Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun

Introduction

1 Introduction Toward a Critical Scholarship Gregory S. Parks Here we are, approximately 100 years from the time black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) began. During much of the twentieth century, these groups loomed large and cast a long shadow across the American landscape. They brought together a cadre of men and women dedicated to uplifting blacks and providedthemaspacetopooltheirindividualefforts,resources,andideals.Their work in the last century (and continuing in this one) comprised various philanthropic ,civic,andcommunityserviceactivities.Moreover,BGLOstaughtcollegeeducatedblackmenandwomenhowtocommitthemselvestopersonalexcellence and achievement as well as to one another. Despite their tremendous efforts, at the twilight of the last century, there was a growing commentary that questioned the relevance of these groups. Today, some contend that BGLOs’ golden age has long passed. It is true that the level of interest in these groups has waned in recent decades, but does this mean that BGLOs are no longer relevant? We now live in an era in which the BGLO presence is evident in popular culture. Music videos such as Jay-Z’s 99 Problems; hip-hop albums such as Kanye West’s High School Dropout and Late Registration; the movies School Daze, Drumline, and Stomp the Yard; and step shows from coast to coast have introduced tens if not hundreds of thousands of people to BGLO culture. However , and quite regrettably, BGLOs have been reduced to two elements among the general public: stepping and hazing. Collectively, BGLOs have not done a very good job of staving off such a reductionist image, despite their various uplift activities. What may be most troubling is not the general public’s lack of knowledge about BGLOs but that these organizations’ members do not have a particularly nuanced, broad, or deep understanding of their own groups. To some, such a statement amounts to heresy, because most BGLO members consider themselves to be gurus on their respective organizations. But even if this is true, BGLO members rarely have a robust understanding of the history and culture of their organizations and the broader issues they face. This paucity of understanding may have implications for how members function within these groups and how they perpetuate them. 2 Gregory S. Parks There are challenges on the horizon for black Americans, and it will take an organized body of men and women to meet those challenges. The future calls to these groups. Despite this call, I do not naively assume that every organization in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) will reach its centennial celebration . However, BGLOs can remain viable and relevant through a collaborative effort among BGLOs’ hip-hop generation, those that came before, and those that will follow. Our fight has just begun. Both internally and externally, BGLOs must craft an identity that is relevant in the new millennium. Internally, these groups must wrestle with hazing, homophobia, petty intergroup competition, the divide between college and alumni members, and the like. Externally, BGLOs must rededicate themselves to their communities and lead an aggressive and unwavering campaign against modern forms of racism, sexism, and other types of xenophobia. Knowledge is power, and I hope that this critical, scholarly look at BGLOs empowers them and aids them in their quest for viability, longevity, and relevance. Toward this end, I propose that a critical study of BGLOs is not only warranted but also necessary. Despite their 100-year existence, little substantive research has been conducted on BGLOs, and even less has been published. This is surprising, given that these organizations’ rolls serve as a veritable who’s who of black achievers in almost every field of endeavor. Moreover, during the twentieth century, these organizations played a prominent role in various racial uplift activities in the United States and, in some cases, abroad. What is more surprising, though, is that although BGLO members are well educated and hold a respectable portion of faculty positions in American universities, few have considered their own organizations as an area of scholarship. Here, I recommend some parameters for this line of study, suggest mechanisms for its actualization, and highlight pitfalls that might hinder its development. Form, Function, and Content Broadly, there are three approaches that make up critical BGLO scholarship. First, a formal approach supposes that there are defining features that set the parameters and constitute the outer limits of this scholarship. Second, a functional approach supposes that there are certain underlying goals. Third, a content approach supposes that there are certain BGLO-related topics that are worth exploring. The integration of these three approaches leads to a holistic and scholarly...