Quote:
Originally posted by Blackwatch
I was reading a thread on Omega Psi Phi Ave. where the online magazine HotGirl.com interviewed some members of Omega about their community service and parties. On the post was a link to the site where there was a picture of a few Omegas posing in their letters. There were also links to some of the "Hotgirl Online models", who were black women who were scantally clad, remeniscent of the rap videos that are out today. At the beginning of the post, the poster noted that though the article was superficial, he did appreciate the pub for the fraternity. I have never heard of Hotgirl magazine, but it seems to me to be exploitive of women, though I'm sure that there are many who would think differently.
In the past few years I have noticed an alarming trend, the popular "thug culture" of hip-hop is making its way into fraternities. I have noticed several rap videos that have featured in them Kappas and Sigmas stepping with canes (C-Murda's "Touch Dem") and Omegas stomping (that marching song that was out a few years ago with the guy from Atlanta, I will research and get the name of the rapper and the song.) One time my wife saw one of the videos and commented on why would a fraternity be associated on a national media scale with rappers who openly advocate for drug and alcohol consumption, violence and mysogyny? I noted that you wouldn't see Alpha Phi Alpha associated with anything on a national media scale like that. I actually told her that nationals has to clear something like that, but I really wasn't sure.
Question, should there be a national mandate to prevent some bruhs from entering into contracts to appear in these media outlets (soft core pornographic magazines and rap videos)?
Question for all my frat brothers, As a man of Alpha, do you think there is more of a responsibility to make sure that Alpha Phi Alpha is not seen in this light (moreso than Omega, Kappa, and Sigma) because we are the first and the standard bearers (set the example) for African American fraternal life?
Blackwatch!!!!!!
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Blackwatch, thanks for your vigilance. Just two things. First, in the Drama video for "Left Right Left", the "soldiers" were not wearing Omega letters or colors. Although I've heard the song many times, I couldn't tell you if the lyrics were thuggish or misogynistic. Snoop Dogg had a video called "Woof" which featured Greeks except for Alphas that I recall. Don't know the lyrical content of that song.
As for the magazine piece, I never looked at the rest of the website. The writer appeared to be much like a "groupie" or an admirer of the undergrads. It was a fluff piece, just like many of the threads on Greekchat can be. It seems to have been intended for a very narrow and superficial audience. I also did not "appreciate the pub for the fraternity". Omega doesn't need any pub. My comment was on the fact that someone showed loved for the Bruhs (cause we never seem to get any).
I'm not sure what you mean by "seen in this light". I don't believe that Omega represents itself through pornography by some undergrads being interviewed by a womens magazine, nor promotes misogyny by a couple of Bruhs appearing in a video.
Lastly, Omega doesn't follow any other orgs lead. What Alphas choose not to do or participate in is fully up to them.