(Photo: Kirsten Fiscus/Advertiser). But when the 17-year-old senior takes his place as the head drum major for the marching band, he becomes something unique – a white student leading a predominantly black band. He blazed his own path in the confines of his home and laid the groundwork for the day he’d get his shot. Many viewers have expressed their disbelief that this is only a high school band — they’re that good. He knows a thing or two about the band. I say that because back in the day we used to march for our freedom," Jackson said, "and now today we have that freedom, but we’re still marching on. Jones said they all knew it was going to be him because of how strong he performed, but Heideman’s reaction, though he was excited and in disbelief, was that of a fulfilled expectation. The school streams sporting events like softball, football, cheerleading, basketball, soccer and baseball. Award Winning RogersBros Shoot Your Shot w/ Justin Heideman! Posted yesterday It was the summer of 2016, before his first band camp with JD. was able to perform as a trumpet player in the marching band. The highest score. It’s only then, when they decide. To Black People!!! “I just couldn’t seem to wrap my head around him.”. Future Dreaming ? Heideman said when he hit 100,000 followers, “I cannot believe I’ve actually done it. In many ways, the opposition that Heideman faced is an age-old story blacks have been up against for years when attempting to enter a space not everyone agreed they belonged. !& Hollywood!!.. When I came back I had 10,000.” Heideman added, “Without this band, I wouldn’t be the viral sensation. 10/20 ! If there is trouble or conflict he knows how to handle it now. He said he was thoroughly impressed because had never seen a white drum major lead an all-black band. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® coursework and exams. Jeff Davis High School is a small school in Hazlehurst, GA, Jeff Davis County. Race is not the whole story, they said though the viralization of Justin Heideman’s existence made that his narrative. White Boy Leads His Band Into A New Age Of FunkI Am A Bootyman Untill I Reach 100k subs Follow My Social Medias Below Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynemidnight/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dwaynemidnight Snapchat: @dwayne_midnight2019-10-08T05:02:09.000Z, In an interview regarding his viral success, the school’s band director Brandon Howard told ABC 3340, “You really can’t help but see color. Put This Kid Back!!! Find Jefferson Davis High School test scores, student-teacher ratio, parent reviews and teacher stats. But when the 17-year-old senior takes his place as the head drum major for the marching band, he becomes something unique – a white student leading a … One of those questions was posed by fellow drum major Jackson and trombonist at the time: “Is he going to be able to keep up? I have nothing against him personally but stop praising white mediocrity. Jefferson Davis High School located in Montgomery, Alabama - AL. Rich Black Legacy!!.. Justin's nickname is "Vanilla Funk"–lovingly given to … Everything was trial and error, he said. The JDHS Band has been one of the most innovative and entertaining bands in the … Will people accept him as a drum major and respect him?”. Heideman spent hours in his room studying styles and marching sequences. ... It’s dusk and just outside the windows of Room 107 at Jeff Davis High School, the final remnants of … just a feeling tho. Once the audition gets underway, those remaining are graded on a 80-point scale by judges on stationary points (detailed body control and executing specific movements), conducting, facial and whistle commands and a small routine they must execute. He said he was impressed and that Heideman deserved the attention. Justin is a 17-year-old high school senior. We're an independent nonprofit that provides parents with in-depth school quality information. In February 2019, Heideman and his band were invited to perform at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. “It was instinctively inside of me saying, ‘If you work hard maybe others will see it, and try to outdo you, and then you can try to outdo them. ..It's A Slap!!! READ NEXT: Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School, Justin Heideman aka Vanilla Funk: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright © 2020 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. In high school, I’ve never seen a white drum major do anything like that.". Howard announced the names third to first, Heideman said, as they waited nervously. Has To STOP!!!.. He hangs up, slouches back, tilts his head toward the tiled ceiling and takes a breath before moving his fingers through his hair against the grain. He’s talking about us!’” Heideman said, without realizing how popular @PubbyLongway was. Thus, Heideman told Howard if quitting was “too far of a step,” then let's shake up the formation. Jeff Davis High School drum major Justin Heideman finds himself in a unique position. He visualized it and made it a reality for himself in advance. "To this family, color is not an issue. In Government! By the end of the weekend, the video had amassed hundreds of thousands of views on Instagram and Twitter, each. Everybody that’s not here with us on a daily basis stands out to them automatically. Even with the praise and positive social engagement, hate, ignorance, and prejudice countered with a punch of its own. "I'm just another person that happens to be a different race doing what other people have done," Heideman said. But a high school kid, really? Everything was kind of shaky, but you could tell he was really driven to get it done.”