Facial Expressions & Other Aspects of "Attitude" In Some African American Contemporary Group Movement Arts

Edited Azizi Powell

Latest revision- June 10, 2023

This pancocojams post presents some comments about facial expressions and other aspects of "showing/giving attitude" in certain contemporary African American movement arts.

Some videos that include these facial expressions are included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/more-video-examples-of-facial.html for the previous pancocojams post on this subject.

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/how-petit-afros-youtube-dance-videos_23.html for a related pancocojams post entitled "How Petit Afro's YouTube Dance Videos Express Being Afro-Dutch & Promote African Culture, Part III (Comments About Facial Expressions As Part Of Dance Performances)". That post includes three videos of Petit Afro's dancers in Holland.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE [revised Feb. 16, 2026]
In 2011, a visitor named Joi sent several children's recreational cheers* to my no longer active cocojams cultural website, Joi identified herself as a coach of a predominately Black Catholic high school cheerleading squad. Along with those cheers Joi wrote "When you say these cheers, remember to say them with attitude!".

*Read "Angels Go Swinging" on http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list.html for one of those cheers.

I thought of that quote as I compiled this list of movement arts that include facial expressions such as "grittin"/" mean mugging" as part of their performances. In addition to facial expressions, groups that perform those contemporary Black movement arts also focus on expressing "attitude" through the ways that words are spoken (intonation), and through the performance of particular body stances and movements such as leaning towards their opponent's squad or flipping their hip at the other squad while they turn their backs on them.

These facial expressions and actions convey self-confidence, strength, being assertive, being determined, having "swag", "being hard", being "for real", being "hyped" ("gettin crunked"), being pumped [up]), being fierce, being very serious [about what they are doing], and/or being for real (even though doing so may largely be part of a dramatic performance).

Here's an observation that I made that I included in a 2013 pancocojams post on foot stomping cheers:
"Drama (role playing) is supposed to be an important part of chanting insult/bragging foot stomping cheers. These cheer performances fail if the stompers/chanters don't have "attitude" (i.e. How they say the cheer (intonation), their facial expressions, their moves and body gestures are supposed to support and reinforce the word of the cheer. For instance, in confrontational (insult, bragging) cheers the girls are pretending to have disrespect, disdain for and anger towards their (imaginary, unnamed) opponent/s/competitor/s."
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.html An Overview Of Foot Stomping Cheers (Part I- Characteristic & Sources).

I believe that this observation also applies to the performance of historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority stepping chants and to the performance except that the group/s that they are confronting/dissing aren't imaginery.

Here's a slightly reworded comment that I wrote in this 2014 pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-stomp-cheers-differ-from-foot.html "How Stomp Cheers Differ From Foot Stomping Cheers"

"In my opinion, one of the main difference between the chanting that's done in stomp cheers [mostly non-Black performances of  African American originated stomp and shake cheers and other African American originated cheer performances) is whether or not those performers convey "attitude".

In most of the stomp cheer videos I've seen, when they are chanting confrontational/bragging cheers, the (usually White) stomp cheerleaders in those videos don't have the super-confident, aggressive, "don't mess with me 'cause we come to battle" demeanor (dramatized or otherwise) that is integral to those cheers.

Furthermore, the foot stomping movements often seem too mechanical to me. By "mechanical" I mean that not only are the stomps and other movements in the stomp routine not "crisp" ("tight", "sharp","precise", "on point"), but it often seems as though the cheerleaders are performing the movements machine like, from memory, without any spirit or energy.

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VERNACULAR DEFINITIONS OF "ATTITUDE" [added October 24, 2018]
Here's a quote about "attitude" from https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/182165/what-does-it-mean-when-someone-say-you-have-attitude:
"Have a look at sense 6 of attitude in the OED, with a few quotations from there.

a. Aggressive or uncooperative behaviour; a resentful or antagonistic manner. In phrs. to cop an attitude , to give attitude , etc., to assume such a manner. slang (orig. U.S.).

1985 N.Y. Times 26 Oct. 31/4 If I'm out there for months with everybody yelling at me, I'm going to cop an attitude.

1990 L. Lane & N. L. Andrews Malibu 90265 ii. 18 No wonder the saleswoman had an attitude... A zero had just dropped off the end of her commission.

