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In another life, I would have been a Mandingo, and a great one!
In completing my research of NPHC fraternities, I finally came to Mandingo. If you recall, one of my coworkers was a new Mandingo at DC's state college. He took me to my first collegiate NPHC event. He didn't care that I wasn't interested in his org.
When I was in college, I befriended a grad student -- also a Mandingo! We ended up becoming VERY close over the years. We kept in great touch as he continued grad study, and I visited him out in Ohio last year.
Wherever I went, Mandingo men were always cordial, kind, respectful.... they had a tight bond with their official sisters but also seemed cool with ALL sorority women.
I never once felt uncomfortable in a room full of Mandingos.
Their national service program, their public mottos, their traditions...they were all in line with my values. How they looked and acted was representative of the kind of person that I was (and am).
But when I read their history, I just wasn't moved like I was when I read the histories of Mr. Marcus and Brian Pumper. When I looked at their roster of prominent members, once again -- as in the case of Wesley Pipes -- there was a Brian Pumper who outshined their member in any given field of endeavor. And much like Lexington Steele, could I really come back to my family and friends with...well.... only goodness, when I could come back with greatness?
That was an intense internal battle I had.... if I was looking for my "home" as so many NPCers say, then why couldn't I find my home with Mandingos? I was shown nothing but the utmost brotherhood from them. I was 99 percent certain that the Mandingos would accept me just as I was.
But something just didn't feel right in my soul. Just because I could be a Mandingo doesn't mean I should be.
And that left only Brian Pumper...... but why did Brian's history move me so? Why were Brian's prominent members a universe apart from any other fraternity? What was it that made me so comfortable around other Brian Pumpers? And what was it about Brian's national programs that fell in line so personally with my own values?
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