Why are there no black members in Phi Kappa Psi? Another view

[hoosier]

Deliberate decisions (Julius Alexander)
Two minority students who chose to rush Panhel and IFC houses recount their different experiences in the Greek system

By Jennifer Leopoldt
March 04, 2003
When Julius Alexander arrived at Phi Kappa Psi fraternity for a Rush Week event in January 2002, he assumed the dinner wouldn't be any different from others he had attended at the house during the fall. He certainly didn't expect the "total surprise" that members would throw at him by the night's end.

"They sprang a bid on me -- I wasn't expecting it," said Alexander, a Weinberg junior. "It wasn't on my mind that I would join."

Alexander had gotten to know fraternity members through attending house events with his friend Jawdat Sha'Sha'a, a Phi Psi member.

"I figured he would like it," said Sha'Sha'a, a Weinberg junior. "He just kind of fit well."

Before deciding to join, Alexander said he had to think about his own feelings about fraternities and how his friends and family would react.

"And of course there was the whole race issue," he said. While Alexander found Phi Psi welcoming to a minority, he encountered unexpected resistance at home, where family roots run deep in the nation's traditionally black fraternity system.

Alexander grew up in Oak Park, a western Chicago suburb. His relatives often told him about their experiences in the historically black Greek system, which is governed by the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Phi Psi was just a "traditionally white fraternity," according to Alexander's family.

Alexander said he accepted Phi Psi's bid on the assumption that if he didn't like the fraternity, he could just drop out.

In the frenzy of his first week as a pledge, Alexander didn't have a chance to tell his family the news. When he finally told his mother he had accepted the bid, he could immediately tell from her voice she was disappointed.

He said his mother didn't "go into a rage of fury" about the bid, but she did do something that caught him off guard: She threatened to stop paying his tuition.

"That was pretty much the end of the argument," said Alexander, who then decided to depledge. "I'm a big mama's boy."

While in college at Illinois State University, Alexander's mother had helped her friends establish a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically black fraternity, and her opinions about fraternities were well-known.

"From the stories that she kept telling us over the years, it was kind of implied that when you get to college, if you join a fraternity, it had better be the Alphas," Alexander said.

Although he said there were no hard feelings when he told Phi Psi members he was depledging, he has not spent much time with the group since his decision.

"It would be cool if we were a little closer than what we are now because they're a bunch of cool guys," he said. "But stuff happens."

Alexander said he thinks his mother was biased against Phi Psi because of "preconceived notions" about partying and racism in fraternities.

Daniel Williams, a close friend of Alexander's who spoke with the family during the situation, said he didn't think Alexander's mother overreacted

"She used (the threat) just to show him how strongly she felt about it," said the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign student.

Alexander said his brother Jaris, now a sophomore at UIUC, shared his mother's concerns.

"You can never be 100 percent sure being a black male in a traditionally white frat," Alexander said his brother told him.

"To some extent there will always be a voice in the back of my mind as to whether (fraternity members) really want me here because I'm Julius or they want me here because I'm Julius and I'm black."

Current Phi Psi President Paul Turner declined to comment on behalf of the fraternity.

Alexander said many of his black friends who questioned his initial choice were glad when he depledged.

"They were relieved, but it wasn't like they were high-fiving each other and saying, 'Yes! Julius is not joining a white frat!'" he said. "I think they didn't want to see another black guy become a token in a fraternity."

Family members also seemed relieved when Alexander decided not to remain in Phi Psi, he said. When he first told them about the bid, relatives started saying, "You don't have to join my fraternity, but at least join a black frat instead of a white frat," or even, "Join a black fraternity or nothing at all."

Alexander said he sometimes discusses it with his family. Over the summer, his mother and she consented that he should be able to do what he wants with his time in college. Still, he said he probably would not look at the fraternity system again.

Despite strides in communication with his family members, Alexander said he did not want to ask them to speak with The Daily.

"This topic is still a touchy subject in the family," he said.

Talking about the issue with his family made Alexander realize that race plays more of a role in life's choices than people might assume, he said.

"I guess it's kind of sad because on one hand you grow up in a household where your parents are telling you to be more diverse, to open yourself up to new things," Alexander said, "but there are still certain subjects where race plays a role above being diverse, above learning new things."

[Kevin]

I hear that's often the case. I invited a friend of mine to a rush party.

He happens to be black.

He explained to me that he probably would take me up on something like that but for him it wasn't that simple.

I'm sure there's plenty of discrimination on BOTH sides around the world but for some reason I think traditionally white fraternities get a bad rap on the issue of diversity. It's not all our fault.

I'd be curious to know if anyone can explain why this is? Do NPHC-type organizations feel threatened by NIC/NPC types opening their doors to everyone regardless of skin color?

[gphiangel624]

Ok, so as much as I respect Alexander's feelings and his decision, this article really, really bothers me...

I know that in most of the US, racism is still a huge problem, esp. in the South, and that fraternities are still considered to be "traditionally white" organizations. But being from Southern California and growing up in a hugely diverse area, this kind of thing really bugs me.

For those of you who don't know, the University of California is probably one of the most diverse state-wide university systems in the US (I would think Texas would be similar), and race is often a hot topic at all UC campuses, but especially the ones in the SoCal area. UCR is the fourth most diverse campus in the nation, and the most diverse of all the UC schools, and I am so proud of that.

Fall 2002 ethnicity figures (does not include those who declined not to state):
African American: 5.7%
Asian American: 42.2%
Chicano/Latino: 23%
Native American: 0.5%
White: 23%
Other: 1.6%

Yes, race issues still exist on my campus. The majority of students feel that Greek Life is a "traditionally white" concept, even though 19 out of the 33 social Greek-letter organizations (including NPC, IFC, NPHC, and other multi-cultural GLOs) consider themselves Ethnic/Cultural organizations BEFORE considering themselves to be a Fraternity/Sorority. And unofficial figures that have measured the percentage of ethnic diversity within NPC/IFC organizations have shown percentages that correspond almost exactly to the percentages throughout the entire school.

So, with all that off my mind, this article is still bothering me... Alexander expressed no interest in joining an NPHC organization, or a black fraternity in general throughout the article, so maybe he was actually looking to break the diversity lines by joining a "traditionally white" fraternity. What bothers me most is his mother's reaction to his acceptance of a bid to Phi Psi. If I was the mother of a minority student, and he was extended an invitation to break through the color barriers, there is in no way I would view it as just adding a "token" to an organization. I would be proud that a group of men are willing to take a shot at diversity within their organization, and decided to let my student take the first step.

I understand the reason why multi-cultural organizations tend to rarely have members from other ethnicities, but doesn't that promote a double standard here? I mean, if people are going to constantly accuse NPC and IFC organizations of being "traditionally white" and unwelcoming of non-white races, couldn't the same be said for NPHC which is "traditionally black," or for organizations like Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Inc. and Lambda Phi Epsilon, both "traditionally Asian-American" organizations?

This double standard is still so out of whack... I give so much credit to organizations with a "traditionally ethnic" background that recruit and boast members of a different race... At UCR, there are a few cases such as this (specifically that the former President of Latinic Societas Unitas, a Latino organization that operates like a sorority, was 100% Chinese... ), and I give them credit for stepping over the race barriers.

I know that many of you will not agree with me because of cultural differences and I know a lot of you are in the South where a race divide still exists in most areas, but seriously... think about it. Isn't the point to expand in all ways possible, including through ethnic diversity of members? It's not fair to Alexander that his mother was, in my opinion, extremely biased and shallow. She should let her son do as he pleases, try new things, and experience life without her weighing him down. It's people that can't open up their minds like that who are making it just that much more difficult to have peace...

K... sorry to vent, but this riled me up... I'll get back to my homework now.

[KillarneyRose]

I always suspected there were two sides to this issue. Afterall, parents (even if they won't admit it) tend to hope that their offspring will grow up and hold the same things dear that they do.

It's a shame, though.

