Jay-Z To Join Alpha?

[InquisitiveOne]

According to AllHipHop.com, Jay-Z has plans to join the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. I’m not a hater –which, of course, are the first words of most haters before they begin hating– but this rubs me the wrong way.

Here’s why:

First of all, Jay-Z never attended college. I’m not in a fraternity, but I always assumed that this was a prerequisite. After all, a key component of Black fraternity life is promoting intellectual engagement and academic performance at the highest levels. Why can’t there be a Black space that only celebrates Black academic achievement?

Second, I’m fairly confident that Jay-Z won’t have to go through the same experiences as his frat brothers. Regardless of how you feel about hazing or pledging –which the Alphas and other fraternities strictly forbid– it is still reasonable to expect him to go through the same processes as everyone else, even if it’s just signing paperwork. Isn’t that partly what binds the members? It is doubtful, however, the Hov did anything but agree to join the organization and write a check.

Also, once Jay-Z joins a frat, other organizations will begin competing for superstars. What’s next: 50 Cent with Omega Si Phi? Diddy with the Kappa Alpha Psi? In case you think I’m going overboard, remember that just last year, Alicia Keys became an AKA (my money would’ve been on Zeta!) in the same fashion. To be clear, I’m not advocating a bourgeois elitism that wants to keep rappers away from “dignified” space. I’m merely worried that celebrity-courting will undermine the original and true purpose of Black fraternities and sororities.

Even if this rumor isn’t true, and there’s a good chance that it isn’t, the point is still the same.

Thoughts?