BGLO Brother/Sister History
 

I'm just curious. I know the Deltas are sisters to the Ques, the AKAs to the Alphas, and the Zetas to the Sigmas. I was told in undergrad that Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta are actually the only brother sister bglos that are officially recognized nationally. When I see the bond the others have, I often wonder are they recognized nationally? They seem as close as the Zetas and Sigmas to me.

Does anyone know of any books about this very topic?

All of the other "connections" are historical or cultural. I don't believe you will find original scholarship on the matter, but you can read through history books of organizations and see a few things.

For example, my history book mentions the Alphas assisting the AKAs in a way that is not mentioned in their history book; theirs mentions the possible inspiration/moral support of George Lyle on Ethel Hedgeman at Howard University. Neither book goes so far as to claim a brother/sister relationship. But I have to admit from first hand experience the current international president of AKA seemed to have more "sisterly" sort of interaction with our national president, moreso than the other sorority presidents (as observed at the last two public programs I've attended).

Would that have been the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha or the Beta chapter brothers of the fraternity that helped the AKAs? I heard with the Ques and Deltas that two of their founders were dating or something of that nature. I'm not exactly sure though.

I chat with a GC friend of mine (SGRho) via e-mail and we were talking about Kappa and SGRho Indiana history. She told me some things I had no clue about.

The "Brother/Sister" bond between Alphas and AKA isn't nationally recognized although when our General President Darryl Matthews introduced The International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Barbara McKinzie at our centennial, he introduced her as Soror Barbara McKinzie. I was kind shocked he said that. Some acknowledge our history we have with each other and you will find some members refer to each other as frat and soror, but no it isn't nationally recognized.

George Lyle was a Beta Chapter charter member. As for the assistance that we rendered AKA in 1913, the history book does not mention which brothers helped, but it does state that several did.

To those who are wondering, it merely states that we received communication from AKA asking for assistance in identifying campuses which would be suitable for new AKA chapters. Several brothers helped. It does not say which brothers or which campuses or if we were actually helpful at all.

I remember that! I don't think I remember him calling any of the other ladies Soror, although it would have been appropriate for him to do so in a panhellenic sense.

I think we're good on both sides, thanks. :)

I have noticed something with both orgs in regards to some early chapters...where you find a chapter of Alpha e.g. single letter chapters, you will most likely find that a AKA chapter was chartered not to far behind that. Don't know if it is just a coincidence.


Yeah I was at the table with my chapter brothers and some bros some Tau chapter trying to snap pics of the cheesecake with the Sphinx on top when he introduced her.:D
More than likely because if it wasn't done in the early stages of both orgs no one would bother to do it now, and again everyone may not acknowledge a bond.

Well could have something do with wanting to be independent. I have seen situations where certain orgs will try to clown sororities who acknowledge bonds with certain frats. They will state things like, "we don't have to stand behind men like you do, we are independent strong women." That is the pg rated version....

Another bit of history for you P.B.

Delta Founder Osceola Macarthy married Beta Chapter Brother Numa P.G. Adams.

Delta Founder Vashti Turley married Beta Chapter Brother Carl Murphy.

Other Alpha/Delta marriages:

Sadie T.M. Alexander and Raymond Pace Alexander
Paul Robeson and Eslanda Goode Robeson
Ruby Dee and Frank Dee (HA! Betcha didn't know there was somebody before Ossie Davis!)
Marion Barry and Cora Masters Barry (Ex-Wife #4)

Actually I did ....:) I found out recently.

From the beginning, Delta has chosen to not officially affiliate with any other Greek organization. As mentioned, we have unofficial bonds with both Omega and Alpha but there are others as well. Just listen to our Sweetheart Song, we love them all!! :D

^^^Our songbook has many, many sweetheart songs. We have one that reminds me of you all's in that it mentions sororities by name. I wish I could read music -- I have no idea what it sounds like.

You left one Delta Founder out: Naomi Sewell Richardson was married to Clarence Richardson. I believe he was initiated at Beta Chapter as well. :-)

^^^ You are better than me. I left that one out because I never knew his first name was Clarence, lol

I don't know what's in ya'lls history book, so...
:whatever:
That's no big deal. I've seen her, first hand rather chummy and "sisterly" with the National President of Kappa Alpha Psi and the Dean of Student Life @ Xavier (male). :confused:

Our Immediate past National President and KAY's Immediate past President dated in College and they too were chummy and "sisterly" at events.

