| Wolfman |
03-07-2007 12:44 PM |
As dehumanizing and destructive hazing is, to a large extent,in its most characteristic forms, it does seem to manifest itself differently amongst traditionally white and traditionally black Greek-letter organizations. It I hear of a Greek alcohol-related hazing death, I immediately think this is from one of the white groups. If the person dies or is severely injured due to physical beatings,my first thought is that has to do with an NPHC group or,in some cases, another ethnic Greek organization. (It's not that you don't have cases that may be reversed, but it's very rare.)This is stereotyping--yes;but there's more than a grain of truth to this. It's no accident that NIC- (the traditionally white groups,that is, since a majority of traditional BGLFs are members of the NIC also) and NPC-member groups have spent a tremendous amount of time and resources to address alcohol abuse as a risk management issue and a part of the culture of these groups, hence all the special programs to create a different kind of fraternity life with "dry" houses and an emphasis on the ideals of the groups. And from personal experience, anecdotal evidence across organizations and the millions of dollars spent paying settlements from lawsuitsuits stemming from physical hazing, it's safe to say that there is a culture of hazing amongst BGLOs. This is the reason for the hamfisted (and wrong headed!) attempt to address this by banning pledging in the NPHC in the late '80s. And Dr. Ricky Jones, a Nupe, has addressed this from a theoretical anthropological and sociological vantagepoint in his book, Black Haze:Violence, Sacrifice and and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities. My fraternity has had to struggle with this issue mightily because of its machismo reputation and acts perpetrated which have been a source of consternation,embarassment and almost financial calamity. Of late, the Alphas and the Nupes (Kappas) have had a string of major high profile cases of deaths from physical brutality due to hazing. These are not so much anomalies but the extreme manifestation of what charactistically can and does happen in BGLOs. The tacit silence, "winks and nods" and knee-jerk defensiveness to the detractors of BGLOS actually empower these practices as a part of BGLO "culture."
Last year,as chair of a committee of my grad chapter which put on a luncheon, I invited a bruh (Que) to give an inspirational talk. I did so because he is a committed Christian, a research psychiatrist and a good man and Omega brother (bruh). In the talk he spoke about his first real experience of the power of prayer. Ironically,it revolved around a "pre-pledging" incident at the HBCU he was attending as an undergraduate. He went to the Que house on campus, knowing the kinds of things that go on in these "sets." Before he went in he said a fervent, hearfelt prayer for protection. In all that went down that night, nothing happened to him--he wasn't even touched; but another prospective got his jaw broken that evening. He saw this as God's intervention in his behalf. He did go on to pledge and was initiated into Omega throught that chapter. This is not unusual in many places.We have to shine the light on these phenomena and address then head on.Hazing threatens the very existence of all Greeks.
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