the deal with the canes...

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by marquise1911

Correction, gentlemen carried fashionable walking sticks and pledges carried stalfs. My founders carried canes, which were a sign of injury. Ask yourself what man bares signs of injury with pride?

Actually gentlemen carried staffs, walking sticks AND canes. I didn't mention the former two b/c the topic is canes. I've seen pictures of GDIs and fraternity men beyond KAPsi carrying canes from decades ago. Your founders carried canes as signs of injury but that doesn't mean anything for the general point. Canes were and are used for more than injury.

http://www.canesandsuch.com/history.html

So the origins of the cane for black fraternity men is a washed up topic since it was used by "gentlemen" in general and college educated bruthas at that time were in the "gentlemen" mold. But who started associating the cane as a symbol for their fraternity and stepping with it is a different topic that may never be proven unless PBS and KAPsi have official documentation to share.