“The Phenomenon of ‘6–7’ and What It Has Given to Our Society” By Dr. Jamila Walker, MCPS Principal
Tuesday, December 9th marks the 67th day of school for MCPS, a milestone that has taken on unexpected cultural significance thanks to a simple phrase, or rather, a simple pair of numbers, that has swept through classrooms, hallways, and social media with surprising force.
At the risk of aging myself here, I vividly remember a commercial in the mid-1990’s where someone would call someone on the phone and with all of their excitement would say, “what’ssss uppppp?” The person on the other end would respond similarly, “what’ssss uppppp?” This phrase came with a long tongue and facial expression, and was immediately replicated by spectators near and far. When you saw a friend, a loved one, a neighbor, a relative, you may greet each other with this proverbial “what’ssss uppppp.” Along with the facial expression (and quite frankly the cheer it gave you in your heart), it gave us a sense of cultural belonging and adoration. This indescribable phrase became one that lasted for a while, and even now I could speak with friends who would remember it fondly. I cannot tell you what exactly the commercial was for, but the phrase made it into our society; it was a part of our cultural existence that linked us together.
Now, in 2025, we are faced with the term “6-7.” Where did it come from? Who created it? If you ask my 13-year-old, it was just made up on TikTok; if you ask my 14-year-old, it came from a song that said it for all of one second, and it is now part of our English dictionary. Nonetheless, “6-7” is here, brought to us by our next generation – our youth. However, what makes it so special? Why has it become so popular nationally (and maybe even internationally)? What about it makes it work like a game of telephone, spreading across cultures, across political lines, across dinner tables, and throughout schools and workplaces? My guess? This is a tough time – a time of polarization – and the term “6-7,” I hypothesize, is one factor that is bringing us back together.
Currently, our culture is suffering. No matter what you believe politically, I can almost guarantee you personally know someone who is struggling. From the government shutdown, to fears of immigration, to families torn apart with pick-a-side politics, people are hurting. I went to the grocery store today, bought maybe 30 items, and my total was close to $200. I even had to put some items back because I needed to budget for my children’s school week and their school lunches. I make decent money, and I am still pinching pennies from paycheck to paycheck. I say this because I know that many of us are hurting. Along with that, families have been destroyed by the political climate and have a hard time seeing eye to eye. This political climate has psychologically damaged people and has left a sense of forever brokenness between friends, families, and colleagues. It is hard out here.
And with that, I ask you to enter a space of 8- to 21-year-olds and simply start counting. Simply count. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… When you get to those two magic numbers, the room will erupt in pure cheer. People feel the same feeling as the 1990s “what’ssss uppppp,” and are immensely smiling at one another, hopping out of their seats, high-fiving, and thoroughly enjoying one another. It’s magic.
Then, there are the adults. They are no different from the children. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Bingo Night at my children’s school. The host called all of the numbers, “B-1,” “G-52,” etc. Everyone was having a great time. However, there was a feeling in the room, from kids and adults alike, waiting for the coveted “6-7.” As the night went on and the numbers were called, it finally happened – the host said, “O-67!” The way the crowd exploded was like it was midnight on New Year’s Day. It felt like confetti was falling from the sky, and everyone was happy to be alive and to see a new year. High-fives, smiles, laughter, and pure joy filled the room… all because of a shared experience of “6-7.”
When talking about “6-7,” we usually see it as something the kids have just made up. Teachers often talk about math lessons where the answer will be 67, and they are waiting for students to stop the lesson to celebrate. And yes, that is all true. However, I also see this phenomenon as something that is bringing us together as a society – beyond political lines, beyond polarization. It has made its way into our culture as something that gives us genuine smiles. As simple as it seems, look around next time “6-7” comes about. Look at people actually smile, interact, and engage. So, as annoying as it may seem, I invite us to look at it from a different lens. Our society wants something to hang onto that brings us random joy, and it has come from two random numbers, “6-7!”
So as Tuesday, December 9th marks the 67th day for MCPS, it isn’t just another school day. It’s a celebration, a unifying spark, a simple reminder that joy can come from the most unexpected places… even two digits spoken out loud.
