An Overview Of Foot Stomping Cheers, Part II - Cheer Examples

Edited by Azizi Powell

[revised November 20, 2014]

This is Part II of a post on foot stomping cheers. This post provides examples of foot stomping cheers from four different categories of those cheers.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-movement.html for Part I of this post. Part I provides a general overview of the textual structure and performance of foot stomping cheers. Part I also includes my theories about the sources of this children's recreational activity.

I coined the term "foot stomping cheers" in 2000 to distinguish examples of that category from other cheerleader cheers. However, it appears from my direct collection and from my online collection that girls usually referred to these examples as "cheers". Sometimes they were called "chants" or "steps".

Also note that these posts on foot stomping cheers aren't about stomp cheers "stomps". The structure (words) and performance (movements) of stomp cheers may be the same as, slightly different from, or very different from the structure (words) and performance (movements) of foot stomping cheers. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-stomp-cheers-differ-from-foot.html "How Stomp Cheers Differ From Foot Stomping Cheers".

****
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
PART II: CATEGORIES OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
I've identified four main categories of foot stomping cheers.
These categories may be combined in various cheers. Those categoriess are
Introductory cheers
Confrontational (bragging, insult) cheers
Other bragging cheers
and
Dance style cheers
-snip-
Here's information about and examples of those cheers:

INTRODUCTORY CHEERS
These cheers serve the purpose of introducing members of the group -one at a time- to their imaginary audience. In these cheers girls state their name and/or their nickname, and may also state other personal information such as their favorite color, what they want to be when they grow up, their astrological (sun) sign, their boyfriend's name etc.

Two example of an introductory foot stomping cheer:
Group: Hey, Shaquala!
Soloist #1: Yo! *
Group: Innn-TRO-duce yourself.
Soloist #1: No way.
Group: Innn-TRO-duce yourself.
Soloist #1: Okay.
My name is Shaquala.
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1:They call me Quala.
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: My sign is Aries
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: I like to dance
Group: Hey! Hey!
Soloist #1: I wanna be a dancer for the rest of my life.
-T.M.P.; Pittsburgh, PA mid. 1980s; transcribed from audio tape by Azizi Powell, 1997
-snip-
*"Yo" was changed to "What" when that vernacular word became outdated.

Notice that there are no confrontational (threatening) or insult lines in this example.

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWG4AX09mqQ
for a video example of "Introduce Yourself" (prom scene) from the 2006 American cheerleader movie Bring It On: All Or Nothing (Note that the performance movements of this cheer have been significantly modified.)

**
CONFRONTATIONAL (bragging/insult) foot stomping cheer
These cheers focus on the chanters confronting (saying threatening words to) an unnamed opponent or opponents. The chanter brags about herself, and also may insult (dis) that opponent

Two examples of confrontational foot stomping cheers:
Example #1: HULA HULA
Hula hula
Now who thinks they bad
Hula hula
Now who thinks they bad
I think I’m bad
‘Cause Acie my name
And toys is my game
Take a sip of my potion
And dance in slow motion
Uh-huh
She thinks she bad
Baby baby don’t make me mad
Un-huh
She thinks she cool
Baby baby don’t act a fool
Uh-huh
She think she sweet
Sweetest person you ever meet
Uh-huh
She thinks she fine
Baby baby I’ll blow your mind
-Barbara Michels and Bettye White, Editors: Apple On A Stick, The Folklore of Black Children (Putnam Juvenile; First Edition November 11, 1983)
-snip-
"Bad" here means "very good".

****
Example #2: CALL REPUTATION (also known as "Razzle Dazzle")
my name is yonnqa
i'm number one
my reputation has just begun
so if you see me
step a side
cause i don't take no jive
oh think she cool
correction baby
i no i'm cool
i no karate
i no kunfu
you miss with me
i co it on you*
rasasol o dazzo o ox2 **
-yaya, cocojams.com, 2/23/2007
-snip-
*"co" here is probably a typo for "do"
**"ox2" probably means "repeat two times.
-snip-
"Shabooya Roll Call" is another example of a confrontational foot stomping cheer. Here's a video of that cheer from the 2006 Bring It On: All Or Nothing:

