those whose organization's chants are quoted in this post.
I consider fraternity & sorority chants and vernacular to be cultural artifacts which deserve to be collected, preserved, and studied. That said, I also believe that fraternity & sorority songs and chants should only be recited and/or performed by those persons who are affiliated with the specific organization that is associated with that particular chant.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black.html for Part I of a seven part pancocojams series of examples of historically Black Greek letter fraternities/sororities chants/songs. The links to all of these posts are included on the individual posts.
****
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS' "CROSSING THE BURNING SANDS" RITUAL
"Crossing the burning sands" is an important ritual in the pre-1990 legal "crossing" ("crossing over") ceremony that marks or refers to a person's membership in a historically Black Greek letter fraternity or in a historically Black Greek letter sorority. I don't know if crossing the burning sands is a part of the post 1990 legal initiation process for those organizations. Read the comment below by JSUAKA17 that is found in the "Definition of Sands" section.
The Greek definition list that is posted on the internet by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas gives the following definition for "crossed" that mentions crossing the burning sands":
"Crossed - the same as being initiated. The term means different things to different groups, but generally means crossing over from being a pledge to being a full member. Most groups record this time to the second. Term also refers to "Crossing the Burning Sands"
-snip-
It's interesting that this list uses the term "pledge" as a referent for a person who in the process of joining a Bglo. That word may be banned in other areas and universities, along with the term "to pledge" and "pledging" which have been replaced with the terms "to initiate" and "initiation".
Read my comments in this post about Bglo pledging/hazing. UPDATE: March 13, 2017 [link added]
Click this 2015 pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/01/black-fraternities-sororities-chants.html
-end of update-
Cornell University's Greek definition list doesn't mention "crossing the burning sands". However, it gives this definition for "crossing/crossing over":
"CROSSING/CROSSING OVER – The point of membership intake process when pledges officially become members. http://dos.cornell.edu/greek/about_our_office/definitions.cfm "Greek Definitions" (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York).
-snip-
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority line that I was part of in 1967 used the comparable term "went over". We also experienced crossing the burning sands.
****
DEFINITION OF "SANDS" (AS IN "GREETING, MY SANDS")
The ritual and phrase "crossing the burning sands" is the source of the historically Black Greek letter organization's term "sands". Contemporarily, that word is sometimes spelled "sandz".
"Sands" - "A word used to acknowledge other members that crossed over in other organizations or in the same organization, but a different chapter." http://dos.cornell.edu/greek/about_our_office/definitions.cfm "Greek Definitions" (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York).
Bglo terms may differ across regions and within different organizations. For example, here's a comment from a blogger on an interesting discussion thread about Bglo terms and other customs:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=16727&page=4 "Question Are some phrases/words SPECIFIC to certain Greek orgs?"
"04-14-2006, 12:03 AM
JSUAKA17
"Sands
It seems strange to me to hear that some schools refer to anyone that pledged the same semester as them as their sands, regardless of the organization. When I pledged, the only people that we called our sands were our line sisters that actually crossed the sands with us. Of course that was in 1987, I realize that most organizations probably no longer physically cross burning sands, nor should they (we shouldn't have been doing it either). I just thought that the term sands was reserved for the most intimate of relationships, at least that is how it was in my day."
-end of quote-
Note that that Cornell University list of terms include such terms such as "membership intake process" and "initiation" and doesn't include the word "crossed" or crossed the burning sands", or "sands" (as a referent for a member of ones' sorority or fraternity that was initiated/joined at the same time as another member).
The Greek definitions list from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas also includes membership intake process terms. That list gives this definition for "sands":
"Sands (aka Parallel) - A member of your organization or another culturally based organization that was initiated at the same time you were." http://www.unlv.edu/getinvolved/greek-definitions.
****
SOME EXAMPLES OF CHANTS THAT MENTION CROSSING THE BURNING SANDS
For the most part, these chants are presented without explanatory notes. Almost all of these examples were found online. All of the examples of these chants that I've found to date positively refer to crossing the burning sands.
It's likely that all Divine 9 organizations have chants that mention crossing the burning sands. The number of chants in this post that are from any particular organization or the absence of chants from any organization should not be interpreted to mean anything.
Additional chants will be added if I come across them. Additions from blog readers are welcome.
A,B
AKA WHAT YA DO TO ME
AKA what ya do to me
You make me feel so good
AKA what you do to me
Just like I knew you would.
We cross the burning sands
To find something new
We cross the burning sands
To find real womanhood.
-Azizi Powell, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. pledge song (Gamma Zeta chapter, New Jersey, 1967), 10/30/2006, cocojams.com
[Cocojams was the name of my multipage cultural website. That website was online from 2001 through most of 2014 when I voluntarily deactivated it.]
-snip-
This is one of three pledge songs that I remember from my Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority line (1967).
****
ALPHA, WE LOVE YOU
(Tune: Little Liza)
Verse 1
When we were searching for the LIGHT,
We hears a WISE MAN call,
"Now Listen well! I'm going to tell
THE GREATEST FRAT OF ALL!
ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA!
(Chorus)
Alpha, we love you!
Alpha, we love you!
Love you in the springtime
and the fall.
Alpha, we love you!
Alpha, we love you!
Love you best of all!
(Repeat chorus)
Verse 2
We listened well and made our pledge.
