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Reviewed by:
  • Black Haze: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities
  • Lamont A. Flowers
Black Haze: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities Ricky L. Jones Albany: State University of New York Press, 2004, 158 pages, $18.95 (softcover)

Issues and opportunities facing fraternities and sororities have received renewed scholarly interest in recent years (Nuwer, 1999; Pascarella, Flowers, & Whitt, 2001). One form of this scholarship has addressed Black fraternities and sororities and more particularly the topic of hazing. Furthermore, in light of current as well as reoccurring incidents involving the death and injury of college students who participate in traditionally Black fraternities and sororities, college administrators, parents and students have grown deeply concerned about these organizations and the safety and well-being of their members (Kimbrough, 2003; Ruffins, 1997). With more than a million members in Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities (Evans, 2004), Ricky Jones' book Black Haze: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities is an important addition to the scholarship probing this group on American college campuses. While specifically addressing incidents of hazing among Black Greek-letter fraternities (BGFs), Jones' book is relevant for student affairs professionals (particularly those who work with Greek-affiliated students and alumni) and college administrators because it documents the history of BGFs, discusses the functional and harmful effects of hazing, and explores in an academic manner the requisite knowledge that is needed to truly address the issue of hazing in BGFs. The book contains seven chapters and an appendix.

In the first chapter, "The Problem at Hand," Jones discusses the problem of hazing in BGFs by citing particular incidents of hazing that have occurred in BGFs. Jones also compares hazing among White Greek-letter fraternities and the military. This comparison helps the reader to better understand and examine the nature, variety, and extent of hazing in social groups on college campuses and in the armed services. Also, in this chapter, Jones offers a primary hypothesis for hazing among BGFs by stating that Black males who engage in physical acts of violence do so in an attempt to reach manhood and be regarded as men among their peers. Moreover, Jones asserts:

Social and political marginalization helps to promote the black man's search for alternate arenas in which he can be regarded as a man. One way to define manhood that has emerged, particularly in black intraracial interaction, is to be physically dominant or able to withstand physical abuse.

(p. 7)

By positing this explanation, Jones lays the foundation for an intellectual exploration of the reasons why hazing takes a violent form in BGFs and further probes possible insights into the minds and psyche of the individuals who perpetrate violent acts in BGFs as well as the individuals who are on the receiving end of this type of violence.

In Chapter 2, "Old Problem, New Approach," Jones discusses the problems associated with how the media reports BGFs and suggests that these reports are usually intertwined with discriminatory, as well as economic undertones. Also, in this chapter, Jones revisits and [End Page 328] provides additional support for the view that it is important to examine hazing among BGFs by examining the social realm in which hazing takes place in BGFs. Chapter 2 also presents a discussion on the rationale for using ethnographic research techniques in the book. Furthermore, this chapter includes a formal discussion of the methodology (e.g., sample, instrumentation, procedures) used to collect and analyze data for the book.

In Chapter 3, "The History of Black Greek-Letter Fraternities," Jones discusses the foundation of BGFs and the manner in which Black Greek-letter organizations were developed. More specifically, he cites that Black students who first entered American college campuses were excluded from participating and/or joining White Greek-letter organizations and were also subjected to other forms of discrimination and abuse which communicated to them that they were not welcomed or wanted, particularly in White social groups such as fraternities and sororities. Chapter 3 also provides historical data of the five BGFs (i.e., Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Iota Phi Theta). The chapter concludes with a discussion...

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