Comments About A Sigma Who Is Also A Prince Hall Mason Singing "Phi Beta Sigma Got Soul" Along With Another Sigma

Equites Dei Training Solutions, Nov 22, 2011

Kappa Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, 2011

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a 2011 YouTube video of two brothers from the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Phi Beta Sigma singing a portion of their song "Phi Beta Sigma Got Soul". One of those brothers wears a necklace with the Prince Hall Mason square symbol.

This post presents information about Prince Hall Masons and also presents information about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. In addition, this pancocojams post presents selected comments from the discussion thread of this showcase video.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners. 

Thanks to the composer of this song and thanks to the brothers who are featured in this video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the producer of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCE HALL MASONS
From https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/prince-hall-masons-1784/
"The Prince Hall Masons are the oldest and largest group of Masons of African origin in the world. Today there are forty Grand Lodges of Prince Hall Freemasonry in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, and Liberia. These Grand Lodges preside over more than 5,000 lodges. All of them claim descent from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which is traced back to the African Lodge No. 459.

Prince Hall, a native of Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, was freeborn on September 12, 1748, the son of Thomas Prince Hall, an Englishman, and a free colored woman of French heritage. In 1765, at the age of 17, Hall worked for his passage on a ship to Boston where he became a leatherworker. Eight years later, he had acquired property and was eligible to vote.

On March 6, 1775, Hall, who was a minister with a Methodist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, joined fourteen other free blacks of Boston who all became Masons at British Army Lodge, No. 58, then attached to one of General Thomas Gage’s regiments stationed in Boston. Hall and the other newly initiated Masons were granted the authority to meet as a separate lodge, to march in parades, and to bury their dead. They were not granted permission to confer degrees or perform any other Masonic work.

Nine years later on March 2, 1784, Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, asking for a warrant for a charter that they had been denied by the white Masons of Massachusetts. The warrant was approved and Hall established the first lodge of African American Masons in North America known as African Lodge No. 459.

Although the status of the African American Masons improved, they were not considered a “full” Masonic lodge until 1787 when Prince Hall received a charter from the Grand Lodge of England, the mother of all Freemasonry. In 1787, African Lodge No. 459 became African Lodge No. 1 with Prince Hall as its leader. The Masons were independent of the United Grand Lodge of England. They created separate jurisdictions comprised of mostly African American members. In 1791, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge was founded to govern the three then existing black Masonic lodges with Prince Hall as its first Grand Master, a position he held until his death in December 1807. Black Freemasonry evolved from the establishment of this Grand Lodge.

Due to prevalent racism and segregation in North America, it was impossible for African Americans to join most mainstream Masonic lodges until the late 20th century. Yet, because Prince Hall Mason lodges were African American, North American Grand Lodges denounced Prince Hall Lodges and Prince Hall Masons, deeming them illegitimate and refusing to recognize their authority. Until 1865 most Prince Hall lodges were in the North, but after the Civil War, black Masonry quickly spread across the South, often led by Northern-born Masons who became active in Reconstruction politics.

From Reconstruction until 1900, Prince Hall Masonry remained a highly prestigious but small fraternity. In the early twentieth century the membership rapidly expanded, lessening its exclusivity. Although all Masonic Lodges today are theoretically racially integrated, white Grand Lodges in Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and West Virginia still do not recognize Prince Hall Grand Lodge members as legitimate Masons. Nonetheless, the Prince Hall Masons include tens of thousands of black and some non-black members throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, and Liberia."
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
Men can be members of a masonic organization (and their female relatives can be members of their female affiliated organizations) without being students of a college / university.

In contrast, men or women can't be members of Greek letter organizations unless they are currently students of a college / or graduates of a college or university.

As documented by this showcased video and selected comments that are quoted in this pancocojams post, a man can be a Mason before he becomes a member of a historically Black Greek letter organization or afterwards.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/general-information-about-prince-hall.html for a 2024 pancocojams post entitled "General Information About Prince Hall Masons & Prince Hall Shriners (2024 Update)"

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INFORMATION ABOUT PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Beta_Sigma
"Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (ΦΒΣ) is a historically African American fraternity. It was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students with nine other Howard students as charter members. The fraternity's founders, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would exemplify the ideals of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service while taking an inclusive perspective to serve the community as opposed to having an exclusive purpose. The fraternity exceeded the prevailing models of Black Greek-Letter fraternal organizations by being the first to establish alumni chapters, youth mentoring clubs, a federal credit union, chapters in Africa, and a collegiate chapter outside of the United States. It is the only fraternity to hold a constitutional bond with a historically African-American sorority, Zeta Phi Beta (ΖΦΒ), which was founded on January 16, 1920, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., through the efforts of members of Phi Beta Sigma.

The fraternity expanded over a broad geographical area in a short amount of time when its second, third, and fourth chapters were chartered at Wiley College in Texas and Morgan State College in Maryland in 1916, and Kansas State University in 1917. Today, the fraternity serves through a membership of more than 200,000 men in over 700 chapters in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. Although Phi Beta Sigma is considered a predominantly African-American fraternity, its membership includes college-educated men of African, Caucasian, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian descent. According to its Constitution, academically eligible male students of any race, religion, or national origin may join while enrolled at a college or university through collegiate chapters, or professional men may join through an alumni chapter if a college degree has been attained, along with a certain minimum number of earned credit hours.

Phi Beta Sigma is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)"...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD ABOUT THE SIGMA WHO IS ALSO A MASON

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnAwk7zgVVM
These comments are given in relative chronological order and are numbered for referencing purposes only 

1. @datguyro, 2011
"GOMAB Square!!!"
-snip-
"GOMAB" is a secret Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity reference. "Square" /G\ and light (that is found in a number of comments below) are Prince Hall Mason references. 

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2. @eternaldeacon, 2011
"Chills down my Sigma Spine - and saw that light my double brotha /G\......!"

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3. @bootloco, 2012
"So Mote It Be...Bruh.../G\"

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4. @dar2see1, 2012
"I see ya square......Travel light

Noble Sidewinder Miller......"

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5. @IAmYourVoiceover, 2012
"I see you Square #Mason"

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6.  @travelingman1914, 2012
"I see ya Frat with all that Light on!"

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7. @ohyrah, 2012
"I see your light.  To the east and skee wee!"

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8. @IAmYourVoiceover, 2013
"I see you Square /G\ - I'm a Brother of another Greek org, but I have a lot of love for this song"

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9. @jerryhenderson2657, 2013
"See you shining bro /G\"

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10. @buddieluve, 2013
"I see you Li/G\ht.."

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11. @charleswallace8693, 2014
"I see ya square."