. & It's Been Going On Ever Since Blacks Have Been BS! Thank you all for this amazing 100,000 followers I never thought I’d see the day. This process starts with about 15 individuals. You can call me white all day, you can call me a cracker, but as soon as you call me ‘mediocre,’ don’t come after my craft, because I have worked tirelessly to perfect this craft.”, PART 2!! Jeff Davis High School is a public high school located in Hazlehurst, Georgia, United States. Though Heideman said he prefers the HBCU show-style, he remains undeclared and says that it's his dream to introduce the two styles to one another. “Then I went to Justin and said ‘Justin, did you see this video? “But I don’t want my band to turn into a joke. His hesitancy quickly turned into love, and Heideman made the decision to give all that he had to band, “back-breaking work,” he described it. https://t.co/KThbyg5uvI. Jeff Davis High School is a public high school of the Jeff Davis County School District located in Hazlehurst, GA. Jeff Davis High School Head Drum Major Justin Heideman talks about being Drum Major.. Box Score Tournament Bracket. . Longway stumbled across the initial video of Heideman performing, while browsing on Facebook. position, in the marching band. He earned all of that,” Williams said. (Photo: Kirsten Fiscus/Advertiser). Do ANY!! Jeff Davis High School is the 272nd largest public high school in Georgia and the 6,849th largest nationally. “I don’t care if you call me white. I'm Sorry!!!.. “A lot of people thought he wasn’t going to make it because of his color,” Howard said, “and that was definitely something that would be a hindrance for most, but that wasn't for him.”. Jeff Davis High School lead drum major Justin Heideman leads the band during a performance at the annual Magic City Classic parade in downtown Birmingham on October 26. “He would come in here every day saying, ‘Mr. Dozens of marching bands, dance teams and representatives from Alabama State University and Alabama A&M participated in the annual Magic City Classic parade in downtown Birmingham. (LIVE Reactions), White Boy Leads His Band Into A New Age Of Funk. Furthermore, the process of becoming a drum major is a rigorous task. It’s a white boy leading the pack.’”. Longway said he expected to get a little more views than he usually does,  “50K maybe 100K," he said, because of the unique nature of the content. He could hear the music, he could see the crowd and the formation of the band he led. Montgomery Advertiser, “I was just chilling, and I had videos just running,” Longway said. “When I saw that, I was like, ‘Wow,’” Williams said. Of The Moves Or, Steps Right! Do not share or praise this fellow ALL THE WHILE IGNORING THE BLACK DRUM MAJORS DOING JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER! When he got his shot to join again in the spring, Heideman was still unsure. After the first year of high school he . Howard, let me show you what I learned,’” Howard said. What’s not understood by some onlookers is Heideman’s journey and the work he put in to achieve this status, as alluded to by Longway. Heideman originally joined the band as a trumpet player before becoming one of the band’s four majors. The number of participants dwindles with each week, and by audition time there are usually about four or five, “because everybody can’t really hang,” Howard said. Entering the audition Heideman competed for the four spots against four other people, including Jones and Jackson. “Everybody has their own little personality, and the ones that aren’t really disciplined are going to stay undisciplined until you show them that you deserve respect. Or anything like polo, you know you’re the first black to do something? Then he noticed the drum majors, and he wanted to be the best leader.”, Justin Heideman, a drum major who went viral recently, leads his Jeff Davis band down Dexter to the shouts of many adoring fans. In an interview with the Rogers Brothers, Heideman says that he counts rapper Nelly among his followers. I was like, ‘He’s actually really famous on social media; this might go viral!’”. Jackson further explained: “We (the black band) keep marching on. “He earned his spot. 2016-2017 ACIP; Administration; News. Jeff Davis Marching Band Drum Majors, from left, Jaylon Jones, Dominic Williams, Xavier Jackson and Justin Heideman pose at the school in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday December 4, 2019. !...The "White Bitin!??" Pushing This Crap!!! Jones said that when they announced Heideman’s name as the head drum major, Heideman was “calm and chill” about it. Jeff Davis High School, Hazlehurst, Georgia. Jeff Davis High School Head Drum Major Justin Heideman talks about being Drum Major.. “Growing up I always had an imagination,” Heideman said. (Photo: Kirsten Fiscus/Advertiser). Powered by. No, it should all just be about that one band, because it’s one band.”