Hyp Kreationz, Mar 25, 2009
The Beta Upsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
doing their SIGMA WALK... produced by Front Sigma Nick Steele. Get it
BCUUUUUUU!!!
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about the different meanings of the term "Sigma Walk".
Part I of this post showcase two YouTube videos of the historically Black Greek letter organization Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.'s "Sigma Walk" stepping routine.
My editorial notes about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. "Sigma Walk" rap record and stepping routine are also included in this post.
Additions and corrections are welcome.
Part II of this pancocojams post presents information about the mainstream social media's "Sigma" meme and showcases one YouTube video of the "Sigma Walk" meme.
Click __ for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases several YouTube videos of the fraternity "Sigma Walk" and presents some comments from those videos' discussion threads.
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.
This post highlights the fact that a referent can have a different meaning or different meanings within different populations of the same city, state and/or nation during the same period of time.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos or were associated with those videos. Thanks to the creators of the fraternity Sigma Walk and thanks to the creators of the social media meme "Sigma Walk". Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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PART I - PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.'S "SIGMA WALK"
SHOWCASE VIDEO #1- embedded above
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- (Fraternity "Sigma Walk")
MacTheDJ.Com, Nov 12, 2012
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
LLBJTheGreat, 2013
"GOMAB! BRUHS WAS FOOLIN!"
-snip-
"GOMAB" is a secret term that is used only by members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. "Bruhs"="brothers". The statement "Bruhs was foolin'" points out the light hearted nature of the "Sigma Walk" step routine (or stroll) compared to some other Sigma step routines.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY'S "SIGMA WALK"
Additions and corrections to these notes are very welcome. For the historical and cultural record, please share information that you know about Phi Beta Sigma's Sigma Walk in the comment section below. Thanks!
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Is Phi Beta Sigma's "Sigma Walk" a step routine or a stroll?
Historically Black Greek letter strolls are almost always done in a vertical line which moves in a follow the leader circular or zig zag pattern. Or -it appears to me from the numerous YouTube historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority videos that I've watched- much less often strolls are performed in an actual circle formation). In contrast, Black Greek letter stepping is done in horizontal lines.
I haven't come across any video to date of Sigma Walk that is done in a vertical line, hence my reference to it as a "step" instead of using the word "stroll". That said, some video publishers and/or commenters on discussion threads about the fraternity Sigma Walk refer to those movement routines as "strolls". Also, strolls are much more informal than stepping. So I don't know which term should be used for this type of fraternity performance.
For a video example of the Sigmas doing some serious stepping, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_zj19zQ_EQ Phi Beta Sigma - Eta Chapter - NCAT - GHOE Step Show - Greensboro Colesium - Oct 28, 2022 1st Place, published by Lester Coney, Oct 30, 2022 GREENSBORO
Phi Beta Sigma wins 1st Place at North Carolina A&T State University Greatest Homecoming On Earth (GHOE) Step Show at the Greensboro Colesium on Oct 28, 2022 - 7 PM. 12,000 in Attendance.
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Given their name, "Sigma Walks" were* (or are?) only performed by members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
*I don't know if "Sigma Walks" are still done now (in 2023). The latest YouTube (fraternity)"Sigma Walk" video that I have found was published on YouTube on Aug 26, 2015 (
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In all of the videos that I've found, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (hereafter referred to as Sigmas) are stepping to the same song that is named "the Sigma Walk". Here's the first video for that "Sigma Walk" rap with its summary citations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlkv_I7xdGc&list=RDrlkv_I7xdGc&start_radio=1 "Georgia Sigmas "Do The Sigma Walk" Remix", published by BlackUnlimitedBU, May 12, 2009
"Got Another One... Georgia Sigma's on deck
Song Produced by your boi Nick Steele
My bad Buckwheat and Reggie i had to do it for class so
that's why yall not in it, but the BET version is coming soon".
-snip-
This YouTube video and some comments from its discussion thread are showcased in Part II of this pancocojams series.
Notice that that title refers to this as a "Remix". I haven't found any video of the "Sigma Walk" rap that isn't this remix version.