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12. @camillegoode8222, 2015
"Greeting & Salutations my Masonic Brother. I saw your light on so I just wanted to say Howdy from the Great State of Texas."

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13.  @MasterTizzle318, 2016
"i see ya Square!!!"

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14. @thurmondsmith1476, 2016
"Where u hail square!!! lol"

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15. @MujahidAli-ve1sy, 2016
"I see you Square!!"

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16. @dred314stl. 2017
"I see you Square/ G\"

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17. @AlphaDoug1914, 2018
"GOMAB FRAT! I see you square!"

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18. @bobbyd.sykesjr.309, 2018
"I [emoji of two eyes open] you Squ/G\e, greetings from King Hiram #7 A.F.&A.M. Little Rock, Arkansas"

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19. @Sin-G, 2018
"/G\ Phi...I see you Square,  GOMAB'

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20. @patrickmcgowan1214, 2018
"Respect from a \G/ and Omega Gamma Delta!"

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21.  @thomaspressley6762, 2019
"I see you /G\ and frat. GOMAB!!!"

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22. @JCR888, 2019
"I see that light"

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23. @marvinmccoy8180, 2020
"I see you Square. Love it brothers"

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24. @baytowne, 2023
"I see you Double /G\OMAB

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25. @sedrickgibson1775, 2024
"2B1Ask1 /G\ My Brother I see your light 2024"

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Hyperlinks Links To Pancocojams Posts That Are Specifically About Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

 Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents hyperlinks to all of the pancocojams posts as of this date that specifically showcase Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded in 1914 at Howard University (Washington D.C.)

Links to additional specific posts about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. will be added to this post when they are published on this pancocojams blog. 

This post also presents information about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. from that organization's official website.

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the Founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and thanks to all past and present members of that historically Black Greek letter organization. 
-snip-
Additional information, videos, and chant/songs examples of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. can be found in general pancocojams posts about historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) that are members of Divine Nine. Click the tags found below for links to those pancocojams posts.  

Pancocojams posts that showcase each of the Divine Nine organizations will be published ASAP. Those links will be included in the general "African American fraternities and sororities" tag. 

Disclaimer: This tag isn't meant to imply that the Divine Nine organizations are the only Black fraternities and sororities.  

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INFORMATION ABOUT PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC
From https://phibetasigma1914.org/index.php/about/history/
"Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The Founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

[…]

Today, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entity, members of the Fraternity have been instrumental in the establishment of the Phi Beta Sigma National Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union and The Sigma Beta Club Foundation. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, founded in 1920 with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, is the sister organization of the Fraternity."

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HYPERLINKS TO PANCOCOJAMS POSTS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY,  INC.

A Video About The History Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. & Videos Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Cane Twirling"

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-video-of-history-of-phi-beta-sigma.html 

August 31, 2018

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Two Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Step Show Performances (Videos Of First Place Stepping At Atlanta Greek Picnic - 2013 & 2017)

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/search/label/Phi%20Beta%20Sigma

Jan 19, 2021

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Two Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Step Show Performances (Videos Of First Place Stepping At Atlanta Greek Picnic - 2013 & 2017)

Terrance McDaniel, Jun 10, 2013

Phi Beta Sigma WINS 2017 Atlanta Greek Picnic $10,000 Step show (Official Video) 
Atlanta Greek Picnic, June 29, 2017

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases two first place step performances by members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

This post also includes selected comments from the discussion thread of the 2013 YouTube video that is embedded in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all past and present members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc and thanks to the step teams that are featured in these embedded videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
These videos aren't meant to imply that these were the only years that Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity won the Atlanta Greek Picnic step show. On the contrary, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is often the winner of historically Black Greek letter fraternity step shows, i.e. (from a YouTube video search, that organization won first place at the Atlanta Greek Picnic fraternity step show in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018. I may have missed other years that Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity won starting with 2010. Please add additions and corrections in the comment section below. Thanks!
 
I showcased these two videos in part because I like the performances and in part because I live in Pittsburgh (The 2013 step team is from the University of Pittsburgh & Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). 

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SELECTED COMMENTS 
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDTn36GEs0&ab_channel=AtlantaGreekPicnic

All of these comments are from 2013. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. 

1. EmmanuelPierrePortraits 
"They won the Step Show & the Stroll off; It's obvious that Phi Beta Sigma Runs the Yard!"

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2. Terrance McDaniel
"Congratulations the the bruhs of The Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. you have made your bruhs and sororal very proud. II personally love Greeks and you gentleman took it back to a TRUE stepshow. Congratulations for you gentlemen truly have made your family proud..I commend you on a job well done :-)!!!!"

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3. SuperInfo2000
"As a brother from the 80's.  This is what true Fraternity stepping is about.  Precision, execution, excitement.  And it feels good to see some of the same steps that we did evolve and done the way they are suppose to be done.  With execution and precision.  So GOMAB to my brothers and keep the winning tradition of Sigma focused and steady."

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4. pinky kitty
"nice which school is this? n these r sum fineeee sigmaz"

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5. Ray68Dex
"What chapter are they from?"

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6. st1rp3
"We're from the University of Pittsburgh (Epsilon Kappa Chapter) and one of the bro's on our team is from Robert Morris University (Alpha Pi Alpha Chapter)."

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7. xodus1914
"Pitt holding it down like this? Spring 91 here. It feels good when 'new' chapters keep popping up on the radar. That's how you MAB! "

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8. Ryan Hicks
"GOMAB or Go Home... good ish blu"

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9. Big Dawg
"You did the damn thang Frat!"

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10. choc2527
"ZZZZZZPPPPPPHHHHHIIIIII!!! Ya'll better do frat!"

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11. Katie Lamas
"I KNOW THATS RIGHT FRAT!!! Z PHIII!!!!!"

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12. steventhompson2914
"Well done Frat! Let haters hate! There will always be others that try to reach our level of stepping & fail. I'm glad you'll brought back the blind fold step! GOMAB!"

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13. Yacht Life Vlogs
"BBBBLLLUUUUPPPPPHHHHHIIII!!!! #TEAMSIGMA ALL DAY"

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14. st1rp3
"@Atlanta Greek Picnic...just curious...where's our intro video? Great video otherwise!"

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15. Dee Rich
"I thought the intro was dry and lame...but when they started stepping, I began to see why they won. They hit that sh-t.* And I'm an Alpha. I can't hate. It was good."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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16. SuperInfo2000
"I don't know what you were looking at, you either need glasses or something. Clearly the Sigma's had the best show, precision movements at their best, the blind fold step, etc. Besides Sigma's were the first to step back in the 70's due to brothers from Africa. Look it up. So it is normal and natural that the Sigma's usually win. It is unusual that another frat wins over Sigma, but when they do, the other frat has its game on. The Alpha's did not have their game on dancing in PJ's."

