NPHC Secretiveness, Insularity, Etc.

[KAPital PHINUst]

I am seriously contemplating writing a book about the culture of Black Greek life, involving what a typical (read: proper) membership process might look like from the aspirant phase to the neophyte & prophyte phases. I plan to include other aspects of Black Greek life including service projects, meetings (committee and general), conventions/conclaves, and of course, the ever popular parties and step shows.

In a sense, it will be an updated version of "From Here To Fraternity" written by Robert Egan back in '83, but exclusively for Black Greeks*. I plan to give it a jovial slant for easier reading. But posts like Siggy's clearly tell me we need a book that explains Black Greek culture not necessarily from an academic perspective, but from a regular joe/jane perspective. It also tells me that our insular and secretive nature while on the one hand is necessary, on the other hand gives non-NPHCers (Greek or otherwise) a very one-dimensional perspective of what Black Greek life is all about. And quite honestly, our culture, while very powerful and influential, isn't nearly as deep as we would like to believe it is.

*In Egan's book FHTE, there are brief mentions and blurbs about Black Greek life here and there, but I knew we needed our own version of the book when Egan described Black Greeks strolling at a party as "Picture the Wall Street stock market pits with the traders on acid, bopping and swinging their arms...." Hence my assertion that Black Greeks are seen one-dimensionally. That's why we spend a lot of time having to defend why we do what we do, when it really isn't necessary to do that if more was explained at the outset.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.