Strolling at spring pep rally gives Wildkats new view of Black culture

by Ashley Briones • Mar 8, 2024 • 57 Views

photo or infographic by Diana Negrete

HIGHEST STANDARDS. A member of the Lambda Eta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority performs at the spring pep rally. The Sam Houston State University student was part of the strolling demonstration.

Step. Clap. Step. Step. Clap. Clap. The sounds took the gym by surprise. As the unknown faces took the gym floor, the response was wild. The synchronized gestures and steps grabbed the attention of the crowd. The custom of strolling was introduced to hundreds of students.

On February 16th students from Sam Houston State University Greek Life performed for the students at the pep rally. It was the first time many of the students ever heard of stepping or strolling.

“We were asked by a faculty member at the high school, who is also a part of Greek [life] and she invited us to come for the Black History Month showcase,” SHSU student Ja’Mya Cavil said.

BY CULTURE AND BY MERIT. True to her sorority’s motto, counselor Brittany Wheaton shows off her strolling moves at the spring pep rally. Wheaton was joined Alpha Kappa Alpha while attending Lamar University. (photo or infographic by Chloe Roach)

Strolling is a very important dance to black culture, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to learn these dances. According to the website alphaphigamma.org strolling was created to showcase African American culture within the Greek culture at colleges and universities across the nation. It combines modern dance and the long tradition of stepping.

“The roots of stroll are unity, culture, community and love,” the website said. “All things that we know and all things infused in our letters.”

Strolling started way back in the early 1900’s, and is still going on at colleges across the nation.

“I have been ‘strolling’ since I pledged in college at Lamar University, and I joined my sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated in April of Spring 2012,” counselor Brittany Wheaton said. “It normally takes about two hours or so to really get our strolls memorized.”

SISTERHOOD. Students from SHSU perform at the spring pep rally. Members of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority was part of the strolling demonstration. (photo or infographic by Diana Negrete)

The spring pep rally performance was the first time most students were introduced to the custom.

“I love to see how our school is starting to incorporate black culture into our events,” sophomore Isaiah Higgins said.

College students all around the world encourage high school students to look into strolling to see if they would like it.

“Do your research,” Cavil said. “Research is very important. discretion is key, Discretion is when only the people that need to know should know, not everybody should know that you’re interested in joining a fraternity or sorority. Because if you’re not discreet that shows and that will automatically get you turned away because we stand on discretion, not everybody should know your next move.”

Sophomore Mia McGowen felt the demonstration was a nice addition to the pep rally.

“It’s a good thing the SHSU students came to visit us,” McGowen said. “We got to see something different that we wouldn’t see everyday.”