The History and Social Significance of Jerking

By Jeff Cuaron:

If you’ve heard of it, you’ve most likely seen it either at a party, on a street corner or bus stop, on Youtube, or even on the news. It’s everywhere and so is the wardrobe that came with it. Jerkin can easily be called the biggest hype in California since the Bay Area pushed out the “Hyphy Movement”. I am also very proud to claim jerkin as a Southern California product, as I originally resided in the I.E.

The origins of jerkin can be traced back to a couple different cities but the main ones are Long Beach and Los Angeles. Both cities were the first to put up videos on Youtube and both claimed they were the originators of the dance. The videos featured their local high school kids representing their “jerkin crews” in the clips. The videos are funny to watch and some of the antics of the kids could be called ghetto but there is a big significance to what they are actually doing.

By dancing on bus stops, in crosswalks, and on street corners in bad neighborhoods, a lot of the kids were making a point to the mean streets of LA and Long Beach. They were saying they weren’t going to partake in the common activities that go along with growing up in the hard street life. Jerkin can be called an anti-gang movement for the youth of California. By wearing the brightly colored skinny jeans, a.k.a “skinnies”, along with fresh kicks and old-school t-shirts and hats, the outward appearance is very contrary to the usual baggy jeans and dark colors of gang attire.

Nowadays, there are a lot more moves that go with jerkin then there used to be when it first came out. Many of these variations can be credited to the Go Go Power Rangers, arguably Youtube and jerkin’s biggest trailblazers for the newest dance. They perfected the Reject, the Pin-drop, the Spongebob, and the many more moves that have been featured in their videos. If you ever feel left out at a party because “You’re a Jerk” by New Boyz comes on and you don’t know how to jerk, please do us all a favor and watch any jerkin video on the internet. I guarantee you’ll be part of the popular group at a crackin function.

This thing is still big even though the craze has died down since it first went mainstream, but don’t count it out. Also, a reminder to anybody thinking of throwing a party and are expecting people to dance: Include a couple jerkin songs in your playlist because people will be requesting them if you don’t!!!! If you are at all interested in jerkin now if you weren’t before, then go buy some skinnies, put on some fresh Vans or Nikes, and hit the parties waiting for your favorite song to come on so you can show everyone you know how to Reject. Good luck and get it active!!!!

For more articles by Jeff check out:

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