1991 Athlon's Baseball '91 IV. 25/1 Bonds developed what is called an attitude. Underneath it all he is a nice kid.

b. Hence, any highly independent or individual outlook, approach, appearance, etc.; self-possession; style, swagger, front; esp. in with (an) attitude . slang (orig. U.S.).

... 1990 Police Rev. 28 Sept. 1916/1 In this job, you gotta have attitude, hang loose, ready for anything.

1992 Face Feb. 44/1 The not-entirely-unattractive cast—spearheaded by Jason Priestley and Luke Perry as hunks with not much attitude Brandon and Dylan—set a good few pulses racing and hogged the covers of the nation's teen press.

You have the uncomplimentary assessment (sense a: uncooperative behaviour), which gave rise to the positive assessment (sense b: self-possession). Both are in use, and context is crucial, although my sense is that we are more likely to say 'an attitude' for sense a.

answered Jul 4 '14 at 5:18
Peter".
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In the context of this post, both definitions of "having attitude" or "giving attitude" could be relevant. However, in the context of this post, with the exception of the "uncooperative" aspect of definition "a", both of these definitions would be considered positively.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/shabooya-roll-call-move-girl-and-three.html for a pancocojams post that features videos of a few foot stomping cheers and adapted foot stomping cheers.

Example #1: "WSSU CHEERLEADERS GETTIN' CRUNK" [stomp and shake cheerleading]



ORIGINALCHEERPHI, Published on Feb 22, 2008

WSSU CHEERLEADERS SHOWING U HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE ULTIMATE CHEER & DANCE EXPERIENCE TRIAD HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING COMPETITION 2007
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"WSSU" is Winston Salem State University.

A 2011 video example of WSSU's cheerleaders performing this same cheer can be found at WSSU CHEERLEADERS 2010-11 Basketball BATTLE , published by cavettaj on Jun 11, 2011

My online research strongly suggests that WSSU is one of the originators of stomp and shake cheerleading in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Another originator of a different style of stomp and shake cheerleading is Virginia State University. A video of that cheerleading squad is given as Example #2.

The publisher of that 2008 "WSSU Cheerleaders Gettin' Crunk" video wrote in that video's discussion thread that "You Get No Respect In Here" was composed by WSSU cheerleaders in 2003. A commenter in another video's discussion thread* shared that same information. And another commenter wrote that "You Get No Respect In Here" is the cheer that started a cheerleading revolution. While this certainly isn't the earliest stomp and shake cheer, it may be the most popular, judging from the number of commenters writing on these YouTube video discussion threads that their middle school or their high school does this cheer.

*This comment [from the 2008 discussion thread cited above] was written in response to a commenter who wrote “when you mess with the Cowboys]
CheerPhi93, 2008
"I Coached in 2003 and remember when the cheer was made up...It has been revised..and never never ever ever...Did it say Cowboys...lol...it's When you are messing with the Rams you are bound to get Krushed...

Great Job Cheer Phi

WSSU ALUM
CHEER PHI 93 (POPPA-RA)"

**Tahvyea Rains, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkpOiVssR0s
"WSSU Original!!!!! Shout out to the 2003-2004 Varsity for making that one! I still remember the 1st time they did it at the Fayetteville State bball game that year. Crushed the competition!!!!!!" WSSU CHEERLEADERS 2010-11 Basketball BATTLE", published by Cavettaj on Jun 11, 2011
"RAMS BACK IN THE CIAA... taking names!
:::: finishing off Livingstone in a friendly battle::::
WSSU vs Livingstone 2010-11"

Here are the words to that cheer as transcribed a number of times in that 2008 discussion thread:

you gets no respect in here (No Respect Hey Hey) (No Respect Hey Heyy)
we see our moves in all your cheers (In All Your Cheers) (In All Your Cheers)
we know you think you are the best ( You Think You Are) (You Think You Are)
Su will Put You To The Test ( Put You To The Test) (Put You To The Test)
So Dont Start No Stuff Wont Be No Stuff
Dont Start No Stuff Wont Be No Stuff
Cause When You Messing With The Rams You Bound To Get ( Ahhh Say What) CRUSHED
-posted by Jalise Cobia, 2011

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Example #2: VSU Woo Woos (Work It...) [stomp and shake cheerleading]



GoTrojans, Published on Sep 11, 2008

VSU vs. NSU Labor Day Classic August 30, 2008
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"VSU"= Virginia State University.

