Features

New Releases

Recent Publications by Topic

Recent Book Reviews

Book Reviews by Topic

Submission Guidelines

I think there were lots of groups interested in the subject. My colleagues who work in Student Affairs, and more specifically Greek Life, are constantly looking to better understand Black fraternities and sororities. The vast majority of professionals working with Greeks on college campuses are not members of these organizations, so they are eager to learn as much as possible.

The second major group interested consists of graduate students. With so little true research on Black fraternities and sororities, this book gives a solid foundation for future studies. I am hoping that it will be considered a reference work for those engaged in this research.

The funny thing is that I haven’t really reached all of the audience focused on in the book. I am on the last leg of a national lecture tour which will in the end have consisted of over 60 engagements in 6 months, and now I am speaking at regional conventions of Black fraternities and sororities. This summer I will speak at one national convention--hopefully two.

You speak about how your research informs Black Greek life and provides historical background, especially for those involved in the traditions of Black Greek life without knowing its origins, but what can others outside of this community hope to gain from this profoundly in-depth research of Black Greek life?

To me, the book gives meaning to many of the historical developments involving African Americans, especially with regards to higher education. One can learn how students looked for lots of extracurricular activities to either form safe communities on some hostile predominantly White campuses, or in the early 1900s, a haven for women when so few were in college.

I was excited to learn so many new connections between African Americans and Africans, and how these organizations subconsciously created rituals and activities that mirrored those in some African countries. So in that sense, the book then becomes meaningful for anyone interested in understanding those links that were broken through slavery.

How does knowing the real history of Black Greek traditions, instead of the “folklore and old wives tales” you mention, enrich this specific community?

I have been lecturing on Black fraternities and sororities since 1989- my senior year at the University of Georgia. Although I thought I was enlightened as an undergraduate, I knew that I didn’t have the whole story. So I pressed on to keep learning more about these groups.

I found that many of the stories and tales told to justify things we did (both good and bad), had no basis whatsoever. For me, having a substantiated explanation for the things we do is a powerful tool, especially when we have to confront some of the major challenges facing these groups--most notably, hazing. So I hope to continue debunking myths that cause our members to do things that are damaging the organizations.

Do you see aspects of Black Greek life, such as how you describe “stepping,” becoming popular in a larger population not involved in this community? If so, what benefits do you see affecting both Black Greek fraternities and society at large?

I think some of that has already happened. Stepping for instance now occurs almost everywhere--college dorms at HBCUs might have teams, predominantly White fraternities and sororities may step during Greek Week, high school and youth groups step, as well as some church youth groups. Furthermore, stepping is very popular with other culturally-based fraternal organizations--Latin, Asian, and multicultural.

I guess on one hand it becomes a unifying, “common language” if you will. But I worry that its meaning and complexities become simplified when people don’t understand where it comes from, its significance, and the like. Greeks have to do a better job explaining it beside from saying that it is from Africa (which is vague). If not, stepping simply becomes something “cool” to do, and to me it cheapens it true value. My fear is that other aspects of Black fraternities and sororities will have the same fate, which is why, again, members need to really know the history and be able to accurately articulate it to others.

You mention in chapter two, “The History of Pledging,” the role that Black Greek members played in the Civil Rights of the 1960s. Do you feel that current Black Greek fraternities are also active in current politics or could more be done to support issues affecting the Black community?

I think this is one of our biggest failures today. There are many instances where fraternities and sororities could and should be involved, but we do not wield the same political clout that we had decades ago. When Calvin Coolidge was President, members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity met with him at the White House. I am sure that neither George W. Bush nor John Kerry will meet with us or seek us for an endorsement for this upcoming election.

So we need to become politically active. In Albany, Georgia where I live, the local newspaper relentlessly attacks Albany State University, the city’s only four-year institution. ASU is historically Black, so it becomes an easy target for such an overtly racist newspaper. Despite the fact that there are large graduate and undergraduate chapters of Black fraternities and sororities, made up mostly of ASU alumni, none of the groups have defended the institution--none! So a long standing Black institution, in fact one of the oldest establishments in Albany, battles for life everyday and the Greeks say nothing. Albany is just an example of what is happening nationwide. I see this as our failure (mine included).

Description of book

TO ORDER BOOKS:
2010 Eastpark Boulevard
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512
Phone (609) 655-4770
Fax (609) 655-8366

TO REQUEST A CATALOGUE:
M-GH2-01
285 Madison Avenue
Madison, New Jersey 07940
Phone (973) 443-8564
Fax (973) 443-8364
fdupress@fdu.edu

TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON NEWLY RELEASED TITLES BY EMAIL:
fdupress@fdu.edu

Photograph © Art Johnson