Steppin' Trancription
Transcription for the film STEPPIN’
by Beverly Patterson
[The film opens with credits scrolling over sounds and images of African drumming, tapping feet, and hand clapping and patting, during step show performances.]
Presenting a Jerald B. Harkness Production
STEPPIN’
Narrated by Michael Warren
Director of Photography Otis Jones
Edited by J.M. Johnson
Written by M.J. Bowling & Jerald B. Harkness
Produced & Directed by Jerald B. Harkness
(Narrator)- Precision, grace, athleticism. The College Step Show can be described a number of ways with cultural roots that stem from traditional African dancing, military marching and contemporary hip hop music. Step shows have evolved into an African American art form. Most often performed in talent competitions, stepping has become a dynamic form of entertainment on the college campus. Although step shows are popular with Black students, they're often neglected on predominantly white campuses across the country. The campus community at large either misses out or misunderstands the cultural content of the step performance.
(Dr. James E. Mumford) - It is tribal. We carry around the most important drum that there is and that's the heartbeat. I mean, because that's—rhythm starts right there. I mean inside. And when that thing starts going wrong, you're in trouble. So I mean I think it's rather smart that Black folks turn inward. I mean, African people, I think, understood that the heartbeat was the beat of life, and that rhythm was the beat of life. And so that everything that we do in our games, in our talk, everything we do is really drums. And I think when we first came to this country, white people knew that and forbid drums, forbid the slaves to use drums because they knew they could-- two things: they could actually talk, communicate through with them, and they could understand what they were saying. Not only that, it gave them courage. It gave them all kinds of attributes that they derived from that. They did not know that it was the rhythm and the making of rhythm was what did it. They thought it was just a drum. So they didn't mind. I mean, they didn't mind that. They thought, they know they ain't drums. But then we were still, you know, that was drums to us. What happens when you hit your chest? You get one kind of a sound. That's one kind of a drum. What happens when you hit your thigh? That's another kind of drum. When you hit the side of your leg, That's another sound. Another sound when you stomp flat-footed, that's one sound. When you stomp with your heel, that's another sound. When you stomp toe, heel, that's another sound. I mean it's a whole repertoire of drums right in the human body. And these, I mean, I don't even think the guys who are doing it know that's what they're doing. You know what I mean? I don't even think they really know that's what they're doing. But it's kind of like--they just know.
(Performance by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Indiana University)
(Performance by the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Indiana University)
(John Girton)- There are four historically, predominantly Black fraternities. First organized was Alpha Phi Alpha, okay? The colors are black and gold. The second organized was Omega Psi Phi, and their colors were purple and gold, okay? The third organized was Kappa Alpha Psi and their colors are red and white. And the fourth organized was Phi Beta Sigma and their colors are blue and white. Now there are others. But there are only four recognized in the super eight of Black fraternities and sororities, and those are the four.
(Anthony Favors)- In my definition I think a step show is an expression, just an expression for a fraternity members love for their fraternity.
(Steve Johnson)- A step show is a group of guys or females, fraternity or sorority members, that put together a pre-setup set of steps or movements, dance that tells a story.
(O.Z. Davis)- Wow, the stepping experience. It was excellent because it was so much practice. You would work so hard. I played college football, and the experiences were similar. It was like winning the game. It was like no matter when I messed up, nobody could tell. I also act, and it's like putting on the final performance.
(Don Smith)- The traditional Alpha step shows I've seen-- they are a lot of hand clapping, a lot of rhythmic tapping with the feet, combining them together to make different melodies and rhythms that are unheard of. Some melodies and rhythms are heard of like through maybe some popular songs, but many of the beats, they are real complicated. The clapping and the stepping and the stomping, they combine to give that base a snare drum type of effect.
(Performance by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Indiana University)
(Steve Johnson)- As we start down that aisle or starting from the side of the stage, it means everybody would stand up and they would go nuts. And all of a sudden, your adrenaline would kick in and whatever you were doing, you multiply it 10 times.
