Believe it or not, I'm an educated black man who would never pledge for a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO). And I'm sometimes surprised at my friends and family members who have been part of them. To be honest, it seems as if BGLOs support division in the African-American community rather than uphold unity. When you look at how even some educated blacks like myself don't care for the organizations, you will see why they are losing their appeal.
For one thing, college attendance for young black males has increased but graduation rates have decreased . It is possible that our young brothas are being distracted by the fraternity life. If all you need is a 2.5 to be admitted, you might not be in a position for extra curricular activities. Plus, the idea that fraternities and sororities are just for college students creates a sense of elitism and exclusion towards the common person.
PERSONAL HORROR STORY
In the fall of 2005, I began thinking about pledging as a Sigma on the campus of UIC. I knew a lot of guys in the fraternity and I felt the organization would be the best fit for me. The Sigmas at my school appeared to be "country" (Southern mannerisms and style of dress), while the Alphas were more bourgeois and the Kappas were womanizers. But I soon found out that the Sigmas were "messy".
Later that school year, my roommate held a party in our apartment as part of his pledging process. He invited 20 folks over and they made threatening comments about me. So, I called my 6 foot 8 older brother for back up to break up the party. But from that moment on, I knew that fraternities had a lot of bad apples in them.
But there are some GOOD people in these organizations. Don't get me wrong. Like I wrote above, they are my family members and good friends. It's just that I don't see the purpose of going through a hazing process to gain acceptance into an "elite" organization. I feel that folks need a sense of humility that can only come from remembering that we are all the same.
Check out this video:
I would respect fraternities if they were open to ALL men who aspired towards a specific goal. Maybe the Kappas could focus on social justice, while the Alphas focus on mentoring. It seems like all fraternities are known for is stepping (African hand slappin, twirling, and heel movements) and promiscuous behavior.
Unfortunately, those things won't pay the membership dues. And that is why I hope these organizations use the next 100 years to improve their outreach strategies.
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