Quote:
Originally posted by joker:
Interesting. Since I went to Tennessee State, that is sort of what I heard. I mean, your version is what was taught to us by our (Alpha) big brothers.
Anyway, this is an topic that I hope to explore in the future. The responses have increased my knowledge and it seems that there may be reason to investigate further.
I don't really "care" who began the traditions...Omega's, Sigma's that's all good in my book. But I think I want to track it down because it is a unique part of Black Greek and African-American culture and history.
|
Thanks, I appreciate that. I think that I was originally more interested in when Greeks started doing it. But I checked out the Sigma's website which included some of the African origins of stepping. You pointed out the spiritual origins. And I read something about the African tradition of the 'ring-shout' in a book called 'Signifyin', Sanctifyin' and slam dunking by gena caponi. This was interesting because when I was in school, we used to step in public while a crowd formed a circle around us. Different greeks would take turns stepping and singin. Thus, what I thought of as either spontaneous or just a local practice, may also have Afican roots.
Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful response. One day I will work harder to pull some of this together. Or, it seems that others are already working on the topic.