The Origins of High Five

some U.S. cultural history

              The Origins of High Five 

                  

Low five was gay Black 

During World War Two was seen 

Low hand jive greeting 

 

Getting on their bus 

Segregated Black G.I.s 

Had their own greetings 

 

Low five reported 

In esoteric genre 

Gay History 

 

But the moment when 

five was raised for all to see 

Is known exactly 

 

Ball player Glenn Burke 

Spontaneous televised 

Burke raised up low five 

 

Black baseball player 

Out as a gay man raised five 

A surprising move 

 

October second 

Nineteen seventy-seven 

L.A. Dodgers game 

 

Home run in the sixth 

Inspired Burke to raise up five 

For Dusty Baker 

 

Later Baker said 

He'd never seen that before 

But knew what to do 

 

Surprise all around 

If low five had been cultish 

High five was broadcast 

 

The game televised 

The gesture widely welcomed 

High five popular 

 

God bless all involved 

Blessings to innovators 

appreciators 

 

If you like high five 

Remember its origins 

Part of history