MBP 2020-21 Book2 - Flipbook - Page 69
Bloomington, and Sigma Gamma Rho, founded on the campus of Butler University in
Indianapolis in 1922.
While there is active debate over the origins of black Greek organizations and whether they
are good or bad for the African-American community, the overwhelming opinion is that black
Greek organizations — formed out of necessity — for social, spiritual and practical reasons,
remain vital to the progress of the African-American community. And there is proof.
Why black sororities and fraternities?
It’s wise to take into account the times surrounding the founding of these early Greek
organizations. It is the early 20th century, slavery had ended 39 years before Sigma Pi Phi was
founded, and in the interim, Jim Crow had taken hold. African Americans were still shunned
or hunted by the Ku Klux Klan if they stepped anywhere or did anything a white person
deemed inappropriate. The black vote was suppressed, if allowed at all. It was in this toxic,
segregated atmosphere that African American men and women joined together, in the
setting of higher education, to support and advance themselves along with their
communities.
Image versus reality
While there are plenty of examples of — mainly fraternities, mostly white — behaving badly,
it is best to point to the positive aspects of Greek life rather than at the few outliers.
Fraternities and sororities do more than party and hold step shows. While undergrad
chapters get most of the publicity, alumni chapters quietly work behind the scenes,
counseling undergrad chapters, providing scholarships and working countless hours in
various service programs.
Why they exist: Train them up
The biblical admonition given in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even
when he is old he will not depart from it,” fits the role of African-American Greek organizations.
It starts early with Links, Inc. While not a sorority, but an organization of African-American
women who exemplify service, is one that stands out. Its main focus is on services for youth,
health, education and the arts. The sororities and fraternities continue and expand that focus
with college-aged members.
All the organizations hold members accountable to the chapter, their brothers and sisters, and
the national organization, as they traverse their college careers. The lessons learned and
friendships made, continue long after graduation. And the various alumni chapters are active
and deeply involved in their communities, and since many fraternities and sororities are
national organizations, and many have chapters around the globe, the local chapters provide a
home base and entrance into the communities wherever members land.
How they serve
These examples of local involvement by sororities and fraternities is not meant to be
exhaustive, rather examples of the work African-American Greek organizations are involved in.
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