Here's the words to this cheer:

V-S-U let's work it
ayeee yee yee
work it
ayyeee yee yee
trojans you know how we do
get out ya seats and work big blue
ahhhhh work it
ayeeee yee yee
(repeat)
-Virginia State University Cheerleaders (Woo Woos)

*transcription by Azizi Powell from this video.

Click the stomp and shake tag below for pancocojams posts on stomp and shake cheerleading.

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Example #3: Omega Psi Phi Que Doggs [historically Black Greek letter fraternity stepping]



mrchangeurlife, Published on Jul 18, 2008

Gamma Sig Ques Settin' It Out 75th Conclave 2008
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Here's a comment from the discussion thread of another Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. video: "Omega Psi Phi Stepping on the Steve Harvey Show"
"They KILLED it love this grit faces"
-lmanley11, 2009
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"Killed it" means to do something very well.

Another term for having a "grit face" is "mean mug". Making a "grit face" is called "mean mugging".

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Example #4: Spelman Freshman Step Team Alum Battle [historically Black Greek letter sorority stepping]



LookOut504, Published on Oct 11, 2008

The former freshman step team members of some of Morehouse and Spelmans finest teams have some fun. CAU was in attendance but we missed their performance

This comment was posted in that video's discussion thread in response to a number of comments criticizing the faces made by the step team in the beginning of this video:
"- Ok , let's diminish the ignorance a little. The faces they are making are called "GRIT FACES". When stepping many organizations put on "GRIT FACES" to show how serious & how hard they go for their org. Lol it's a SOUTHERN thing. #DirtySouth"
-Minelly Deme, 2013

One comment in that discussion thread compared this "mean mugging" tradition with the Maori haka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw for a video of the New Zealand rugby team doing their pre-match haka tradition.

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There are far more YouTube video example of men "mean mugging" while they are "pledging" a historically Black fraternity" than of women "mean mugging" while they are "pledging" historically Black sororities. Note: Pledging ("hazing") has been illegal in The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations (the Divine Nine) since 1990, but probates [new members of these organizations] stepping and strolling in shows isn't considered pledging or hazing.

Click the Black fraternity and sorority tags for additional pancocojams post on fraternity and sorority steppin[[g]. Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/08/branding-mean-mugging-grittin-in-omega.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Branding & Mean Mugging (Grittin) In Omega Psi Phi, Inc. & In Some Other Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations".

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Example #5: Bring It!: Call-Out Battle: Jackson Dolls vs. Birmingham Dolls (Season 4, Episode 7) | Lifetime [Hip Hop majorette dance line; j-setting]




Lifetime, Published on Feb 25, 2017

Watch the baby Dolls from Birmingham face off against their big sisters from Jackson in a call-out showdown from Season 4 Episode 7, "A Tale of Two Dollhouses". #BringIt

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Example #6: Majorette Kids Battle Final Phaze Vs The Empire(Dance n Out Chicago) [Hip Hop majorette dance line; j-setting]



Dance N Out Chicago, Published on Jul 12, 2018

Show some luv for these kids. They doing their thing.

We back, more 2 come yall....
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Click the "Hip Hop majorette" or "J-Setting" tag below for pancocojams posts on this performance genre.

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The Changing Content Of American High School Pep Rallies

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides comments about and seven video examples of contemporary pep rallies at majority African American or integrated (African American and other races/ethnicities) high schools.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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EDITORIAL COMMENT
During the early to mid 1960s when I attended high school in Atlantic City, New Jersey, I remember pep rallies being held in my high auditorium after-school the day before a big football game. Standing on stage, one by one the football team would be introduced to students while the band played some uptempo chords. Then the cheerleaders would lead the students in some "Go team go! and "Go, fight, win!" type cheers, and the pep rally would end with the coach or the principal encouraging students to attend the game.

My recollections of pep rallies are quite different from the YouTube videos of pep rallies that I've watched this week. In those videos, contemporary high school pep rallies were held in the gymnasium and includes elaborate, staged productions that often include choreographed performances by Hip-Hop dance teams, cheerleaders, step teams, etc, lightly competitive Hip Hop "dance offs" (competitions), and comedic sports competitions between members of the athletic team and/or representatives of the freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior classes, and/or teachers. At these events, bands still played and cheerleaders still led the audience in cheers, But it seems to me that the emphasis is on the audience being entertained at a structured program or being a part of that structured program much more than bolstering school spirit and encouraging attendance at an upcoming game. Then again, all those structured activities may be the best way nowadays of helping to develop and reinforce school pride and school spirit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pep_rally provides this explanation of the term "pep rallies":
"Pep rallies is a gathering of people, typically students of middle school, high school, and college age, before a sports event. The purpose of such a gathering is to encourage school spirit and to support members of the team for which the rally is being thrown. The pep rallies are often very loud and have a lot of excitation to keep all the students excited for the upcoming game and to cheer on the team.

