I'm not Scottish...have yet to be booed off the stage at a Highland Dance competition. Why does culture only seem to matter when it comes to skin color?

And was the crowd truly cheering this team UNTIL they won? That's what the broadcast seemed to suggest with the contrasting audio clips of cheers and boos. That's the part I understand the least. Okay, if you feel white folks shouldn't be doing it at all, that's one thing, but to think they're great UNTIL they win?? At least be consistent, people!

Firstly great performances. Now some wonder why Black folks, who have their communities stolen (gentrification) then when they do find an affordable community, have slum landlords, race police brutality, suffer around the world, and have historically been killed and abused by the more powerful white/European culture, would have mixed emotions about a white group coming into another of their creations and winning. Yes I totally understand the fear and frustration, but it is a BLIND IGNORANCE. The white group was not only paying respect to Black culture, but did an exceptional dance.

I speak as a white man going to a culturally diverse university, not in a frat, but going into a field where I am a minority (sex, not race, based, as it is: Nursing). And I want to point out that even though I was entering a field where I was not the norm, I was WELCOMED. Learn from this, Greeks. I was welcomed with open arms into my profession, for what -I- could add to it. There are no complaints of "Keeping nursing feminine" or "Must remember nursing is a female profession". No hate. But in this instance of this stepping contest, I see a form of what I had worried nursing would be like: that I could act at it, but because of who I am could never be it. These girls won fairly, but because it would be breaking a established mold, it was reversed on them. Despicable. I will pray for those who reversed the decision and for the boo'ers. Because your hearts are filled with such hate and ignorance that it spills over the edges. We will never truly be diversified until this double standard stops, until discrimination in any direction is a thing of the past.

I speak as a white man going to a culturally diverse university, not in a frat, but going into a field where I am a minority (sex, not race, based, as it is: Nursing). And I want to point out that even though I was entering a field where I was not the norm, I was WELCOMED. Learn from this, Greeks. I was welcomed with open arms into my profession, for what -I- could add to it. There are no complaints of "Keeping nursing feminine" or "Must remember nursing is a female profession". No hate. But in this instance of this stepping contest, I see a form of what I had worried nursing would be like: that I could act at it, but because of who I am could never be it. These girls won fairly, but because it would be breaking a established mold, it was reversed on them. Despicable. I will pray for those who reversed the decision and for the boo'ers. Because your hearts are filled with such hate and ignorance that it spills over the edges. We will never truly be diversified until this double standard stops, until discrimination in any direction is a thing of the past.

The sad thing is this team won fair and square. We need to stop crying and let these young ladies enjoy there win. Just like Kanye disrepected the young lady at the awards, stop pointing fingers because we as blacks do some things as well. Oh by the way if you all would check your history we are all african american, the skin is lighter because you we're futher from the equator, people do your history. I'm african american and I don't understand why black guys don't go sking or swimming. Get out of the hanging out with pooky mode and try something and maybe some of the complaint will go away and sista's please stop the drama if you got beat go practice and come back next year, duh the judges we're black Hellllllllo!!!

Why is it when a black person or group doesn't win something, they feel they are treated unfairly? If the results had been reversed we would never have been having this discussion! These black groups have their ALL BLACK organizations (National Negro College Fund, Miss Black America, BET,etc), BUT, if there was an ALL WHITE organization then God forbid they would have Jesse and Al (HA! Some Reverends, huh? Agitators are more like it!) organizing protests in the streets!!!
They lost, plain and simple!

sorry that should be black phi delt

"My question is why are there only black and white teams?

It looks like Stepping illustrates the "problem" of self-segregation.

Where there no teams with both black and white performers?"

Because AKA is a nationally black sorority. In fact most black sororities and fraternities are nationally black. Only in the south do you see the other sororities and fraternities only taking white kids but that’s changing ever year. The thing that really annoys me is the fact that it wouldn’t shock at all to see a white Phi Delt but a white Omega…that will never happen. The blacks segregate themselves and the Universities and Nationals bitch about the so called “white” fraternities for not taking enough minorities, go figure.

As someone who has worked on step shows and have been a member of a Black fraternity, these women won that show hands down. They also gave honor to the tradition of stepping. It reminded me of the old days.

As someone who knows people from both teams, and would actually consider someone from zeta a friend, I think they deserved the win 100%. With that I do not think they deserved that scholarship money. Rare to find a girl in that sorority that works or has to worry about student loans. It is the whole reason I did not pledge while attending Arkansas, because I actually felt uncomfortable about money. I don't know what they planned to do with their money, but I hope it didn't go to adding on to their remodeling project.