Then crossed the burning sands,-
and entered dear old A*PHI*A,
The greatest in the land!
ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA!
(Chorus)
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection, posted on cocojams.com, 3/20/2010
-snip-
Brian A. Jackson, a cocojams reader, and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.(Beta Chapter, Howard University, Spring 1990) shared with me a number of Alpha Phi Alpha songs & chants with me and gave me permission to post examples of Alpha Phi Alpha songs & chants on Cocojams.com. (March 2010). At that time, Brian A. Jackson was the Vice President of the Xi Nu Lambda Grad Chapter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and had been collecting Alpha Phi Alpha songs and chants over the last 20 years. Examples from this collection are indicated by the notation "Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection".
****
BROTHERS (Example #1)
I was looking for the name of this but I kouldn't find it. This is the chant a Brother from "O.G." gave us:
Brothers.....
I don't know,
I don't know if I can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHHH, Big Brother said we couldn't make it,
Huhhh, but we got a big surprise
We're gonna cross those burning sands
we're gonna make into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHH"
-K_I_A_Nupe (Tampa, Florida), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2
Kappa/Scroller Chants, January 8, 2009
-snip-
I'm not sure what the title of this chant actually is.
Notice the Kappa Alpha Psi custom of using a "k" for words that begin with "c".
Another commenter on that same discussion thread wrote that he also learned this same chant when he was a "scroller", and he didn't know that it was national.
****
SCROLLERS (Example #2 of "Brothers")
Yup. We did the same chant as scrollers down here @GL with a few substituted words. (Gamma Lamda) Huston-Tillotson University.
Scrollers
I don't know, I don't know if we can make it over
Scrollers, I don't know if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi.
OHHHHHHHH, if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
Big Brother said, we wouldn't make it
but we got a big suprise
we're going to cross those burning sands alive
we're going to make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
-Kappachino3Klub (Texas), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2
Kappa/Scroller Chants, January 8, 2009
****
C, D
****
E, F
****
G, H
GO DOWN
Go Down, Brother
Way down to Egypt Land
Tell the people
The light has come.
(Back in 06)
Back in 06
Many years ago
7 Black men
Couldn't take no more
They professed to have seen the light
The Light Of The World
They journeyed to
The motherland
Where they crossed
Those burning sands
Marching onward
They had to see
Just what
The end would bring
(What the end would bring)
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection, permission granted to post on cocojams.com, 3/20/2010
-snip-
The first part of this chant or song was inspired by the African American Spiritual "Go Down Moses". "The motherland" either refers to the continent of Africa or specifically to ancient Egypt which is located in Africa.
****
I, J
****
I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
(Gamma Iota Chapter Traditional Song, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.)
I know I've been changed
I know I've been changed
I know I've been changed
The big brothers done changed my name.
On this Alpha train
On this Alpha train
I've been pledgin and I'll never be the same
Sons of Alpha are we
One in love and charity
Let our thought of sadness fly
For our own, our Alpha Phi.
Courage brothers banded we
All through life 'till eternity.
Let our hearts in* joyous praise
Sing of Alpha through endless days.
Way down in the jungle deep
Burning sands scorching my feet
Pyramids touching the sky
I'm pledgin' Alpha till the day I die
Been on line pledgin' for days
Put aside my selfish ways
Feel it deep down in my soul
My butt is burnin' and I want to be ice cold.
Own my life, and take my pride
Wood me up on my backside
Pledge me anyway you can
For when I cross I'll be an Alpha man.
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection; posted 4/18/2010
-snip-
Because I was aware that "I Know I've Been Changed" is the title & chorus of an African American religious song, I contacted Brian A. Jackson to ask him if the song posted above was actually three different songs that were sung one right after the other. Mr. Jackson responded to my email with the following comments:
"I have not heard it nor sung it, but I believe that is the full song. Its a song that is sung while they are Sphinxmen so "On this Alpha train" refers to them being on the way to Alpha
Read it as - Let our Hearts, and joyous praise - (2 collective entities, our hearts and our joyous praise - both of them singing Alpha through endless days)
That is how I read it. It makes sense to me."
-end of quote-
In a previous email, in response to my question about the sources of these Alpha chants, Brian A. Jackson wrote that "Some of the "older" ones probably did come from other sources. I know many of them came from old Negro spirituals as well. Some came from the military also. We even had one called Beat #122. Where each section of the line had a different beat or chant.
For example: (on my line there were 16 of us)
#1 - #4 - had the cymbal part
#5 - #8 - would scream "This is BETA"
#9 - #12 - would scream "Pledge Alpha All Night Long"
#13 - #16 - would keep the baseline
-snip-
I'm interested in knowing whether any members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. sung these words given above as three separate songs.
****
IMPRESS ME
Latest revision - February 2, 2024
This pancocojams post provides some examples of historically Black (African American) Greek letter organizations (Bglos) chants that mention "crossing the burning sands".
The Addendums to this post presents some information about the Divine Nine (historically Black Greek Letter fraternities and sororities) as well as some information about "crossing the burning sands" in those organizations and in the Shriners organization.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and folkloric purposes.
Any copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those whose organization's chants are quoted in this post.
