Thread by @theVelvetDoor_

🔴HISTORY OF US MILITARY CADENCES started by BLACK AMERICANS

Every fiber and to the core the USA military was heavily influenced by colored troops. From the Buffalo soliders to the inception of Memorial Day it all stems from Black Americans.

(A thread)

#PROTECTYOURLINEAGE

The start of cadence calling in the military is credited to Pvt. Willie Duckworth who raised by his sharecropper grandparents in Jim Crow Georgia.

Duckworth would "chant to build up the spirits of his weary comrades” during WWII

wearethemighty.com/articles/army-…

“Pvt. Willie Duckworth was a young soldier at Fort Slocum, New York in May, 1944, whose unit was dragging their feet during a march. To pep his brothers up, he began calling a chant to hep the men keep in step and to give them more energy.”

Listen to his infamous cadence:

Many military cadences have roots to “chain gang songs” and harmonies of the south.

These harmonies were sung on plantations and later in penitentiaries where our ppl would be placed.

Chain Gang songs were so unique and captivating people would record the workers as they sung and worked.

These “work songs” would inspired artists like Sam Cooke to bring these voices out to the world.

As an Army vet, I’ve always resonated with cadences and felt the spiritual connections in them. This may be the reason why years later a lot of us still gladly sing these songs.

Listen to Drill SGT. Anisha Johnson sing one of my favorite cadences:

Below I’ll share a few more popular military cadences and styles of calling.

Listen to Mutant Mike … 1st SGT Ward

Branch: Marines

1929 Railroad workers in Columbia, SC

Gandydancers:

SGT. MAJ
Fort Jackson, SC

“Hardwork” running cadence:

Drill SGT. Tamika Wilcox

“Army life” cadence:

I dedicate this thread to my great grandfather of South Carolina.

A WWII Army veteran. 💚💪🏾