Bring It on: Shabooya Roll Call



Angel Arrieta, Published on Jun 9, 2013

shabooya roll cal from bring it on all or nothing
-snip-
"Shabooya Roll Call" is included in Spike Lee's 1996 movie Get On The Bus, it is best known from the 2006 cheerleader movie series Bring It On: All Or Nothing.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/right-rhyming-pattern-for-shabooya-roll.html for a pancocojams post on Shabooya Roll Call.
-snip-
The cheer entitled "U.G.L.Y" that was in that same Bring It On movie and was also in the 1986 movie Wildcats doesn't have a call & response structure. Instead, it is said in unison. Therefore, "U.G.L.Y"it's not a foot stomping cheer. Click http://cocojams2.blogspot.com/2014/11/childrens-taunting-rhymes-m-z.html for the words to that cheer.i

****
OTHER BRAGGING FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
In some examples in this category, the chanters brag about their group (their athletic team or school). In other examples the chanters brag about their boyfriend/s. These cheers have less insult content then confrontational foot stomping cheers.

Two examples of other bragging foot stomping cheers:
Example #1: L-O-V-E
All: L-O-V-E. L-O-V-E. L-O-V. L-O-V.
L-O-V-E.
Soloist #1: Well, Kayla’s my name.
And love is my game.
I got this boy on my mind.
And Lord knows he’s fine.
He calls me his girl,
His number 1 girl.
I don’t know his sign
But Taurus is mine.
All: L-O-V-E. L-O-V-E. L-O-V. L-O-V.
L-O-V-E.
Soloist #2 : Well Tamika's my name.
And love is my game.
I got this boy on my mind.
And Lord knows he’s fine.
I got his name on my shirt.
And don't call it dirt.
All: L-O-V-E. L-O-V-E. L-O-V. L-O-V.
L-O-V-E
Soloist #3 : Keisha's name.
And love is my game
I got this boy on my mind
and he sure is fine.
Blue is my color
Don't you worry 'bout my lover.
All: L-O-V-E. L-O-V-E. L-O-V. L-O-V.
L-O-V-E
Tazi M. Powell (remembrance of Pittsburgh, PA. in the mid 1980s), Collected by Azizi Powell, 2/1996

****
Example #2: FLY GIRL
All: Fly girl
Fly girl
Fly girl One
Fly girl Two
Pump it up Teresa
See what you do.
Soloist #1:(Oh) my name is Teresa
and I’m a fly girl
It takes a lot of men
to rock my world.
‘cause I can fly like a butterfly
sting like a bee
and that’s way they call me
Sexy
-Tazi M. Powell, (African American female, memories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the mid 1980s (audio-tape made in late 1980s and transcribed in 1996)
-snip-
"Fly Girl" means an attractive, hip female (one who is up to date with the latest urban culture fashions, lingo, dances etc)

****
DANCE STYLE FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
These cheers provide opportunities for the group and its individual members to show off their dance (and/or stepping) moves. These cheers often mention one or more (then) popular dances. Dance style foot stomping cheers are much less confrontational than cheers in that other category. While dance style foot stomping cheers may include some bragging words, they
usually include little or no insults. Consequently, the cheer performers (stompers/steppers) ddn't act surly or as aggressive as they play act during the chanting of confrontational foot stomping cheers. Many of dance style cheers can be immediately recognizable by the "Hey (person's name) Show me" lines that begin those cheers.

***
Two examples of a dance style foot stomping cheer:

Example #1: GET DOWN
Group (including the first soloist) - I saida D. O. W. N
And that's the way we get down.
D. O. W. N.
And that's the way we get down."
Group (excluding the first soloist) - Hey, Shayla
Shayla - What?
Group- Hey, Shayla
Shayla - What?
Group - Show me how you get down.
Shayla - No way.
Group- Show me how you get down.
Shayla - Okay.
[Shayla does a hip swinging dance while saying]
I saida D. O. WN.
And that's the way
And that's the way
And that's the way I get down.
[Group does dance with Shayla and says]
Group - She saida D. O. WN.
And that's the way
And that's the way
And that's the way she gets down.
-T.M.P, mid 1980s, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; collected by Azizi Powell
-snip-
This foot stomping cheer starts again from the beginning with the next soloist who says the same soloist lines but traditionally isn't supposed to repeat the same foot stomping/dance routine. This pattern continues until every member has had one turn as soloist.