(John Girton)- It's kinda’ like being Luther Vandross up there or Keith Sweat or somebody like that or a rap artist or something very well known. Because when you're up there, people that you know are yelling your name and so-and-so's getting called out and they kinda’ go saying, “Let's go!” You know, things like that. So--you feel like--you feel like--a star.
(Unidentified Step Group Leader)- Let's start from the first move.
(Kappa Alpha Psi Spokesperson, Ball State University)- Step shows are a platform for each organization to uplift or defend their credibility to the rest of the campus. With their reputation on the line, a lot of time is spent in rehearsal to ensure the best possible performance.
(David Keel)- We practice Sunday through Thursday, about four weeks before. The first week we think of the step show. I sit there and with the older brothers who know how to step, we come up with a step show. Then for four weeks we show 'em the step, three weeks we show them the step show and the last week we have to know it. And then we just polish it up and then we do the show. When we was coming on the stage, what I was thinking, I was like just hoping nobody drops the cane. Just get through the routine. If you don't drop the cane you're fine, 'cause in the step show--in our step show-- as long as the canes are off the ground, it's still a good step show. The people still like to see the canes, but as soon as they start hitting the ground, that's when they start laughing. Everybody's waiting to see me drop a cane in a step show. And I refuse to.
(Performance by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Ball State University)
(Narrator)- Recently the stepping style has become incorporated into pop music mainstream. One of the most obvious examples of this is by rap artist Vanilla Ice with the single “Ice Ice Baby.” Unless you are familiar with step show traditions, you wouldn't realize the performing in tuxedos and the chant “Ice Ice Baby” are taken directly from the stepping style of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. This isn't the first time whites have borrowed from Black culture and reaped the benefits. Some fear this borrowing process may lead to further exploitation of step shows.
(O.Z.Davis)- I don't buy the thing that white students are gonna take step shows back and take it to their fraternity. First of all, to get 200 members to get together and do a step show, it would be impossible. And then to get 200 whites to do the electric slide is already an interesting thing to do. Now, if we can get 200 whites to step, I think that would be quite amazing. I don't buy it at all. I think they only enjoy coming to a step show, seeing what it provides our fraternity and how much we put into our fraternity and then they will leave it alone.
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- What they're doing is that there's a retention of the functionality of rhythm, that that rhythm that’s used as running through all of what they're doing, something like the life beat. So somebody's doing (stomps feet rhythmically). Then you start hearing (claps hands rhythmically). All that, but you still hear doom, doom, doom, doom. And it's all as if they sat down to class and somebody taught it to them. But they don't know, they couldn't identify what is going on, but it's all the polyrhythms of Africa.
(Narrator)- So much of what Black Americans do today is inherited from African culture. Because Black Americans aren't accustomed to learning history from their own perspective, the significance of African heritage is taken for granted. The tradition of dance is one of the most important elements retained from African culture.
(Dr. Mellonee Burnim)- Now we understand very clearly that--just because of people that were transplanted from one continent to another-- that culture is not something that is tangible. It's not something that is left behind. But rather culture is intangible. And the principles that were translated to the New World were the cultural values. And therefore, dance--. Again, when we look at dance as integral to music, it wasn't simply a matter of escapism. It wasn't simply a matter of entertainment either. But rather it was an expression of what it meant to be a Black person, what it meant to be a person of African descent.
(Narrator)- By the turn of the century, African Americans faced a new situation, the alleged status of free men and women. Various groups and organizations were formed to assist Black Americans adapt to their new role. Among these organizations were Black fraternities and sororities. These Black Greek societies were founded upon the principles of scholarship, service and uplifting the Black race.
(Beryl C. Borel)- When they first started, you have to think back that there was a lot more racism than there is now. They really didn't have a way to organize or to network in the white communities. So they started their each individual groups.
(Mann Harris)- Yeah, most of these fraternities and sororities were found in the reconstruction area where Black people just didn't have much after coming off the slave farms. And we wanted to give them a sense of pride. And that's what it was all about.
(Narrator)- One of the first tasks that faced Black fraternities was establishing their role in World War I. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity founded the Student Army Training Corps, also known as SATC, which is the predecessor of today's ROTC.
