Videos Of Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternities & KKPsi (Music Fraternity/Sorority) Linking Arms While Singing Their Organization's Hymns

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: Feb. 6, 2021

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the university based band members fraternity and sorority Kappa Kappa Psi, Inc. crossing arms while singing their hymn.

This post also.documents video examples of the five historically Black Greek lettered fraternities who are members of the "Divine Nine" singing their organization's hymn.

In some of these organizations members are shown linking arms with persons standing on either side while singing their fraternity hymn. 

The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.

All coyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/11/videos-of-members-of-historically-black.html for the companion pancocojams post entitled "Videos Of Members Of Historically Black Greek Letter Sororities Singing Their Hymn Or Their Sweetheart Song".

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I believe that the custom of linking (crossing) arms with people standing on either side is done to foster and convey unity and symbolize the strong bond that members of these organizations have with each other. 

As documented by these videos, the crossed arms stance is often accompanied by the singers swaying back and forth in time with the song.

In the United States, this crossed arm (linked arm) stance and swaying back and forth while singing songs are most closely associated with the civil rights song "We Shall Overcome".  Here's some information about the song "We Shall Overcome" from https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/we-shall-overcome-the-story-behind-the-civil-rights-song/
"We Shall Overcome"—The Story Behind the Civil Rights Song", 8 August 2017, By Victor M. Parachin
..."Though untutored in music, [Rev. Charles] Tindley had natural musical gifts that would play a prominent role in his life and ministry. He often sang in church services, and would frequently pause during one of his sermons to sing. As melodies and lyrics came to him, Tindley began to put pen to paper, eventually writing more than 60 hymns. Several of his hymns continue to appear in modern hymnals. One of his earliest songs was written and published in 1900, titled “I’ll Overcome Some Day.” It became widely used in congregational singing and, in 1945, underwent a transformation when the words were changed to the plural “We Shall Overcome Some Day.” This slight change was introduced by Zilphia Horton, an American union organizer, civil rights activist and musician. Horton had the remarkable ability to take popular songs from church hymnals, such as “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize,” “This Little Light of Mine,” or “We Shall Not Be Moved,” and transform them into protest songs. In October of 1945, Horton adapted Tindley’s hymn for union workers on strike in Charleston, South Carolina. With them on the picket line, Horton led them in linking arms and singing “We Shall Overcome.” A few years later, in 1950, the song was recorded and increased its visibility and popularity among various groups supporting civil rights.

We Shall Overcome” was launched as the anthem of the American Civil Rights movement in August of 1963"...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight this sentence.

My guess is that the linked arm stance was used, in part, to convey solidarity and also to make it more difficult for police to separate and then arrest protestors.  

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-we-shall-overcome-civil-rights-song.html for more information about "We Shall Overcome" from  the pancocojams post entitled "We Shall Overcome" Civil Rights Song & Its Linked Arms/ Hands Held Stance". 

****
DISCLAIMER:
This post doesn't mean to imply that these Greek letter organizations always cross arms while singing these hymns. For example, there are YouTube videos of members of some of these fraternities singing their hymn standing arm in arm but not crossing their arms.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order based on the video's publishing date with the oldest video presented first.

Example #1: KKPsi Hymn [Kappa Kappa Psi]



Ahandful ofIdiots, Published on Apr 25, 2012
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
APA470 (2014)
"This was at Troy University following Step 4 Life that year."
-snip-
This hymn is an adaptation of the religious song “Beams of Heaven”
-snip-
Since I haven't featured information and videos of KKPsi as much as I have for these other fraternities, here's a lik to KKPsi's Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_Kappa_Psi.
"Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity (ΚΚΨ, colloquially referred to as KKPsi), is a fraternity for college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Kappa Kappa Psi primarily operates as a recognition society[1] providing service, leadership opportunities, and social programming for band members. Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, has been recognized as a sister organization since 1947, and the two organizations share National Headquarters in Stillwater Station, a converted historical Santa Fe rail depot that was purchased by the fraternity and sorority in 1991.

Since 1919, more than 66,000 men and women have been initiated into Kappa Kappa Psi, with nearly 6,000 collegiate members active today.

[...]

May 1957 saw the first chapters at historically black universities: On May 19, the Delta Alpha chapter at Langston University was installed; three days later, the Gamma Omega chapter was established at Texas Southern University.[19]"...

