An Introduction to Greekdom Essay Example

Phi Beta Kappa emerged as the first Greek letter organization and began a trend that continues today. While Phi Beta Kappa eventually abandoned its secretive nature, other Greek-letter organizations quickly multiplied. Sigma Pi Phi came into existence in 1904 as the first black fraternity; however, it primarily catered to mature students rather than black college students.

Contrary to what others may claim, it is crucial to emphasize that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., founded on December 4th, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca New York was indeed the first black fraternity.
The establishment of this organization aimed to provide support for black college students who lacked institutional support within their educational institutions. The founding of this organization at an Ivy League school holds significant importance. Over the next 18 years, eight more black Greek organizations were established and collectively referred to as the "Elite Eight." These include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (founded in 1908 at Howard University), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (founded in 1911 at Indiana University), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (founded in 1911 at Howard University), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (founded in 1913 at Howard University), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (founded in 1914 at Howard University), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (founded in 1920 at Howard University), and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (established in 1922 at Butler University). Additionally, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1963 at Morgan State University, was admitted into the National Pan-Hellenic Council in November of 1996. The original "Elite Eight" is now commonly known as the "Notorious Nine". For more information on this fraternity and other black Greek letter organizations, you can visit Brothers and Sisters' impressive website dedicated to Black

Greek Organizations.Throughout their existence, these organizations have often been unfairly labeled as elitist, barbarians, or preppie snobs. It is crucial to recognize that numerous offensive terms have been used to describe various black organizations in America, such as the NAACP, Operation P.U.S.H., the Congressional Black Caucus, and other civic-oriented groups supporting Black America. In recent times, black Greek organizations have suffered from a decline in public perception and have faced unjust criticism and judgment from the media without proper trials or judgments. As a result, high school teenagers are now forming clubs and calling them fraternities to expedite their transition into adulthood. This trend has reached extreme levels with these clubs resorting to violent actions like using paddles, possibly influenced by news reports or traditions passed down from fraternity or sorority members. To highlight the severity of this issue and shed light on the concerning mindset of these high school students, I would like to share an anecdote from a conversation with a junior in high school who was part of a well-known club called "Crunch Bunch" among public high school attendees on Chicago's south side over the past 15 years. During our discussion about college Greek life, he recounted hearing about his friend's sister attending a college in the southern United States.According to him, she shared a story about a student in one of her classes who was confronted by several fraternity brothers outside. They physically attacked him in front of witnesses, while bystanders did nothing. After the assault, they told him to follow them, and he obeyed. The person telling this story admired the brutality of the incident and considered it impressive. They

liked the idea of approaching someone and attacking them without any reason. During his initiation into Crunch Bunch, he claimed to have been hit with a paddle multiple times in one session, possibly around 500 times. I personally think he is exaggerating, but that's not the main issue here. Even during my own initiation process, I didn't experience such intense punishment at once. The main problem is his belief that this kind of violence is positive, which I strongly disagree with. Mindlessly causing pain doesn't benefit anyone. Actions should always have purpose and method behind them - something that he and others like him fail to understand. It's important to note that this individual is now a member of my Masonic lodge but has not yet joined a fraternity. I've always struggled to comprehend how people can judge something they know nothing about.
The text expresses frustration with those who claim to understand others' experiences without actually living them. It specifically mentions Spike Lee and criticizes him for judging organizations based solely on appearances. The author argues that genuine knowledge and experience are necessary for true understanding. They also point out the unfairness of presenting only one side of a story, suggesting that if it were any other group, accusations of racism or bigotry would arise. The media's portrayal of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity members lacks knowledge about what happens behind closed doors. However, there is more to the story than what the media shows. On May 16, 1987, at 5:37am, the author personally became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and describes their transformative experience during their seven and a half week pledge journey

that pushed them beyond their limits. Overall, the text emphasizes the importance of truly understanding an experience before passing judgment or making assumptions. Despite moments when they questioned their ability to endure and considered extreme actions to escape torment, those thoughts now seem insignificant. Being a member brings indescribable joy evident through tattoos on their arm, seeing letters on cars or online pages fills them with immense pride.They express uncertainty about the reasons why people choose to join fraternities and sororities, including themselves wanting to become part of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Perhaps their decision to join Alpha Phi Alpha was influenced by various factors. It could have been because two of their esteemed cousins are Alphas, or maybe it stemmed from their mother being a member of the sister organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Another possibility is that witnessing the pride and confidence displayed by Alpha pledges at Morehouse College in 1985 impacted their decision. It may even be destined for them to join this remarkable black organization, just as God had ordained their path to be a minister of the gospel. Regardless of the underlying reason, they proudly embrace their membership in Alpha Phi Alpha. While it does not define who they are, it complements their personality. Being an Alpha has opened up personal and professional opportunities that may not have come their way otherwise. The sacrifices made during the challenging seven and a half week pledging period were worth it because of these newfound prospects. The topic of hazing often arises when discussing the fraternity experience.Yes, they personally experienced hazing and also participated in hazing activities themselves.Over time, I have become skilled

at hazing. However, while hazing may not be the ultimate solution for the black Greek system, it is important to acknowledge its impact on both my organization and all Greek organizations.
According to the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, hazing is defined as "1.to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work;b.to harass by banter, ridicule or criticism;2.to haze by way of initiation (the fraternity pledges)." This definition implies that anyone who has experienced a caring parent, encountered a schoolyard bully, or dealt with an evil person has been subjected to hazing. Although hazing is commonly associated with physical abuse within Greek culture, its definition encompasses a wider range of actions.
Some argue that hazing only started in the 60's, while others trace its origins back to the 40's. There are also those who believe that incidents of hazing increased during times of war. However, considering our organization's history and the given definition above, it can be concluded that hazing has existed since our fraternity was founded. Nevertheless, this does not justify its existence.
Unfortunately, despite efforts to combat it, hazing persists and it is disheartening to know that it will continue in some form or another. In 1990 at Morehouse College,a young man tragically lost his life due to pledging activities.Despite the coroner's report stating otherwise, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Morehouse College were accused and convicted in both court and public opinion for their involvement. People familiar with the incident acknowledge that although the fraternity was unfairly held entirely responsible for the tragedy, the brothers at Morehouse also had a part to play. Unfortunately, they were made scapegoats and had to endure the burden of negative stereotypes associated

with black fraternities. Consequently, pledging was quietly eliminated without any open discussion or debate by a small group more concerned with financial gains than the welfare of the organizations involved.