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- The people who found these fraternities were going away-- particularly the undergraduates--were going away to Army boot camps as in officer of training programs. And I mean they were happy about that. They were the first Black men to be, you know, able to have this experience. So, it makes perfectly good sense that they would come back wanting to show the rest of the people on the campus look where we've been. Look what we have done.
(Narrator)- Fraternity men incorporated their military experiences in the pledging process. People pledging a particular fraternity had to march about the campus singing chants of praise for their organization. These chants found their way into the Greek shows.
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- In many fraternities, there's a heavy militaristic thing that they don't even know why. Like any number of them wear combat boots. As part of their pledges, as part of their training, they wear combat boots. Some of them wear army fatigues while they're in pledge club. What has that got to do with anything? But see that's--all of that--is the influence of the early brothers. It begins with one behind the other as opposed to basically three or four people abreast or something like that. It started out being called a "line." And the term "lining" as opposed to "step show." I think step show is a word that's come in in the last several decades. Stepping, because, in particular, I think it came out of Black fraternities and sororities at predominantly white schools because in quote "old school" it was just called line. "Let's go see the Q's line," "Let's go see the Kappa's line," you know, whatever the fraternity was.
(Narrator)- As stepping evolved, each organization developed their own unique style. Props were added such as canes, blindfolds, and flashy costumes to enrich the artistry of the performance as well as to establish their identity on campus.
(Anthony Favors)- We started doing that blindfold step. And, actually, you cannot see. And what it is, you-- however many number of brothers you use--you blindfold yourself and you go about doing an ordinary step. But what makes it that much more entertaining is that you can't see. Now of course people are not gonna believe that you can't see, but actually, you cannot see through this blindfold.
(Performance by the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Indiana Universitiy)
(Announcer) - We need the Kappas to come down to the floor.
(Steve Johnson)- The Kappas are unique for the reason that they use the cane. Kappas are the best at using the cane. In recent years, a lot of other sororities and fraternities have started using the canes. I used to wear a sweatshirt that said, "It takes a man with a brain to use a cane. All other fools try to copy our thing." So, it was great to see Kappas work the cane because no one could work it like the Kappas, and everybody else is kind of springing off of that now, you know, 10, 12 years later, you know, you see sororities with canes. The first time I saw a sorority with a cane, I went to Homecoming last year and I almost died. I almost passed out. You know, like what are they doing with the cane? You know? I was upset. Who gives them the right to have a cane? So, you know, stepping, we do a great job, but you throw that cane in there and we do fantastic, fantastic with that cane.
(Performance by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Indiana University)
(O.Z. Davis)- Omega Psi Phi members stepping back to the Student Army Training Corps and some of our brothers helping found that. Through that, our stepping is nothing more than a portrayal of what stepping was like in the Army. One-two steps, chants, you know. A lot of our chants--when I was online and we would run from wherever our ... house was to step practice--we had a lot of chants.
(Performance by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Indiana University)
(Sam Young)- The Sigma step with canes and the Kappas also step with canes, so that's their difference. That's their exciting part of stepping. If they make it more interesting, if they do it all alike, if they wouldn't drop a cane, all of that, you know, I've seen a Kappa show where no one dropped a cane and they use the cane in a way no one else has, and it was exciting. We do a train step that gets someone's attention, and it makes it more exciting, and people enjoy it.
(Don Smith)- As far as Alphas, we have this one step called the Alpha train, which is basically international step where the brothers are thrusting forth and it makes it look like a train when it's like five or more in a line. And just using alternating hand movements with the train, it just makes it. It's an incredible sight to see.
(Alpha member)- Brother, how come you guys -- I heard that Alphas can't step. Now, everybody knows we got brotherhood. Everybody knows we graduate. But--can we step? Can we step? Brothers, I think we got something to prove. There's some nonbelievers out there.
(rhythmically)
Ah one,
Ah two,
Oh you know what to do.
(Performance by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Indiana University)
(Narrator)- Although stepping is usually thought of as a male tradition, another development eventually emerged-- the sorority step show.