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17. B
"No wonder they won the step show!! They were precise, entertaining and their blindfold segment was damn near flawless! Congrats to them; they earned it!!"

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18. WILLIE LEE FRANCIS
"Hey frat, y'all did that there! Spring 1999 here from ZETA IOTA, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana!!! DEUCE CLUB!!! Congrats  on earning 1ST PLACE!!! G.O.M.A.B. Showstoppas for real!!!"

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19. PromisePinkee
"The white sigma got them this win, because I was getting bored. I honestly think they won because of the crowed reaction(which was 80% Blue & White) otherwise It shoulda been a tie. #IJS ps. I never seen sexy sigmas until now, whats in their blue juice lol"

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Reply
20. st1rp3
"well, to be fair...we had an intro video that isn't apart of this video...the chant we did at the beginning is a play off of what Drew Brees does with the Saints. I don't know why our video isn't on here...but I do appreciate the kind words...It meant alot to us that other org's appreciated what we did, so thank you for that.

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Reply
21. T Jones
"I disagree. The were clean and on point. That's what stepping is. "The white sigma got them this win".....Not sure how I feel about that line being as though he did not appear until the end. However, I believe they deserved to win."

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Reply
22. Brian Clemons
"Naw they won this comp before my Brandon(aka he's not white he's just a Lightskin Sigma lol) and my spec came out. They just added fuel to an already burnt match. But come to western pa and you'll find out what our blu juice bout lol."

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Reply
23. st1rp3
"I didn't get us this win! I do appreciate the ego boost, though lol. Our chapter is from the University of Pittsburgh but our bros hometowns are Philly, Rochester NY, Seattle, Harrisburg, Greensboro NC, Chicago and the list goes on. So come up north to find us lol."

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24. st1rp3
"I don't think I got us the win either...hell, you cant see it on the video, but I messed up at one point. lol. We've been practicing for months, 3-5 hours at a time. We were on point, in sync, intense, precise, etc. etc. a few miscues here and there but we stuck to stepping and kept the intensity up. GOMAB."

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25. lenardjdavis03
"That's what's I'm talking bout! Y'all already know What it is!"

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Reply
26. st1rp3
"Thanks frat! we worked pretty hard for months to fine tune everything. We've had countless frat and soror's from the 80s, 90s, & early 00s coming up to us and thanking us for sticking to stepping, no gimmicks. We're glad we made you all proud and it was an honor representing Sigma in such a prestigious event. GOMAB!"

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27. T C
"I'm a Nupe and I admit that sh-t* was tight."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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28. Tre C
"GOMAB was turnt up...dey tore the stage up BLU PHI"

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29. Pamaisnaturalle
"Awesome job Frats! Much dove love"

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30. Kim Mallard
"HAVE MERCY!! Go Frat!! Zzzzzzzzzz Phi!!!"

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31. dovelyace1920
"annnnnnd they killed it as usual...great job frat! ZZZZZZZ- PHI!"

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32. celiaalexanderlaw
"Alright Now Frat! That was sooo sweet.  Good transitions. Loved it!"

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33. FYoOpinion
"I love the complexity of their steps!!!"

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34. grown1914
"I loved it...GOMAB...frat went HARD..."

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35. B Whitesides
"Congrats. Sigma all day, all week, all year..Forever! We can't be stopped. GOMAB"

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Examples Of "You Know" Used As An Affirmative Response By Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity & By Howard University Students/Graduates

Edited by Azizi Powell

Update January 14, 2019

This pancocojams post documents examples of "You know" used as an affirmative response by members of the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. and by students and graduates of Howard University.

This is the first post in an ongoing series of affirmative words and sayings in African American Vernacular English. Click the "affirmative words and sayings in African American Vernacular English" tag for additional posts in this series.

The content of this post is presented for linguistics and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of the videos that are embedded in this post.

Special thanks to Denise Oliver Velez for publishing this dialykos.com article: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/1/11/1825345/-Cultural-competency-in-reporting-Kamala-Harris-AKA-s-and-skee-wee "Cultural competency in reporting: Kamala Harris, AKAs, and 'skee wee'"; January 11, 2019/

Reading that article helped motivate me to explore information and examples of "You know" among students and graduates of Howard University and among members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at Howard University and elsewhere.
-snip-
Disclaimer: This pancocojams post isn't meant to be a comprehensive documentation of the use of "You know" as an affirmative response.

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WHAT DOES "YOU KNOW" MEAN WHEN IT'S USED AS AN AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT?
"You know" when used as an affirmative response comes from the statement "I know, right". "I know, right" is a shortened form of "I know that's right" and means "I totally agree with what you said (or implied).

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THE "YOU KNOW" RESPONSE USED AS FORM OF "REPPIN"
Examples of "You know" as an affirmative response are different from "standard" contemporary descriptions of "You know" in conversation English such as those presented in https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/107216/you-know-in-conversational-language "“you know” in conversational language".
That website presents examples of "You know" (or "y'know) in the beginning of sentences, either as a "somewhat randomly [used] ... typical "fillers" with little to no semantic content or as "a clearly recognizable question... being short for Do you know?

You know my sister? (possibly points to person)
or as a statement (again: listen), being short for 'As you (probably) know'"...

In contrast to those examples, I believe that the affirmative use of "You know" in calls (shout outs), means "I agree with everything you said (or implied). The affirmative use of "You know" is a response to (follows) the short "call" (shout out/yell)

Examples:
"Blue Phi. You Know"

and

"H.U. You know."

My guess is that the "You know" call & response "shout outs" originated with the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Phi Beta Sigma, Incorporated (probably at Howard University in the early 2000s) and soon expanded to the entire Howard University population.

Both of these sayings are relatively fixed, meaning no other numbers or letters are used. However, the call and its response can be elongated to demonstrate conviction and enthusiasm: Example: "Blue Phiiii". Yooooou knowwwwww" or repeating the "Blue Phi" portion before saying the "You know" response. [Example #3 of the Phi Beta Sigma section that is found below.

It's my position that both of these "calls" (shout outs) are shortened forms of "reppin" (representing) expressions.
Here's some information about the word "reppin" from https://www.quora.com/What-does-%E2%80%9Creppin%E2%80%9D-mean-as-a-slang-term "What does “reppin” mean as a slang term? - Quora"

"...Chadwick Tyroné
Answered May 13, 2018 ·
Repping - Representing, glorifying (for a group, area, location), praising.

A sports fan who wears his team’s colors and hoists up the mascot is “repping” his team. Thus, he is uplifting, praising, glorifying them AND representing them, all at the same time."

