Fraternities use step to mix races

[DELTABRAT]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
As I stated before, I knew that the day would come when White greeks would be using hand signs, calls, stepping etc. And once again, as I said before, I did not know that we would give them "permission" to do so. I figured they would just steal it like they usually do.
Also, just because this phenomenon is becoming common does not mean that it is right and that we should just go with the flow.

Welcome to the real world, Rain Man.

Someone made a valid point. I was thinking along the same lines, members of BGLO's often get upset with non-BGLO groups doing calls, having line names, stepping and all of that. I would like to know the difference in this scenario and the latter. Truthfully, I'd much rather see a black non-greek letter org. doing these things than some white greeks doing them.

I personally agree w/ SKEEphisAKAte. What it is called is cultural appropriation where certain groups adopt and adapt only part of people's culture without really "accepting" or even "understanding" the culture from where it originates. I have a problem with that. While these orgs are learning to step, you have at Pitt an administrator attempting to (what I believe yo be) wipe out NPHC orgs on that campus due to low membership. So at the same time white orgs are adopting step routines in the name of unity (I am assuming this is at a PWI), at another PWI, the state of BGLOs is in question.

I don't like it, I have issues with it and it reminds me of "Bring It On." I am all for unity but not at the expense of selling out something that has a deep history not only in terms of BGLOs but in terms of African culture.

While the actions of APhiA and PBS are to be commended for even trying, I do think that perhaps a community service project or something else would have been more appropriate. I can see this getting out of control. Curse the day I go to a Greek Show and...

[starang21]

Originally posted by Rain Man
To the extent that NPHC folk is concerned about the outside world's perception of them and is not willing to share and educate them about their culture, I say....

HECK, YEAH! Serious as a heart attack and a double stroke.

Does NPHC orgs want to show the world their glitter and fluff, or their sho' 'nuff, hardcore, down-to-the-nitty-gritty, SUBSTANCE! Let's face it, the first thing that comes to mind when the term black fraternities and sororities come up is stepping, signs, colors, and calls. If this is not the image NPHC orgs want to portray to the world, then drop it alltogether, and go back to the basics. Heck, by doing that, you'll probably have a Black Greek Renaissance here in America. And on the centennial anniversaries of Black Greek life, no less! Perfect!

BTW, don't do it for me. Do it for those who always saw and thought of you as nothing more than glorified step teams. You'll shock the heck outta them. You'll probably shock the heck outta yourselves too with the renewed perceptions of you.

no...that won't happen. i could care less what someone non greek or non pan thinks of whether or not i step, party walk, do my call or wear my line jacket. that is my way of showing love for my fraternity to my fraternity brothers. they are the ones who don't take the time to learn about us. these people care not about the love, the bond and the subculture that life on the yard is. i know good and well that the IFC frats aren't about blondes and beer, so why shouldn't they know that we're more about stepping? stepping is not the only thing that these folks see, that is the the only thing that they're interested in. people see what they want to see.

[DELTABRAT]

Originally posted by Rain Man
To the extent that NPHC folk is concerned about the outside world's perception of them and is not willing to share and educate them about their culture, I say....

HECK, YEAH! Serious as a heart attack and a double stroke.

Does NPHC orgs want to show the world their glitter and fluff, or their sho' 'nuff, hardcore, down-to-the-nitty-gritty, SUBSTANCE! Let's face it, the first thing that comes to mind when the term black fraternities and sororities come up is stepping, signs, colors, and calls. If this is not the image NPHC orgs want to portray to the world, then drop it alltogether, and go back to the basics. Heck, by doing that, you'll probably have a Black Greek Renaissance here in America. And on the centennial anniversaries of Black Greek life, no less! Perfect!

BTW, don't do it for me. Do it for those who always saw and thought of you as nothing more than glorified step teams. You'll shock the heck outta them. You'll probably shock the heck outta yourselves too with the renewed perceptions of you.

RainMan, with all due respect your assertion that BGLOs "want to show the world their glitter and fluff, or their sho' 'nuff, hardcore, down-to-the-nitty-gritty, SUBSTANCE! " is crazy. There's no way that would happen. The problem I have with what you are saying is that is presumes that the reason we step now or have ever stepped was to impress upon white folks our talents as steppers or to further solidify Black folks' place as "entertainers" to white folks. I don't know about any other orgs., but I think I speak for a few when I say that my understanding of stepping was that it was not to show white folks anything but a form of showmanship and pageantry that was shared between BGLOs w/in their respective organizations and to ALL NPHC orgs as a whole. When there is a yard show, I could care less how many white folks there are or if they care about how I step. I do care that there is representation of other BGLOs and I feel proud when they "set itsh out" as well. I think there is another thread on this site about just that. Shout outs to the bombest step teams you have seen and the majority are from BGLO members who are giving props to other BGLOs. Matter of fact, I skip the responses by people in IFC/NPC orgs because I don't care if they thought XYZ BGLO was bomb or not.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by starang21
no...that won't happen.
I was gonna say that in my last post, and my rationale would've been, "Because it's way too easy for folk to b[el]ch, moan, and complain about how others stereotype us than to proactively eliminate the stereotypical perception, even if only for a season, if for no other reasons than to disprove, and in some respects, improve."

i could care less what someone non greek or non pan thinks of whether or not i step, party walk, do my call or wear my line jacket. that is my way of showing love for my fraternity to my fraternity brothers.

