The Evolution of Greeks
How IT USED TO BE AND HOW IT IS TODAY
By Cheritta Pridgen
For hundreds of years, African Americans
everywhere have seen and felt more discrimi
nation and racism than any man could han
dle. After slavery and the end of
Reconstruction, black people all over America were
looking for and needed some kind of way to unity and
build up the race. In the early 1900s, black fraterni
ties and sororities began to spring up on college cam
puses in the United States to help accomplish this
goal. Black fraternities and sororities were all found
ed (generally speaking) on principles of unity, broth
erhood, sisterhood scholarship and service to benefit
the members of the organizations as well as the black
race as a whole.
Sincc it has been nearly a century since these
organizations were formed, many may wonder, espe
cially as the milleniuni approaches, how these organi
zations and their aspects evolved? ^
C'arlos Pualing, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc. and a 1995 alumni, said: "I think that
every process evolves. Things are different now than
what they were before in 1993 when I pledged and
people from 1973 will say the same thing I'm saying
in regards to 1993."
Angie White, a senior and president of the Kappa
Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,
said; "Some aspects of collegiate chapters differ from
years ago, but (the) most important factors remain
the same. The principles and bylaws by which our
organizations were founded are still upheld.
Sisterhood and Brotherhood are the components that
have always served as the glue and will always be
incorporated in sororities and fraternities."
Cassandra Caldwell, a member of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc. and a 1993 alumni said, "I feel
that black Greek organizations are fantastic entities
because of scholarship and the service we provide."
Unity has always been important for blacks and is
a very important aspect of black fraternities and
sororities. In the early 1900s, fraternities and sorori
ties were a way for blacks to unite with one another in
a close way. As far as this goes, some alumni feel
that unity is not as it was before.
Nathaniel Dobson, a member of Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Inc. and a 1986 alumni, said, "The unity is
not nearly to the same degree (as it was) because of
negative publicity for hazing incidents and a lack of
bonding during intake which is supposed to make all
of the members of a firatemity close to each other."
Pualing added, "The yard is different and I think it
is a negative byproduct of society and as a function of
aggregate Greek life."
As organizations evolve, members try to keep a
well-defined focus. Many fraternities and sororities
have tried to make sure their focus has not changed
from service to status.
Dr. William Lawrence, a member of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a 1989 alumni, said: "I don't
think the focus has changed at all. We were very ser
vice oriented and we still do things."
Angie White added: "As a member of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc., especially as part of Kappa
Omicron, I can truly say that our focus is still and
will always be service. We put great pride in our pro
grammatic thrust and work very diligently to make
sure we use each focus to serve the community. If
status is a question, then if the organization is doing
its part through service then the status will follow."
James Joyner, a member of Phi Beta Sigma and a
1987 alumni, said: "We learned brotherhood to stick
together and help your brother. When things went
down, I had to help. The reason I pledged Phi Beta
Sigma was because its focus was on being yourself
and academics."
No matter which Greek organization in question,
they have all been important to the crucial elements
in the uplift of the black race, especially on college
campuses.
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Black Ink