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Given that information, when members of two historically Black Greek letter organization Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. use "You Know" as response to the call "Blue Phi",* that entire call (with its fixed response) is understood as way of "reppin'" ("representing") that fraternity within the (largely African American) population who are associated with or familiar with Black Greek letter organizations (BGLO).
-snip-
*The "Blue" in "Blue Phi" comes from the fact that the colors for Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity Inc. are royal blue and pure white. These are also the colors for Phi Beta Sigma's officially recognized sister sorority Zeta Phi Beta, Inc.

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I believe that "H-U. You Know" call (shout out) was probably "lifted" from the earlier Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity call. According to the information given above about the "You know" affirmative response, "H-U. You know." is a shortened form of the call (shout out) "Howard University ["is the greatest"; ["is the bomb", etc.] or [We're from Howard University] (implying all the superlatives that university carries) and a shortened form of the response "You know that's right ("You know that's true").

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EXAMPLES OF "YOU KNOW" USED AS AN AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE BY MEMBERS OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.
These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Beta_Sigma for information about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

1.
Blue Phi ...You Know



Tommy Mclean, Published on Jan 9, 2017

Daddy and future Sigma TaeHan

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2.
From http://www.pbsad.org/phi-beta-sigma-chants--poems.html
WARNING: Many of the examples on that page contain profanity and/or sexual innuendos.

"THIS HOUSE
Brothers. I said my brothers.
(Yeah!)
I said my blue and white Sigma brothers.
(Yeah!)
This house, (this house) Is full, (is full)
Of blue and white!
I said this house, (this house) Is full,
of blue and white!
I said the house, is full,
of blue and white!
Blue blue blue blue phiiiii!
You you you you knooooooooow!
(you you you you knooooooooow!)
Bluuuuuuuuueeee phiiiiiiiiiii!
Youuuuuuuuuuuu knooooooooooow!"

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3.
Greek Speak Roll Call



UABStudentLife
Published on Sep 19, 2008

Check out the eight organizations of UAB's NPHC.
-snip-
The "Phi Beta Sigma section begins around 4:21 in this video.

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EXAMPLES OF "YOU KNOW" USED AS AN AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE BY HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS/GRADUATES
These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_University for information about Howard University.

1.
HU You Know


christiansoldier92, Published on Apr 9, 2009

A group of students saying "HU, You Know!"

Thank you to all of the students who participated in this. =)
-snip-
The first take of that saying – 0.25.

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2. Chadwick Boseman Surprises Black Panther Fans While They Thank Him



The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; Published on Feb 28, 2018

Black Panther fans filmed a video message sharing what the movie means to them - what they didn't know was that Chadwick Boseman was right behind the curtain, waiting to surprise them.
-snip-
The "HU You know" call is found at 3:16 – 4:05 in this video

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3.
From https://twitter.com/howardu/status/1029772602833858560?lang=en
"Howard University

Verified account
@HowardU
Spotted our favorite cheerleaders on the Yard getting ready for the season. H-U, You Know!❤️💙
9:51 AM - 15 Aug 2018 from The Yard at Howard University"
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_University for information about Howard University.

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4.
From http://folklore.usc.edu/?p=36138
"Initiations

Nationality: African American

[...]

Informant: My sister spent a semester as a transfer student at Howard University.

Original Script: At Howard University it is declared as the Mecca for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. At the Mecca graduating senior must sign their name on the clock tower on the 12th floor of the library. Venturing out to find the clock tower in the library is half the battle but getting up there is worth the journey and the view is amazing. Every midnight the day before graduation seniors find their way to the tower write their names and chant “HU you know!"

[...]

COLLECTED BY HAYDEN DUNCAN
POSTED THURSDAY, 4TH OF MAY 2017 AT 06:21:04 PM”

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5.
From https://madamenoire.com/1055540/white-woman-reporter-calls-aka-skee-wee-screeching-was-dragged-into-a-teachable-moment/ White Woman Reporter Calls AKA Skee Wee “Screeching” & Was Dragged Into A Teachable Moment" by Veronica Wells, January 11, 2019
[Also quoted in https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/1/11/1825345/-Cultural-competency-in-reporting-Kamala-Harris-AKA-s-and-skee-wee
Denise Oliver Velez; January 11, 2019
"I’m always astounded by what little White people know about us. Then again, I really shouldn’t be. We have to know about White folks and their ways for assimilation (sadly), advancement, for protection and survival. On the flip side, far too many White people have made a habit of learning about us with the intent to exploit our traditions and culture. With that in mind, one could argue that perhaps there are some things about us they shouldn’t know.

This discussion presented itself yesterday when a young, White reporter for the Washington Post, Chelsea Janes, was covering Senator Kamala Harris’ book event at George Washington University. Janes was live-tweeting the event and shared what can only be described as some ignorant observations about the crowd’s response to Harris, a Howard alum and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (AKA).

Janes wrote:

“Kamala Harris listed Thurgood Marshall as one of those lawyers she admires, a fellow Howard alum. Someone shouted, “Me too!”

Someone corrected Janes letting her know that the person likely shouted, “HU” for Howard University.
-snip-
Italics were added to highlight these sentences.

This article continues by sharing that the White reporter also referred to the historically Black Greek Letter sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. (AKA)'s signature sorority call "Skee wee" as "screeching".

Here's a comment section from that that madamenoire.com article:

Howard University
✔
@HowardU
Is anybody yelling "HU-YOU KNOW" while still intently watching @NBCThisisUs #ThisIsUs #HowardU?"

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6.
From https://www.eurweb.com/2017/11/h-u-youuu-know-us-star-sterling-k-brown-talks-randalls-visit-howard-university/
"H.U.! YOUUU KNOW!: ‘THIS IS US’ STAR STERLING K. BROWN TALKS RANDALL’S VISIT TO HOWARD UNIVERSITY
NICOLE HYATTNOVEMBER 29, 2017 AT 6:59 AM
*Part of last night’s Randall-focused episode of “This is Us” took place on the campus of Howard University, with the Pearsons’ adopted African American son choosing to visit the historically black college over one of his other choices, Harvard.

The episode, titled Number Three, focused in part on teen Randall’s struggle to reconcile his upbringing in an all white environment with his desire to connect with his blackness."...

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Honoring (1929-1951 Soft Shoe Dancers) The Berry Brothers For Their Tremendous Contribution To The Traditions Of Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations Stepping With Canes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series that explores the influences on the performance of historically Black (African American) Greek letter stepping.

This post provides some information about the history of tap dance and soft shoe dancing and showcases The Berry Brothers (soft shoe dancers who were famous from 1929-1951 for their soft shoe dance routines with canes).

