Phi Mu Ending the Use Of Hand Signs

[Sen's Revenge]

It's definitely cultural appropriation...but....

Did they even ask us (NPHC) what we even think about it?

Because, 1) Most of us don't care about handsigns. We care when you start performing in step shows, and 2) Not every NPHC handsign is official, either.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

It's definitely cultural appropriation...but....

Did they even ask us (NPHC) what we even think about it?

Because, 1) Most of us don't care about handsigns. We care when you start performing in step shows, and 2) Not every NPHC handsign is official, either.

Yes.

If I can be honest, I’m not sure how many NPHC members even know the NPC is throwing signs in the first place. My NPHC friends that don’t work in higher education don’t know much about the IFC/NPC to begin with, let alone the culture, so I don’t know what this changes.

When I was an undergrad, the NPC members weren’t throwing signs at my school and neither were my friends from other schools. When I started working in higher ed, that’s when I saw it more frequently. While I found it random, I didn’t really care. Just don’t throw my sign or do my call, strolls or steps and I’m good.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

Yes.

If I can be honest, I’m not sure how many NPHC members even know the NPC is throwing signs in the first place. My NPHC friends that don’t work in higher education don’t know much about the IFC/NPC to begin with, let alone the culture, so I don’t know what this changes.

When I was an undergrad, the NPC members weren’t throwing signs at my school and neither were my friends from other schools. When I started working in higher ed, that’s when I saw it more frequently. While I found it random, I didn’t really care. Just don’t throw my sign or do my call, strolls or steps and I’m good.

Word. I really only learned of this through GreekChat.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

It's definitely cultural appropriation...but....

Did they even ask us (NPHC) what we even think about it?

Because, 1) Most of us don't care about handsigns. We care when you start performing in step shows, and 2) Not every NPHC handsign is official, either.

The questions is whether the adoption of handsigns and step shows etc on the part of the Professional Fraternities at HBCUs (Alpha Phi Omega, Gamma Sigma Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma) falls into the same category. It is adaptation of the the NPHC concepts, but almost entirely by other African Americans.

(This can be dated to the late 1940s or early 1950s)