****
Example #2: MOVE GIRL
You betta move
girl you betta move.
[say both lines(3x)]
Now drop it low
Drop it low.
Drop it low
Drop it low
-Shaw High School [transcription of the video given below]
-snip-
* Thanks to tknight51, lauren patton, and PrincessAmandaTVfor adding comments to this video's comment thread which indicated that the girls were saying "drop it low".
-snip-
Notice that the soloist's name isn't called. And, unlike most other foot stomping cheers, the soloist doesn't speak, but does her own dance while the others chant. "Now drop it low" means to dance down [close] to the ground, and then comee back up.

****
Here are two video examples of dance style foot stomping cheers:
Example #1: Shaw Cheerleaders "Move Girl"



Brandon Thurman, Uploaded on Jan 9, 2011

Shaw High School Cheerleaders Before the game hype
-snip-
The words to this cheer are given above.

**
Example #2: Dailey Tigers "Rock Steady"



daileytigers, Published on Nov 17, 2012

Cheerleaders
-snip-
Unlike the "standard" structure for foot stomping cheers, the cheer begins with a soloist's voice.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/rock-steady-childrens-cheer-examples.html for a pancocojams post on the "Rock Steady" cheer.

****
This concludes Part II of this post on foot stomping cheers.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of these cheers. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, the performers who are featured in these videos, and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

How Stomp Cheers Differ From Foot Stomping Cheers

Edited by Azizi Powell

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
In the early part of 2000s I coined the term "foot stomping cheers" to refer to a sub-set of American children's and teenagers' cheerleader cheers. The earliest examples of those cheers that I've found are from the 1970s, and up to at least the beginning of the 21st century those cheers appear to have usually been performed informally as part of the receational activities of two or more African American girls between the ages of 6-12 years old.

The term "foot stomping cheers" refers to the characteristic group/consecutive structure of children's (and less often) teens' recreational (informally performed) cheers. "Foot stomping cheers" also refers to the characteristic manner of performing those cheers, choreographed, synchronized, percussive foot stomps that alternate with individual hand claps, and body pats.

The words of foot stomping cheers may be mostly confrontational and self-bragging, or they may mostly focus on introducing individual nmembers of the group. Other foot stomping cheers simply provide opportunities for the individual members one at a time to show their dance moves.

GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF FOOT STOMPS (STOMPS)
The term "stomp cheers" ("stomps") appears to have been coined in the early 2000s as a referent for certain types of cheers and chants that are performed by children and teenagers (usually females), ages 5-18 years old, who are members of athletic teams' cheer squads. Most stomp cheer videos on YouTube feature White American female teenagers.

I believe that stomp cheers are an adaptation of - if not appropriation of- African American originated foot stomping cheers that are often combined with the African American orginated cheer/chant performance styles of stepping, and, less often, stomp and shake cheerleading. But then again, instead of an appropriation, stomp cheers could be considered a folk processed form of that performance art or performance art forms.

STOMP CHEER THEMES
Stomp cheers may focus on introduction. However, unlike foot stomping cheer, the introduction often is of the cheer squad itself and not its individual members.

The words to stomp cheers may also provide an opportunity for the squad to dance as a group or as individuals. Some stomp cheers are confrontational, but usually not as much as foot some foot stomping cheers. And the bragging that occurs in stomp cheers is often bragging about the athletic team, or the school, and not the individual members.

Stomp cheers also focus on the actual game (for instance calling for more offense or defense.) And those cheers also directly address the crowd (for instance, asking the crowd to repeat a line in a chant.) Since foot stomping cheers usually have no audience, they don't include any references to an audience.

Some stomp cheers may repeat themselves with a new soloist after one rendition of that cheer. However, unlike foot stomping cheers, every member of the cheerleading squad may not get a turn as the soloist for that cheer, or they may not get an equal turn (a turn for the same amount of time.)

In my opinion, the "attitude" and "tone" are the main differences between the chanting that's done in stomp cheers and the chanting that's done in foot stomping cheers, historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority stepping, and stomp and shake cheerleading. In most of the stomp cheer videos I've seen, when they are chanting confrontational/bragging cheers, the White stomp cheerleaders in those videos don't have the super-confident, don't mess with me, aggressive, come to battle demeanor (play acting or otherwise) that is integal to those cheers. Also, the foot stomping movements often seem to mechanical to me. By "mechanical" I mean that not only are the stomps and other movements in the stomp routine not crisp (tight, sharp, on point), but it often seems as though the cheerleaders are performing the movements machine like, from memory but without any spirit or energy.