Three YouTube videos of The Berry Brothers are included in this post along with a few selected comments from the discussion thread of two of these videos.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to The Berry Brothers for their dance legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT [revised September 6, 2018]
My interest in this subject was recently whetted by reading several comments in discussion threads for historically (predominately) Black Greek letter organizations [BGLO} that stepping, the custom of carrying canes (or staffs) and cane tapping/cane twirling during step performances came from African cultures.

My position is that African cultures weren't the direct source for BGLO stepping with or without carrying canes. That is to say, I don't believe that stepping was created as a result of historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities learning about or being taught one or more forms of African dance such as South African gumboot dancing. Stepping is a performance art that has evolved over time and continues to change within different organizations and different chapters and regions of those organizations.

For instance, what is now called stepping has changed since I first pledged a historically Black Greek letter organization in 1967 (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Gamma Zeta chapter). I don't recall ever using the term "stepping" or hearing that term used, but I do recall doing a dance routine in a vertical line and/or a horizontal line while singing adapted R&B songs that praised that organization.

That said, I believe that certain African dance forms -such as South African gumboot dancing- may have eventually influenced the performance BGLO stepping, but that performance style was probably influenced more by American military drills and Black drum major parade stances. It's obvious that some elements of certain African dance forms are quite similar to stepping, but I think that this can be attributed to the similar aesthetic preferences of Africans and of African Americans and other people in the African Diaspora.

More specifically, while it's true that a number of African ethnic groups have traditional dances that are performed with men and women holding sticks*, I believe that customs of tapping and/or twirling canes that are part of the stepping routines of certain historically Black Greek letter organizations [particularly Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.] can be more directly attributed to Haitian rara cane twirling customs, New Orleans (and other) African American parade traditions, and heavily African American influenced soft shoe and/or tap dancing with a cane performances.

*Some examples of African ethnic groups who have dances holding sticks are South Africans' Xhosa, Zulu, and Mpondo.
-snip-
I hold this opinion in spite of comments from some members of some BGLO organizations that stepping and/or strolling came from African cultures, and that stepping and/or strolling came from Africans who became members of their organizations.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/was-south-african-gumboot-dancing.html a pancocojams post entitled Was South African Gumboot Dancing REALLY The Main Source Of The Movements For Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity & Sorority Stepping?

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/similarities-differences-between-south.html for the pancocojams post "Similarities & Differences Between South African Gumboot Dance Performances & Performances Of Black [African American] Fraternity & Sorority Step Teams".

Additional posts on this subject can be found by clicking the tags that are found at the end of this post.

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Disclaimer:
The statement that The Berry Brothers had/have a tremendous influence on historically Black Greek letter stepping with canes is the conclusion that I reached after watching videos of those performers and as a result of reading books and online comments about the early history (particularly the pre 1980s) history of predominately Black Greek Letter organizations (BGLO) stepping.

I want to be clear that I've never read or heard that any BGLO credits tap dancing or soft shoe dancing with or without canes as a contributor to the performance of stepping. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that stepping was influenced and continues to be influenced by these tap/soft shoe dancing. It appears to me that The Berry Brothers' cool, acrobatic style of soft shoe dancing with a cane particularly heavily influenced Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.'s style of stepping,* kane twirling, and other kane work.

That said, this influence absolutely doesn't include The Berry Brothers' big eye facial expressions that are shown in the video given as Example #3 below. That big eye expression was a ubiquitous racist staple of blackfaced minstrelsy and vaudeville that lasted long after those types of entertainments had officially ended.

I'd love to know if any historically Black Greek letter organization recognizes and acknowledges the influence that tap dancing/soft shoe dancing (with or without canes) has had on stepping traditions. Please share any information that you may have about this subject in the comment section below. Thanks!

*For comparison, a 2008 stepping video of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is found in the Addendum to this post.

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SOME HISTORY OF TAP DANCING
Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_dance
"Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. The sound is made by shoes that have a metal "tap" on the heel and toe. There are several major variations on tap dance including: rhythm (jazz) tap, classical tap, Broadway tap, and post-modern tap....

There are different brands of shoes which sometimes differ in the way they sound. "Soft-shoe" is a rhythm form of tap dancing that does not require special shoes, and though rhythm is generated by tapping of the feet, it also uses sliding of the feet (even sometimes using scattered sand on the stage to enhance the sound of sliding feet) more often than modern rhythm tap. It preceded what is currently considered to be modern tap, but has since declined in popularity."...

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Excerpt #2:
From https://www.britannica.com/art/tap-dance
"Tap originated in the United States through the fusion of several ethnic percussive dances, primarily African tribal dances and Scottish, Irish, and English clog dances, hornpipes, and jigs. Until the last few decades of the 20th century, it was believed that African slaves and Irish indentured servants had observed each other’s dances on Southern plantations and that tap dancing was born from this contact. In the late 20th century, however, researchers suggested that tap instead was nurtured in such urban environments as the Five Points District in New York City, where a variety of ethnic groups lived side by side under crowded conditions and in constant contact with the distinctly urban rhythms and syncopations of the machine age.

In the mid- to late 1800s, dance competitions were a common form of entertainment. Later called “cutting contests,” these intense challenges between dancers were an excellent breeding ground for new talent. (One of the earliest recorded such challenges took place in 1844 between black dancer William Henry Lane, known as Master Juba, and Irish dancer John Diamond.) Dancers matured by learning each other’s techniques and rhythmic innovations. The primary showcase for tap of this era was the minstrel show, which was at its peak from approximately 1850 to 1870.

During the following decades, styles of tap dancing evolved and merged. Among the ingredients that went into the mix were buck dancing (a dance similar to but older than the clog dance), soft-shoe dancing (a relaxed, graceful dance done in soft-soled shoes and made popular in vaudeville), and buck-and-wing dancing (a fast and flashy dance usually done in wooden-soled shoes and combining Irish clogging styles, high kicks, and complex African rhythms and steps such as the shuffle and slide; it is the forerunner of rhythm tap). Tap dance as it is known today did not emerge until roughly the 1920s, when “taps,” nailed or screwed onto shoe soles at the toes and heels, became popular. During this time entire chorus lines in shows such as Shuffle Along (1921) first appeared on stage with “tap shoes,” and the dance they did became known as tap dancing.

[...]

According to the producer Leonard Reed, throughout the 1920s “there wasn’t a show that didn’t feature tap dancing. If you couldn’t dance, you couldn’t get a job!” Nightclubs, vaudeville, and musicals all featured tap dancers, whose names often appeared on the many marquees that illuminated New York’s Broadway. Stars of the day, including Fred Astaire and his sister, Adele, brought yet more light to the “Great White Way” with their elegant dancing. Bill Robinson, known for dancing on the balls of his feet (the toe taps) and for his exquisite “stair dance,” was the first black tap dancer to break through the Broadway colour line, becoming one the best-loved and highest-paid performers of his day.

