Zeta’s Win Pittsburgh Step Show

By DERRICK HAYNES

Editorial Assistant

Published: Monday, March 1, 2010

Updated: Monday, March 1, 2010

Howard University's Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Alpha Chapter clenched a first place win and $1,000 prize money at the University of Pittsburgh's 13th Annual Steel City Step Show.

The step show, hosted by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NHPC) was held at the Soldiers and Sailors Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 27.

After participating in the controversial Sprite Step-Off, Taision Kwamilele, a junior English major and member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., said the Steel City step show was "wonderful."

"Everyone was really excited [to] win," she said adding, "It's always great to win after you've been working hard."

In an interview with The Hilltop, Kwamilele said future plans will include more than more stepping opportunities.

"Stepping is an extracurricular activity that we love doing, but our principles include community service," she said.

Zeta Phi Beta plans to hold Finer Womanhood events on campus in March. Finer Womanhood is a month-long celebration of women with "distinguishing characteristics."
Kwamimele said the prize money will be donated to Zeta headquarters for charities, including continued recovery efforts in Haiti.

The Black Realist

Tue Mar 16 2010 00:01

Re: So-called Black Greek Supporter;

No matter how much you try to justify the Buck Dancing and Steppin and Fetchin, you somehow could respond to any of my points regarding these so-called Black greeks. In which you probably hold membership in one of these organizations which explains your "standard operating procedures[SOP] response such as: community work, scholarships, and our African Ancestry. Trust me, Africans are not the only group of people on the planet who have their own particular style of natural free flowing dances, have you ever visited any countries in Asia, the Middle East, or even Europe?Probably not. In any case, until these so-called Black greek organziations began to publicly challenges the continued implicit and explicit racism Blacks experience everyday. In my opinion, they are nothing more than cabal of Black with degrees, who live in the suburbs, and bragg about being the only Black on their block.

Anonymous

Tue Mar 9 2010 09:46

My people, we are faced with the same challengese however, we are diverse in our approach. For the gentleman, who mentioned that highlighting the step show is "trivial" and that until "Black Greek organizations address substantive issues impacting the Black community, they are nothing more than "Paper Tiger" organizations", you are clearly ignorant of the historic purpose of the organizations. Stepping, is not trivial, but representative of our African ancestry and how the tribal dancing and beats made with hands and feet sybmolized fellowship, family and fun. Greek organizations have step teams that practice several times a week, pay (mostly out of their own pockets) for costumes, travel and pay an entrance fee to participate in the step show. This is not in an effort to receive bragging rights (which is nice), but the winnings are donated back to the organizations to fund many programs like, scholarships for upcoming college students, current high school students, funding local programs for housing, like Habitat for Humanity and the list goes on. The Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities, participate in social action programs and make efforts to participate in marches and fight for justice. Please do not reduce the purpose and efforts of the organizations to a simple step show that was publicized. Then you are exposing your lack of understanding and knowledge of why the organizations exist and the impact they are making on the Black community daily. When you get an opportunity go to the websites of the organizations and research the many programs that they are involved. Although the 18 year old young man who suffered brutality at the hands of officers is tragic, I am sure that some members of the Black Greek organizations are working hard on his behalf to address the injustice. Just because you don't see it on the front page of a paper does not mean that his lawyer is not a member of a Black Sorority or Fraternity who has decided to take his case pro bono or that there are not members who are mobilizing to organize marches, make calls and inform the local community of what has transpired. Before you make an ill judgement about Black Greek organizations, I challenge to reasearch and consider that with all the issues going on in the Black Community, all may not be addressed, but we "consistently" work hard to target economic development, educational development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental health and Political Awareness and Involvement.

Anonymous

Mon Mar 1 2010 16:57

While all of the so-called Black Greeks were "Buck dancing" "Steppin and Fecthin" and making "Al Jolson" like moves in Pittsburgh, they should have been protesting the police brutality case of the 18 year old Black honor student which occurred on January 11, 2010. Let me guess, you didn't know about it? See that's what happens when you have been mentally socialized to devote time, money, and energy on trivial activities. Let me ask you a few simple questions: 1) Did you take out advertisements in the local Pittsburgh newspapers?; 2) Did you hire any Black companies to provide ground transportation for this event?; and 3) Did you patronize Black businesses while you were there(they do exist by the way.)? Finally, until these so-called Black Greeks began to really address substantive issues(consistently) impacting the collective Black community, they are nothing more than "Paper Tiger" organizations.

Anonymous

Mon Mar 1 2010 14:02

when is the next one?

Brasilia 5-A-00

Mon Mar 1 2010 13:26

Congrats Sorors!