STOMP CHEER PERFORMANCE MOVES
Many but not all stomp cheers include the word "stomp" and a brief stomp clap routine. However, the beat pattern of stomp cheers may differ from that of foot stomping cheers. And in some stomp cheers the same beat pattern isn't done in a metronone manner throughout the entire cheer as is the case with foot stomping cheers.

Also, it appears that the stomp cheer performances incorporate, or attempt to successfully incorporate, elements from historically Black (African American) fraternity/sorority stepping, and/or stomp and shake cheerleading.

Apart from whether stepping performances in mainstream cheerleading are done well, I think that stomp cheer squads aren't aware that it is socially incorrect (bad form) to perform, even in a modified manner, the distinctive signature step moves and/or chants/cheers that are associated with a particular historically Black Greek fraternity/sorority or a stomp and cheer cheerleading team. Those moves/chants are only performed by members of those particular organizations, or- with regard to university stomp and shake cheer squads, those cheers and their signature movements may be performed by a high school squad who were taught them by members of that particular university's cheer squad who composed and choreographed those cheers. Of course, given YouTube, it has become increasingly much easier to learn other organizations' and cheer squads' steps and cheers. But performing them instead of creating your own means that the group is considered to be lacking in creativity, and been seen as culturally appropriating cultural products, even though its not illegal to do so.

I'm not sure if cheer squads purposely incorporate the moves, and tunes (if not the actual chants) of fraternity/sorority step teams, or stomp and cheer squads because they weren't aware that there are differences between the way that foot stomping cheers, stepping, and stomp and shake cheerleading is done.

I've also noticed in almost all videos of the foot stomping cheer "Shabooya Roll Call" cheer includes swaying back and forth instead of doing foot stomps (steps). The 2006 Bring It On: All Or Nothing movie which featured that cheer as well as the "Introduce Yourself" cheer that included some "Shabooya Roll Call" lines showed two different ways of performing those cheers. In the cafeteria scene in that movie, two African American girls and one Latina girl do a foot stomp routine that changes to some motions that may have been patterned after exaggerated forms of stomp and shake cheer movements. I think that was probably because stomping was considered to be too difficult for those actresses to credibly perform. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWG4AX09mqQ for a video of the "Introduce Yourself" scene from that Bring It On: All Or Nothing movie.

****
TEXT (WORD) EXAMPLES OF STOMP CHEERS

Example #1:
Cheerleaders: Hey Cherokees!
Crowd: Hey What!
Cheerleaders: Let me see you get down! Let me see you shake it!
Crowd: No way!
Cheerleaders: Jump shake your booty! Jump! Jump! Shake your booty!
Cheerleaders: Hey Cherokees!
Crowd: Hey What!
Cheerleaders: Let me see you get down! Let me see you shake it!
Crowd: Okay!
Cheerleaders: Jump shake your booty! Jump! Jump! Shake your booty!
Cherokees! We wanna see you stomp (stomp) and shake it! (repeat)
-SEXYTAYLOR17, http://cheerleading.about.com/od/collectionofcheers/l/blcheer3.htm
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-movement.html for an example of "Get Down".

****
Example #2:
Irish fans in the stands,
let me hear you clap your hands.
(clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap)
Now that you've got the beat, let me hear you stomp your feet
(stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp)
Now that you've got the groove, let me see your body move
Ahuga ahah Ahuga (clap clap)
-SEXYTAYLOR17, http://cheerleading.about.com/od/collectionofcheers/l/blcheer3.htm

-snip-
"Irish" is probably part of the team name or part of the name of the high school.

****
Example #3:
You may be good at Football
You may be good at Track
But when it comes to Wrestling
You better watch your Back
Cadets Attack!
(Stomp, Clap, Stomp Stomp, Clap, Stomp Stomp, Clap Clap, Stomp Stomp, Clap)
Repeat Once
Repeat Cheer and Stomp and Clap
-no name given, http://cheerleading.about.com/od/cheerschantsyells/a/cheers100.htm

****
Example #4:
The one i learned when i was in 5th grade was (out mascot was an eagle so we replaced girls with eagles):

Bang bang choo choo train
Come on Eagles do your thing
Peanut better reese cup
Mess with us, see whats up
To the front to the back to the front back side side
Let me see your butterfly
And shake and shake your funky little hips
Now i want you and you too cheer with me too
-Amanda,cocojams.com, June 21, 2012