I consider fraternity & sorority chants and vernacular to be cultural artifacts which deserve to be collected, preserved, and studied. That said, I also believe that fraternity & sorority songs and chants should only be recited and/or performed by those persons who are affiliated with the specific organization that is associated with that particular chant.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black.html for Part I of a seven part pancocojams series of examples of historically Black Greek letter fraternities/sororities chants/songs. The links to all of these posts are included on the individual posts.
****
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS' "CROSSING THE BURNING SANDS" RITUAL
"Crossing the burning sands" is an important ritual in the pre-1990 legal "crossing" ("crossing over") ceremony that marks or refers to a person's membership in a historically Black Greek letter fraternity or in a historically Black Greek letter sorority. I don't know if crossing the burning sands is a part of the post 1990 legal initiation process for those organizations. Read the comment below by JSUAKA17 that is found in the "Definition of Sands" section.
The Greek definition list that is posted on the internet by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas gives the following definition for "crossed" that mentions crossing the burning sands":
"Crossed - the same as being initiated. The term means different things to different groups, but generally means crossing over from being a pledge to being a full member. Most groups record this time to the second. Term also refers to "Crossing the Burning Sands"
-snip-
It's interesting that this list uses the term "pledge" as a referent for a person who in the process of joining a Bglo. That word may be banned in other areas and universities, along with the term "to pledge" and "pledging" which have been replaced with the terms "to initiate" and "initiation".
Read my comments in this post about Bglo pledging/hazing. UPDATE: March 13, 2017 [link added]
Click this 2015 pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/01/black-fraternities-sororities-chants.html
-end of update-
Cornell University's Greek definition list doesn't mention "crossing the burning sands". However, it gives this definition for "crossing/crossing over":
"CROSSING/CROSSING OVER – The point of membership intake process when pledges officially become members. http://dos.cornell.edu/greek/about_our_office/definitions.cfm "Greek Definitions" (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York).
-snip-
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority line that I was part of in 1967 used the comparable term "went over". We also experienced crossing the burning sands.
****
DEFINITION OF "SANDS" (AS IN "GREETING, MY SANDS")
The ritual and phrase "crossing the burning sands" is the source of the historically Black Greek letter organization's term "sands". Contemporarily, that word is sometimes spelled "sandz".
"Sands" - "A word used to acknowledge other members that crossed over in other organizations or in the same organization, but a different chapter." http://dos.cornell.edu/greek/about_our_office/definitions.cfm "Greek Definitions" (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York).
Bglo terms may differ across regions and within different organizations. For example, here's a comment from a blogger on an interesting discussion thread about Bglo terms and other customs:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=16727&page=4 "Question Are some phrases/words SPECIFIC to certain Greek orgs?"
"04-14-2006, 12:03 AM
JSUAKA17
"Sands
It seems strange to me to hear that some schools refer to anyone that pledged the same semester as them as their sands, regardless of the organization. When I pledged, the only people that we called our sands were our line sisters that actually crossed the sands with us. Of course that was in 1987, I realize that most organizations probably no longer physically cross burning sands, nor should they (we shouldn't have been doing it either). I just thought that the term sands was reserved for the most intimate of relationships, at least that is how it was in my day."
-end of quote-
Note that that Cornell University list of terms include such terms such as "membership intake process" and "initiation" and doesn't include the word "crossed" or crossed the burning sands", or "sands" (as a referent for a member of ones' sorority or fraternity that was initiated/joined at the same time as another member).
The Greek definitions list from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas also includes membership intake process terms. That list gives this definition for "sands":
"Sands (aka Parallel) - A member of your organization or another culturally based organization that was initiated at the same time you were." http://www.unlv.edu/getinvolved/greek-definitions.
****
SOME EXAMPLES OF CHANTS THAT MENTION CROSSING THE BURNING SANDS
For the most part, these chants are presented without explanatory notes. Almost all of these examples were found online. All of the examples of these chants that I've found to date positively refer to crossing the burning sands.
It's likely that all Divine 9 organizations have chants that mention crossing the burning sands. The number of chants in this post that are from any particular organization or the absence of chants from any organization should not be interpreted to mean anything.
Additional chants will be added if I come across them. Additions from blog readers are welcome.
A,B
AKA WHAT YA DO TO ME
AKA what ya do to me
You make me feel so good
AKA what you do to me
Just like I knew you would.
We cross the burning sands
To find something new
We cross the burning sands
To find real womanhood.
-Azizi Powell, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. pledge song (Gamma Zeta chapter, New Jersey, 1967), 10/30/2006, cocojams.com
[Cocojams was the name of my multipage cultural website. That website was online from 2001 through most of 2014 when I voluntarily deactivated it.]
-snip-
This is one of three pledge songs that I remember from my Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority line (1967).
****
ALPHA, WE LOVE YOU
(Tune: Little Liza)
Verse 1
When we were searching for the LIGHT,
We hears a WISE MAN call,
"Now Listen well! I'm going to tell
THE GREATEST FRAT OF ALL!
ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA!
(Chorus)
Alpha, we love you!
Alpha, we love you!
Love you in the springtime
and the fall.
Alpha, we love you!
Alpha, we love you!
Love you best of all!
(Repeat chorus)
Verse 2
We listened well and made our pledge.
Then crossed the burning sands,-
and entered dear old A*PHI*A,
The greatest in the land!
ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA! ALPHA!
