By Chrysta Nichols
The annual and most exciting traditional Greek event, N.C. A&T’s Homecoming Step Show is a celebration of history and culture, wrapped around fierce competition among members of the campus’ Divine 9 community.
The event is 6:30-11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at the Geensboro Colisemm. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Students, alumni, people in the community and members of Greek Letter organizations will see the long-practiced tradition of Greek history.
Since the beginning, the step show has been a way of expression and old-fashioned competition. It celebrates Greek culture, promotes unity and community engagement.
This year’s line up includes six fraternities, including Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma. Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia of America.
Three sororities will also hit the stage including, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority.
As the event approaches, Rebecca Fraser, a Spring 2021 initiate into the Zeta Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated explained her role in the show and how she prepared individually.
“As the step master, I am the lead point on everything,” Fraser said. “I have to constantly be on my P’s and Q’s and ready to fill in for any role as needed. I create steps, clean the show and step within the show. I prepare for this by having a good headspace and doing homework/ studying before practice.” Zeta Phi Beta could continue their winning streak from last year’s event with a show-stopping performance.
The Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma also hopes to bring another victory home this year. The 16-time champions are accustomed to winning but say they will remain humble because the victory is not promised until the winner is announced.
Out of the distinctive customs and traditions that have emerged at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), stepping stands out as one of the most widely recognized.
As described by the dance company, “Step Afrika!”, stepping is “a percussive, highly energetic art form first developed through the song and dance rituals performed by African American fraternities and sororities.”
It gained its unique rhythmic form following the 1739 Stono Rebellion, during which South Carolina legislators prohibited drumming to eliminate it as a form of communication among enslaved African Americans. It is now used as a way for African American fraternities and sororities to express their pride for their respective organizations to a broader community.
The impact of HBCU fraternities and sororities cannot be overstated for undergraduates, graduates, and alumni. Lifelong friendships and career network opportunities are formed in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (today known as the “Divine 9”), which includes Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Iota Phi Theta.
The Step show is an anticipated, fun event for the community, but most importantly it is a moment that will be remembered for the members of the fraternities and sororities’ entire collegiate career.
Chrysta Nichols is a North Carolina A&T junior multimedia journalism student from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Stories We Tell 
Leave a comment