Hmmm, it seems like that I have opened up a Pandora's box (unintentially, of course). I have read the aforementioned responses and I have a couple of questions (BTW, these questions transcend just K A Psi, but apply equally to the other NPHC orgs).
If most of the history books are generally public record (ie available at bookstores or libraries), why is there vibes of selfishness, hypocrisy, and ambiguity to hide it, especially when (a) it's not secret material and (b) prospecive Greeks are asked to research ALL the fraternities or sororities (depending on what sex you are) before making a final decision. It's one thing not to just blurt out the history, it's another thing totally to make the research a scavenger hunt.
I have noticed that many Black Greeks get upset at Black students who join White GLOs and/or form their own GLOs and I hear many times a "sour grapes" rationalization from those Greeks such as "Well, those students just don't understand the history and traditions of the NPHC orgs." My question is this: How do you expect them (or students in general) to appreciate the struggles the NPHC orgs had to go through to get to where Black Americans are today if you claim that such knowledge is secret or on a need-to-know basis? In all fairness, they cannot be faulted for that.
I do find Black Greek history an integral part of our Black American history and movement. The hypocrisy I have seen is that the same Black Greeks that try to hide their history ("steal" BGLO history books from the library, rip out their org's section from the book "Baird Manual of American College Fraternities", etc.) are the same ones that complain that their history courses lack or have insufficient information about African or African-Anerican history. The hypocrisy is that the professor (and/or the textbook authors) probably had the same intent that the complaining Greek did.
I applaud Lawrence Ross for writing "The Divine Nine". It was DEFINATELY a step in the right direction, a much-needed step.
Last to N4L: I only have one question for you: What do plan on accomplishing by repressing a topic on Kappa history and/or The Divine Nine? This is your forum and I respect that, but at the same time I sadly shake my head.
Sorry for the textbook. I'm off the soapbox.
Da Rain Man
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