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From a different perspective (one who was a part of a group establishing a NPCH chapter on a predominately "white" campus in 1980. Yes, most NPCH groups do not "colonize" in the traditional sense of the term. The growth that has occured mainly in the '70s and '80s came mainly by virtue of the fact that there was a desire of African American students to affiliate with the organizations that they knew because of the aforementioned means--home, family members,school, exposure due to community service,etc. Many of the requests came from previously established local groups or interest groups that wanted to be a part of an NPHC organization. They usually worked though the Greek Life Office, which served as a liason.
There is an persistent concept in the NPHC groups that perspective initiates, as postulants, must come to the organizations. They don't recruit. In a sense this is the case because we are dealing with a "segment market with well-known branding" using marketing terminology, that is, sinse the NPHC groups tend to be stereotyped by the public (this is true, protestations aside!) those who don't know much about the organizations do tend to be attracted because of these purported attributes. Whereas for NIC and NPC member groups, there doesn't seem to be that kind of "branding" and the multitudes of these organizations means that, on one level the rushing approach is necessary. And the economic viability of maintaining chapter houses means that active recruitment is a must. If NPHC groups instituted aggressive housing programs for their undergrad chapters, I do think this more laissez-faire approach would have to be modified.
"The value of out Fraternity is not in numbers but in men, in true brotherhood"--Bro. Walter H. Mazyck, The Oracle, 1925
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