****
VIDEO EXAMPLES OF STOMP CHEERS
These examples are presented in no particular order.

Example #1: Stomp Cheer



kmt122181, Uploaded on Jul 14, 2008

Stomp Cheer
-anip-
The narrator says "You have to remember that the most difficult thing about this cheer is keeping the beat". The neat pattern these girls are using for this routine as superimposed on the screen is
"stomp x stomp stomp x stomp stomp xx stomp stomp x" ["x" = clap]
-snip-
There are two standard beat patterns for foot stomping cheers. Those patterns remind consistent throughout almost all cheers. They are either "stomp x stomp stomp x" or "stomp stomp x stomp stomp x">
-snip-
I think that if these girls had raised their feet higher off the ground, they would have gotten a deeper bass tone. That bass is what steppers doing foot stomping cheers want to achieve.

****
Example #2: Reno Cheerleading Stomp



Anne Goodman. Published on Mar 25, 2013
2011 RHS
-snip-
The switching movements that this cheer squad does before they begin their routine reminds me of the switching, preening movements that are a signature feature of the historically Black Greek letter sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpvlfWVYX6s

That type of female preening isn't at all a part of stomp and shake cheerleading. That switching movements also doesn't occur as a prelude to foot stomping cheers - although girls often shake their hips during
their solo portion of those cheers. Also,
for a video of those same movements by those sorors.

****
Example #3: Sikeston Cheer 2014 Stomp



T&Cs Dad, Published on Apr 11, 2014
-snip-
Click for another stomp vide of this cheer squad. Both videos really remind me of the signature, distinctive step style of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The chant in the video that is embedded in this post also is a lot like (same tune as) a Que (Omega Psi Phi) chant that is well known to those who are familiar with historically Black Greek letter fraternities.

****
Example #4: Cheer Squad Stomp During Pep Rally



Shelly Tan,Uploaded on Aug 10, 2010

The 09-10 JV and Freshman Cheerleaders doing a stomp for the Bird Bowl Pep Rally! :)

i had a blast with these girls, some of my bestest friends EVER.
-snip-
I think that this cheer squad didn't convey the attitude and spirit that I believe is an integral part of foot stomping cheer performances, or that I think should be an integral part of stomp cheer performances. Also, a cheer squads performance would make the audieence be attentive. The cheerleaders don't have to tell the crowd to be quiet. Actually, in the case of stomp and shake cheerleaders, or historically Black fraternity or sorority step teams, the cheer squad wants to raise the enthusiasm of the crowd (pump them up). They don't want the crowd to be quiet.

****
RELATED LINK
http://cocojams2.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-african-american-sources-of-bring.html The African American Sources Of Bring It On (2000 & 2006) Movies Cheers

****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to those who published these videos on YouTube.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric and recreational purposes.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Devil Dogs & Q Dogs - Are There Connections Between These Two Referents?

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on the influence of the United States military on historically Black Greek lettered fraternity & sorority steppin.

This post provides information about the military referent "devil dogs" and the informal referent "Q Dogs" for persons associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In so doing I wonder if there is any connection between the two referents.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/military-influences-on-fraternity.html for Part I of this series.

Part I provides excerpts about this subject and several videos that illustrate points made in those excerpts.

This content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and historical purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

EDITOR'S COMMENT
I recognize that some information about secret, members only organizations is secret on purpose. Why persons associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. call themselves Q Dogs may be one of the secrets that only members of that organization know- or only fully know. Yet, there's published information online and off-line that purports to explain why "Q Dog" is used, while emphasizing that this is not an official term for members of that fraternity. Some of those excerpts are cited or linked to in this post.

Furthermore, as a community folklorist, I'm interested in documenting, studying [sussing out], and sharing cultural information & examples. And I am concerned that too much secrecy may mean that what is known and experienced now may be lost to future generations, just as I'm sure we've lost or forgotten much of our cultural past. As as an admittedly long inactive member of a historically Black Greek letter organization-Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Gamma Zeta chapter, 1966)- I respect the priviledge BGLO members have to their seecrets. However, although I debated for some time whether to publish a post on this subject, I've decided to go ahead and do so, knowing that this is, after all, just speculation, and not necessarily facts.