(Chorus)
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection, posted on cocojams.com, 3/20/2010
-snip-
Brian A. Jackson, a cocojams reader, and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.(Beta Chapter, Howard University, Spring 1990) shared with me a number of Alpha Phi Alpha songs & chants with me and gave me permission to post examples of Alpha Phi Alpha songs & chants on Cocojams.com. (March 2010). At that time, Brian A. Jackson was the Vice President of the Xi Nu Lambda Grad Chapter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and had been collecting Alpha Phi Alpha songs and chants over the last 20 years. Examples from this collection are indicated by the notation "Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection".
****
BROTHERS (Example #1)
I was looking for the name of this but I kouldn't find it. This is the chant a Brother from "O.G." gave us:
Brothers.....
I don't know,
I don't know if I can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHHH, Big Brother said we couldn't make it,
Huhhh, but we got a big surprise
We're gonna cross those burning sands
we're gonna make into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHH"
-K_I_A_Nupe (Tampa, Florida), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2
Kappa/Scroller Chants, January 8, 2009
-snip-
I'm not sure what the title of this chant actually is.
Notice the Kappa Alpha Psi custom of using a "k" for words that begin with "c".
Another commenter on that same discussion thread wrote that he also learned this same chant when he was a "scroller", and he didn't know that it was national.
****
SCROLLERS (Example #2 of "Brothers")
Yup. We did the same chant as scrollers down here @GL with a few substituted words. (Gamma Lamda) Huston-Tillotson University.
Scrollers
I don't know, I don't know if we can make it over
Scrollers, I don't know if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi.
OHHHHHHHH, if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
Big Brother said, we wouldn't make it
but we got a big suprise
we're going to cross those burning sands alive
we're going to make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
-Kappachino3Klub (Texas), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2
Kappa/Scroller Chants, January 8, 2009
****
C, D
****
E, F
****
G, H
GO DOWN
Go Down, Brother
Way down to Egypt Land
Tell the people
The light has come.
(Back in 06)
Back in 06
Many years ago
7 Black men
Couldn't take no more
They professed to have seen the light
The Light Of The World
They journeyed to
The motherland
Where they crossed
Those burning sands
Marching onward
They had to see
Just what
The end would bring
(What the end would bring)
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection, permission granted to post on cocojams.com, 3/20/2010
-snip-
The first part of this chant or song was inspired by the African American Spiritual "Go Down Moses". "The motherland" either refers to the continent of Africa or specifically to ancient Egypt which is located in Africa.
****
I, J
I DIDN'T KNOW (Example #1)
I was looking for the name of this but I kouldn't find it. This is the chant a Brother from "O.G." gave us:
Brothers.....I don't know,
I don't know if I can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi....
OHHHHHHHHHHHH....
Big Brother said we couldn't make it, Huhhh....
but we got a big surprise....
We're gonna cross those burning sands,
We're gonna make into Kappa Alpha Psi....
OHHHHHHHHHHH
-K_I_A NUPE (Tampa, FL); http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2"
Kappa Stroller Chants; 1/8/2009
-snip-
*I used that phrase as the title, but I don't know if that is the real title of this chant.
****
I DIDN'T KNOW (Example #2)
[In response to another blogger's comment that he didn't know that that was a national chant]
We did the same chant as scrollers down here @GL with a few substituted words. (Gamma Lamda) Huston-Tillotson University.
Scrollers..I don't know,
I don't know if we can make it over...
Scrollers, I don't know if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi..
OHHHHHHHH, if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi...
Big Brother said, we wouldn't make it but we got a big suprise..
we're going to cross those burning sands alive,
we're going to make it into Kappa Alpha Psi"
-Kappachino3Klub; http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2,Kappa Stroller Chants; 1/8/2009
-snip-
Notice the use of "K" in this blogger's screen name instead of the "c".
"Stroller songs" are songs that Kappa "pledges" sing before they "cross the burning sands" and become actual members of that faternity or sorority.
I was looking for the name of this but I kouldn't find it. This is the chant a Brother from "O.G." gave us:
Brothers.....I don't know,
I don't know if I can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi....
OHHHHHHHHHHHH....
Big Brother said we couldn't make it, Huhhh....
but we got a big surprise....
We're gonna cross those burning sands,
We're gonna make into Kappa Alpha Psi....
OHHHHHHHHHHH
-K_I_A NUPE (Tampa, FL); http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2"
Kappa Stroller Chants; 1/8/2009
-snip-
*I used that phrase as the title, but I don't know if that is the real title of this chant.
****
I DIDN'T KNOW (Example #2)
[In response to another blogger's comment that he didn't know that that was a national chant]
We did the same chant as scrollers down here @GL with a few substituted words. (Gamma Lamda) Huston-Tillotson University.
Scrollers..I don't know,
I don't know if we can make it over...
Scrollers, I don't know if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi..
OHHHHHHHH, if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi...
Big Brother said, we wouldn't make it but we got a big suprise..
we're going to cross those burning sands alive,
we're going to make it into Kappa Alpha Psi"
-Kappachino3Klub; http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2,Kappa Stroller Chants; 1/8/2009
-snip-
Notice the use of "K" in this blogger's screen name instead of the "c".
"Stroller songs" are songs that Kappa "pledges" sing before they "cross the burning sands" and become actual members of that faternity or sorority.
****
I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
(Gamma Iota Chapter Traditional Song, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.)
I know I've been changed
I know I've been changed
I know I've been changed
The big brothers done changed my name.
