The Obama pound, exchanged between Michelle and Barack on Tuesday night marked a historic moment. Yeah, there’s that whole first black nominee for president thing. But perhaps as exciting, is the fact that the pound is finally being introduced to mainstream culture. I hope people not familiar with the pound will now realize that when the New York Times’ Ashley Parker wrote about Reggie Love “offering closed-fist high-fives to members of the news media….” she was not describing a painful caveman greeting, but the pound. But I think the Times owes Reggie a correction.

I can’t find an official history or definition of the pound, but here is what I found on Ubrandictionary.com

1. pound: a greeting between two mutual friends. In reality, a fist from one person is “pounded” against the fist of the other person, accompanied by both persons saying “pound.”
2. Pound: The knocking of fists as a form of greeting, departure, or respect
   see daps
3. Dap: The knocking of fists together as a greeting, or form of respect. He gave me a dap when we greeted.
4. dap: a fist-on-fist greeting, front-to-front as if each person is punching each other on the hand. He gave me a dap when we greeted
5. dap: The Dap includes simple to very intricate series of rhythmic hand slaps, clasps, hand and arm gestures exchanged between two persons as a sign of personal greeting, respect and group solidarity. Has origin in greetings developed and practiced by members of Black Power organizations founded in southern California in the early 1970s and then became common place and outlawed practice among African-American draftees and soldiers stateside and abroad during the latter years of the Vietnam War. Was soon adopted by huge duck bill cap, suspender and knicker attired African-American street and club dancers who originated the dance known as “Lockstepping.” Best known Lock Stepper is Fred Barry aka Rerun from the hit 1970s black TV sitcom, “What’s Happenin’?” simplest of Daps is to tap closed fists together one time horizontally or vertically.

So takepart ! Watch the exciting video below. And learn about other African Americans who have made history by visiting “Significant African American Firsts” on Africanamericans.com. Learn more about African American history, culture and trailblazers and check out this great interactive timeline from PBS.

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Previously:

• Ted Kennedy’s Malignant Tumor: Sad News, But The Work Goes On
• Obama Spoke To Me (At Wesleyan, My Alma Mater)
• Senator Ted Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor
• Obama Commences Wesleyan Commencement Praising Kennedy
• It’s Obama vs. McCain, For You Major Party Folks