Agree totally. However, they should've made up a new routine for THIS show. 2008 Really? They were playing off of the fact that those outside of the U. of Arkansas had never seen the show.

You still don't get it and you don't want to. The end.

Yes, certainly can't forget these although I don't believe my alumnae chapter has ever sponsored a stepshow in all the years we've existed (since 1941).

If you are mad, be mad at Sprite. On the other hand if the NPHC has the power to convince Sprite to have the AKA's share first place, then we also have the power to convince them to make the competition open to just NPHC next year. If that happens, so much for your org competing for the "step award."

The last time someone told me that, we were on the playground at recess.

I told her to stop, but she didn't want to listen. :o


You are most certainly not! :D

Okay serious question folks (especially Black folks), why is it that we feel the need to give away/share our traditions??? (and the Lawrence Ross article is typical of Lawrence Ross so no, the article wasn't interesting to me).

Really. When I first heard unity stepshow I thought that the AKA's at the U. of Arkansas were sponsoring a unity stepshow where both NPHC and other greeks participated in together (stepping together) but from the looks of the videos, it's an all NPC and other greeks stepshow, promotiong unity among those groups (even though apparently the winner got to compete in the annual NPHC stepshow).

I'm pretty sure those greeks have their own unifying events like the Greek Sing at some schools. So why do we (as Black folks) feel the need to show others and not only show them, but get them involved in what we do exclusively (or almost exclusively)? Is it that we are still trying to be accepted? are we showing off? are we just kind hearted? I really want to know your thoughts on this.

It's not racist to hold dear your cultural traditions and many other cultures TRULY value theirs and wouldn't even consider involving others in what they hold dear and in what they feel only they can truly understand and appreciate. This is something that I really admire about the Latin community.

I am sooooo serious about this question (although ofcourse I have my own opinions and ideas) and welcome your thoughts.

I have been pondering this question myself. I've never been one to think this was okay. But I know many people who have the mentality, as someone else mentioned, that it is "cute" to do so. Cute because they think that they are teaching them (white people) something new. Sorry if that is harsh, but that's really what some people have actually said. It's a show-off kind of thing. smh

I agree that it isn't racist to hold those traditions dear. Although I have noticed that some will certainly try to make it seem so.

Wolfman said it best several pages back in this thread:

Simply put, we simply do not live in a society that has a monolithic culture and/or homogenous population. You want to live in an integrated society? Giving away some of our traditions is part of the price that we have to pay for integrating.

It is inherently expected that in any given society, everyone within it is expected to contribute to the society to help define it. It is unrealistic to expose your subculture your immediate society and not expect others to want to participate.

You live in America, a melting pot which consists of a largely diverse conglomerate of other cultures. So it is virtually impossible to totally insulate your culture from other cultures, because you co-exist with them every day. FWIW, America has a tendency to bastardize other cultures in some way or form because of the "melting pot" theory.

Simply put, you want to keep your traditions to yourself? Go find an isolated area of land and create a society that consists of the monolithic culture and homogenous population that you seek, and your traditions will be more or less secured within the confines of your society. But bottom line, you won't find that here.

Let it be - two very deserving organizations are sharing an awesome title. Let's leave it at that?!?!?!

Missed the point as always. Why do WE teach them and in some cases, seek others out to teach???? That is the question.

Other cultures don't share like we do. Read the entire post again and try answering the question again.

We are on to a much larger issue that WE want to discuss. Move on.

No I did not miss the point, if anything I think YOU are missing the point. Wolfman made a great point on page 3 of this thread that I edited to include in my response. Check it out.

Other cultures aren't as assimilated in other cultures' societies either, their populations are more homogenous, their political land boundaries belong exclusively to them, and thus they can afford the option to share or not share their traditions. We don't have that same luxury. Furthermore, we as blacks always have sought to be seen as equal to whites and have access to the same resources whites did, and while a significant amount of that access has been granted, the admission price for such access was assimilation into their culture.

GTFOHWTBS

UT

Translation: Touche!

Please, call me Tommy!

To the bolded black point:
It is actually quite realistic for "our*" subcultures to be exposed to the culture at large without the expectation that the members of the culture at large will want to participate. Especially when "our" particular subculture has historically been demonized, disrespected, disregarded, and (attepted to be) discarded by many members of the culture at large. Its not like you see "mainstream" people trying to join in the black church and/or black religious traditions. There are far too many facets of "our" subculture that it would be realistic to expect mainstream folks not to want to participate in. One of the main indicators of their lack of desire to participate is the fact that they do not join D9 orgs en masse. Another is the fact that most often they do not come to the D9 and ask to be taught to step or any other part of D9 tradition and culture. There generally is no expectation that any subculture must contribute to the culture overall in order to survive. It is actually historically the opposite. Thats why your argument makes little sense to me.

To the bolded red point:
Im going to have to agree with Rhoyaltempest that you missed her point.
The American "melting pot" image is a farce. We're not culturally inclusive when and where it is most important. Our laws and our governing isnt culturally inclusive enough for us to even hint that we're a melting pot. Rhoyaltempest didnt suggest insulation of traditions or cultures. She wanted to know, quite validly, why people of a specific culture (D9 Greeks and realistically Black people) extend themselves to include others in a culture they seem to have little to no interest in.

Its like recruiting a pro baseball player to play pro soccer with the knowledge that he can never play for your soccer team. Yeah, he could do it, but its not his sport and he expressed absolutely NO interest in doing it. Why would you spend time trying to teach him soccer and make him interested? What value do you get out of it? Especially when him playing soccer (and not for your team) dilutes and misplaces the value of your team's players. By teaching him soccer you've now made your league a free for all that has lost its spirit and purpose. What was once a sport of love and high intangible value is now just another commercialized item up for sale.

*note: As I am not D9 my use of "our" refers to black culture overall (because I've pondered the same question as it pertains to black culture) and to the aspect of D9 orgs as they are a part of black culture.