VCU Steps out of Racial Boundaries

            

Dancing, singing and acting are just some of the attractions that brought students, alumni and others to this year’s annual Fall Block Step Show put on by Virginia Commonwealth University. Nine Greek organizations participated in the show themed “Stepping through the Decades.” It took place September 25 at the Siegel Center.

Many groups used old music and costumes to show the change in stepping over time. Such methods caused observer Jerrod Chrisp nostalgia.

“I loved when the Omega played old school R&B from the 80’s and 90’s,” said Chrisp. “It was entertaining and brought back memories.”

This year marked the show’s 25th anniversary, but the tradition of stepping goes way beyond VCU’s Greek involvement. The tradition dates back to the early twentieth century when African-American WWI veterans mixed military training with dance at their historically black colleges.

Since then, stepping has been performed by Greek organizations that are a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), an umbrella organization for traditionally African-American fraternities and sororities.

 Current competitions haven’t always been as formal as Fall Block, however Napoleon Peoples, Associate Dean of Student Affairs at MCV, recalled his college stepping experience.

“Our version of Fall Block was more impromptu,” said the Omega Psi Phi alumnus. “We would just rally up a few fraternities and sororities, name a time and place, a crowd would gather and we would simply step.”

Although African Americans dominate the competition, stepping is becoming popular among other racial groups.

However, last February when Zeta Tau Alpha, an all-white sorority from the University of Arkansas, won the National Sprite Step-Off Competition, controversy erupted. Many steppers and observers felt the sorority’s win had disrupted the historically black tradition.

Such sentiment isn’t widespread.

At VCU, some Greek members, such as Trashun Floure, welcome other racial groups into their organizations. Floure is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

“It doesn’t matter about what race you are,” said Floure. “It’s about what’s in your soul.”

To give other cultural Greek organizations a chance to shine, VCU sponsors other step shows throughout the year. The Residence Hall Step Off held during the fall semester includes groups that represent each freshman and upperclassman dorm. The Multicultural Greek Council Stroll Competition held during the spring semester lets MGC organizations compete in a stroll-off, which is a variation of stepping.

Still, neither of those events is publicized as much as the African-American step shows such as Fall Block and the annual Spring Memorial Step Show.

Carolyn Whittier, Associate Director for Programs and Educational Services, has helped plan the Fall Block Step Show for five years. Although the Fall Block governing documents say that only the nine NPHC organizations can compete in the show, she said a committee goal has always been to reach a diverse crowd.

“I do not believe that stepping belongs to any race,” said Whittier. “I believe that all art forms have the ability to transcend race.”

Although this year’s crowd was diverse, the show was not. The tradition of African-Americans dominating step seemingly has outweighed the potential for diversity, even at a university as diverse as VCU.