At a pep rally, cheerleaders will often lead in boisterous chants and dance moves intended to get the student body involved and supporting the school's team. Games between competing classes with small prizes may be held. The school's band will often play upbeat music in between demonstrations, and the drumline may play…
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This page also features a photograph of a large group of people at a pep rally. The photograph has this caption:
“A group of students cheering and clapping at their high school pep assembly.”

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These examples are given in chronological order according to their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.

The comments are given in chronological order, except for responses. However, they may not be in consecutive order.

Example #1: Thornwood Pep Rally 2013



Cyrhon Taylor, Published on Oct 5, 2013

via YouTube Capture

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Example #2: Prosper Rumble: The Best Pep Rally Ever [Texas]



EagleProductionGroup, Published on Oct 10, 2013

Prosper High School comes together in a whole new way. This demonstration of school spirit brings Eagle Pride to new levels.
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selected comments from this video's discussion thread
2013
Mark Miller
"wow, corny as this is, It would've been fun to go to a school like this. Most teens when I was growing up were too cynical to buy into something like this, and even if they weren't the faculty at my school was too buttoned up to even let something like this happen. Anyone that is hating is just jealous."

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Kelline Pickett
"Love that school pride!!!

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Superassassinman15
"yeah im glad i was apart of this pep rally but to bad we lost the game :("

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Millie Love
"Even if they're not that good at sports, its awesome to have school spirit! In my old town it used to be like this and we were happy for our team no matter what the results!"**

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Dee Dee Lear
"Thats Texas Football Spriit! Awesome production and participation by the entire school! AAAAMMAAZZIINNNGGG! The big 5A's have nothing on you all! You should be so proud!"

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2014
Spartanlaserx1
"People try to knock on the school (PHS) for whatever it is they think is "wrong" with it, whether that be too strict of rules, dress code, whatever. What they miss ,out of their negativity, is the amazing things that Mr. Wright affords to our high school (PHS). Prosper Rumble was truly special and is to be even better ("Wink Wink Nudge Nudge") in the future.
TLDR;
Be thankful for what you get, and to enjoy the little things :)"

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Example #3: Skyline High School Pep Rally! [California]



Skyline High, Published on Oct 6, 2014
Our pep rally was turnt! ✨ thanks for coming out titans!
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"turnt [up] or "turned out" = hyped, exceptional
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selected comments from this video's discussion thread
2015
BluetheWolfPuppy
"Haha isn't this school in Dallas? Texas schools have the BEST pep rallies!!"

**
misstootie8
Reply
"This is actually in California :)"
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Notice that the majorettes who performed with the marching band don't twirl batons. Instead they do Hip Hop majorette dance step.

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Example #4: Craziest High School Pep Rally *Hendersonville High School*



Phillip Colling, Published on Sep 7, 2015

2015 Homecoming Pep Rally...live pigs, school-wide moshpits and principal biting the head off a raven?! (raven was fake, calm down)

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Example #5: "Hit the Quan" Hip Hop on High School Pep Rally 2k15



IanNascar48, Published on Oct 2, 2015

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (https://www.youtube.com/editor)

My local high school's Hip Hop club were doing "The Quan" dance during the pep rally and they did good, so please watch your step to watch this video!
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Here's a comment from that video's discussion thread:
Jacob Tube, 2015
"At my school's pep rally everyone was doing the whip! It was also way bigger than this."

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Example #6: BHS Cheer Pep Rally Dance Off [Florida]



SOTAGIRL79, Published on Oct 2, 2015

Booker High School, Sarasota FL
Homecoming Pep Rally 10/2/15
Cheerleader Dance Off Routine
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Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
Fleta Benjamin, 2015
"go Tornadoes Go"

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Example #7: Cathedral Dance Team Homecoming Pep Rally



Frank Mackell, Published on Oct 9, 2015

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