On this Alpha train
On this Alpha train
I've been pledgin and I'll never be the same
Sons of Alpha are we
One in love and charity
Let our thought of sadness fly
For our own, our Alpha Phi.
Courage brothers banded we
All through life 'till eternity.
Let our hearts in* joyous praise
Sing of Alpha through endless days.
Way down in the jungle deep
Burning sands scorching my feet
Pyramids touching the sky
I'm pledgin' Alpha till the day I die
Been on line pledgin' for days
Put aside my selfish ways
Feel it deep down in my soul
My butt is burnin' and I want to be ice cold.
Own my life, and take my pride
Wood me up on my backside
Pledge me anyway you can
For when I cross I'll be an Alpha man.
-Brian A. Jackson Alpha Phi Alpha collection; posted 4/18/2010
-snip-
Because I was aware that "I Know I've Been Changed" is the title & chorus of an African American religious song, I contacted Brian A. Jackson to ask him if the song posted above was actually three different songs that were sung one right after the other. Mr. Jackson responded to my email with the following comments:
"I have not heard it nor sung it, but I believe that is the full song. Its a song that is sung while they are Sphinxmen so "On this Alpha train" refers to them being on the way to Alpha
Read it as - Let our Hearts, and joyous praise - (2 collective entities, our hearts and our joyous praise - both of them singing Alpha through endless days)
That is how I read it. It makes sense to me."
-end of quote-
In a previous email, in response to my question about the sources of these Alpha chants, Brian A. Jackson wrote that "Some of the "older" ones probably did come from other sources. I know many of them came from old Negro spirituals as well. Some came from the military also. We even had one called Beat #122. Where each section of the line had a different beat or chant.
For example: (on my line there were 16 of us)
#1 - #4 - had the cymbal part
#5 - #8 - would scream "This is BETA"
#9 - #12 - would scream "Pledge Alpha All Night Long"
#13 - #16 - would keep the baseline
-snip-
I'm interested in knowing whether any members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. sung these words given above as three separate songs.
****
IMPRESS ME
Are you really worthy
of the land of the purple and the gold?
Will you succeed?
Will you cross the burning sands?
Are you worthy?
It’s a long hard road to Omega.
Impress me.
-Anonymous, a note in a Q Pearl song book, Edinboro University (Pennsylvania), 1991, posted by Azizi Powell on Cocojams.com
-snip-
"Q Pearl" is one name for the auxiliary ("Little sister") group of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Auxiliary groups aren't legal organizations. Yet, I believe that they still exist.
Like other Bglo little sister groups for other fraternities, females pledging Q Pearl (know elsewhere as Q Essence) were pledged by Big sisters (Q Pearls who had "crossed") and sometimes also by Big brothers (members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity). As is probably the case with the above chant, some of the chants that those line members learned were Omega Psi Phi chants.
****
K, L
****
M, N
****
O, P
ONE MORNING (Example #1)
I woke up one morning and what did I see?
Three mighty founders of PHI B. E.
They touched my heart and they touched my soul.
They said oh don't you pledge that black and gold.
They touched my mouth and they touched my eye
and said oh don't you pledge no K-A-Psi.
Now they looked me down form my head to my shoe
and said you sho don't want to be no Que.
Now I'm walking down that Sigma Street.
I saw some Zetas they were looking at me.
I looked to my left and I looked to my right
and all I could see was that Blue and White.
Now the closer I got to that light you see.
PHI BETA SIGMA was growing in me.
The road is hard to Sigmaland.
Before I got there I had to cross them sands.
Now that I've crossed those burning sand.
I can say I am a SIGMA MAN!!!!
- http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3hmPQ4Qtk7wJ:pbsthe, retrieved on September 30, 2010
-snip-
This is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. chant. The chant also mentions Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (and that organization's colors) since the Sigmas and Zetas are official brother & sister organizations.
****
ONE MORNING (Example #2)
I woke up one morning and what did I see?
Three mighty founders of PHI B. E.
They touched heart and they touched my soul.
They said oh don't you pledge that black and gold.
They touched my mouth and they touched my eye
and said oh don't you pledge no K-A-Psi.
Now they looked me down form my head to my shoe
and said you sho don't want to be no Que.
Now I'm walking down that Sigma Street.
I saw some Zetas they were looking at me.
I looked to my left and I looked to my right
and all I could see was that Blue and White.
Now the closer I got to that light you see.
PHI BETA SIGMA was growing in me.
The road is hard to Sigmaland.
Before I got there I had to cross them sands.
Now that I've crossed those burning sand.
I can say I am a SIGMA MAN!!!!
- http://pbsthetaalpha.tripod.com/chants.html
-snip-
This is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. chant
*On the website from which this chant was taken, the "Zetas" in the chant was given as "Xetas". "Xetas" may be an alternative misspelling of the word "Zetas", the Sigma's official sister group (perhaps to imply that they are extra special.)
The colors for both this fraternity & this sorority are Royal Blue & Pure White.
of the land of the purple and the gold?
Will you succeed?
Will you cross the burning sands?
Are you worthy?
It’s a long hard road to Omega.
Impress me.
-Anonymous, a note in a Q Pearl song book, Edinboro University (Pennsylvania), 1991, posted by Azizi Powell on Cocojams.com
-snip-
"Q Pearl" is one name for the auxiliary ("Little sister") group of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Auxiliary groups aren't legal organizations. Yet, I believe that they still exist.
