Langston University Majorettes

February is Black History Month! Follow along as we share a whole new collection of historic images of Black twirlers and majorettes.

Here are some pictures we’ve discovered of Langston University majorettes and twirlers. Langston is Oklahoma’s only historically black college and the westernmost HBCU in the United States. All of these images except one was taken on October 18, 1972. The source is the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The last photo is from a different era. In the bottom lefthand corner you can see a majorette marching in front of the band. Based on the style of clothing worn by both the twirler and spectators, we’re guessing this picture was taken in the early 1950s. It was taken in Guthrie, Oklahoma at the 89er Day Parade.

At some point during their history, the majorettes at Langston were called the Soul Steppers. A few of the twirlers who attended Langston over the years included

Ramona Green (Oklahoma) 1980s (Twirler)
Pat or Patricia Evans (Oklahoma), 1970s (Feature Twirler)
- In 1974, Evans was crowned Miss Langston
Zee Bragg (Oklahoma), 1970s (Twirler)
Sandra Billingslea (Oklahoma), 1970 (Twirler)
Lois Houston (Oklahoma), 1970s (Twirler)
Wanda Smith (Ohio), 1970s (Twirler)
Bernice McPherson (Mississippi), 1970s
Sherry McCarroll (Oklahoma, 1970s (Head Majorette)
Barbara Gray (Mississippi), 1970s (Majorette)
Sheila Brown (Oklahoma, 1970s (Majorette)
Rubye James (Tennessee), 1970s (Majorette)
Barbara Young (Oklahoma), 1970s (Majorette)