University of Alabama Breaks Color Barrier...

[shopgirl]

so read the headline on CNN Headline News. The first African-American to join a U of A fraternity...

I just thought I'd share. I think that's awesome.

Greek Love,
shopgirl

[Wine&Blue]

That is awesome shopgirl. I refrained from posting it because of what the Auburn discussion turned into.

I definitely think it's a step in the right direction.

[PenguinTrax]

Where is the story? I can't find it on CNN

[dzrose93]

I can't find it either, but I'd love to read the article. Can someone give us a link, please?

[Tom Earp]

Thank you for a postive post or a post that is more toward the positive side of life

Changes do not and will not come over night as it has taken so long even up to these times to keep working on these issues!

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Thank you for a postive post or a post that is more toward the positive side of life

Changes do not and will not come over night as it has taken so long even up to these times to keep working on these issues!

Wonderful point, Tom.

[Wine&Blue]

Black man breaks color barrier in Alabama fraternity
The Associated Press
11/7/01 6:03 PM


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- A black man has joined an all-white fraternity at the University of Alabama, becoming the first male to break the color barrier in a campus Greek-letter group.

University spokeswoman Janet Griffith said Wednesday the man, who did not want his name made public, joined an undisclosed fraternity this fall after the traditional membership recruitment period called rush.

The lack of blacks in the university's traditionally white fraternities and sororities was an issue earlier this year after a black woman failed to gain a membership invitation from any white sorority.

The woman, Melody Twilley, said she suspected she was rejected because of her race.

Faculty leaders and administrators said at the time they were unaware of any blacks having joined white groups, but white sororities have since said they had two black members in the past, Griffith said.

[kimmykimmy]

What took so long?

That is all I have to say.

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by kimmykimmy
What took so long?

That is all I have to say.

Maybe no black men were interested in joining a "white" fraternity at the University of Alabama until now. I know that A Phi A has been there since 1974 and is a well-known, historically-black fraternity that draws many interested black men on campus. I'm not sure if there are other historically black fraternal groups currently present on the campus also, but I would expect that the number of black men rushing historically "white" GLO's at the University of Alabama, a state school in the Deep South, has been rather small in the past.

Regardless of why it happened this year as opposed to any other time is irrelevant. We should be happy that it has in fact happened, and look forward to further integration among the groups.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally posted by Wine&Blue
Black man breaks color barrier in Alabama fraternity
The Associated Press
11/7/01 6:03 PM
"Faculty leaders and administrators said at the time they were unaware of any blacks having joined white groups, but white sororities have since said they had two black members in the past, Griffith said.

Oh wow! Two whole members! And you know , by the end of this decade, there may be even 3 or 4! Please, is that supposed to be impressive?? Give me a break. They sound like a country club.

NinjaP.

By the way W&B, that comment is NOT directed at you but to U. 'Bama.

[AlphaChiGirl]

You know, there were probably AA men interested in joining years, but were "discouraged" for whatever reason . After all that's gone down, I think the number(s) will drop. Sorry for being negative, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em.

Plus, I've always thought it was easier for a male to integrate a GLO than a woman. Compare the dates of integration for NIC and NPC groups, or look at some composites.

[lovelyivy84]

This thread is kinda funny. I don't go to UA so I don't know what that University is like. I can't judge whether or not this'll make any difference whatsoever, or if it is even that positive. There are ten million different ways to play that scenario when you don't know the details.

[SoTrue1920]

Originally posted by dzrose93


Regardless of why it happened this year as opposed to any other time is irrelevant. We should be happy that it has in fact happened, and look forward to further integration among the groups.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I agree with dzrose93. Remember people -- after Brown v. Board of Education was passed, when public schools and universities began to integrate, they usually only accepted one or two students at a time. Are we to downplay the contributions of the Little Rock 9 or of Charlayne Hunter Gault and the late Dr. Hamilton Holmes (the first African American students to integrate the University of Georgia) simply because it was only a few students who stepped up to the challenge?

Yes, it seems like it took a long time for it to happen, but it has happened. Maybe it'll happen again, maybe it won't -- but it doesn't take away from the historical importance of this moment.

I find it sad that the brother in question feels like he has to hide his identity.. I wonder what that's all about. He's a pioneer and a trailblazer, and I for one would like to send him a letter of congratulations.

Edited because my fingers are faster than my brain sometimes.

[G8Ralphaxi]

Originally posted by SoTrue1920
I find it sad that the brother in question feels like he has to hide his identity.. I wonder what that's all about. He's a pioneer and a trailblazer, and I for one would like to send him a letter of congratulations.

I can understand where he is coming from...perhaps he just wants to be a brother of XYZ, not !!!TA-DA!!! The First African-American Brother of XYZ at UA!!! WOW!!!

Being the subject of newspaper headlines is not everyone's cup of tea. Look how much attention Melody Twilley has received...unfortunately a lot of it rather negative, I'm sure.

Think also how pledge/new member programs work - the goal is to shape these new people into full brothers or sisters of your fraternity/sorority. All the programs I've ever heard of involve a lot of activities for the pledge class as a whole - you want them to form a tight bond and as a group be integrated into the personality of your chapter. This can be extremely difficult if one member is a celebrity or views themselves as "special." Think about the challenges your chapter may have faced with pledges who were star athletes at your college, legacies, or otherwise famous.

My assumption is that this young man simply really liked the brothers of XYZ, felt comfortable there, and decided to accept a bid...because he just wanted to be an XYZ, not because he had a special mission to accomplish.

I hope I haven't offended anyone - I certainly don't mean to suggest that UA's Greek system should remain totally segregated or that progress like this isn't important. I just think that a lot of the time, we can accomplish more if we view each other as people first - judging on an individual's qualities, not their race. That certainly seems to be the way that this student approached Rush. I'm happy for him - being Greek, no matter what organization, has lifelong benefits, and I'm glad he was able to find a place to realize those benefits.

G8Ralphaxi

[SH80er]

Originally posted by kimmykimmy
What took so long?

That is all I have to say.

As my mom always says, "It's better late, than never!"