Because this was an era when tap dancing was a common skill among performers, a tap dancer had to create something unique to be noticed. The Berry Brothers’ act, for example, included rhythmic, synchronized cane twirling and dazzling acrobatics. Cook and Brown had one of the finest knockabout acts. King, King, and King danced in convict outfits, chained together doing close-to-the-floor fast tap work. Buster West tap-danced in “slap shoes”—oversized clown-style shoes that, because of their extended length, slapped audibly on the floor during a routine—and did break dancing decades before it had a name. Will Mahoney tap-danced on a giant xylophone.

The “challenge”—in which tap dancers challenged one another to a dancing “duel”—had been a major part of the tap dancer’s education from the beginning. It filtered into many theatrical acts. Possibly the finest exponents of the challenge were the Four Step Brothers, whose act consisted of furious, flying steps, then a moment when each attempted to top the others.

From the outset, tap dancers have stretched the art form, dancing to a wide variety of music and improvising new styles. Among these innovative styles were flash (dance movements that incorporated acrobatics and were often used to finish a dance); novelty (the incorporation into a routine of specialty props, such as jump ropes, suitcases, and stairs); eccentric, legomania, and comedy (each of which used the body in eccentric and comic ways to fool the eye and characteristically involved wild and wiggly leg movements); swing tap, also known as classical tap (combining the upper body movement found in 20th-century ballet and jazz with percussive, syncopated footwork, a style used extensively in the movies); class (precision dancing performed by impeccably dressed dancers); military (the use of military marching and drum rhythms); and rhythm, close floor, and paddle and roll (each of which emphasized footwork using heel and toe taps, typically of a rapid and rhythmic nature).”...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight this sentence.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE BERRY BROTHERS
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Brothers
The Berry Brothers were an African-American "exotic, acrobatic soft shoe dance" trio, active in the entertainment business for over 30 years.[1] The trio was composed of Ananias (Nyas, "King of the Strut"), James and Warren Berry.
Biography
Ananias "Nyas" Berry and James Berry were born in New Orleans, in 1913 and 1915 respectively. As early as 1919 the two brothers already performed in Chicago and then in Denver where the family settled and the younger Warren was born in 1922.[2]

In 1924 the family moved to Los Angeles where as child actors Nyas, James and then Warren appeared in several films.

In 1929 Nyas and James formed the dance duo "The Berry Brothers" and began performing in vaudeville, in New York (at the Cotton Club) and London.

Around 1935 Warren joined his brothers and the duo became a very successful trio of dancers.

In 1938, at the Cotton Club there was a face-off dance competition between the Nicholas Brothers and the Berry Brothers. It has become a legendary confrontation, a sort of dance-fight for supremacy. By some accounts the Berry Brothers were more athletic but the Nicholas Brothers were better overall performers – better at pleasing the crowd.[3]

At the peak of their success, in the 1940s, the Berry Brothers also performed their routines in some Hollywood movies.

The experience of the Berry Brothers came to a sudden end when Nyas died in 1951 of heart failure.[4] James and Warren continued to perform together or individually for a few more years. James died in 1969, and Warren in 1996 after working for over 15 years as a film editor.[5]”...

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Berry Brothers - Dance Act - 'Panama Hattie' 1942
-


Fapresto1983, Published on Mar 5, 2011

This video is from the motion picture 'Panama Hattie' (1942). The clip is probably most famous because of the 'balcony scene'. Remember The Berry Brothers is the only dance act who could rival... the Nicholas Brothers!

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Example #2: The Berry Brothers



docludi2, Published on Feb 7, 2012

The amazing Berry Brothers dance trio.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Trevor Dance, 2015
"Style, skill, stamina, superb !!!"

**
2. thebes50, 2017
"These guys were so cool!"

**
3. Oran Payne, 2017
"somebody said Nicholas brothers WHO? The Berry Brothers could out dance the Nicholas brothers Fred astaire and Gene Kelly put together. I have never in my life seen a better dance rotine than this one. this is better than the Nicholas brothers on stormy weather. please rolling with canes hitting flips and splits altogether. just mind blowing."

**
4. PlainJaneDoe, 2018
"They are very good but The Nicholos brothers are outstanding!"

**
5. Fuzzyscarfandmittens, 2017
"It's a shame that groups like this and the Nicholas Brothers are virtually forgotten nowadays.

These guys were legitimate performers and they did it in tudexos as well which couldn't have been easy."

**
6. lonnietta duhon, 2018
"The cane throwers had to be just as precise."
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia page for The Nicholas Brothers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Brothers
"The Nicholas Brothers were a team of dancing brothers, Fayard (1914–2006) and Harold (1921–2000), who performed a highly acrobatic technique known as "flash dancing". With a high level of artistry and daring innovations, they were considered by many to be the greatest tap dancers of their day. Their performance in the musical number "Jumpin' Jive" (with Cab Calloway and his orchestra) featured in the movie Stormy Weather is considered by many to be the most virtuosic dance display of all time.

Growing up surrounded by vaudeville acts as children, they became stars of the jazz circuit during the heyday of the Harlem Renaissance and went on to have successful careers performing on stage, film, and television well into the 1990s."...
-snip-
The Nicolas Brothers didn't dance with canes.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/various-meanings-of-word-jive-cab.html for a video of the Nicolas Brothers' famous tap routine with Cab Calloway & his orchestra's rendition of "Jumping Jive" in the 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Various Meanings Of The Word "Jive" & Cab Calloway's "Jumpin Jive".

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Example #3: The Berry Brothers tap dance trio.



docludi2, Published on Feb 7, 2012

'Bilko' introduces the Berry Brothers.
--snip-
Here's one comment from this video's discussion thread

Dee Wilson, 2017
"There are no taps on their shoes. It's called soft shoe dancing."

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ADDENDUM-
For comparison's sake, here's a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. video:

KAPPA ALPHA PSI Step Show Stomp The Yard



UnitOneMedia, Published on Jan 6, 2008

The VISION of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation:
To become the premier Greek letter Foundation in its resources and services to the community.

The MISSION of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation:
To provide support for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated members and others in service to communities with particular emphasis on African-American communities.

The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, Incorporated exists as the philanthropic arm of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. The Fraternity was founded in 1911 with the motto of "Achievement in every field of human endeavor." The Foundation was established in 1981 as a non-profit, tax exempt, publicly supported organization as described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Its purpose is to assist the community service efforts of the more than 600 active undergraduate and alumni chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi. The Foundation currently supports scholarships, after-school programs and national projects such as Habitat for Humanity
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/information-about-kappa-alpha-psi.html for a 2018 pancocojams post entitled "Information About Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc's History Of Stepping With Kanes & Videos Of Kappa Kane Masters".