****
Example #2: Alpha phi alpha 2012 Morehouse graduation



86009742, Published on May 20, 2012

****
Example #3: Omega Dear - Mu Alpha Chapter - Omega Psi Phi - 2013



BRENDA J. PEART, Published on Nov 18, 2013

This is the conclusion of Mu Alpha Chapter (Port City Ques) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., 2013 National Achievement Observance Week held at Burke High School.
Theme: "Advancing Omega's Future through Leadership, Vision and Excellence"

****
Example #4: Centennial Founders Day Hymm at Howard University



Phi Beta Sigma, Published on Jan 9, 2014

Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma singing the Fraternity hymn at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Centennial Monument to be erected at Howard University!

****
ADDENDUM - A Video of The Two Additional Historically Black Greek Lettered Fraternities Singing Their Fraternity Hymn

These videos are presented in chronological order based on the video's publishing date with the oldest video presented first.

Example #1: The Kappa Alpha Psi Hymn | 60th Anniversary Black White Delta Nu Ball



UPDATED, Published on Nov 8, 2015

****
Example #2: Iota Phi Theta Hym at SIUE



Iota Phi Theta, Published on Apr 23, 2016

Men of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Sing Fraternity Hym in quad of Southern Illinois University Edwadsville.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

The "We Shall Overcome" Civil Rights Song & Its Linked Arms/ Hands Held Stance

Edited by Azizi Powell

Revised Feb. 6, 2021

This pancocojams post provides commentary about and examples of the civil rights song "We Shall Overcome". Particular attention is given to the tradition of singing "We Shall Overcome" while linking arms (crossing arms) and holding hands with the person on either side, and swaying back and forth.

The Addendum to this post showcases a video that provides some historical information about the song "We Shall Overcome" and some relatively recent information about the effort to make that song part of the public domain.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who composed "We Shall Overcome" and thanks to those who popularized that song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are featured in the videos that are included in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
-snip-
I was inspired to revisit this topic because the icon for Google Search January 16, 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a drawing of a diverse group of people linking arms (crossing arms) and, presumably singing "We Shall Overcome". Thanks to Google Search for honoring this tradition.

For more lyrics and video examples of civil rights songs, visit my Civil Rights Song blog http://civilrightssongs.blogspot.com/

****
EDITORIAL COMMENT ABOUT THE LINKED ARMS/HANDS HELD STANCE & THE CIVIL RIGHTS SONG "WE SHALL OVERCOME"
In 2013 I published a pancocojams post on the Gospel song "I'll Overcome Someday" and the Civil Rights song "We Shall Overcome" Click "http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-gospel-song-i-will-overcome-someday.html.

Unlike that previous pancocojams post on this Civil Rights song, most of the videos in this post feature examples of "We Shall Overcome" in which the singers either lock arms and sway from side to side while singing this song, or hold hands and stand still or sway from side to side while singing this song. This has become the signature way that "We Shall Overcome" is sung.

To my knowledge, no other protest song or civil rights song has this or any other signature movement style.

Here's some information about the song "We Shall Overcome" from https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/we-shall-overcome-the-story-behind-the-civil-rights-song/
"We Shall Overcome"—The Story Behind the Civil Rights Song", 8 August 2017, By Victor M. Parachin"
..."Though untutored in music, [Rev. Charles] Tindley had natural musical gifts that would play a prominent role in his life and ministry. He often sang in church services, and would frequently pause during one of his sermons to sing. As melodies and lyrics came to him, Tindley began to put pen to paper, eventually writing more than 60 hymns. Several of his hymns continue to appear in modern hymnals. One of his earliest songs was written and published in 1900, titled “I’ll Overcome Some Day.” It became widely used in congregational singing and, in 1945, underwent a transformation when the words were changed to the plural “We Shall Overcome Some Day.” This slight change was introduced by Zilphia Horton, an American union organizer, civil rights activist and musician. Horton had the remarkable ability to take popular songs from church hymnals, such as “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize,” “This Little Light of Mine,” or “We Shall Not Be Moved,” and transform them into protest songs. In October of 1945, Horton adapted Tindley’s hymn for union workers on strike in Charleston, South Carolina. With them on the picket line, Horton led them in linking arms and singing “We Shall Overcome.” A few years later, in 1950, the song was recorded and increased its visibility and popularity among various groups supporting civil rights.

 "We Shall Overcome” was launched as the anthem of the American Civil Rights movement in August of 1963"...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight this sentence.