This is not about race. Those Zeta's beat the %$# out of AKA. Look, now we know how they felt when we won the white house. LOL

IMO...It truly does not matter to me that a white girl step team won. WHY?!? Because the competition over the last 10-12 years have weaken since my time. And now you yougins have seen in this 2010 competition what can happen. It's time to stop crying screaming foul and step up your game. Oh yeah and no longer should you ever think that it can't be taken from either. Now grow up. Its not a racist thing. Just a mad one. Get over and get on

There is an obvious double standard just look at the media during this election. Blacks are racists as a whole when whites are in small groups doing it. And blackfemenista u don't believe in a black racism towards whites????? You are as stupid as you are ignorant. Femenists are the biggest hypocrites of them all. They talk about men putting them down and treating them wrong well if men are such dicks then why do you cut your hair short and put your shoulder pads under your pants suits. And I know something men can do that women can't ..... Grow a fkn beard!!!

ok ok ok why do so many blacks hate "white america" beacuse they make our lives so bad? slavery ?, or what happend in the 60s?. well most of us havent even delt with that. so quit bitchn. or go back to your roots, and live in Africa, see how much u like it ..after all they sold us to the white man...

what the ^&%^%& are you retards talking about why does everything have to be about race.americans are americans.do you think those terrorists care what color we are. stop fighting over a dance contest and worry about a real fight.go to a communist country and talk #$#%$ there and see how far you get.lets just all get along

I'm with, "jazz isn't owned by Blacks" - although surprised at, " White musicians faced 'can they' - I remember hearing that jazz was integrated, from early on, if not to begin with. Whites said Blacks can't do classical ballet up to 40 years ago. Their members may or may not be Caucasian culturally; but the ballet companies of Austin TX, Argentina, South Africa, Egypt, Washington DC, and China are all quite capable, and express local culture in their work. Arthur Mitchell began Dance Theatre of Harlem so dancers could do classical dance, and be African - not only because discrimination was more the case then. We can't "co-opt" what's not ours as Americans; we participate with one another. To L. Peterson, "erasure": Why not appreciate being appreciated? It was an issue for Blacks to perform European classical music; now it isn't - so you don't hear about, same as when. Why not be glad they like your style, instead of want not to cross paths with you, or anything of yours?

All this talk about reverse discrimination and black racism is obscene to me (yes, I'm black) Blacks discriminate and practice racism just as any other race does. We all will be better off when Blacks stop pretending we don't. And to the person who said no whites have been hurt by racism... you need to pay more attention to the world around you. Have you noticed there are no white running backs in the NFL. No team will pick up one. But I'm sure you wouldn't call that racism.

Interesting. Well, first of all, I don't believe in a black racism toward whites. Racism is structural and institutional power, and as far as I am concerned, we still live in a white supremacist society to that end. A step show hardly compares to, say, wealth distribution or health disparities. And I do recognize that power in cultural expressions and traditional art forms.

All that being said, I have to say this about the competition here: true, the white girls crossed a coveted boundary of a traditional black space, but I also noticed that all of the sisters were flaunting straight or permed hair. So, as Aretha would say, who's zoomin who?

Interesting. Well, first of all, I don't believe in a black racism toward whites. Racism is structural and institutional power, and as far as I am concerned, we still live in a white supremacist society to that end. A step show hardly compares to, say, wealth distribution or health disparities. And I do recognize that power in cultural expressions and traditional art forms.

All that being said, I have to say this about the competition here: true, the white girls crossed a coveted boundary of a traditional black space, but I also noticed that all of the sisters were flaunting straight or permed hair. So, as Aretha would say, who's zoomin who?

@Dominic-

Yes, Tiger was booed when he won.

What folks have to understand is that blacks and whites have not had an equivalent experience in this country. So while stepping is not the "property" of any particular group (after all who among us can claim to have a "pure" culture) to say that because whites dont do this why should blacks reflects a lack of understanding.

Seriously at what point has socalled black racism ever resulted in whites losing opportunities to progress when those who determine opportunity in this country are mainly white? Just look at the race and gender of those who lead this nation. Start by looking at who surrounds President Obama.

What about the"n" word? As a white male I can't even say the word . . . I have to refer to it by the first letter of the word. It's the extreme, but clearly culture/race does have some kind of ownership.

