clap hands, slap hands on thighs, and alternate until you get the entire group doing it

Willie learned this clapping ritual in one of his various leadership organizations. For him, it symbolizes all the fun times he has had in his high school, particularly with these groups.

The “spirit clap” is a relatively simple maneuver, intended to get the attention of a noisy crowd. It is a series of movements that one person picks up, and then another, until the entire group is doing it, and everyone is united in their attention. This is an effective leadership tool, because it gets peoples’ attention and then makes them participate.