. That man justin not playin wit yall man! pic.twitter.com/vdcvW5AO3U. The "Sonic Boom!" Box Score Tournament Bracket. I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ I had 800 followers that morning. & Last!!.. He is also a drum major and his skill for marching would soon be put on display. I Am A Bootyman Untill I Reach 100k subs Follow My Social Medias Below Instagram: St. Patrick's Day Parade~2019~NYC~Jefferson Davis HS Marching Band~NYCParadelife, For more parade coverage, please visit NYCParadelife.com, https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rogersbros, https://www.instagram.com/dwaynemidnight/, Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School. “Can you tell the guys outside to be quiet? “When I saw it, of course it was pretty funny,” Howard said. Heideman remembers the first time he ever attempted to move like a show-style drum major. “They say it’s ‘white mediocrity,’” Heideman said. Rather, he has worked hard to be a part of it and lives to honor it. Nonetheless, there were still some obstacles to be scaled and questions to be answered. Howard said Heideman ultimately came to him considering quitting, all the while letting on that he was fine. But, Heideman’s existence is not and was not about clicks, laughs, followers or being invited to the proverbial “cookout.” It’s about being a Jefferson Davis “Intermission Magician” from his first breath to his last, and he’ll stand for that in the face of prejudice and those suggesting he’s a talentless token who doesn’t belong. Others suggested there was something heinous about a group of black children following the lead of a white boy and expressed that Heideman took the attention away from the three other drum majors: Ya’ll (sic) the reason we can’t get ahead as people!!! “It was really shocking. Does your High School Class have a full-featured Alumni Website? If a band member is struggling with some of the music, he has a knack for explaining and breaking things down, bit by bit to them, his fellow drum majors said. “But when I was watching the video I was like ‘Man, how are you all going to catch this video?’ This was probably the worst video that I wanted put out there of my group.”. On Wednesday, Jefferson Davis High School's … It’s about the band and functionality thereof. Follow him on Twitter @AndreToran. Justin Heideman, a drum major who went viral recently, leads his Jeff Davis band down Dexter to the shouts of many adoring fans. Heideman described how one video went viral when speaking to ABC 3340. Now, back in his position of comfort, Heideman focuses in; it’s time for another interview. Heideman attended the first practice but didn’t return at the request of his parents who wanted him to spend the first semester of school focusing on his grades. “Saying, ‘What is he doing as a white head drum major leading a black band?’ To me, (his race) really doesn’t faze me, but as to see people talk about him, it’s stupid. “I don’t care if I’m white, I don’t care if I’m Asian, Hispanic, black, whatever. A HORN! I wasn’t quick to judge, I gave him a shot,” Jackson said. We’re showing that ‘Hey, it’s about culture now,’ and bringing the nation together as one.”. By the summer of 2016 that's what Heideman set his sights on. 9 talking about this. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA/CNN/Gray News) – In the halls of Jefferson Davis High School, Justin Heideman is just like any other student. Those commenting saw their words as a protection of the culture —  a culture that African Americans fight to preserve daily. Either I didn’t make it or I’m head drum major,” Heideman said. Then I went to work. Howard takes those auditioning through a one- to two-month process of punctilious training before auditions start. He doesn’t take offense to some of the resistance he’s seen and doesn’t see race as being the factor. While some feel the black band experience is “for the culture” and protected by the culture, those close to Heideman insists he is not here to steal it. Heideman is known by his bandmates as “Vanilla Funk.” At the time of writing, Heideman has over 100,000 followers on Instagram. Jeff Davis High School lead drum major Justin Heideman leads the band during a performance at the annual Magic City Classic parade in downtown Birmingham on October 26. All rights reserved, Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about. Is A Very!! According to statistics, Jefferson Davis High School’s student body is 94 percent African-American, two percent White, two percent Hispanic and 1 percent Asian. and opportunity made him work diligently on his craft. leader of the trumpet section. (Stephen Herron, YouTube). He is the first thing that they see.”, Him: “If it wasn’t for my band, I wouldn’t be this viral sensation. There were a lot of variables to consider for Howard: His band wasn’t completely dressed; it was a minor parade JD does every year for homecoming where they march from the school to the elementary school across the street and back; Heideman had a ponytail at the top of his head, put in by his girlfriend, Jenilyn Davis, as a joke, “that no one would notice," according to Jackson; and the focus of the video was placed solely on Heideman. Justin Heideman took the front of the procession. The third year, he was the section . Latest News. It never has been. Jeff Davis High School Drum Majors talk about their camaraderie with Head Drum Major Justin Heideman. Jeff Davis High School is ranked 274th within Georgia. So, then I worked harder and harder, and I told myself, ‘I want to be drum major.’”