I've joked that I would stop paying my daughters' tuition if they didn't join Delta Zeta, but I'd never actually DO that! lol

[KappaKittyCat]

Family members also seemed relieved when Alexander decided not to remain in Phi Psi, he said. When he first told them about the bid, relatives started saying, "You don't have to join my fraternity, but at least join a black frat instead of a white frat," or even, "Join a black fraternity or nothing at all."

This really disturbs me. It's the same as my mother's threatening to stop paying my tuition if I were to join an NPHC or multicultural sorority. If my family said, "Join a white sorority or nothing at all," that would just be over the top and there would be so much criticism from all sides. It's a shame that these double standards persist.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by gphiangel624 (in part)
Ok, so as much as I respect Alexander's feelings and his decision, this article really, really bothers me...

I know that in most of the US, racism is still a huge problem, esp. in the South, and that fraternities are still considered to be "traditionally white" organizations. But being from Southern California and growing up in a hugely diverse area, this kind of thing really bugs me.

. . . I know that many of you will not agree with me because of cultural differences and I know a lot of you are in the South where a race divide still exists in most areas, but seriously... think about it. . . .

gphiangel624, please cut the "especially in the South" remarks. News flash... some parts of the South have made more progress in race relations than places in the North, Midwest (where this story seems to come from) and, yes, even Southern California. Of course, we in the South have a history of race relations problems, and most of us here would be the first to admit that we still have work to do to improve race relations. But the "at least it's not as bad here as it is in the South" attitude does get a bit tiring.

And yes, the response of Alexander's mother bothered me, too. But I think this is much deeper than NIC fraternities being "traditionally white" organizations and the desire for diversity, and probably has more to do with the role that the Great Eight/Divine Nine have played in African-American culture. I would be interested to hear/read the thoughts and reactions of members of the Divine Nine.

[zchi2]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
And yes, the response of Alexander's mother bothered me, too. But I think this is much deeper than NIC fraternities being "traditionally white" organizations and the desire for diversity, and probably has more to do with the role that the Great Eight/Divine Nine have played in African-American culture. I would be interested to hear/read the thoughts and reactions of members of the Divine Nine.

The mother might of been "racist," but my cousin's father and aunt told her that they wouldn't help her financially if she joins the sorority that I'm apart of now. They didn't say that they were going to pay for her tuition, but they made it clear that they didn't want her to join my sorority. It wasn't because it wasn't a black sorority, but it was because it wasn't in the divine nine. The divine nine has a lot of historical significance and prestige in the black community and there aren't many black students entering college that never heard of at least one black sorority or fraternity. So when black people step out of what what is known, many black people have a problem with it. Besides that, why would you want you child to join something that has history of discriminating against your race? Even though things have changed a lot, most parents haven't been on campus recently to know that.

[33girl]

Here's a question...

Are there any GLO's that are trying to become part of NPHC now? If NPHC membership was conferred on them, would the perception of them change?

Sorry, I know that's a very open-ended question.

[RedefinedDiva]

Yes, doors have been opened for us, but that only because someone had to KICK them open. Don't think that we got any favors. And while you are sitting around thinking that things are soooo different these days, NPC/IFC orgs. are still having parties where its members show up in blackface. Oh, and let's not forget those off the hook "ghetto fab" parties, but I'll digress from that for a minute. Why would any minority want to be a part of orgs. that make fun of them?

As gphiangel stated, no, Alexander didn't directly express interest in an NPHC org., but he never expressed interest in a "traditionally white" fraternity either. More or less, he was caught up in the moment/excitement of it all and decided to go for it. If you look at the article, he stated that he "accepted Phi Psi's bid on the assumption that if he didn't like the fraternity, he could just drop out." He wasn't trying to break barriers and claim a bid on behalf of all African-American men, he was just doing something that he thought would be fun.

I don't see a problem with what the family of this young man said. The problem is that everyone that is NOT a minority is quick to jump up and say how "racist" his family seems to be or what you would do if your child decided to "think outside of the box" (my selection of words). However, unless you have been/are a minority, you have NO earthly idea what it is like. I don't know about IFC/NPC orgs., but NPHC membership is a lifelong commitment. You would want to make sure that you make the right choice. Automatically everyone is attacking his family for what they say/feel, but some of you know that your families would act the same way. It's the same as if you dated/married outside of your race. And please don't trip because I HAVE read the interracial dating thread.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
The problem is that everyone that is NOT a minority is quick to jump up and say how "racist" his family seems to be or what you would do if your child decided to "think outside of the box" (my selection of words).

