Syriana Etheart: Attending Preformances- Spelman RHA Stroll Off (2 Points)

 On February 15th, I attended the Spelman RHA stroll off. I previously attended the Morehouse stroll off and had an amazing time. I wanted to make it a point to attend this stroll off to support my fellow Spelman sisters and to enhance my first-year experience. 

The stroll off was truly unforgettable. With every performance, I could truly see the hard work that every single team put in. One of my favorite parts of the stroll off was the sisterhood I felt. Seeing everyone cheer each other on filled me with an indescribable sense of joy. I loved hearing everyone represent their halls with their chants and posters. The atmosphere was truly electric. 

Reflecting after the stroll, I found myself questioning what exactly a stroll is. I knew previously that strolling was important in the Greek world, but I had never considered it outside of that context. At its very core, I believe that is another extension of Black expression and dance. In particular, I think of the “mean mug” faces that the teams make during their strolls. This reminds me
of African soldiers and the expressions they make when they go to war. Although the stroll off was more of a competitive “war”, it showcases how we (as a Black collective) continue to carry the traditions of our culture and ancestors. The way in which we integrate our culture in the current day exemplifies the resilience and ability to adapt within the Black community. 

This also ties into the persistent issue of Black pop culture. I specifically think of how Greek strolls have gained popularity o
n social media platforms such as TikTok. While this exposure can be considered good, it also exposes something very sacred (that holds a lot of meaning) to people who don’t understand the full grasp. Therefore, there are people of non-Greek organizations who believe it to be okay to imitate these Greek strolls. Nevertheless, seeing the stroll made me want to consider the larger implications outside of Spelman. 

Overall, I had an amazing time at the stroll off and am hopeful they’ll have another!