Will it constitute that we will have official bonds with the organizations they represent? More than likely not.

So true! :D

:rolleyes:

I'm here - LOL. Yes one couple married and divorced (the Colemans.) The other couple did not marry.

Although the extent of the Omegas help in our founding has been greatly exaggerated, what they did do was offer advice as to how to get HU to accept the sorority. They based it on their own experiences in trying to get founded.

And the choice of the purple violet as our official flower was PARTLY in recognition of the Omegas help. However, we have never had a constitutional (official) bond as sisters and brothers the way that the Sigmas and Zetas do.

And as already mentioned, it appears that early on there were more founders, national presidents, etc. that married Alphas than Omegas.

ETA: Although I love the Omegas, I will correct any that call me soror. That is strictly reserved for initiates of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

I didn't know that.

Exactly. That is why you were just told what our history book stated.:confused:

Such as what? I'm curious because I always thought the Kappa/SGRho "Indiana Love" was more of a superficial notion because of the founded in Indiana thing than anything historically more substantive than that.

Personally, I'm not too keen about Kappa being "encumbered" to any one sorority as a "sister" org. I like the more commonly accepted notion by brothers that "Kappa loves 'em all".

Besides, being a member of Alpha Phi Omega and having an unofficial sister sorority (Gamma Sigma Sigma--well technically 2 if you count Omega Phi Alpha), I know firsthand that the whole brother/sister org "relationship" can be easily taken advantage of by manipulative members of either org.

I feel exactly the same away about Sigma. I also have the same viewpoint of being independent. That's just moi. Different members have different views on Indiana Love, and the debate could go on forever and ever. Amen.

I've seen it a couple of times in regard to Sigma and Kappa. :rolleyes:

PrettyBoy, aren't you too old to be thinking of this? ;)

I still can't figure out why Alphas always want to run down what Apes from Beta the Delta Founders dated or married.:) Some even commit it to memory hoping to run across some Coleman Love-folk and throw it in our faces. :) Why does it matter? If the Delta Founders had married the actual founders of a fraternity, that may be worth noting. Other than that, their dating and marrying history is just that.

That's the only thing that makes me chuckle about this topic. Other than that, woopteydoo. :)

Well since we were on the topic of bonds, on some campuses you will find different BGLOs claiming a bond not normally heard like Alpha Kappa Alpha/Kappa Alpha Psi or Delta Sigma Theta/Alpha Phi Alpha. I stated the whole marriage thing to explain where some of these so called bonds come from. Any brother that has to throw "well Alphas married Delta founders so what about your Coleman love now" is trying way too hard.:rolleyes: Trust that we are good just the way we are.;)

Yes, the Zeta/Sigma bond is recognized nationally for both orgs.

From what I was told by my cousin who is a Sigma, and a good friend of mine who is a Zeta, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta are the only "Constitutionally Bound" NPHC Organizations. Of course, I've never heard an AKA or an Alpha deny the bond between their two organizations, but I have heard a Delta let someone know that the Que's were NOT her bruhs... And I've definitely heard discrepancy from every angle as far as KAPsi and Sigma Gamma Rho are concerned...

That shows how much I follow these varying bonds on some college campuses. :) I thought some Deltas bonded with Apes because of something like "fire and ice"--whatever that really means. Just like many Deltas think sharing colors and hair care products means they have to bond with Krappas. :)

Whatever floats folks' boats. :D

There are tons of Deltas who will say that. The good news is, despite what bond enthusiasts say, it doesn't make them any less Delta. :)

First bolded: Yeah, I always though that was a pretty thin "connection" -- but nobody thinks to ever connect the Pyramid and Sphinx aesthetic.

Second bolded: ihatechu. LOL

I think I may've seen a Pyramid and Sphinx connection. Maybe that only happens on campuses where the Deltas and Alphas have extremely high GPAs. :)

The best bonds happen at Sally's Beauty Supply. Don't hate!

Yeah that is a common one. Folks nowadays will create a unofficial bond over anything.

LMAO:D

Hey, I'm a neo -- all the history is still fresh in my head! ;-)