Like other Bglo little sister groups for other fraternities, females pledging Q Pearl (know elsewhere as Q Essence) were pledged by Big sisters (Q Pearls who had "crossed") and sometimes also by Big brothers (members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity). As is probably the case with the above chant, some of the chants that those line members learned were Omega Psi Phi chants.
****
K, L
****
M, N
****
O, P
ONE MORNING (Example #1)
I woke up one morning and what did I see?
Three mighty founders of PHI B. E.
They touched my heart and they touched my soul.
They said oh don't you pledge that black and gold.
They touched my mouth and they touched my eye
and said oh don't you pledge no K-A-Psi.
Now they looked me down form my head to my shoe
and said you sho don't want to be no Que.
Now I'm walking down that Sigma Street.
I saw some Zetas they were looking at me.
I looked to my left and I looked to my right
and all I could see was that Blue and White.
Now the closer I got to that light you see.
PHI BETA SIGMA was growing in me.
The road is hard to Sigmaland.
Before I got there I had to cross them sands.
Now that I've crossed those burning sand.
I can say I am a SIGMA MAN!!!!
- http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3hmPQ4Qtk7wJ:pbsthe, retrieved on September 30, 2010
-snip-
This is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. chant. The chant also mentions Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (and that organization's colors) since the Sigmas and Zetas are official brother & sister organizations.
****
ONE MORNING (Example #2)
I woke up one morning and what did I see?
Three mighty founders of PHI B. E.
They touched heart and they touched my soul.
They said oh don't you pledge that black and gold.
They touched my mouth and they touched my eye
and said oh don't you pledge no K-A-Psi.
Now they looked me down form my head to my shoe
and said you sho don't want to be no Que.
Now I'm walking down that Sigma Street.
I saw some Zetas they were looking at me.
I looked to my left and I looked to my right
and all I could see was that Blue and White.
Now the closer I got to that light you see.
PHI BETA SIGMA was growing in me.
The road is hard to Sigmaland.
Before I got there I had to cross them sands.
Now that I've crossed those burning sand.
I can say I am a SIGMA MAN!!!!
- http://pbsthetaalpha.tripod.com/chants.html
-snip-
This is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. chant
*On the website from which this chant was taken, the "Zetas" in the chant was given as "Xetas". "Xetas" may be an alternative misspelling of the word "Zetas", the Sigma's official sister group (perhaps to imply that they are extra special.)
The colors for both this fraternity & this sorority are Royal Blue & Pure White.
****
PROBATE MAN
When I was a probate man
trying to find my way across the burning sands
come on brothers and rescue me
RELEASE! ME! FROM! MY! MISERY!
i said i oweeeeeeeeeeee
my lifeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
to SIGMA whooooo!
S-I-G-M-A!
I owe! I owe my life!
- http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3hmPQ4Qtk7wJ:pbsthe, retrieved on September 30, 2010
-snip-
This is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. chant.
*****
Q, R
****
S, T
SCROLLERS, (Example #1)
I was looking for the name of this but I kouldn't find it. This is the chant a Brother from "O.G." gave us:
Brothers.....
I don't know,
I don't know if I can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHHH, Big Brother said we couldn't make it,
Huhhh, but we got a big surprise
We're gonna cross those burning sands
we're gonna make into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHH"
-K_I_A_Nupe (Tampa, Florida), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2 Kappa/Scroller Chants, January 8, 2009
-snip-
I used the title "Brothers", but I'm not sure what the title of this chant actually is.
This is a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. chant.
**
SCROLLERS (Example #2)
Yup. We did the same chant as scrollers down here @GL with a few substituted words. (Gamma Lamda) Huston-Tillotson University.
Scrollers
I don't know, I don't know if we can make it over
Scrollers, I don't know if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi.
OHHHHHHHH, if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
Big Brother said, we wouldn't make it
but we got a big suprise
we're going to cross those burning sands alive
we're going to make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappachino3Klub (Texas), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2 "Kappa/Scroller Chants", January 8, 2009
**
SOUL STEPPING SISTERS OF DST
The song we sing goes like this:
My Sisters and me
we are the Soul Stepping Sorors
of DST!
of the land of the purple and the gold?
Will you succeed?
Will you cross the burning sands?
Are you worthy?
It’s a long hard road to Omega.
See it through.
Impress me.
-Anonymous, from notes in Q Pearl book, 1991 Edinboro University (Pennsylvania),
posted by Azizi Powell on cocojams.com [Pancocojams' editor: cocojams.com was my cultural website from 2001 to 2014 which I voluntarily deactivated.]
-snip-
Read my comments for the chant entitled "Impress Me".
****
U, V
****
W, X
WHO ARE WE
Who are we
My sisters and me
We are the soul steppin sorors
Of DST.
We came here
Across the sands
Over into Delta Sigma Theta land.
-anonymous, from memory of Slippery Rock University step show (Pennsylvania late 1990s, early 2000s), posted on cocojams.com
****
Y, Z
YOU GOT TO PLEDGE HARD
You got to pledge hard, to cross those burning sands,
You got to pay the price, to be an I-Phi Man.
I was walking along the streets one day, when I heard the word of an I-Phi Man -
HE SAID ..
Iota is Great!
HE SAID ...
Iota is Grand!
