Stepping, a form of dance that uses your entire body to create rhythm and sounds through hand claps, footsteps, and spoken words, originated in the Black culture. It is a staple among Black Greek organizations, and for years, it has been exclusive.
Not any more.
On February 20, 2010, the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority captured this year's Sprite Step Off championship. Take a look at the video of their performance:
From what I can discern, this is the first time a non-Black sorority has won the championship. I fully believe in the tradition of stepping and understand the value that it holds in the Black Greek organizations. I admit to feeling a little uneasy about a non-Black team winning the competition, but simply cannot deny their performance. The argument is that anyone can learn how to step...but does it mean that much to them? Does it hold a significance that is steeped in emotion and history?
On the other hand, in order for us to become this "post-racial" society I keep hearing is upon us, we have to acknowledge that there are elements of Black culture that are going to be stolen and used for different purposes. I think the evolution of music in general should tell us that. How then, do we connect the dots between the two? How can we, as Blacks, hold onto our traditions without them being used as a foundation for something that focuses away from the history?
I don't have the answers, just lots of questions. I do admit though, the Zetas brought their A game. If stepping is to maintain its cultural relevance, then Black Greek organizations need to step their game up. They can no longer arrogantly believe that they are in an exclusive club.
The door to everyone else has been opened...
9 comments:
Does every black person identify so instinctively with black culture anyway?
It's hard enough to be an individual in the world without having to belong to this or that due to cultural assumption bordering conceit. And that goes for a lot of cultures.
My roots are Irish and Italian, and I can honestly say that I'm not feeling a jig in my bones and I'm not drawn to olive oil. But Sinatra is okay. :P
I think it's a great thing that the world's integration is giving us this multiculturalism.
Just because any particular race of people "started" something, I'm not too sure that wanting it separate or wanting it race/culture-specific is any different at its core than wanting the races to stay separated to begin with. And we're all fully aware of the type of world that created.
I really think "stolen" is a depressing and even spiteful way to look at it.
Trace the history of human evolution. We all "take" from one another. I mean, black originated and black Greek is a contradiction in itself, no?
What do Athenians and Balkans and the like have to do with America in the first place? "Greek" was stolen lol
Part of the beauty of humanity is our collective ability to create. Somebody made the TV, we all watch it.
Should my ancestors have kept pizza to themselves!?
:O Hell to the no! Then I couldn't order up a Papa Johns with double sausage and hot peppers. I'd be ordering imported margheritas with paper crust and basil leaves. WTF
Hey Marvalus, I met my spouse at a HBCU in Memphis. While I never pledged anything, I used to love step shows. I can still catch a chill or two when I see a bunch of buff Q's, out there doing their thing, lol.
When this video first started circulating, I ignored it. Even though I like step shows, I'm biased toward the fellas. I've never really enjoyed watching the ladies step. But last night, when someone posted the Zeta's video and those of their competitors, I decided to watch.
Not only did the non-Black team win, hands-down, the Black sororites in the competition were pretty sorry in comparison. No disrespect intended, I'm just calling it like I saw.
To me, in this particular case, it's not a matter of somebody stealing anything . . . the non-Black simply showed their appreciation of the art form by coming with their "A" game and doing it justice.
For the record, I also think Tina Marie (as old & out of shape as she currently is) can out "sang" most of today's young African American female artists, many of whom sound like they need to be put out of their misery, imho, LOL.
Now, what may very well hack me off is if the non-Black ends up getting a bunch of lucrative movie and/or performance deals from doing something that Black college kids have been doing forever. Of course, then, somehow, they'll become the "Queens of Stepping" and will be given credited for having orginated this "new" art form . . . at least, that's typically (and historically) the way that particular game has been played.
The problem comes in when
Hey Josh -
Looking again, the use of the word "stolen" is a bit harsh, I agree; let's say adopted, shall we?
With that said, I agree with you about not all Black people identifying with every single Black culture issue. The Greeks are exclusive and arrogant; so when the Zetas came in and showed them up, the first thing they want to cry is "That's not fair!"
My point, I guess, is that because the Greeks hold stepping so close to their organizations, and dedicate themselves to the culture of the whole thing...this must hurt like hell. I don't muse that much on their ire, however. They need to stop arrogantly expecting to win when stepping has stopped being Black and is beginning to be "mainstream".
Lori,
I think you make the point accurately. It hurts when something you've put your heart into is made popular because of someone else doing it. I believe the Zetas deserved to win, hands down, but the attention that this win has brought to stepping is like a punch in the gut to all those who have practiced and performed it for many years. Movies like Stomp the Yard and School Daze have shown stepping in its element; what I hope doesn't happen is the re-emergence of stepping in mainstream light as 'something new.'
That would be a discredit to everyone involved.
Stepping did originate in our culture, but it's unfair to say that it's only for a certain culture. Having this point of view is counter-productive and advocates discrimination.
Plus, black people are trend setters. Look at most of the types of American music. We are forward movers and innovators. And greatness is contagious. Why wouldn't non-whites NOT want to step? I can't get mad at Whites for wanting to be good at something that is a norm for my culture...it's usually Blacks that exploit black culture anyway. ;)
I.Am.:
I don't think I said it was only for one culture.
And there is no anger here; only a bit of questioning what the Greeks who maintain this element would think. I've actually talked to a couple of my friends who are Greek, and they honestly said that the Zeta performance was better.
One thing that I walked away from this with is that no one culture can lay claim to anything anymore. If we are to be a functioning multi-racial society, we cannot "own" anything anymore, or be upset when someone comes in and does something better than we used to.
I'm not going to engage with your comment about Black folks exploiting Black folks...but I will say I disagree.
I should have been clearer:
Some people say that it's for one culture. I was commenting more so on the topic than on what you personally said. I've talked to many people about the step competition, and the consensus is that some things should be for one culture.
There is a remnant of people in every culture that exploits its own culture. Blacks, though one of the most exploited culture from the outside, are of no exception.
Those girls were jamming! I have no issue with non-blacks taking an interest in stepping. However, I will be upset if stepping goes to a wider (read: whiter) audience and proper credit isn't given to its originators. Even if someone tried to pass stepping off as something new, they'd likely be outed... similar to what happened during the early days of rock and roll. If the truth never came out back in the day, today we might be hearing Pat Boone's covers of "Tutti Frutti", "Ain't That A Shame", "Long Tall Sally", etc. instead of the original (and superior) versions.
For those who haven't heard:
http://dimewars.com/Blog/Sprite-Reneges-On-White-Sorority-Winning-Step-Show-Competition.aspx?BlogID=7958f315-1d07-4382-8e28-34f75eebbee8
This latest development in the Step Off Competition looks to be steeped in all sorts of shadiness.
I agree these girls brought their A Game. I have no problem with them winning.
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