**
That "Sigma Walk" rap may have been featured on BET as noted in that Georgia Sigmas' video summary. However, I've found no reference to that happening. Also, that record doesn't appear to have been an actual record which is featured on YouTube and/or which is stores or online. Multiple commenters in several YouTube discussion threads of the fraternity Sigma Walk ask where they can find a recording of that song. The only response that I've read to those queries is that someone indicated that he would email that song to that person.
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A number of commenters wrote that the Sigmas' were "stealing" moves from the Nupes (also known as the Kappas- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.") [Contemporary members of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. are known for their shimmy moves.] Some commenters who note that Sigmas purposely do these Kappa moves as part of the Sigma Walk as a way of dissing (insulting, making fun of ) the Kappas. (Read comments in Part II of this pancocojams series. Also, read the comment that is given above in which the commenter said that the Sigmas were foolin (i.e. "fooling around", being lighthearted in their stepping.)
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PART II - MAINSTREAM MEDIA "SIGMA" MEME
Excerpt #1
From
"Part of a series on Internet Slang. [View Related Entries]
[View Related Sub-entries]
Updated 4 months ago by Zach. [2023]
Added 2 years ago by Adam.[2020]
About
Sigma Males or Sigma Male is a slang term referring to a
supposed classification for men who are successful and popular, but also silent
and rebellious, a type of man who likes to "play by his own rules."
In most analyses, they are considered "equal" to Alphas on the
hierarchy but live outside of the hierarchy by choice. John Wick has often been
cited as a prominent example of a Sigma Male. After the discovery of the
classification was unearthed by Twitter user @LilySimpson1312 in 2021, it was
mocked online by people expressing distaste for the greek alphabet system of
male classification. However, the term has since become widespread in memes and
internet discourse, such as Sigma Stare and Sigma Male Grindset.
[…]
Origin
The term "Sigma Males" has been attributed to
writer Vox Day, aka Theodore Robert Beale, a self-described Christian
nationalist.[1] On his blog, he often goes into detail explaining the hierarchy
of males using the greek alphabet. On May 16th, 2010,[2] he published,
"Explaining sigma. Again," in which he wrote that the "sigma"
is not just a social outcast, but a person who despite being a supposed social
outcast "wins" at the social game. He writes:
Sigma: The outsiders who don't play the social game and
manage to win at it anyhow. The alphas hate sigmas because they are the only
men who don't accept or at least acknowledge their social dominance. (NB:
Alphas absolutely hate to be laughed at and a sigma can enrage an alpha by
simply smiling at him.) Everyone else is vaguely confused by them. At the
party, it's the guy who stops by to say hello to a few friends accompanied by a
tier one girl that no one has ever seen before. Sigmas often like women, but
also tend to be contemptuous of them.'
He has also described some pop culture
characters as "Sigmas," including Han Solo, Neo, and many Clint
Eastwood roles.[3]”…
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Excerpt #2
From https://www.pixstory.com/story/what-is-the-sigma-male-meme-floating-around-the-internet/49097#:~:text=Lawl,who%20listens%20to%20himself%20only. "What is the ‘sigma male’ meme floating around the internet?" published by AshmitDyes, 2021
"Sigma Rules memes are originated from the term sigma male
that is used for a self reliant and independent men who becomes successful in
life and lives his life with his own rules, Basically Sigma rule is a rule made
by a sigma male who listens to himself only.
While the origin may be innocent enough, netizens have been using the meme to justify behaviour which might not be the most gentlemanly. Misogynistic acts are being justified with the ‘sigma male’ mindset and the ‘sigma grindset’ etc.
Memes can sometimes turn toxic too. This is, in my opinion, one instance."
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AN EXAMPLE OF MAINSTREAM SOCIAL MEDIA'S "SIGMA WALK"
Dr.
Livesey Chad Sigma Walk except it's every universe
Dr. Livesey, Aug 24, 2022
-snip-
In the context of mainstream social media, the Sigma Walk means walking (or strutting) forward in a highly confident manner.
-snip-
By its name itself, "Sigma male" refers to males only. However, "Sigma walk" may also refer to the confident way that a person of any gender walks (or struts).
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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams post.
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