HE SAID ...
Everybody loves an I-Phi Man!
-http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23438997/2029917769/name/chants_songs%5B2%5, "Iota Phi Theta, Fraternity song book, retrieved 1/2/2013
****
ADDENDUM- FOUNDING DATES FOR THE BGLO DIVINE NINE
From http://www.blackgreek.com/divinenine/
"There are nine historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as "The Divine Nine." Each of these fraternities and sororities is rich in history - ties to one or more of these organizations may be found in many college-educated Black families in the United States.
•Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Founded 1906, Cornell University
•Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Founded 1908, Howard University
•Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Founded 1911, Indiana University
•Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Founded 1911, Howard University
•Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Founded 1913, Howard University
•Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Founded 1914, Howard University
•Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Founded 1920, Howard University
•Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Founded 1922, Butler University
•Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Founded 1963, Morgan State University"
-snip-
Note that the Divine Nine (D9) is not a formal term.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council
"The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities...
The council promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions."
Visitor comments are welcome.
PROBATE MAN
When I was a probate man
trying to find my way across the burning sands
come on brothers and rescue me
RELEASE! ME! FROM! MY! MISERY!
i said i oweeeeeeeeeeee
my lifeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
to SIGMA whooooo!
S-I-G-M-A!
I owe! I owe my life!
- http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3hmPQ4Qtk7wJ:pbsthe, retrieved on September 30, 2010
-snip-
This is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. chant.
*****
Q, R
****
S, T
SCROLLERS, (Example #1)
I was looking for the name of this but I kouldn't find it. This is the chant a Brother from "O.G." gave us:
Brothers.....
I don't know,
I don't know if I can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHHH, Big Brother said we couldn't make it,
Huhhh, but we got a big surprise
We're gonna cross those burning sands
we're gonna make into Kappa Alpha Psi
OHHHHHHHHHHH"
-K_I_A_Nupe (Tampa, Florida), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2 Kappa/Scroller Chants, January 8, 2009
-snip-
I used the title "Brothers", but I'm not sure what the title of this chant actually is.
This is a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. chant.
**
SCROLLERS (Example #2)
Yup. We did the same chant as scrollers down here @GL with a few substituted words. (Gamma Lamda) Huston-Tillotson University.
Scrollers
I don't know, I don't know if we can make it over
Scrollers, I don't know if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi.
OHHHHHHHH, if we can make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
Big Brother said, we wouldn't make it
but we got a big suprise
we're going to cross those burning sands alive
we're going to make it into Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappachino3Klub (Texas), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=99226&page=2 "Kappa/Scroller Chants", January 8, 2009
**
SOUL STEPPING SISTERS OF DST
The song we sing goes like this:
My Sisters and me
we are the Soul Stepping Sorors
of DST!
We have strived
and crossed the sands
over into Delta Sigma
Theta Land
Step by step
my Delta Sorors
Step by step
for DST
Step by step
my Delta Sorors
step by step for DST
(The sopranos go
We are the SOul STepping Sorors of DST
We are the SOUl STepping Sorors of DST...
(This continues while the remaining Sorors sing Who are
we...and is repeated 4 times, then everyone joins back into Wo are we)
-
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=10669
STAY STRONG
Do you think that I will see you
on the other side?
of the land of the purple and the gold?
Will you succeed?
Will you cross the burning sands?
Are you worthy?
It’s a long hard road to Omega.
See it through.
Impress me.
-Anonymous, from notes in Q Pearl book, 1991 Edinboro University (Pennsylvania),
posted by Azizi Powell on cocojams.com [Pancocojams' editor: cocojams.com was my cultural website from 2001 to 2014 which I voluntarily deactivated.]
-snip-
Read my comments for the chant entitled "Impress Me".
****
U, V
****
W, X
WHO ARE WE
Who are we
My sisters and me
We are the soul steppin sorors
Of DST.
We came here
Across the sands
Over into Delta Sigma Theta land.
-anonymous, from memory of Slippery Rock University step show (Pennsylvania late 1990s, early 2000s), posted on cocojams.com
****
Y, Z
YOU GOT TO PLEDGE HARD
You got to pledge hard, to cross those burning sands,
You got to pay the price, to be an I-Phi Man.
I was walking along the streets one day, when I heard the word of an I-Phi Man -
HE SAID ..
Iota is Great!
HE SAID ...
Iota is Grand!
HE SAID ...
Everybody loves an I-Phi Man!
-http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23438997/2029917769/name/chants_songs%5B2%5, "Iota Phi Theta, Fraternity song book, retrieved 1/2/2013
****
ADDENDUM- FOUNDING DATES FOR THE BGLO DIVINE NINE
From http://www.blackgreek.com/divinenine/
"There are nine historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as "The Divine Nine." Each of these fraternities and sororities is rich in history - ties to one or more of these organizations may be found in many college-educated Black families in the United States.
•Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Founded 1906, Cornell University
•Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Founded 1908, Howard University
•Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Founded 1911, Indiana University
•Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Founded 1911, Howard University
•Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Founded 1913, Howard University
•Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Founded 1914, Howard University
•Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Founded 1920, Howard University
•Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Founded 1922, Butler University
•Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Founded 1963, Morgan State University"
-snip-
Note that the Divine Nine (D9) is not a formal term.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council
"The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities...
The council promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions."
