History

The Genesis

It began with singing or chanting associated with the process of crossing the burning sands. Brothers would gather in the quad and sing and chant. They eventually graduated to dancing and from there stepping. For some time, some yards down south would call the step-offs a "Sing" instead of a "Step-show". The white fraternities started the singing part, but the black fraternities took it to another level. Much like we did with basketball, football, tennis, etc. I do not think that any one black fraternity of the NPHC can lay claim to stepping, more than likely it evolved a number situations and circumstances.  It is possible that this came about during the first joint meeting of any of the black national fraternitys conventions in the early 1920s. The results of which was the Inter-Fraternity Conference of 1922 in Washington, D.C. In between sessions and even during social events it is believed that stepping, in a sense, was done while each organization strutted their stuff, most likely to impress the ladies. These could have been each organization singing or chanting their perspective songs will marching or standing in groups. It is not exactly clear, but it is known that sororities did not start stepping until several years after the fraternities.

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 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.

 

The Evolution

Aspects of stepping within fraternities became previlant when brothers returned from World War II. As more and more military men joined or chartered chapters they brought march elements into the pledge process. Of course many practices are based upon the Masonic influence as well as the African influence of the marching armies of antiquity such as the Warriars of Carthage, led by the military genious of Hannibal Ruler of Carthage (247-183 B.C.), the Nubian warriors of the mighty King Piankhy of Nubia (c. 720 B.C.), as well as the Zulu Legion of the famed general Chaka, the Zulu Monarch (c. 1786 - 1828 B.C.).

For some Fraternities, 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 40s and early 50s, 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 the a couple distinct Black Greek Fraternities and it is possible that these were some of the influences for using canes as a part of the step process.

Stepping evolved with groups of guys singing acappella, and when groups like the Temptations and the Four Tops were popular in the 50s and 60s brothers started mimicking their steps. This is part of the reason why it is called "Stepping" now. Brothers would try to come up with the best steps while they were singing to please the ladies. If you got the ladies you got more recruits. Much like it is today.

Others say that stepping replaced the doo woop sounds and cardigan sweaters of the 50s. At around the same time as the "Black Power" Movements and Africa centered movements of the 60s, stepping started to flourish with the incorporation of some traditional African ritual dancing and the incorporation of other elements like cheer leading, tap, gymnastics, etc. Over the years stepping has become very intricate and demanding incorporating props, high levels of gymnastics and other elements found in team sports. Please note that some people want to give the credit to the South African Boot Dance, but it would be unfair to ignore everything that stepping was in the beginning and it is now.

Stepping is an original art form that was influenced by many elements from our past.

SOURCE:
Rapheal Forbes
Ahab El Askeni
Terrence A.B. Lewis
(all members of Phi Beta Sigma, and owners of The Temple Of Blue)