Everyone? Generalizations don't seem very helpful, or accurate, here.

As for me, I didn't say that the family sounded "racist," nor did I mean to imply it. I said that his mother's response bothered me. I said that not because I thought it sounded racist, but because I thought it sounded controlling and indifferent to her son's opinions.

However, unless you have been/are a minority, you have NO earthly idea what it is like.

As someone not part of any minority group, I agree completely. That's why I said I was interested in hearing the reactions and thoughts of members of the Divine Nine.

[dojo]

Originally posted by zchi2
The mother might of been "racist," but my cousin's father and aunt told her that they wouldn't help her financially if she joins the sorority that I'm apart of now. They didn't say that they were going to pay for her tuition, but they made it clear that they didn't want her to join my sorority. It wasn't because it wasn't a black sorority, but it was because it wasn't in the divine nine. The divine nine has a lot of historical significance and prestige in the black community and there aren't many black students entering college that never heard of at least one black sorority or fraternity. So when black people step out of what what is known, many black people have a problem with it. Besides that, why would you want you child to join something that has history of discriminating against your race? Even though things have changed a lot, most parents haven't been on campus recently to know that.

IMO, the Divine Nine is VERY significant historically in African American society. It was the beginnings of the "Divine Nine" that gave African Americans an opportunity for brotherhood/sisterhood and comraderie and support for each other at a time in which it was difficult to survive in the "white" education system. For example, African Americans at some institutions, if not all during the early 1900's were not allowed to take advantage of a school's educational amenities and resources available to white students - they could not stay on campus and had to spend hours traveling back and forth, where white students were able to live on the campuses and had resources readily available to them. The first African-American fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, started out as a study and support group for the students at Cornell University to aid in keeping the few African-American students left in school because they were constantly faced with educational and social racial prejudices. The success of this fraternity blazed trails and paved the way for the other eight org's that were developed after it.

With that said, I don't believe that there is a double-standard here. I have seen (and in a few cases, actually know) white members of NPHC organizations, male and female. These organizations, in most cases that I have read, indicate that they are predominately black - this does not mean that they do not accept white members, or are racist membership is open to ANY QUALIFIED MEMBER, and being African American is not a qualification. As far as Julius' mother, I believe that her time and effort in helping continue the legacy of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity by aiding in starting a chapter has a deep significance to her, as well as the HISTORY of all of the NPHC orgs. I'm sure that if Julius decided on any of the "Divine Nine" fraternities, she would have been satified just as well. Now threating to not pay the tuition is extreme, however I think that she said that just to show how strong her feelings were on the subject, not because she didn't want her son to join a "traditionally white" fraternity.

With the significant strides and trails blazed by these NPHC organizations for the almost last 100 years or so, who WOULDN'T want to be a part of that, or at least EXPLORE the option?

Sorry for the long post...

[adduncan]

I had a long and (I believe) thought-provoking answer to this thread.

Then I trashed it at the last minute.

I don't want to be called a racist for having a hard time understanding what looks very much like a double-standard that has no place in the 21st century. That's something that no minority person can understand.

I guess it's part of life that there's always going to be people stuck in a rut over race, one way or the other. Not very encouraging. Multiculturalism is a multi-way street: if one person/group/etc doesn't want to be involved, everyone suffers in the long run.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

[Honeykiss1974]

There are plenty of non-african americans in NPHC organizations (Eleanor Roosevelt is a long-time member of Alpha Kappa Alpha). This isn't a recent trend, but has been the case for 30 plus years.