****
ADDENDUM -THE SHRINER'S RITUAL "CROSSING THE HOT SANDS (OR THE BURNING SANDS)
Note that "crossing the hot sands" (or "crossing the burning sands") is also a Shriner's ritual. (http://forum.mastermason.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4425 "What are the hot sands?"
It's important to note that Bglos (Black Greek letter organizations) are not affiliated with any Freemasonry organization, including the Prince Hall Shriners or any other organization of Shriners."
****
ADDENDUM -BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION FORMER CUSTOMS OF PLEDGING/HAZING
2015 marks twenty-five years after pledging/hazing was prohibited by all of the Divine Nine (D9)* fraternities and sororities. However, from reading online discussions such as "What is skating?" [archive] http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-90475.html [hereafter given as Greekchat-skating], it's clear that the old skool ways of pledging historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities are still very highly valued and are still very widely practiced underground (in secret). Pledging/hazing contines in spite of its illegality (as indicated by those organization's national offices), and in spite of the very real dangers of serious physical injuries and deaths that continue to result from those pledging/hazing processes. As reflected in the comments and chants that I've read online, many members of Bglos still "pledge" lines (groups of people) although doing so could cause them and those people to be banned banned by those organizations' national office if those underground activities became known. And chants that mention or allude to "paper", "skating" or "sliding" into these organizations make it abundantly clear that the Bglo membership intake process and those who are initiated into D9 organizations by way of that process are largely viewed with considerable disgust and disdain.
This post isn't meant to explore the reasons for that. However, I believe that those attitudes won't change by citing injury & death statistics, or amounts that national has to pay because of lawsuits, and/or by threatening to ban those who don't comply with prohibitions on pledging/hazing. In addition to those things, I believe that historically Black Greek letter organizations should seriously consider why pledging the old way was/is so valued, and reform the membership intake process so that it can be both safe and valued.
For the record, I went over (became a member) of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc. (Gamma Zeta chapter) in 1966. That said, I became inactive shortly after crossing over (becoming a member), and I've been inactive since then.
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Added excerpt- Feb. 2, 2024
ADDENDUM -THE SHRINER'S RITUAL "CROSSING THE HOT SANDS (OR THE BURNING SANDS)
Note that "crossing the hot sands" (or "crossing the burning sands") is also a Shriner's ritual. (http://forum.mastermason.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4425 "What are the hot sands?"
It's important to note that Bglos (Black Greek letter organizations) are not affiliated with any Freemasonry organization, including the Prince Hall Shriners or any other organization of Shriners."
****
ADDENDUM -BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION FORMER CUSTOMS OF PLEDGING/HAZING
2015 marks twenty-five years after pledging/hazing was prohibited by all of the Divine Nine (D9)* fraternities and sororities. However, from reading online discussions such as "What is skating?" [archive] http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-90475.html [hereafter given as Greekchat-skating], it's clear that the old skool ways of pledging historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities are still very highly valued and are still very widely practiced underground (in secret). Pledging/hazing contines in spite of its illegality (as indicated by those organization's national offices), and in spite of the very real dangers of serious physical injuries and deaths that continue to result from those pledging/hazing processes. As reflected in the comments and chants that I've read online, many members of Bglos still "pledge" lines (groups of people) although doing so could cause them and those people to be banned banned by those organizations' national office if those underground activities became known. And chants that mention or allude to "paper", "skating" or "sliding" into these organizations make it abundantly clear that the Bglo membership intake process and those who are initiated into D9 organizations by way of that process are largely viewed with considerable disgust and disdain.
This post isn't meant to explore the reasons for that. However, I believe that those attitudes won't change by citing injury & death statistics, or amounts that national has to pay because of lawsuits, and/or by threatening to ban those who don't comply with prohibitions on pledging/hazing. In addition to those things, I believe that historically Black Greek letter organizations should seriously consider why pledging the old way was/is so valued, and reform the membership intake process so that it can be both safe and valued.
For the record, I went over (became a member) of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc. (Gamma Zeta chapter) in 1966. That said, I became inactive shortly after crossing over (becoming a member), and I've been inactive since then.
****
Added excerpt- Feb. 2, 2024
https://www.ebony.com/burning-sands-hazing/ Burning Sands Hazing, Ebony Magazine
By Syreeta Greene, Suzette Cole and Rasheed Cromwell | March 15, 2017
"The new film Burning Sands on Netflix has ignited the Black Greek-Letter
Organization (BGLO) community into a flurry of conversations about the film’s
message, intent, and content. Does it expose the secret (or not so secret)
“underground” pledging-hazing new member process? Is it another way to focus on
the negative aspects of BGLOs? Is it an accurate portrayal of hazing in Black
fraternities? Is this film condoning and supporting hazing?
What is apparent is that discussing hazing as it relates to historical, prominent and influential organizations that promote brotherhood/sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership is challenging. People who believe in the positives of these organizations do not always want to believe that hazing could actually take place in or by these organizations. How does one promote racial uplift in the Black community, but then turn around and physically abuse someone? Does discussing hazing in public spaces somehow air BGLO’s dirty laundry that is already on a clothesline viewed by all?
Hazing behaviors are complex issues that cannot be resolved with one solution. Additionally, one movie cannot and does not deal with the nuances involved with these issues. Remember, movies are for entertainment purposes. Accordingly, Burning Sands should be viewed through a proper lens."...
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