I think that the problem may lie in the racial segregation of fraternities and sororities. When I was in a frat, we always had trouble trying to recruit black men, mostly because there was a dormitory section that was self-segregated black men. It was always frustrating, because we wanted our brotherhood to be as diverse as possible.

What if a mixed-race house won? It is past time to integrate our nation's Greek housing.

It was a competition and the judges decided this group prevailed. The color of their skin should not matter. "Stepping" may be a product of African-American culure, but it has now entered a wider arena. That is progress and good for a diverse society. Let us simply not forget its true origins.

This is a perfect example of reverse discrimination.

I watched some of the competition and was not moved by any of the performers, personally. I don't believe that we live in a "post racial era." I believe we live more in a subterraneous racial era. Which is why we are even having this convo.

But after such a long history of oppression, and hearing things like, "Can't White folks have anything?" I am not surprised that Black people may think themselves, "Black folks can't have anything."

Besides, the boo'ing were because the groups that didn't win were hating. The White group got loads of cheer from their perdominately Black audience while performing. So to say that Blacks didn't want them to win is crazy... especially since the judges were.... wait for it.... wait for it... Of a darker shade of human.

What happened here does not surprise me. The fact that the judges had to "reverse" their decision speaks volumes. They were selected to provide impartial scoring by the organizers, and that's what they did. People disagree with judging decisions all the time but whether you agree or not, you accept it and move on. They made their decision and then someone said, "no, wait you can't do this." I think there is a big double standard in the black community when it comes to racism and people don't want to admit it.

just goes to show that there is a prejudistic view from blacks towards whites.the focus is always da other way around. Maybe at some point someone will take a look at this from a different perspective

Yes ppl did boo when Tiger Woods won the Master's. They asked him if he wanted fried chicken.... Enough said. There aren"t any "mixed" step teams because in general there aren't any "mixed" greek orginazations. There are some but they are business, academic, etc... The point is the greek system is segragated so the step teams are seragated. The main reason for the Divine Nine (Black Greeks) is because black weren't allowed to join white greeks. So really what do you expect.

This shows the immaturity of the Black community. A mature culture would be welcoming to others. It is unfortunate that the black leadership has created a culture of paranoia, where any loss is an attack.
Like the Compton picnic issue, look to yourselves for fault, not to others. Grills, baggy pants, and thug life rap leads to parody.

When a culture is rich, it spreads. It invites others into its world. Hence, we see artists like Andre Watts or Jesse Normand, like Cleo Lane or Tony Bennett.

The notion that a race, nation, ethnicity, sexual orientation "owns" something is ultimately self-defeating. Should straight people not be allowed to vogue? Should only black drag queens be allowed to vogue? Should only Argentines tango, or only Celts play bagpipes.

Art transcends. That is why it exists.

Any complaint that a while team wins a predominantly black competition is a discriminatory and racist remark.

No race "owns" an art form!

Sounds remarkably like saying a black man can't win a golf championship!

The teams that didn't win should be professional and look at what the winners did and learn from that. If the winners took the art form to a higher level, than that is progress and evolution.

You don't see anybody golfing with wooden clubs anymore do you!?!?

My question is why are there only black and white teams?

It looks like Stepping illustrates the "problem" of self-segregation.

Where there no teams with both black and white performers?

My question is why are there only black and white teams?

It looks like Stepping illustrates the "problem" of self-segregation.

Where there no teams with both black and white performers?

Both groups were fantastic -- but Alpha Kappa Alpha took it to another level. Their moves were more intricate, complex and interesting.

No doubt, there is much to be said for the preservation of specific cultures as the "property" of certain groups. We're seeing these crossovers more and more... white musicians succeeding in jazz, non-Latinos dancing salsa, east Asian musicians taking a dominant role in the classical music world... There is one difference. When a young man from Korea won the Tchaikovsky competition, was he booed? When Tiger Woods started dominating a traditionally white sport, was he booed? To call the reaction of the crowd in this story anything BUT racist is hypocritical. It is a shame that this discussion is being framed in terms of the guarding of culture, as this is a cover-up for the real root of the outburst - black racism toward whites. Black racism is in every way analogous to white racism toward blacks, except there aren't dozens of organizations devoted to policing the former... In other words, it's not only OK for blacks to be racist - most media is loath to even admit the possibility of such a phenomenon.