****
INFORMATION EXCERPTS
(These excerpts are presented in no particular order and are numbered for reference purposes.)

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_Dog
"Devil Dog is a motivational nickname for a U.S. Marine. It is said to be based on the apocryphal use of "Teufel Hunden" [sic] by German soldiers to describe Marines fighting in World War I...

…The April 27th article from the LaCrosse Tribune was probably referring to the action on April 20, 1918, the first action between the Marines and the Germans. The Germans made several attacks against the Marines on that date and were unable to dislodge them. The article states that it was the first scrap between the Marines and the Germans, showing that it was prior to the major fighting in June.

The term "Devil Dog" has its origins at Belleau Wood. It was in a dispatch from the German front lines to their higher headquarters explaining the current battle conditions that described the fighting abilities of the new, fresh Americans as fighting like "Teufel Hunden" or "Hounds from Hell.

The term "Devil Dog" is a very common nickname for all Marines. "Devil Dog" is historically a well-accepted term of endearment, as a title of honor. The "dog" in the phrase is usually associated with the bulldog, in line with the original 1918 poster, such as the bulldog being a common mascot in the Corps."...
-snip-
Culturally, bulldogs are considered to be tenacious & ferocious when challenged or when called upon to protect someone or something. I think that this is the core attributes of the miltary nickname "devil dog" and I think that this may be one of the reasons why persons associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. are called "Dogs". Note that the bulldog is also the breed of dog that is associated with that fraternity. Read Part I of this series about the influence of the United States military on historically Black Greek lettered organizations. I would be surprised if persons associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity weren't aware of the history of and the positive associations of the military devil dogs. However, there is a historical reason for the use of "dogs" in association with Ques besides the possible connection with the Marine "devil dog" nickname.

****
Excerpt #2
From Soulstepping: African American Step Shows by Elizabeth C. Fine (University of Illinois Press (2007, p 167)
“Pledging rituals photographed during the 1940s and 1950 reveal the linear formations of pledges marching in line*. The first pictures of Greek activities appeared in the 1940s. The 1943 [Howard Year Book] Bison included several unlabeled photographs of fraternity and sorority pledges on-line and a fraternity engaged in a public skit. Twelve young men in suits and ties, with dog collars and long chains around their necks, pose behind the university’s sundial (“the Dial”), traditional gathering spot for Omega Psi Phi (the “Q dogs”). The Omegas unofficially adopted the dog as their mascot (the mascot of Howard University before 1920 was a bulldog), and many members howled and used canine symbols.
-snip-
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was founded November 17, 1911 on the campus of Howard University. http://www.omegapsiphifraternity.org/
-snip-
I wonder if the bulldog was selected as Howard University's mascot before 1918 (before the Marine's devil dog nickname was coined or was it selected after that nickname & its bulldog poster were publicized? It may be just a coincidence that Howard University's mascot before 1920 was a bulldog and that same breed of dog is the symbol of the Marine's devil dog referent. But maybe this isn't a coincidence at all...

****
Excerpt #3
From http://www.opp2d.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=267853&module_id=24958
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity: The Mighty Second District
“Myths abound about the meanings of certain words, phrases and activities often practiced by Omega men. One myth is the origin of the title “Quedog”. To date, no documented proof of the initiation of this term to describe members of the fraternity has been found. The term used by many as a term of endearment is not an official term in the Omega vocabulary. Also of note is the reference to the symbol of the Bulldog. The origins of this symbol are as mysterious as the myths of the ancient Egyptian Pyramids. No matter what you hear, the bulldog is not the official mascot of the fraternity.”

****
Excerpt #4
From http://pages.uoregon.edu/nphc/bglos.html University of Oregon: Black Greek Letter Organizations
4. What's the distinction between an "Omega Man" & a "Que Dog"?

An "Omega Man" is the name sake term bestowed upon members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. once their members join the organization. A "Que-Dog" is a mythical term used to identify pledges while on line during the final stage of the pledge process. It's important to understand that "Que Dogs", canine calls, and camouflage paraphenelia doesn't directly reflect the enitre outlook of the organization as set in the guideline by the Grand Chapter. *Please note* Never address or call a member of Omega a "Que-Dog" for it is rather disrespectful. In essence "MEMBERSHIP HAS IT'S PRIVLEDGES!"

4b. "Why the DOG image"?

