Originally Posted by bejazd (Post 1473133)

Do you think some of this could be a trend based in part on the universal appeal of hip-hop culture among young people? Sometimes I'm surprised by the music/dance/language/clothing that suburban kids of all colors enjoy today that would have made them posers when I was in high school/college. But they all seem to be okay with it...so isn't that a good thing?

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1473294)

I am confused--what does hip hop have to do with this discussion?

Originally Posted by Senusret I (Post 1473063)

And again, when did the NPHC become a monolith? Alpha has more in common with Malik Fraternity, Inc., than some NPHC orgs.

NPHC traditions DO imitate others. Greek letters, rituals, grips, passwords, and handsigns didn't get created in a vacuum. The organizational structure wasn't unique. And as our organizations matured, we assumed the characteristics of our communities.

Where I'm from, the neighborhoods have calls and chants. Did NPHC orgs do it first? Does it really matter?

Did we have crossing jackets in 1906 or did they evolve over time?

We need perspective here.... sure, I agree with Chaos when she says traditions need to be acknowledged. But everything else is literally just a facade.

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1473114)

It's funny you should mention this. When I was in undergrad, BGLOs did not have calls or handsigns (nor did Deltas collect elephants.) But Black students from various states did. The Delta call sounds very similar to what was then the New York call.

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy (Post 1473336)

I see you and ladygreek's points, but the crossing jackets, the hand signs, and the terminology that we use is unique among our organizations and is not used among NPC/IFC organizations, at least not where I'm from.

ladygreek, you asked how BGLOs could get started without seeing another black student for weeks at a time. I was getting the impression that you thought this couldn't be possible. At IU it was possible, and it did happen. Our fraternity started off as Alpha Omega just to hold the 10 men together while the fraternity was being created. I can't speak for the other 8 GLOs, but I can for mine and it's history is accurate. Yes, black students would go days to weeks without seeing another black student.

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy (Post 1473336)

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1473416)

But that is my point. Rather than to continue to allow that to happen a support group was formed--Alpha Omega, which I guess became Kappa Alpha Nu. Thus those 10 Black men saw each other often I would assume.

Having first gone to a PWI that only had 50 Black students, we found ways to get together and be each other's support.

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1473423)

When I pledged we had sweaters not jackets.

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1472533)

Doesn't bother me. In fact the term sands means different things within org in the NPHC depending on the chapter. Where I pledged in IL., we didn't use the term at all. We used a different one to denote someone who crossed with you in the same chapter.

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne (Post 1473694)

Sands definitely has a different meaning if you crossed in the state of Illinois!

Originally Posted by mccoyred (Post 1472303)

D9 has set trends over the last 100 years and will continue to set trends well into the next 100 years.

I used to get upset if some non-D9 group did anything remotely related to our traditions. Now, I just shake my head and move on because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. *shrugs shoulders*

Originally Posted by frattypalmtree (Post 1474023)

i find a lot of this thread to be racist.

Originally Posted by frattypalmtree (Post 1474023)

what if i said it annoyed me to see african american men wearing polos, driving pickup trucks, and hunting ducks with their yellow labs?

Originally Posted by frattypalmtree (Post 1474023)

i mean come on people. you people need to just let people do and be what they wanna be and do.