Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-first Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun
During the twentieth century, black Greek-Letter organizations (BGLOs) united college students dedicated to excellence, fostered kinship, and uplifted African Americans. Members of these organizations include remarkable and influential individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr., Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, novelist Toni Morrison, and Wall Street pioneer Reginald F. Lewis. Despite the profound influence of these groups, many now question the continuing relevance of BGLOs, arguing that their...
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For much of the twentieth century, black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) united individuals dedicated to excellence, fostering kinship ties, and uplifting African Americans. Despite the profound influence of BGLOs, many now question the continuing relevance of these groups, arguing that their golden age has passed. Partly because of the influence of hip-hop culture, the image of BGLOs has been unfairly reduced to a stereotype — a world of hazing and stepping without any real substance. Not only does the general public know very little about these groups, but often the members themselves do not have a deep understanding of their history and culture or of the issues facing their organizations. Gregory S. Parks has assembled an impressive group of contributors to show that the BGLOs' most important work lies ahead. Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-first Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun provides historical context for the development of BGLOs and explores their service activities as well as their relationships with other prominent African American institutions. The book examines BGLOs' responses to a number of contemporary issues, including non-black membership, homosexuality within membership, and the perception of BGLOs as educated gangs, in order to demonstrate that these organizations can create a positive and enduring future.
Foreword Julianne Malveaux Malveaux, JulianneIntroduction Toward a Critical Scholarship Gregory S. Parks Parks, Gregory S. 1Pt. 1 The Founders1 The First and Finest: The Founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Stefan Bradley Bradley, Stefan 192 The Vision of Virtuous Women: The Twenty Pearls of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Stephanie Y. Evans Evans, Stephanie Y. 413 The Last Shall Be First: The Founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Judson L. Jeffries Jeffries, Judson L. 674 Women of Vision, Catalysts for Change: The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Jessica Harris Harris, Jessica 755 Constitutionally Bound: The Founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Matthew W. Hughey Hughey, Matthew W. 956 The Pride of All Our Hearts: The Founders of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Michael E. Jennings Jennings, Michael E. 1157 Seven Schoolteachers Challenge the Klan: The Founders of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Bernadette Pruitt Pruitt, Bernadette Caryn E. Neumann Neumann, Caryn E. Katrina Hamilton Hamilton, Katrina 125Pt. II Social Activism8 A Narrative Critique of Black Greek-Letter Organizations and Social Action Jessica Harris Harris, Jessica Vernon C. Mitchell, Jr. Mitchell, Vernon C., Jr. 1439 Black Feminist Thought in Black Sororities Caryn E. Neumann Neumann, Caryn E. 16910 Giving and Getting: Philanthropic Activity among Black Greek-Letter Organizations Marybeth Gasman Gasman, Marybeth Patricia Louison Louison, Patricia Mark Barnes Barnes, Mark 187Pt. III Groups Outside The National Pan-Hellenic Council11 Strategic Essentialism and Black Greek Identity in the Postmodern Era Cynthia Lynne Shelton Shelton,Cynthia Lynne 21312 "I've Got All My Sisters with Me": Black Women's Organizations in the Twenty-first Century Shirley A. Jackson Jackson, Shirley A. 233Pt. IV Organizational Functioning13 Sisterhood beyond the Ivory Tower: An Exploration of Black Sorority Alumnae Membership Marcia D. Hernandez Hernandez, Marcia D. 25314 Exploring Black Greek-Letter Organizations through a Positive Organizing Lens Laura Morgan Roberts Roberts, Laura Morgan Lynn Perry Wooten Wooten, Lynn Perry 273Pt. V Diversity15 Not on My Line: Attitudes about Homosexuality in Black Fraternities Alan D. DeSantis DeSantis, Alan D. Marcus Coleman Coleman, Marcus 29116 "I Did It for the Brotherhood": Nonblack Members in Black Greek-Letter Organizations Matthew W. Hughey Hughey, Matthew W. 313Pt. VI Contemporary Debates17 Eating Disorders within African American Sororities Tamika C. Zapolski Zapolski, Tamika C. Gregory T. Smith Smith, Gregory T. 34718 Modern Fraternities, Ancient Origins Charles S. Finch III Finch, Charles S., III 36519 "'Cuz I'm Young and I'm Black and My Hat's Real Low?": A Critique of Black Greeks as "Educated Gangs" Matthew W. Hughey Hughey, Matthew W. 385Pt. VII Advising Undergraduate Chapters20 Black and White Greeks: A Call for Collaboration Edward G. Whipple Whipple, Edward G. Martin Crichlow Crichlow, Martin Sally Click Click, Sally 42121 Advising Black Greek-Letter Organizations: A Student Development Approach Ralph Johnson Johnson, Ralph Darnell Bradley Bradley, Darnell LeKeisha Bryant Bryant, LeKeisha Darren M. Morton Morton, Darren M. Don C. Sawyer III Sawyer, Don C., III 437Afterword Marc H. Morial Morial, Marc H. 459Index 465Illustrations follow page 186
\ From the Publisher"This collection of twenty-one essays...explores the past, present, and future of the nation's nine traditional African American fraternities and sororities...Parks and his authors deserve praise for addressing many controversial issues." --Journal of Southern History\ \ \
