Many African American Fraternities and Sororities are widely known for stepping, a type of movement and dance in which the performers use their entire body as an instrument of energy. SF State sophomore Krista Hayes explains it as “a way of orchestrating your body to form a message.”

Black Fraternities and Sororities were established in a time where African American men and women were ostracized and discriminated against in University life. The organizations came together as a community of students to uplift and empower the black community, according to Kwabena Tuimaini, president of the San Francisco chapter of Iota Phi Theta. Stepping has become another way to illustrate a movement that shows unity and pride within a group of people through the expressive use of arms and feet.

At the 49er game on September 21, Tuimani and four other members of his fraternity pound their feet on the stage at Candlestick Park, their feet beating rhythms through the speakers out into the massive crowd.
Contact: shanita@sfsu.edu