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-video-of-history-of-phi-beta-sigma.html for a 2018 post entitled "A Video About The History Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. & Videos Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Cane Twirling".

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A Video About The History Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. & Videos Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Cane Twirling

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video about the history of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

This post also includes several YouTube videos of Sigmas cane twirling. Selected comments from one of the discussion thread for those videos are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
*Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is a historically Black Greek letter fraternity.

Click the tag "Black fraternities and sororities" and "Phi Beta Sigma" tags below for additional pancocojams posts that may include information, comments, and videos about this fraternity.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: A History of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.



Waymaker Productions, Published on Feb 1, 2014

A brief history of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. that was shown at the Centennial Founders Day Celebration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on January 31, 2014.

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[Added September 1, 2018]
Example #2: Greek Show Sigma history



Mr.Man, Published on Nov 29, 2013

"Greek Show" is about the history of fraternity stepping. A historical view throughout the years of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. The history of fraternity stepping includes a rites of passage form manhood to brotherhood, from traditions to history, from discipline to execution, from timing to flow, from excitement to powerhouse. Phi Beta Sigma fraternity has historically been known as the brothers with a P.H.D in Stepology.

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Example #3: Sigma Cane Twirlin'



Fame88, Published on Mar 17, 2008

One of our Sigmas from Auburn University showing them how to do it with the cane work.
-snip-
selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1.Perez B, 2008
"Preciate it frat! And believe, more comin'. Gotta show'em how we do this Spinnin' thang."

**
2. Justin Stewart, 2010
"Before the back and forth debate begins let me make it clear that we ( Phi Beta Sigma) first used the cane in STEPPING. It wasnt stated that we were twirling them or not. We dont want any parties to be offended due to a missing piece of info."

**
REPLY
3. BlackSunsu, 2010
"@KZbluphi3

I truly believe that the debate of who has the cane first has begun before your comment was posted."

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4. Startrak1914, 2010
"If you wish to have this discussion with a much older historian, let me know! I have no disses for Kappas, yal do what you do and amazing twirling (some of you) but it bothers me when yal diss, it shows that you have something to prove. Now, I can prove facts, but have no reason to..because I chose not to diss. I can show where many orgs have borrowed from another. Please hav confidence in yourself and let this rest. Be flattered someone took notice at twirling as you did in us steppin with them"

**
5. yoboibigc, 2011
"i hope i dont get curse out for this...but im not a kappa nor sigma but i do know about the argument about who first step with the cane...sigmas say they did...kappas say they did...its one history's word vs the next...no one can prove who did it first so just kill the noise...cant prove it then just kill it...cause at the end of the day both frat history books say they did it first...thats like asking which came first the egg or the chicken..its a debate that can keep going on and on"

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6. brandon johnson, 2012
"but that doesn't exclude the fact that sigmas were the first to use them. So your point is pointless to say you got these nupes running around here saying the opposite that initially they were the first to ever use canes but keep it 100 what it really comes down to is bitting another org style in creativity and then calling it yall own like yall have some kind of ownership
-snip-
“Nupes” is a referent for members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc."

**
7. brandon johnson, 2012
"I go by the facts and the fact of the matter is that the kappas don't have substantial evidence to even show that they were ever the first to use cane's. Sigma's have documentation as well as physical evidence. [profanity deleted] how you feel cause at the end of the day the truth will speak for itself so when kappas be coming at me with they the first I just laugh and keep twirling my CANΣ in they face. Im cool with those that aren't sensitive like [profanity deleted] what you crying for its just a stick calm your panty's"

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Example #4: Phi Beta Sigma- Cane Work



madavis1987, Published on Jul 17, 2010

GOMAB!
FALL 2K9- 4 PILLARS OF THE BLUE DYNASTY
ACE CLUB ~ Sentinel
ABG- UNIV. OF TAMPA

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Example #5: Sigma Cane Master



solosigma, Published on Sep 15, 2011

Phi Beta Sigma Brother Carlos twirling. Awesome!

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Example #6: Phi Beta Sigma Zeta Phi Chapter Cane Twirl Part 2



Mr Martin, Published on Sep 29, 2014

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc Homecoming 2014 at Purdue University. My boys showing them how it's done! Blue Phi!! - feed & posted by Bro. DYNAMITE Blue

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Which Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity Started Stepping?

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on the history of and influences on Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority stepping (steppin).

This post provides selected quotes from the viewer discussion thread of a 2013 YouTube video of an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Stroll Off performance.

The content of this post is presented for historial, folkloric, cultural reasons with regard to the subject of the early history of fraternity stepping.

I'm presenting these comments without taking any position about the statements that are made. However, I suggest that readers also consider those statements along with the information and comments that are presented in Part I of this series. Also, read my comments in that section below.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/when-did-historically-black-greek.html for Part I of this series.

Part I provides excerpts from Elizabeth C. Fine's 2003 groundbreaking book SoulStepping: African American Step Shows (University of Illinois Press). An excerpt from Wikipedia's page on Stepping is given in the Addendum to this post.

"Strolling" (also known as "stroll offs" and "party walks") are non-competitive and competitive group struts and dancing performances to recorded music. Strolling shares the same history and early sources as historically Black Greek letter[ed] fraternity and sorority stepping and is now performed by Latino Greek lettered organizations, multi-cultural Greek lettered organizations, and others. Click http://www.greekster.tv/page/greek-strolling-history-and for another definition of "strolling" and comments about the history of strolling ("stroll offs", "party walks"). Also click the "stroll off" tab below for more pancocojams posts that about strolling or which feature examples of historic ally Black Greek lettered organization stroll offs.

There also are a number of pancocojams posts on historically Black Greek letter[ed] fraternity and sorority stepping. Click the tags found below or use this blog's search engine to find those posts.

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in the video that is featured in this post, and thanks to the publisher of that video on YouTube.

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FEATURED VIDEO: Omega Psi Phi 2013 Atlanta Greek Picnic Hop team @atlgreekpicnic



Atlanta Greek Picnic Published on Jun 10, 2013

2013 Atlanta Greek Picnic Omega Psi Phi Hop team/ Stroll Off ||

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THAT VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEdlpwUDd7M "Omega Psi Phi 2013 Atlanta Greek Picnic Hop team @atlgreekpicnic"

Editor's note:
A number of commenters in this video's discussion thread mentioned that this Omega Psi Phi Fraternity stroll off was different than most stroll offs that they had seen members of that fraternity perform. The most commonly mentioned difference was that the step team added Salsa music and Chicago footwork to the hops that Ques are known for. Commenters also mentioned that this Que stroll off was different because the men weren't wearing boots (particularly the gold boots that Ques are known for).

