[docroc67]

Brothers,

I don't have the data or personal experience to give a definative answer to this question. What I have to offer is some logical speculation. This means, take this with a big grain of salt:

Fraternities generally reflect society; as society changes so do fraternities. Very few fraternities started as egalitarian societies. I remember ZBT did as well as a few others. Lambda Chi Alpha reflected its Founder's society and restricted membership to White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Later in time, the word "Aryan" slipped into our Constitution!- I remember when my Zeta was dominated by racists who were proud of that fact. I also remember that we changed, as society changed, to the point where were proud of our first Black High Alpha. Last year at GA, we embraced everybody but women! Only a few no votes, maybe 7 or 8, against welcoming gays openly to our Brotherhood. No descrimination allowed. I suspect that there are large numbers of the pre-70s members of our fraternity who would be shocked to read this as well as many Christian members from all generations.

Do the Math- I will guess, over the 35 year period in question, that less than 1/2 % of our Fraternity members are Afro-American. Lets say we initiated an average of 3000 members a year for the 35 years in questions. This would mean that approximately 15 members each year would be Afro-Americans. Let speculate that each Afro-American was a member of a different Zeta. So, 15 Zetas would have a potential Afro-American candidate for SAC. There would be approximately 2985 other eligible candidates for the position. A very small pool to draw from to secure a qualified Afro-American candidate. Other questions pop-up: how many Afro-Americans, or other members, really are qualified? How many hold the required campus positions, Zeta offices, have the grades, and the time to do the job. Oh, and how many really want the job? I suspect that few Afro-American Lambda Chis ever applied for the position to begin with and I suspect that those who did were up against very qualified and ambitious Brothers. Any Brother who gets a SAC position is highly qualified and probably politically sharp.

To me it isn't surprising at all that it took 35 years for a qualified Afro-American to get a SAC position. The pool is too small, the competion is strong. and it takes someone with exceptional talent and political savy to get it. More honor and glory to the Brother who achieved this high honor.

As to IHQ, I am pretty certain that we have had Hispanic/Latino staff members in the past. I don't believe that we have ever had an Afro-American staff member. I am pretty certain that we have never had an African-American GHZ member. I think for the same reasons: our fraternity reflects its society (it doesn't lead it); there is a very small pool to draw from, and it takes qualifications that most of us don't have or don't have time to earn. Plus it cost money to be an active GHZ member.

I have gone to three GAs and have noticed greater diversity among our undergraduates. In my Zeta, we started with a Hispanic member, then Japanese, Jews, and Blacks. I am pretty certain that we have had gay members all a long but they haven't made that fact general knowledge until recently. We reflect changes in our society as does our general fraternity. I would like to say that we lead the way, but we didn't. I can say that we did change with the times.

A final point, Afro-Americans tend not to want to join a "white" fraternity. They have the "divine nine" or historically Black fraternities and sororities to join. Though integrated, I doubt if you will find many Caucasian members of Alpha Phi Alpha. Black fraternities and sororities are different in the way they operate. They are life-long with a strong presence in Black communities. I drive by the Alpha Phi Alpha House in Dayton, Ohio from time to time. Their members join in college and many of them then join an Alumni Chapter to serve their communities later in life. Read the book "Black Greek 101" by Walter M. Kimbrough for an excellent history of the Black Greek movement. It is a wonderful read....

There is my take on this situation. It is speculation. I don't have time to do the proper research. I would suggest two additional ideas: let's cut out the "name calling" and personal attacks; and will someone take up the challenge of doing some research to dig out the facts about this situation?

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZeta