Giving dap

Dap is a friendly gesture of greeting, agreement, or solidarity between two people that has become popular in Western cultures, particularly since the 1970s, originating from African American communities.[1] Giving dap typically involves handshaking (often, by hooking thumbs), pound hugging, fist pounding, or chest- or fist bumping.[2] The practice and term originated among black soldiers during the Vietnam War, as part of the Black Power movement,[1][3] and the term is attested from around 1969. 90% of those imprisoned in the Long Binh Jail during the war were African Americans; it was in the jail that the handshake was created under pan-African nationalist influences.[4]

One variation of a dap greeting.

Giving dap can refer to presenting many kinds of positive nonverbal communication between two people, ranging from a brief moment of simple bodily contact to a complicated routine of hand slaps, shakes, snaps, etc. known only by the two participants. Elaborate examples of dap are observed as a pregame ritual performed by many teams in the National Basketball Association.[5] These choreographed actions are rarely televised and serve as a superstitious means of psychological preparation and team solidarity.

Etymology

The etymology of dap is uncertain, and there are various theories. Most simply, it may be imitative (compare tap, dap), and is sometimes explained as an acronym for dignity and pride,[3] possibly a backronym.

References
  1. Dalzell, Tom (2009). The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English. Taylor & Francis. p. 271.
  2. Green, Lisa J. (2002). African American English: A Linguistic Introduction. Cambridge University Press. p. 144.
  3. Hamilton, LaMont (September 22, 2014). "Five on the Black Hand Side: Origins and Evolutions of the Dap". Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  4. Zinn, Howard (2008). A People's History of American Empire. New York, New York: Metropolitan Books. ISBN 9780805077797.
  5. Sargent, Scott. "The Secret World of NBA Daps". SB Nation. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
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