. ? He said leading this band, “is just like leading any other band.”, “High school students are going to be high school students,” Heideman said. Played By The Left!!! So, Heideman was always going to stand out, but his parents didn't think this was an issue. They doubted him, not all but some, telling him flat out he couldn’t do it. “I imagined that I was the head drum major alongside whoever was there, and I marched in, and the band started playing and I started throwing some random stand that wasn’t even an actual drum major stand. Iron sharpens iron. That's apropos since according Heideman and Howard, Heideman is receiving interest from HBCUs and predominantly white institutions (PWI): Jackson State, Auburn, Alabama State, Texas Southern, Kentucky State and Troy. There were some members in the band that did not respect Heideman, Williams said, and he struggled with it at first, but ultimately, “He found ways to overcome that.”, “It took a lot to gain respect,” Heideman said. I’m just someone of a different race who does what other people been doing.”, Y’all: “Proving it’s not about how you look, but what you can do.”, Whiteboy John really laid it out and y’all still got it wrong. But Justin had his concerns and knew it would take some time to relate just like any new place. “A lot of people think, ‘Oh, you pick your drum majors because they can dance,’” Howard said. However, Longway didn’t account for the seeds of hate that would sprout in response. Justin Heideman is viral sensation Vanilla Funk the drum major from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Howard wasn’t having that. Jeff Davis High School - Public High School located in Hazlehurst, GA with grades 9-12. Demographically, JD is roughly 91% black and 6% white, according to the Alabama Department of Education report card. Up Front!!????.. “Even still I don’t think I’m done with gaining respect from people.”, Though Heideman still has to prove himself, leading this band has become second nature to him. So, I said, ‘Let me go back and listen to that.’ I ran back to my room and I saw Justin. Years But, To See How This White Kid Is All!! High school drum major’s dance moves become internet sensation. Online Registration is Now Open; Schoology Link; WiFi Vouchers; BUS Routes; Title I Presentation; Spotlights. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. “I said to my friend, ‘This is probably the worst situation.’ He was like ‘what do you mean?’ I said to him, ‘I’m small. “I thought it was actually good, and then I cut off and said, ‘Yeaaa, I’m a drum major.”. Oct. 5, 2019, was the day Heideman’s life changed forever. Yet they commented without reservation and many did not give Heideman the benefit of the doubt. Principal's Corner; School Staff; We Are JD Video; ACIP. For starters, Heideman has been the head drum major at JD that past two years, and America is late to the party. Montgomery’s Jefferson Davis High School marching band will perform on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” Tuesday night. Starting to feel like I’m bound to go for it ??? So his thing was, ‘maybe if I come in with strong leadership, strong discipline, then they’ll follow me,’ but that was not the case at all. The group didn’t expect it to “blow up” and when it did, it became “surreal.”. It’s dusk and just outside the windows of Room 107 at Jeff Davis High School, the final remnants of the band are leaving practice the same way they came: blaring and filling the now chilled crisp of the December air with the powerful and royal tones of brass. There is a calm intensity that covers him as if he is still in front of his band — as if he’s still in control. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Heideman said, “didn’t know anything about the SWAC or HBCU show style-bands.”. “From the time he stepped foot in the door, he was excited about playing his (trumpet). Race is not the whole story, they said though the viralization of Justin Heideman’s existence made that his narrative. “(He) marched through the entire year headed toward that drum major goal that he had already set,” Howard said. Posted Sat, Feb 15 2020. “You know how black people try to get into a sport or something new like hockey or something? Race is not the whole story, they said though the viralization of Heideman’s existence made that his narrative. I don’t want him (Heideman) to turn into a joke.”. “I remember the first thing I said on the first day of school,” Heideman said laughing. Facebook: Rogersbros IG: @Officialrogersbros CashApp: $Officialrogersbros MERCH : https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rogersbros2019-10-21T05:53:10.000Z. Justin Heideman pictured on his Facebook page in 2018. References [ edit ] Of those 80 points, the year Heideman auditioned, he scored a 78 out of 80. 