Word.

Speak on it. If we don't just GIVE that info to intrst why would we give it to them?

Yep. The author is known for her works on Black women's history. And it is written like a history book--no secrets--but a detailed telling of each of the lives of our Founders--how each of them got to Howard, why the formed our sorority and how.

Then the book continues up to the time it was written (around 1988.) As long as I have been a Delta I still learned new historical perspectives from the book.

Yes. No secrets are revealed, however the history of our founding and expansion is detailed.

Beat me to it.

There is only one HGBLO in my area... and my area might not be unique in this regard - with that in mind I felt that it might be useful to actually have members talk about their orgs., so people that might not otherwise have a chance to talk to a member in their area might learn something.

As for the websites... well yes anyone can go on a get a basic picture of the org.; but I've always felt you learn more actually interacting with someone who is both knowledgable and proud of their org.

Finally the books... did some looking and yes you can get them (most of them), but it has to be an online - not in stores :( But again I've always felt you can learn more by interacting with a member...

**putting on my mature hat for a quick second**

On the real, we tend to be more private and we don't tend to answer simly because someone asks. I would think you would have gotten that from the lack of response to your question.

But we aren't talking one on one. We are posting on a public website on the internet. For Delta at least, our protocol prohibits it. What can to be told is on our national website.

As I stated earlier, as a question, I don't quite understand the reticence to address general questions about BGLOs. I have my own ideas why on a deeper level this is the case,but I do find it interesting, just as I find the prickly responses from NIC and NPC members not wanting their groups to be referred to as "white" fraternities and sororities interesting and revealing.

I may be a newbie to GC but not to Greekdom. On 17 May, I will celebrate the 25th anniversary of my initation into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,Inc. I've always been interested in separating the "BS" from the "hype" and really coming to understand the role Greek-letter organizations play in society. What we say as PR is not necessarily what is really the case. There really are such things as organizational cultures. How this fits in with the wider issue of race,etc. interests me greatly, esp. since we are living in a more multicultural society.

Just the other night, some of my chapter brothers were talking about how the corporate ethos and mentality is seeping into the Fraternity. One stated that a late chapter brother, a judge, said that he loved fraternity meetings because he could say what he wanted to say and be himself as a black man without being brought before an ethics review board,etc. Our Greek-letter groups, as African Americans, like our churches, are places where our unique sense of personhood in this society can be affirmed and where we are not "on trial" or trying to conform in an environment where we are exerting tremendous psychological and emotional energy "shifting," etc. So we do tend to percieve "Others" as interlopers, trying to peer in on this sacred space also. But the fact is that in the information age and more scrutiny of GLOs across the board,and since BGLOs are on white campuses and our activites transcend the environs of our groups,the things we do and say do have an impact on the wider world, and the ramifications are not simply relegated to intra-racial discussions. And simply being on a forum like GC is a part of this phenomenon.

But this goes beyond the ritualistic things we tend to be so defensive about. That was the point I trying to make. I do think, to a certain degree,Greek-letter groups among blacks and whites do serve a different function in a psychosocial sense,and these things are only fleshed out by real human beings, not a website. The same goes for how we, BGLO members, perceive the ethos and culture of our own organizations, and how this has historical roots.

(I apologize If some DST members were offended by the mention of the goddess Minerva. )

"The value of our Fraternity is not in numbers but in men, in real brotherhood..." Bro. Walter H. Mazyck

The above post while revealing nothing specfic about any org. is actually informative as well...

Discussion of the culture of HBGLOs is also informative - I didn't mean this thread to be all about what each org. does or is (just picked that as an ice breaker)... but also about explaining about different views or approaches to be greek in the context of a HBGLO (intake, community service, managment, councils, alumni, and so on).

The reluctance to share information with people (PNMs and others) asking about HBGLOs is actual an example of this... this is a difference that just know I'm starting to see applies more or less across the board. Personally I'd like to know why? Does it have to do with secrecy, and not letting really anyone know anything? - or is it more geared towards PNMs, where the PNMs have to work to find-out, thus showing a desire to become a member?

Thanks for that. I understand where you are coming from, but at the same time, you can't fault someone because they choose to not answer the question. If you would like to speak on your experience as a member of Omega Psi Phi, please go ahead. But a lot of times, one person says something, and it becomes gospel for the entire group (which in this case would be the entire NPHC). As for myself, I prefer to talk specifically about myself and Sigma Gamma Rho one on one with someone, without feeling like I'm the spokeswoman for the entire NPHC.

Yes, all groups have something to learn about each other. But I don't really want to answer questions that can be answered by simply consulting our national website.

@ Wolfman, we have the same anniversary date, but I am a little before you.

And RA you are right. Our reluctance to discuss certain things is part of the differences in the cultures of our organizations. Nothing more, nothing less.

And actually, today's technology is making some of us more cautious than others. It has become even easier to perp our organizations, which may not be an issue for NPC and IFC groups, but it is a big one with BGLOs.

I've talked to a Kappa Alpha Psi about this as I noticed that their national publication is The Journal and for Kappa Alpha Order is the KA Journal. Also the KA Psi's crest had a shield in the same shape as KA's badge and a helmet at the top, similar to KA's coat of arms.

We thought it was interesting, but maybe other people wouldn't think so. Just an observation.

-Mark

Yeah, I'm like Issac Newton...making observations.

You don't have to understand per se. Just limit the information you relay to Omega info. ;)

Borders in my area carries books like In Search of Sisterhood and The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities, and the public libraries have copies as well, but perhaps that's due to being in an area with strong Divine Nine presences.