(Performance by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Ball State University)
(Aquaila Barnes)- I think the difference between fraternity and sorority step shows is in the style, the style of step. Guys tend to step with a lot more of their body. They do a little bit more bass in the steps, A lot more pounding and a lot of emphasis on power. Where the sororities tend to put a lot of emphasis on articulateness and how they step, you know, the placement of feet, being in rhythm and time. Everything. Guys do the same thing, but girls tend to focus more on that. But guys seem to focus a little bit more on power and making that sound expound.
(Chere Cofer)- The adrenaline is pumping. You're nervous, you're excited. It's fun, it's scary. You don't want to forget your move. You don't want to be the only one off beat. You'll never live that down on a campus, first of all. And you're a neophyte. You miss a beat or you're the only one that can't catch the beat maybe. You'll never live it down. I've seen it happen too many times. But neophyte step shows are all really fun. It's just that you have to practice a lot because there are a lot of real technical moves sometimes. They get really detailed and you've gotta really practice to know it.
(Dina Scott)- There's Alpha Kappa Alpha, which are AKAs, and their colors are pink and green. There's the Zeta Phi Beta, which their colors are blue and white and there is the Delta Sigma Thetas, which their colors are red and white, and of course Sigma Gamma Rho is the royal blue and gold. My neophyte show, it was beautiful. I loved it. The steps were easy enough that I didn't look like a retard. But we encompassed a lot of things in our step show that would appeal to a lot of things. You have what you call "soft step" and you have what you call a "hard step." And Alpha Kappa Alpha is known for a soft step. And what a soft step is basically kind of like a two-step side-to-side type of dance thing. And then a hard step is a lot of the slapping and the clapping and stuff that you see a lot of the guys doing. So what we did in our step show is we incorporated a little hard step, but in a very ladylike way.
(Karen Hodge)- When you talk about sorority stepping, it is generally seen as very positive-- an introduction of the new members, whether it be in a neophyte or a current chapter member showing off their latest steps-- and introducing the campus to a sorority. When the various organizations do an introduction, introductory dance, if you will, they often do a step show. It's a great dance routine, a drill team type movement, and people like that. They enjoy seeing the sororities out there. And what they do is they “pub” up their organizations, if you will, and they talk about them in a positive light. You know, we are number one, we are the best out there. And it's a great way of show showcasing themselves as young ladies, polished if you will, from the head to the toe and the matching outfits. And it's just a positive way of looking at things. And it's a great way of advertising the sorority.
(Performance by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Indiana University)
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- What is the function? Why are they doing that? I mean what really is the reason behind why they're doing that? Is it just decoration? Is it just for entertainment? Or does it serve a deeper function? And invariably we keep going back to, even if we go away from it, we go back to--I mean this need to be different, this need to be unique. It's a function for--of Black people the way we exist in this world.
(Narrator)- Cultures outside of the mainstream are often viewed as inferior or insignificant. Instead of trying to understand the true meaning of traditions different from ours, there's a tendency to prejudge and draw the wrong conclusions about them.
(O.Z.Davis)- I know a lot of white people, white students that have come to step shows and been totally enlightened as to how much our fraternity means to us. First of all, they would tell me, there's no way I would practice three hours a day for five weeks for 15 minutes worth of work, not for the frat, you know, not when I have studies to do and I have bills to pay and there's no way I would do that. So, from a positive aspect, I know they see at a step show the difference between white fraternities and Black fraternities in that we are much more so dedicated to our fraternities than they are. We walk across campus and they hear us barking, and they hear the Sigmas going, "Booty, booty, bow, wow." And they just look around, what the hell? You know, what is this? It is Black people being Black.