84-52 (W) - Jeff Davis vs. Woodville-Tompkins RESULT Win Played on 2/8/2020 5:00 PM We couldn't do it without yall help. Heideman raises his hand, as if to say, “Hold on one second,” reaches for his iPhone and dials the number of his band director Brandon Howard. “Justin came to be a part of this, not to overtake it,” Williams said. Heideman pursues those things unrelentingly, and he meticulously studies his craft. The Jeff Davis varsity basketball team lost Saturday's away playoff game against Laney (Augusta, GA) by a score of 64-44. It has a student teacher ratio of 18.3 to 1. “It’s funny to put them on display like that,” Howard said. Award Winning RogersBros Shoot Your Shot w/ Justin Heideman! That was enough for Longway to record one of his famous voice-overs, and the internet took care of the rest. “Then he would show me a drum major routine that he tried to put together. “I even got some slander off of that, because it’s a lot of people that are real pro-black now, and they were like ‘Yea, you’re just helping another white dude get on. Marching on: Justin ‘came to make us better’, Enjoy a limted number of articles over the next 30 days, To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the. He prepared for what he knew would come. ...The College That's The Originator!! It was muscle memory for Heideman and, “he knocked it out of the water,” Howard said. (Hazelhurst) Community information, administration, school pages, calendar, menu, alumni information, and student handbook. The Right!!! “When you get to looking on the internet, everybody is slandering him,” Williams said. He mixed styles together, tried moves that didn’t necessarily go with one another. He’s just on your back and he gonna ride ya.’ And I saw Justin was getting the lash of a white boy being in that position, while black people been doing it for so long and he’s getting recognition off of it like it’s just something brand new.". We look at the quality of the person.". The viral nature of the video was exciting, but Howard, the band's director of nine years, said he was afraid his band would be viewed as a joke, among other things. Music is his passion, and before he went viral in October, a white boy leading an all-black band, Heideman carried out his job as head drum major the same way he does now: with discipline, fervor, an intense desire to learn at all costs and a dedication to uphold the legacy of JD drum majors who came before. NOTE: If students decide to return to the school site or work remotely, he/she must remain in the selected option (on-site or remote) for a nine week period.Special consideration may be granted for emergency/critical situations. “He’s been working so long to earn his spot, and he honestly did.”. Justin Heideman, lead drum major who went viral recently, leads his Jeff Davis band down Dexter Avenue to the shouts of many adoring fans. He’s been able to gain this respect through being a teacher, his peers said. In The Band WITH!! “When I looked at his profile, he was really popular on social media. However, “I don’t even think it fazed him really,” Longway said. So, he led with a heavy hand, the trio of Williams, Jackson and Jones said. During that same interview, Heideman said that he was inspired to get involved in the school band through his father who was a trumpet player. He didn’t necessarily fit in, and he was fully aware of that so he was hesitant about many things his freshman year, which included joining the band. When Justin … “I wanted to dance like a drum major,” he said, “so, I marched like a drum major,” and he used his imagination to fill in the rest. Response to drum major's viral video misses real story of white boy, black band, Published 6:00 a.m. CT Dec. 11, 2019 | Updated 11:54 a.m. CT March 20, 2020. Jackson and Williams reached out to Heideman as soon as they saw the video picking up steam, but he played it cool, Jackson said. It’s about Heideman earning his spot just like every other drum major that came before. Son of a Gun ?… JD Marching Vols Trumpet/Head Drum Major.” The video that springboarded Heideman’s success was this one which featured footage of Heideman marching with commentary from @PubbyLongWay. He wanted to be the best player. www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. There was an unspoken sense that Heideman had to prove himself, despite his accomplishment. © 2020 He earned the fame. He's Stiff!! 1 year ago. 2.2K likes. Justin Heideman, better known as “Vanilla Funk” or “that boy John,” shifts his position in his chair and postures up from a slouch, clutching the ever so familiar mace drum majors wield. However, Jackson and others soon found the character ultimately unearthed was of an individual who wants to be the best, learn as much as he can, and yearns to lead. Comments poured in on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and other online forums incriminating Heideman of not being worthy to lead the band. When the four got to school on Monday they were met with praises and the most popular lines of the video’s commentary, ‘Slideee, to the Sky!’ and ‘Where that boy John at?’ Williams said. (LIVE Reactions)Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/rogersbros910 Multistreaming with https://restream.io/ Thanks for the support! A post shared by Justin “Vanilla Funk” Heideman (@v4n1lla_funk) on Apr 23, 2019 at 9:33am PDT. It is a product of Classreport, Inc. and may not be affiliated with Jeff Davis High School or its alumni association. “No, we pick them because they are meticulous in the way they do things.”. (Photo: Kirsten Fiscus/Advertiser). Jeff Davis High School Drum Major Justin Heideman at the school in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday December 4, 2019. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WEHT/CNN) – A young man in Alabama is gaining national attention because of his skills and moves as a high school drum major. Heideman’s humble attitude is reflected on his Facebook page where he lists this as his favorite quote, “Successful people aren’t successful because they don’t fail, they’re successful because they learn from their failures.”, St. Patrick's Day Parade~2019~NYC~Jefferson Davis HS Marching Band~NYCParadelifeFor more parade coverage, please visit NYCParadelife.com2019-03-17T15:40:34.000Z. The Jeff Davis varsity football team won Saturday's neutral playoff game against Washington County (Sandersville, GA) by a score of 28-25. He felt his fellow drum majors behind him, and his backyard transformed into welcoming greens of a football field with a roaring sea of people cheering. Practices last hours and extend to the weekends, weeding out the unqualified. Montgomery Advertiser. "His mother and I both went to public school here in Montgomery," Eric Heideman, Justin's father said. A young man is gaining national attention because of his skills and moves as a high school drum major at Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery. Rather, he was viewed as an invader, someone that encroached on a piece of black culture that they weren’t willing to surrender as so many other things. He led the trumpet section, Howard said, and emerged as one of the best trumpet players in the band. The news of Heideman’s appointment spread across the band’s Facebook page and left many in shock, including Williams. Meet Justin Heideman -- The white drum major … Unlike most white children in Montgomery and the surrounding areas, Heideman attends one of the city's traditional public schools, instead of one of its magnet or private schools. Facebook/Justin Heideman Will he be able to do this how we do this? Side Whites!! It's Been!!! “OK ,OK, good job,” Heideman said to himself. It has 867 students in grades 9th through 12th. I've Been Gone Many! Heideman’s fellow drum majors, Xavier “Cruise Control” Jackson, Dominic “D-Willy” Williams, and Jaylon “Freak Nasty” Jones, said they had the same reaction. A slice of the African American community saw Heideman’s lead as a crime. The drum majors, dancers, and musicians created such an exceptional performance that we are sure it could give anyone school spirit! 10/20 ! Gotta #StayHumble ? Justin Heideman is Vanilla Funk the drum major from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Alabama. It was not bad, I was just thinking of ‘How is it going to be now that we have a white head drum major,’ and how that was actually going to change things?”, Williams' question represented what a majority of people were thinking: “Will he be able to do his role and play his part? Done In Hollywood!!! Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Andre Toran at 334-322-4631  or AToran@gannett.com. “I feel like people are saying that because he's the first person you see and then you got us behind him. Some have not taken a look beyond the viral nature of the video, or the idea of Justin as just another white person trying to be cool. Justin Heideman, lead drum major who went viral recently, leads his Jeff Davis band down Dexter Avenue to the shouts of many adoring fans. This isn’t a game for Heideman. It blew up beyond expectations, and today the video sits at 4.4 million views. No one really did. “Put Xavier in the front, Dom can take his spot, Jalen can take (Dom’s) spot, and I’ll sit in the back, since everybody wants to talk about how I don’t deserve to be in the front.”, The public backlash from a select group of people was an “eye-opener” for Heideman, Howard said. This game was part of the 2020 Georgia High School Football Playoff Brackets: GHSA - AA tournament. “Justin’s approach last year when he first made it was more so taking leadership,” Jones said, “because we all knew this was going to be a totally different squad, like a different group of drum majors, the band is going to try to run over him. I’m white, kinda weak, and I have lunch money.’ ”, Dozens of marching bands, dance teams and representatives from Alabama State University and Alabama A&M participated in the annual Magic City Classic parade in downtown Birmingham. The videos that he sought were performances of HBCU bands and the styles of their drum majors that he was so familiar with, being the lead drum major at Jeff Davis High School… He CAN'T!!! NOT!!! and he said ‘Yea, I been seen it.’ And I’m looking like, ‘How did you feel about it?’”, Jeff Davis Marching Band Drum Majors, from left, Jalen Jones, Dominic Williams, Xavier Jackson and Justin Heideman pose at the school in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday December 4, 2019. “He might be one of the most passionate kids I’ve had here at Jeff Davis,” Howard said. Like, oh I finally people catch the hard work that we do.” He went on, “I’m just somebody that just happens to be a different race that does what other people have been done. That wasn’t the case, the words cut deeper than Heideman let off. (Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser), Heideman’s response: “I just busted out laughing, I can’t feel no way.” There was a collective feeling of unbelief, Jones said. “It’s bigger than that.”. His senior year, he became the drum major, the highest student . !, Many! He’s an ally not an invader. He was concerned about the image of the band and protecting his kids from the horrors of the comment section online — an intuition that became a reality. Heideman describes himself on his Instagram bio as the “Trumpet Screaming ? He’d only been with the band for a handful of months, but he wasn’t shy about declaring his interest in leading. “He didn’t realize people would approach it that way. Justin, all the things he went through, all the trials and tribulations that he took to become the person he is, a lot of people don’t see that side of him, because they just see him on the internet.”. Response to drum major's viral video misses real story of white boy, black band. “The first thing that I thought was, ‘This is hilarious! .) Justin Heideman is viral sensation Vanilla Funk the drum major from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Alabama. The AP® participation rate at Jeff Davis High School is 19%. “They just think he just gets out there and just dances,” Williams said. That wasn’t the intention of Pubby Longway’s post. It's The Left!!! Heideman said that video was taken during the homecoming parade, two days before a game. It all was foreign to him. Jeff Davis High School Drum majors 💯. November 12, 2019, 10:12 AM. We don't look at race. In the halls of Jefferson Davis High School, Justin Heideman is just like any other student. (username: tsugraytiger, hbcusports.com forum), “I saw all the slander,” Longway said. Start One Now! Wheeling Dealing ? He’d watch videos of HBCU drum majors from around the country, emulating what he saw. This game was part of the 2020 GHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament - AA. “I just feel like he’s in our shoes a little bit, like in a black person’s world,” Longway said. Gets Sometimes NO!! “OK ,OK, good job. I don’t care if I’m in the front, in the back, 5 miles behind ... mediocrity is not the word. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. (Or start one for your Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Spouse, Son, Daughter, Friend . “Next thing you know I left the room, and I heard some band stuff playing, and I like band music, because I was in band myself. In The Face!! When the time for tryouts came around as he entered his third year, Heideman told people through the band that he was going to make head drum major. “I saw the video, and I busted out laughing, that’s all I could do,” Jackson said. Jeff Davis Marching Band Drum Majors, from left, Jalen Jones, Dominic Williams, Xavier Jackson and Justin Heideman pose at the school in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday December 4, 2019. ‘OK, I’ll listen.”. This is his life now, but he hasn’t changed a bit, despite the few who misunderstand who he is and what it took for him to be in the position he is in now. They are interrupting what’s going on in here.”. you guys are all amazing.” Heideman then goes on to namecheck his other band members who helped to make it possible. Jeff Davis Teacher Collaboration eForm; Jeff Davis Virtual Library; Jeff Davis Digital Books; About Our School. This kid is 17 years old, he didn’t ask for this.”. I was like ‘What!? "Yea, it's viral because nobody expected somebody like me to actually care about what people a part of this culture do.". It was Saturday, the day after JD’s band conducted its annual homecoming parade around the school, when social media personality @PubbyLongway released a video commentary of Heideman leading the JD band. When 17-year-old Justin Heideman takes his posi… “They don’t know the full story behind that, you can’t just go off what you see,” Jackson said. But the ones closest to Heideman say it’s beyond that. He walked outside into his backyard dressed for the occasion, shirt tucked into pants, the only thing missing was a whistle. The school is part of the Jeff Davis County School District , which serves Jeff Davis County . Heideman says, “It went berserk. #jsu #jacksonstateuniversity #jacksonstate #j5 #drummajor #marchingband #band #sonicboomofthesouth #sonicboom #hbcu #hbcubands #explore #dance #explorepage #music #drums #art #artist #trumpet #trombone … Jeff Davis High School Drum Majors talk about their camaraderie with Head Drum Major Justin Heideman.