On TikTok, Majorette Dancing Is Being Appropriated

Since its inception, TikTok has been dwelling to non-Black creators copying and by no means crediting Black artists — particularly choreographers. That is problematic for a lot of causes, however most egregiously as a result of Black creators have been recognized to receives a commission significantly less than their non-Black counterparts.

One of many newer viral developments features a fashionable staple of younger Black tradition: majorette-style dancing.

And whereas there have been murmurs of discontent concerning the dance fashion being co-opted as a Gen Z development white feminine creators are carrying, Khalil Greene, often known as the Gen Z historian on TikTok, defined it most succinctly. Within the well-circulated video, which has garnered over 65,000 views, he lately reminded TikTokers to stop appropriating the genius of Black creators and denounced the app for permitting Gen Zs to chunk off and bury Black content material.

It ought to be famous that the unique use of the term “majorette” referred to Dutch carnival dancers. But it surely grew to become what we now realize it to be when the fashion of baton work and accompanying dance got here to the American South — notably to Black establishments, Essence studies.

In Greene’s publish, he calls out white TikTokers for appropriating majorette choreography within the viral “Her Manner” and “No Love” challenges. Non-Black TikTokers have posted and racked up hundreds of thousands of views with their renditions of this choreography, reportedly created by 19-year-old Jordyn Williams, with no references to the place the strikes come from and the historical past of the majorette dance fashion.

In his evaluation, Greene additionally factors to a different viral video from a Okay-Pop stan account that incorrectly revealed the “origins” of the viral choreography. He criticized the publish for referring to the choreography as a “foolish little TikTok dance” and inaccurately crediting a Okay-Pop group for creating it. Greene then provides credit score to the precise creator, reportedly a majorette from Alabama, after which gives a short however helpful historical past of majorette tradition.

I refuse to imagine that individuals — even these unfamiliar with Black American majorette tradition — merely aren’t conscious that Black individuals created this dance fashion, particularly after Beyoncé’s critically acclaimed Netflix particular “Homecoming” shined such a respectful gentle on the HBCU neighborhood, tradition and dances.

Fashionable majorette dance is a novel fashion derived from African, Jazz, Ballroom, and hip-hop strategies and is among the many Blackest types of dance expression. It’s a bit of tradition that ought to be fiercely protected, primarily as a result of performing as a majorette is a ceremony of passage. Not any’ ole physique can do it. You should know the historical past after which research and apply the strikes earlier than you’ll be able to carry out them, just like choreography at ceremonies for African and indigenous tribes.

However within the case of social media, these cultural rites usually exit the window, and the which means behind the viral dance seldom comes via, not to mention the individual or individuals behind it.

With all of the current chatter about banning TikTok, I, for one, may care much less if the app fell off the face of the planet. Whereas I’m all the time right here for freedom of expression and entry to data, it’s taken erasure to new heights, and there doesn’t appear to be any antidote to that. So let’s begin lastly respecting the drip and giving our Black creators some credit score.