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. does not have, nor has it ever endorsed, a mascot of any type to be representative of the organization. So why do so many Omega Men like the "dog" image? "WE ARE NOT DOGS even though those who misunderstand us would view us otherwise because we possess a dawg-matic determination to make changes and the tenacity to see them through, the loyalty of man's best friend and the guardianship to protect the ones we truely love."

This analogy was written by the chapter members of Fayetteville State.
-snip-
In addition to the attributes mentioned above, there's no question that another cultural meaning attributed to "men as dogs" is closely tied with masculinity and heterosexual attraction and sexual activity. There's also no doubt that -at least publicly- those sexual connotations are a prominent part of the Q nickname as evident in the widely heard term "Nasty Dawgs" that Ques use for themselves. Witness the Ques's reaction to George Clinton's 1982 massive hit Funk record "Atomic Dog". That record is widely considered the Ques' unofficial anthem. Perhaps that record is the reason why the "nasty dog" connotation of "Q dogs" appears to be the symbolism for dog that is most publicly emphasized by Ques and by other BGLO members regarding Ques. Or perhaps that record was just a fortuitous, perfect fit that reflected the public ascendancy of that sexual connotation over all the other symbolism associated with the word "dog".

Perhaps those of us who aren't members of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. will never know what "dogs" really mean with regard to that organization, but I bet it means more than nasty dogs.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: Atomic Dog at the Centennial Conclave

.

Darryl Blackwell, Uploaded on Aug 21, 2011
The Bruhs hoppin' to Atomic Dog in DC at the Centennial Clave.

****
Omega Psi Phi (Fall 2012 SCSU Bulldog Showcase)



Terrell Harmon, Published on Aug 21, 2012
Xi Psi Chapter

****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, to those who are featured in these videos and to the publishers of these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

-snip-
Also, a video entitled "Omega Psi Phi Que Doggs" is included in Part I of this series. The link for that pancocojams post is given above.

****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, to those who are featured in these videos and to the publishers of these videos, and to all members past and present of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Military Influences On Fraternity & Sorority Steppin

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part series on the influence of the United States military on historically Black Greek lettered fraternity & sorority steppin. Video clips are added throughout this post to illustrate the points that are made in the excerpts.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/devil-dogs-q-dogs-are-there-connections.html for Part II of this series. In that post I speculate about the possible relationship between the military referent "devil dogs" and the "Que dog" referent for persons associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

DISCLAIMER
By no means is this meant to be a comprehensive presentation of information on the subject of the influence of the United States military on fraternity & sorority steppin. For instance, this post only features videos of two historically Black Greek lettered organizations: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Furthermore, the huge influence of military cadences on fraternity step chants and vice versa isn't discussed in these posts.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
INFORMATION EXCERPTS
(These excerpts are presented in no particular order and are numbered for reference purposes.)

Excerpt #1
From African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision edited by Tamara Brown
Google Books, p 327-329
"The military has played a large part in the formation and continuation of BGLO chants and steps. One might even say that the performance behaviors of both the military and BGLOs exist in a type of symbiotic relationship.... As a result of blacks entering the military before, during, and after attending college, one find BGLO behavior in the military, and military behavior in BGLO system.

The brothers of Omega Psi Phi with their paramilitary garb, trace stepping back to the military influence of the 1900s. Ex-soldiers attending college would incorporate marches and drills into their BGLO performance…Shannon Rawls of Kappa Alpha Psi elaborated: “Members of black organizations, brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi...who went to the military for World War II in the late ’30s and early ‘40s would come back home and incorporate some of the same cadence and military style back into....the stepping style, or into the dancing style that they did.”

Stepping during that early period was called lining, descriptive of the formation in which soldiers march. Some Omegas and other BGKO members still refer to stepping as marching on account of this early military influence.

This military behavior is further observed in the clothing, stance, and marching of BGLO members. Part of the basic working military wardrobe consists of camouflage pants, or fatigues, and combat boots. These garments, though found in all fraternities, are especially prevalent in brothers of Omega Psi Phi..."
-snip-
"BGLO" = Black Greek letter[ed] Organizations

****
Video #1: Omega Psi Phi 2004 Blacka the berry step show at Wayne State



Detroitbanger22, Uploaded on Dec 1, 2007

Bruhz from Nu Sigma, Sigma, Phi Zeta, and Upsilon Iota Iota in the Zeta Phi beta step show. This is may be the greatest six man show ever. They receive all 5 out of 5. But one frat gave them ones. Guess which frat was it?
·
****
Video #2: NCCU Homecoming 2012 Step Show- Phi Beta Sigma



NCCULife, Published on Nov 9, 2012

This video is uncut, raw footage filmed by NCCU students. Congratulations to the men of Phi Beta Sigma on their 1st place win for the second year in a row!