My guess is that the linked arm stance was used, in part, to convey solidarity and also to make it more difficult for police to separate and then arrest protestors.

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES OF THE LINKED ARMS/HAND HELD STANCE WHILE SINGING "WE SHALL OVERCOME"

Example #1: Obama at Ebenezer - We Shall Overcome



Stand with Obama Uploaded on Jan 20, 2008

This is the conclusion of Obama's speech at the church on Martin Luther King on King's Birthday in 2008, when the congregation sings "We Shall Overcome."

****
Example #2: We Shall Overcome: A SONG THAT CHANGED THE WORLD



HMH Books Uploaded on Dec 11, 2009
"We Shall Overcome" isn't a complicated piece of music. The first verse has only twenty-two words, most of them repeated. The melody is straightforward. The chords are basic. Yet the song has had a profound effect on people throughout the United States--and the world.

In clear, accessible language Stuart Stotts explores the roots of the tune and the lyrics in traditional African music and Christian hymns. He demonstrates the key role "We Shall Overcome" played in the civil rights, labor, and anti-war movements in America. And he traces the song's transformation into an international anthem. With its dramatic stories and memorable quotes, this saga of a famous piece of music offers a unique way of looking at social history.

Author's note, bibliography, source notes, index.

We Shall Overcome
A SONG THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Stuart Stotts; Terrance Cummings...
Publication Date: 01/18/2010...

Age Range: 8-12 years
-snip-
At .57 in this video there is a photograph of diverse group of protestors with the crossed arm stance
The narrator says "“In 1960 “We Shall Overcome” spread like a tidal wave throughout the United States as the anthem for the civil rights movement.”

**
At 1:22 in this video there is a photograph of President Obama, Congressmen John Lewis, and others having their arms linked and holding hands while singing ["We Shall Overcome" ?]

****
Example #3: Congressional Leaders Sing 'We Shall Overcome'



yazakchattiest Published on Jun 25, 2014
Media Research Center
http://www.mrc.org/
CNS News
http://www.cnsnew
-snip-
According to another video, this event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

Fast forward two more years, on June 22, 2016 members of the United States Democratic Congressional delegation held a sit in on the House floor and sung "We Shall Overcome". The video isn't clear and I can't tell if they linked arms while singing that song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujER5HQ1s9o

****
Example #4: 'We Shall Overcome' rings out at Charleston vigil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Y1dFzI0no

embedding not permitted

AFP news agency ,Published on Jun 20, 2015

The solemn verses of "We Shall Overcome" rings out in a college basketball arena at a vigil for the nine victims of a massacre at a historic African-American church.
-snip-
This is an integrated group of people. Everyone locks arms with the people next to them and sways from side to side while singing "We Shall Overcome".

****
ADDENDUM:
I added this video for the history that it shares.
'We Shall Overcome' At The Center Of A Public Domain Dispute – Newsy



Newsy Published on Apr 14, 2016

The Library of Congress calls "We Shall Overcome" "the most powerful song of the 20th century," and now one group is claiming that the song should be owned by everyone.

Transcript:
"Deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday," Joan Baez sings.
The Library of Congress calls "We Shall Overcome" "the most powerful song of the 20th century," and now one group is claiming that the song should be owned by everyone.

The We Shall Overcome Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the copyright of the song that's in the title of the organization, saying the song is "dedicated to public use and in the public domain."

Ludlow Music Inc., an imprint of The Richmond Organization, claims to have registered that copyright in 1960. But the lawsuit asserts it was never really Ludlow Music's to begin with.

"We Shall Overcome" contains lyrics similar to an African-American spiritual. One of the first printed versions of the song appeared in the United Mine Workers Journal in 1909.

That was later corroborated by folk singer Pete Seeger.
"It said we started every meeting with a prayer and singing that good ol' song, 'We Will Overcome,'" Seeger said in an interview with Pacifica Radio.

Seeger had also published the song in a newsletter intended to "create, promote and distribute songs of labor and the American people."

Some are comparing this lawsuit to another one centered on another popular song. Interestingly enough, the lawyers who worked to get "Happy Birthday" in the public domain are doing the same with "We Shall Overcome."
Along with the song being placed in the public domain, the "We Shall Overcome" lawsuit asks for Ludlow Music to return licensing fees it has collected from the song — which could be in the millions."..

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.