With the exception of the first and the last comment, these selected comments are from an exchange in that video's YouTube discussion thread. That exchange focuses on whether Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. or Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc originated stepping. This is the entire exchange to date. The first comment refers to the ways that Ques step. The last comment refers to that exchange.

[Updated September 29, 2016 with the comments numbered for referencing purposes only.]

2013
1. gomab850
"Great show! Y'all typically get penalized because you march and hop instead of doing traditional strolls like other orgs so people don't know how to judge you all. The show was creative and definitely got the crowd involved. Good job fellow greeks!"
-snip-
The Ques didn't win that competition. This commenter implies that the Ques lost because their way of strolling is different from the ways that other historically Black Greek letter organizations stroll.

2014
2. colors1387
"very nice show. glad to see the omegas diversifying their routine a bit with some Sigma elements.its all good as its about showmanship and entertainment. again,good job."

**
Reply
3. Chris Perkins
"+colors1387
Sigma elements? Curious as to what those were in this show?"

**
2015
Reply
4. Malcolm Dicko
"+colors1387 curious to what "sigma elements " are do sigmas even have anything of their own ?"

**
Reply
5. colors1387
"glad you asked,Malcolm.but the phrase should be 'what Doesnt Sigma have of their own'.first, the genesis of stepping has been attributed to us. the steps that most are doing now were originated by us back in the mid-late 70's.the style of omega steps now arent what they were 30 years ago.back in the day,they marched,not hopped. the very beginning moves are some mainstays in our routines. i could go on with this but my hope is that you get the point. in any event, step styles really dont matter as they change, are copied, etc. what Does matter is the organizations contributions to humanity,the adhering to founding principles,and the collective conduct of its members (especially in public). these are topics worthy of debate.that the omegas used some of our stuff doesnt matter as we didnt copywrite it."

**
Reply
6. artsygirlify
"+colors1387 APPLAUSE...well said or posted"

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Reply
7. colors1387
"artsygirlify - i humbly thank you for your kindness."

**
Reply
8. Chris Perkins
"+colors1387
+artsygirlify - y'all must have a PBS-ZPB connection, Or nah? Modern day stepping originates directly from African dancing and the slaves used it as call and response chants during slavery as a means of communication, toss in the addition of influence from the Motown musical movement, (i.e Temptation, Four Tops, etc). No one frat or sorority "originated" stepping, so we'll agree to disagree there. Also stepping started becoming popular in the late 60s not the 70s as a right of passage to new inductees (Neo's) upon their introduction to the campus as full members....Greeks took elements from the motherland and the popular music at the time and it has morphed into what it is now. But what you said was true as far as the styles changing over the years, that is true...every orgs current steps are different than they were in the 70s and 80s."
-snip-
"+artsygirlify - y'all must have a PBS-ZPB connection, Or nah?" Chris Perkins notes that the reason why artsygilify supported colors1387 comment is that she is probably a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. That sorority is the formal sister organization to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

**
Reply
9. colors1387
"+Chris Perkins as a ChiCity G.O.M.A.B brother, i spit game but i most enjoy spittin knowledge.for you and anyone else please search/ type in 'Stepping (African American)' and go to Wikipedia. Please pay particular attention to the first paragraph under the heading 'History' .now let me first say that i would be Honored if artsygirlify is my soror but i dont know if she is.nevertheless, i have much love for her. and now to you - modern day stepping originates from the Sigmas who began the practice shortly after the turn of the century (which FAR pre-dates the 60's / 70's as you espoused).admittedly, sororities didnt step until the late 70's/early 80's. true, the art-form came from Africa by many sources including Kwame Nkrumah (a Sigma) who introduced a few steps, one of them with a staff / cane back in the late 30's / early 40's (that kills that nonsense from that other frat talking about cane stepping) but i digress. truth is we stepped before Nkrumah became a brother. stepping far pre-dates Mowtown so i needn't address that 'dead-end' point (though the Temptations Were Sigma men. hmm, imagine that). yup- one frat Did originate stepping and now you know who. so while you may agree to disagree, im not sure who you'll be disagreeing with.i could go on but i hope you get the point. last, i have only one request of you,frater; the next time this topic comes up either among your brothers or others, please give credit where credit is due. this is the honorable thing. Thnx"

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10. Chris Perkins
"+colors1387
Much love man, I enjoy building and spitting knowledge as well. But Bro are you really citing Wikipedia as a reference??? Dog, you know anybody can create edit and Wiki page right? I respect your opinion, but I won't be using Wiki as a reference tool bruh, for pretty much anything. Also can you clarify...The turn of the century? Meaning 1900? So are your saying that the founding Sigma's engaged in stepping?"

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11. colors1387
"+Chris Perkins no,no, the Most Honorable Founders most certainly were not concerned with such trivialities. im speaking about the short time thereafter. while wiki does not stand as the definitive 'end all,be all' of information, i cited it because it was in line with Our historical perspective. of note was that Your brotherhood was Also mentioned which is Also in our historical account (in fact Your fraternity is mentioned a few times in Our history book. had we not mentioned Omega as we did, it would have done Your frat a disservice. as Sigma men, we do not believe in diminishing the accomplishments of others just because they are not Sigmas. credit is given. such is the way of Sigma) .anyway, i have read enough of wiki to know that when it comes to Sigma history, it is reasonably accurate. That's why its cited . i extrapolated upon your knowledge in order to illustrate where You were correct and in line with Sigma history as well. my tendency is to be rather pragmatic about things. i have no interest in 'one upmanship'. as such, whether its me, and/or my brotherhood , or you and your brotherhood, i believe in giving credit where its due. the stepping distinction lies where it is. whether folks outside of Sigma acknowledge that is of no consequence to us. It Is what It Is. bytheway, i misinformed you about sorority stepping. the Zetas Were stepping in the mid- late 70's. i know because i watched them. and they were pretty good at it, i might say.get at me,frater. its a pleasure dialogueing with you. G.O.M.A.B / F.I.E.T.T.S."

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12. fred ramsey
"And For the RECORD, OMEGAS WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE SIGMAS WHEN IT COMES TO HOPPING! "WITH ALL RESPECT TO PHI BETA SIGMA" WE ARE THE ORIGINATORS OF HOPPING AND MARYLAND BRUHZ WILL ALWAYS SET IT OWT WITH MAD-E, CREATIVITY, AND SWAG, RQQ TO GOOD BRUHZ (PLEDGING DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOU GOOD BY THE WAY)"

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