Book description
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 golden age has passed. Partly because of their perceived link
to hip-hop culture, black fraternities and sororities have been unfairly
reduced to a media stereotype-a world of hazing without any real
substance. The general public knows very little about BGLOs, and
surprisingly the members themselves often do not have a thorough
understanding of their history and culture or of the issues currently
facing their organizations. To foster a greater engagement with the
history and contributions of BGLOs, Black Greek-Letter Organizations in
the Twenty-first Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun brings together an
impressive group of authors to explore the contributions and continuing
possibilities of BGLOs and their members. Editor Gregory S. Parks and
the contributing authors provide historical context for the development
of BGLOs, exploring 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 BGLOs, and the
perception of BGLOs as educated gangs. As illustrated by the organized
response of BGLO members to the racial injustice they observed in Jena,
Louisiana, these organizations still have a vital mission. Both
internally and externally, BGLOs struggle to forge a relevant identity
for the new century. Internally, these groups wrestle with many issues,
including hazing, homophobia, petty intergroup competition, and the
difficulty of bridging the divide between college and alumni members.
Externally, BGLOs face the challenge of rededicating themselves to their
communities and leading an aggressive campaign against modern forms of
racism, sexism, and other types of fear-driven behavior. By embracing
the history of these organizations and exploring their continuing
viability and relevance, Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the
Twenty-first Century demonstrates that BGLOs can create a positive and
enduring future and that their most important work lies ahead. Gregory
S. Parks is coeditor of African American Fraternities and Sororities:
The Legacy and the Vision. A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Inc., he received his PhD in psychology from the University of Kentucky
and is a JD candidate at Cornell Law School.
