African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision

by Tamara L. Brown (Editor), Gloria Harper Dickinson (Contributor), Craig L. Torbenson (Contributor)

The first African American fraternities and sororities were established at the turn of the twentieth century to encourage leadership, racial pride, and academic excellence among black college students confronting the legacy of slavery and the indignities of Jim Crow segregation. With a strong presence that endures on today's campuses, African American fraternities and sororities claim legendary artists, politicians, theologians, inventors, intellectuals, educators, civil rights leaders, and athletes in their ranks.

In this second edition of African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, editors Tamara L. Brown, Gregory S. Parks, and Clarenda M. Phillips have added new chapters that address issues such as the role of Christian values in black Greek-letter organizations and the persistence of hazing. Offering an overview of the historical, cultural, political, and social circumstances that have shaped these groups, African American Fraternities and Sororities explores the profound contributions that black Greek-letter organizations and their members have made to America.

New in the second edition: - Examination of the relationship between Christian values and organizational identity- Investigation of hazing rituals- Survey of academic performance in black Greek-letter organizations- Discourse on notions of masculinity in black Greek-letter organizations- Accounts of the professional lives of black Greek luminaries

Genres: History, African American, Nonfiction

552 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2005

Reviews

[Monique]

African American fraternities and sororities have worked tirelessly for over 100 years to break down institutional educational barriers and establish organizational safe havens for their members. The nine historically black fraternities and sororities are: Alpha Phi Alpha founded in 1906 at Cornell University; Alpha Kappa Alpha, founded in 1908 at Howard University; Kappa Alpha Psi, founded in 1911 at Indiana University; Omega Psi Phi, founded in 1911 at Howard University; Delta Sigma Theta, founded in 1913 at Howard University; Phi Beta Sigma, founded in 1914 at Howard University; Zeta Phi Beta, founded in 1920 at Howard University; Sigma Gamma Rho, founded in 1922 at Butler University; and Iota Phi Theta, founded in 1963 at Morgan State University. The rolls of BGLOs are a genuine who’s who in the African American community such as: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Toni Morrison, Bill Cosby, Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne, Arthur Ashe, George Washington Carver, Dorothy I. Height, Shirley Chisholm, Bobby Rush, Carol Moseley Braun and countless others. This books offers scholarly research on pertinent to the success of BGLOs such as: origin and evolutions of fraternities and sororities; civic and political organization led by BGLOs; the importance of brotherhood and sisterhood; the differences between Black and White fraternal organizations; and the importance of higher education and the inclusion in BGLOs.

[Abby]

The collection of authors in this book provides an in depth and wide lense look into the history of Black Greek Letter Organizations and those histroical moments, and other organizations that have influenced them over time. It has provided me with a great foundation for working with NPHC organizations.

[Keya M]

Excellent educational read on the origins of social and community orgs.

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D]

A good book of the who's who, structure and how African American Fraternities and Sororities got started. Basically, a social science research on the black college life, from the 1900's through World War II, civil rights movements and up to 2005. It covers hazing, origin of stepping and calling, meaning of the Greek-Letters and the Divin Nine just to name a few. lastly, there is a discussion on Spike Lee's "School Daze" (Jane and Julian) movie. A good book for high schoolers who are planning on going to college and pledging.