Cool More power to 'ya. All I am saying is that there are inherent risks involved with such, some of which is imitation and "step requests". All I am saying to folk is, don't complain about the consequences if you are not prepared to take the risks.

they are the ones who don't take the time to learn about us. these people care not about the love, the bond and the subculture that life on the yard is. i know good and well that the IFC frats aren't about blondes and beer, so why shouldn't they know that we're more about stepping? stepping is not the only thing that these folks see, that is the the only thing that they're interested in. people see what they want to see.

If you want others to take off their rose-colored glasses, sometimes you gotta take off yours as well and put them (read: pride/"Public display of Greek love") in your pocket, if only for a season.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by DELTABRAT
RainMan, with all due respect your assertion that BGLOs "want to show the world their glitter and fluff, or their sho' 'nuff, hardcore, down-to-the-nitty-gritty, SUBSTANCE! " is crazy.

My error. I meant for that to read: Do BGLOs want to show the world their glitter and fluff...

ORRRR.....

Do BGLOs want to show the world their sho' 'nuff, hardcore, down-to-the-nitty-gritty, SUBSTANCE?

(read: Pick one and be consistent). My apologies if you misread the jist of my post.

Also, I do not disagree with the points you made on your post. All I am saying is....well, I don't wanna be redundant, so I defer to my latest reply to Starang21 for my bottom line issue.

Thanx for posting.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

[abaici]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

Are you in the handbasket Soror??? If not, that comment right there earned you a special spot.

You are so wrong for that one! LMAO

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

Awww. Lawww. Haa. Mercy. Jaysis.
Soror, LOL. LOL. LOL.
*I'm floored.*

[DIVA1177]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if he is ever going to regret posting that picture...

[DIVA1177]

Originally posted by Rain Man
Assuming that they do know the origins of stepping, would it make a substantive difference? If so, how?
I believe it would because if they really knew they probably wouldn't do it. You are speaking of two totally different mindsets. The first is the typical 'oh that looks so fly, I think I am Eminem and I wanna rap too' mindset. The second is to go forward with the KNOWLEDGE that what you are doing is of SIGNIFICANT cultural importance to an entire race of people. I find it HIGHLY unlikely that they would take the time to research and come to mindset #2. SORRY, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

Taking it a step further, is what NIC/NPC and LGLO orgs are doing with stepping any different than, say, some urban teen step teams forming their own step show?

To an extent, yes. I don't think anybody should be a part of ANYTHING that they have no prior knowledge of. Ignorance in this day and age is a detriment to society and a crying shame especially when there are so many resources at your disposal. I have come across plenty of young kids that were part of "step teams". However, to speak to them they had a VERY clear understanding of the origins and purpose of stepping. I do not agree(I don't care how much advocate you are playing) with WGLOs and LGLOs stepping. PERIOD.

[BlueReign]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

I am so down in the dumps today. THANKS FOR THE LAUGH!!! I truly needed this.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

...yep, folks, that right up there ^ qualifies as "Post of the Month" in GC land.

although, I do side, more or less, with RM's main point. We always hope the dominant culture will see, recognize/honor, and, if so moved, adopt the substance over the sizzle of what we do. I saw the Alphas/Sigma's leadership as a door opener, and hope the other orgs. seek to learn more of why we do what we do, rather than just the pin-point synchronization and "coldness" of it all.

[GeekyPenguin]

I am not trying to start a fight/flame war here, I'm legitmately curious.

Since some of you appear to be concerned about white orgs "stealing" your stepping without understanding the history of it, I'm curious if you are taught the history of fraternities and sororities beginning with Phi Beta Kappa, or if your history starts in 1906 or 1908?

[abaici]

Originally posted by TonyB06
I saw the Alphas/Sigma's leadership as a door opener, and hope the other orgs. seek to learn more of why we do what we do, rather than just the pin-point synchronization and "coldness" of it all.

Exactly! It's just another avenue to help the two groups relate to one another. It's a start.

Big ole co-sign on the last part...even though they may attempt it...they can NEVER do it quite the way that WE do it


**NOTE** By WE, I meant members of the D9 who take us back to the motherland when they step. I do not include my rhythmless self in that bunch

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
am I arguing the importance of preserving our African American culture with a black man who wears a mullet?
*going to sit my ass down and ponder this*----------->

Woah shit! There's going to be some fightin' up in here!