(Aquaila Barnes)- It's probably very unique when you see someone from a Black fraternity or sorority doing hand signals, giving chants or doing steps, especially if you're or not Black, if you've never been involved in the type of thing. It's even interesting if you're from high school, you've never seen that type of thing before. It's something that's very unique. It's very like--very much emphasizes what goes on in a private club You have your particular signals, you know. See, the dove for Zeta Phi Beta. That's the kind of thing we do. And if you are on the outside, sometimes you tend to wonder, what does that mean and what's going on here? But when you see--what's the word I'm looking for--the bond, you know, those types of things, they just increase the bond between--gives you something to have something in common with someone else. And just increases a bond and expresses to other people from the outside this is a bond I have to someone if I can go "Psi Phi" and they'll respond from across the room or across the campus. It just expresses that bond. And it may be a little bit unique, maybe a little weird if you're from the outside, but that's what goes on.
(Steve Johnson, chanting)
I'm a Kappa man
I'm a Kappa man
The most highly in demand
The most highly in demand
(Sigma Gamma sorority members chanting)
I am a Sigma Gamma ♪
(Narrator)- The visual aspect of the stepping performance is extremely stimulating, but the chants of the step shows are just as important. Chanting serves to reinforce the pride in the history of the organization.
Omega Psi Phi is the only frat for me
(Performance by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Indiana University)
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- Every culture does not necessarily have a written language. And one assumes that if they don't have a written language, one of the greatest detriments to it is that they have no way of recording history. But the whole idea of the Griot, who was a person who was responsible for holding in his mind, his brain, literally the entire history of his people.
(Dr. Mellonee Burnim)- The Griot was the cultural historian, the person whose responsibility it was to know the history of the people. And the Griot shared his story in terms of what those significant events were that provided a sense of identity and community.
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- Very often in the songs and in the demonstrations, and the skits, frats carry on that tradition of maintaining an oral history.
(Omega Psi Phi step leader) The Omega Psi Phis were founded November 17, 1911. And if our forefather Phis were alive today, the forefathers that founded this great organization, I wonder what would they do? What would they say? What kind of steps would they do? Well, you know I think they'd do something a little like this.
(Performance by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Indiana University)
(Dr. James E. Mumford)- In many tribes, in many cultures, in Africa not all of them, but in many tribes in Africa is it is highly prized the ability to fight with words rather than to fight physically. So that--and that also occurred. We've lost that. That's why there's so much Black on Black crime. We've lost the ability to confront each other and resolve conflicts through words. Now we go to action. I mean we nix the words. We just take a gun out and shoot you. The put downs that fraternities use. They're carrying on that same tradition, but they have to do it tongue in cheek. It's not meant to be real. The whole idea of using language to diffuse is not to infuriate, it's to diffuse. And so, it takes a smart person, not a dumb person. A stupid person can use that language, can say the things, but it takes a smart person to say something that really is a put down and really is clever, but yet doesn't dehumanize you.
(Narrator)- Playing the dozens, also known as . . . it's still very popular in today's step shows. On this particular campus, the Kappas are known as sensitive, pretty boys. The Omegas are known as tenacious, nasty dogs. And the Sigmas are known for their frivolity and being the life of the party. With this in mind, the members of Alpha Phi Alpha had some serious . . . to do.
(As part of a step show, a comedy skit is acted out with the help of a narrator.)
(Skit narrator)-
It was very unfortunate, but there was a breath of hope.
For the princess could be awakened by a kiss from the most noble Greek.
Men from afar came to unleash the spell, hoping to awaken the beautiful princess.
But the mission looked grim.
There was the first Greek.
Then there came the second Greek.
Then came the third Greek.
And from the east came an army of knights who came to awaken the princess and protect all of Kappamania.
(Tanikka Carter)- Well, I like going to the Black parties to--like you said--basically get away from, not get away from the white people, but have something of our own. It's like everything we do is always incorporated with the whites and always based around them. Like the social events, like the football games and so forth, it's like basically for white people. I mean the Homecoming games and everything, I don't feel comfortable there because hardly any of my people are there. They don't have bands like the Black school. So, it's like you're sitting there watching them, some kind of oom pah pah, but it's not enjoyable for me. So, the weekend, it's like my time to have a chance with my people. We have a good time together. There's not any fighting, there's not any violence, you know, despite what people may think. It's just all of us together having a good time and enjoying each other's fraternities and sororities and non-Greeks all the same. It's a good time.