****
Excerpt #2
From Soulstepping: African American Step Shows by Elizabeth C. Fine (University of Illinois Press (2007, pp 56-57)
"Perhaps the most striking nonverbal facial expression that reveals the lowly, liminal status of pledges is what students throughout the country refer to as “the grit”.

Appearing to grit their teeth, pledges performing in their first steep show, called a “probate” or “neophyte” show, frequently affect a stoic demeanor as they stand in line with fellow pledges, their lower lips often thrust out…When questioned, examined, and sometimes taunted or criticized by members of the society they want to join, they strive to keep their cool and show respect by staring straight ahead without moving or showing any emotion. The stance closely resembles that required by the military when new recruits stand stiffly at attention under review by their superiors. It is possible that returning Black G.I.’ brought the grit to campuses when they joined fraternities after World War I and the Korean War. The compulsory ROTC participation requited by Howard and other land grant universities may also have contributed a military influence to stepping....

In addition to ROTC and the influence of returned service men and women, military influences were perhaps from a tradition of the mock military reviews that were held among slaves. During “Training Day” performances, slaves “lampooned white military practices”. “Burlesque" military-style parades flourished in the 1830s from New England to Georgia and later became a standard feature of minstrel shows and other forms of entertainment. Many African American benevolent and secret mutual aid societies enjoyed elaborate public parades and encouraged youth to participate in drill teams….Vecause of their emphasis on piety and respectability, the black schools established by northern missionaries after the Civil War refused to allow students to dance. Some, however, “permit[ed] them to ‘march’ on social occasions, E. Franklin Frazier notes.”

****
Video #3: Omega Psi Phi Que Doggs

.

mrchangeurlife, Uploaded on Jul 18, 2008

Gamma Sig Ques Settin' It Out 75th Conclave 2008
-snip-
Note the Step master standing on the side of the step team, similarly to how the Drill Sergeant stands to the side of his unit.

****
Excerpt #3
From http://students.washington.edu/pbskl/step.htm
The history of Stepping according to the Temple of Blue [Phi Beta Sigma] SOURCES:
Brother Terrence A.B. Lewis
Brother Ahab El'Askeni
..."Other elements of stepping formed after the return of brothers from World War II. Various elements of military marching and line formations were implemented into fraternities with the end of the war and the advent of peace time. This, along with the founders influence, are some of the origins for the use of the cane by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in many regions. To this day the military influence as well as Masonic influences can still be seen in the step process as well as the pledge process of most Black Greek Lettered Organizations. It is through these and many other factors that stepping began to become an intimate part of Black Greek Lettered Organizations...

For Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, in many regions, canes were used due, in part, to the influence of the founders, but for the most part by the military drill sergants who were members. In the late 40's and early 50's, for the purpose of identification, many black drill sergants carried canes. These canes allowed other black soldiers to identify with their rank, which was neccessary on many bases where racism was prevalent. Of course there were some drill sergants that were members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. as well as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and it is possible that these were some of the influences for using canes as a part of the step process."

****
Video #4
Phi Beta Sigma WINS 2013 Atlanta Greek Picnic $10,000 step show @Atlgreekpicnic



Atlanta Greek Picnic·Published on Jun 10, 2013

Phi Beta Sigma WINS 2013 Atlanta Greek Picnic $10,000 step show

****
RELATED LINKS
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/cane-kane-performances-in-black.html This is Part I of a three part series about cane (kane) twirling by historically Black fraternities & sororities. Part I provides some historical information about that subject.

**
http://www.cocojams.com/content/fraternity-sorority-step-stroll-related-videos This page of my cultural blog features videos of fraternity & sorority and other groups steppin and strolls (party walks)

**
http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/05/prince-hall-shriners-riding-doing-camel.html This post shows the similarities between steppin and the camel walk performed by Prince Hall Shriners

**
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-chain-gang-cadence-soul-patrol.html This post shows a movie version of Black military cadence marching.

****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, to those who are featured in these videos and to the publishers of these videos. Thanks also to all members past and present of historically Black Greek lettered organizations.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More