Why is the fate of this fraternity based upon this ONE African American male? I think if people didn't spend so much time putting on a dog and pony show of their minority members (i.e. Hey, we've got ONE minority...now we are DIVERSE!), and just went on about things "business as usual" (i.e. letting your record of service, sister/brotherhood speak for itself), then maybe more minorities would feel more CONFIDENT about joining a NIC/NPC organization (and not feel like an interesting piece of furniture).

I say CONFIDENT because in general, people are ALWAYS going to have something to say about what you do. You can't run you life on the opinion of others. To me personally, he seems to have such a laisez-faire attitdue towards the whole thing so I don't think it was that important to him to join this fraternity anyway.

[valpogal99]

While I understand the mother's desire for her son to carry on her tradition (after all, don't we all hope our children will do the same), I find it sad that people you love will put pressure on you to make "their" decision. I have had the opportunity to witness a similar situation within our sorority. We had a lady accept a bid to our sorority but asked that we keep it quiet until she had a chance to share the news with her friends. None of us thought anything about it until we had our first letter day on Monday (bids were accepted Friday morning). She was hesitant to wear her letters and didn't want to go out on campus that much. Later that night she shared her story with the chapter. She was the first in her group to join a "white fraternity" and she was being pressured because her friends wanted her to join a traditionally black sorority. She was up-front with us and them that she felt more a part of the sisterhood with ADPi even though some of her best friends were part of the other group. Most of the members of the other organization stopped speaking with her. A few remained her friends and tried to support her (in private) with her decision. Several members of the other group did their best to show EVERYONE their displeasure in her decision. She had nasty phone calls, notes, and even public threats when they would see her. It was a really hard time for her and caused her a lot of pain, so much so that she ended up transferring. To her, the sorority was important in her life and nothing could be done to change that. She remained with the chapter through initiation and transferred the following semester, thus taking Alumna status. She still keeps in touch with the chapter and the local Alumnae organization and swears it was the best thing she could have done because she knows who her true friends are (regardless of race).

Again, I understand expressing a desire for someone to join specific organizations, I do not understand why people would be so mean at someone who REALLY wants to step outside those lines. This lady is a GREAT person and an awesome asset to ADPi. She remains active as an Alumna and embodies the beliefs of the sisterhood. Why anyone would want to take that away from someone is beyond me. She has gone on to talk to a lot of chapters about race issues and race relations and has been a driving force in uniting organizations on several local campuses. She has been instrumental in getting organizations to work together for the common good of the community regardless of the letters on their shirts and/or the color of their skin. She, in my opinion, is what the Greek system is all about.

[damasa]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
There are plenty of non-african americans in NPHC organizations (Eleanor Roosevelt is a long-time member of Alpha Kappa Alpha). This isn't a recent trend, but has been the case for 30 plus years.

Why is the fate of this fraternity based upon this ONE African American male? I think if people didn't spend so much time putting on a dog and pony show of their minority members (i.e. Hey, we've got ONE minority...now we are DIVERSE!), and just went on about things "business as usual" (i.e. letting your record of service, sister/brotherhood speak for itself), then maybe more minorities would feel more CONFIDENT about joining a NIC/NPC organization (and not feel like an interesting piece of furniture).

I say CONFIDENT because in general, people are ALWAYS going to have something to say about what you do.

Having one minority member is better than having none, would you agree, it shows an attempt at diversity.

I think the problem here is that a lof of historically white organizations actually do try to segregate and diversify the chapters they belong to, but when a situation like this comes to light, people tend to get discouraged.

We face this a lot on our campus. There is a lot of pressure on minority rushees from the BGLOs when they decide to rush a WGLO. It's almost like they are being looked down upon. Kind of like why is he/she rushing a white organization when the should be with us.

This is why this is such a "hang-up" situation. It's not about having just "one" minority member. It's the fact that many wglos do actually try to recruit minorities and a lof of these minority rushees that happen to show some sort of interest in a wglo end up depledging. I think it's mostly due to some type of pressure that is in a way related to this article. (This is form my experience on my campus.)

It gets frustrating when a historically white org does try to recruit minorities and they end up depledging due to pressure, much like the individual in the above article. In the end it shows that many of the "white frats and sororities" are still segregated and aren't diverse when some are actually making an attempt to do so.