(Seth Elin)- There's really not much integration at all here. And everyone says you go to college to acquire as many experiences and get a broad knowledge and broad understanding of everything around you and experience everything and you really don't. I mean I would say college is more--for the majority of the students here--is hanging out with the same kids you grew up with in the small town, which was very, you know, homogenous. And then you hang out with those same people and you go out and you party with those people. People are very scared to react or to experience new things.
(David Keel)- There's some fraternities that we're cool with, they invite us to their party. But you know, with the white fraternity party, you have to be on their list so--to get in. It's not like you can pay to get in, like at our party. So it's different. I mean we, I never really, you know, saw anybody just say, you know, “Don't want to hang around a white person 'cause he's white.”
(Narrator)- Students go to college with hopes of gaining most of their knowledge from class or textbooks, but perhaps the most valuable lessons are learned outside the classroom. Unfortunately, that type of education is limited when students socialize primarily with people of their same ethnicity or race. Those who do step out of the confines of social segregation, find the experience beneficial.
(Martha Riley)- Many people are not familiar with the Black Greek system and how it works. And sometimes people do look at me and say, why is she in a Black sorority? But they don't understand that it's historically Black, it's not exclusively Black. And many times it's just ignorance. Just like, four of us were in the mall one day and we had all our paraphernalia from head to toe, and people looked at us as if we were in a gang. People just don't understand what it is and why we do what we do.
(Matt Wire)- One thing I found out through my pledgeship, and in order for people to come into touch with how they feel, not only about themselves, but about others, they really have to be comfortable with themselves. And that's another thing I learned being a member of the fraternity is I'm comfortable with my quote unquote "whiteness." And a ... of mine once told me, he said, Matt, I've had a lot of brothers come up to me and ask me if you're a wannabe, or if you go around talking, wanting to be Black. And I always have to tell them, “No, Matt's about as white as you can get.” And that's probably one of the most sincere compliments I could have because I'm sure a lot of people when they see me with the letters on think that I'm just a wannabe, and it's not like that. I want to be who I am.
(Dr. Mellonee Burnim)- As I explained to my students, what we have to understand is what made America great is not our sameness, but our differences. And those differences all play a part in the vitality of this country. And therefore, Black folks need to be proud of that. We need to wear it as a badge of pride, not as a badge to alienate anybody. But it means that we can accept others and their difference at the same time that we accept ourselves. We can be proud of who we are and at the same time we can share in and acknowledge the otherness of those who also live in the United States. And so, we can live as one, but we don't have to all be the same in the process of being Americans. We can be Black Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Chinese Americans, and still be Americans, and that's okay.
CREDITS (Credits scroll over a step performance by four male students using canes)
Associate Producers Otis Jones
J.M. Johnson, III
Production Consultant Anthony Favors
Audio Producer Chris Carrol
Additional Videography Leo Miller
Ken Nelson
J.M. Johnson, III
Production Services by Nelson Productions
Second Sight Productions
Post Production Facility Second Sight Productions, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Performances by
Indiana University: Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Delta Sigma Theta
Kappa Alpha Psi
Omega Psi Phi
Phi Beta Sigma
Sigma Gamma Rho
Zeta Phi Beta
Ball State University Kappa Alpha Psi
Phi Beta Sigma
Zeta Phi Beta
Indiana State University Phi Beta Sigma
African Drums Prince Julius Adeniyi
Special thanks to: Judy Harkness
Jerry Harkness
Constance Carlisle
Glendal Jones
Dr. Gloria Gibson-Hudson
Milt Thompson
Regina Smith
Alice Glass
Kay Weber
Ron Steele
Chris & Bobbi Duffy
Barry Sadlier
Judy Tuttle
Aquaila Barnes
John Girton
Lloyd Wright
Sara Buchwald
Brad Geddes
Anne Eldridge
Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Armstrong
Todd Uphaus
Laura Smith
Greg Smith
Elite Printing
Copyright 1992 Jerald B. Harkness
