Male "Sorority" Controversy at Tennessee State

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Please break this down for me in laymen's terms. I am not a psychologist, or philosopher, just an MBA with a marketing and communications background. And to me this is spreading a message of hate that could have dire consequences. Thus the more exposure given to it, the more people that will get riled up.

More exposure, yes. Spreading hate, no, not really. See, the story itself was framed in such a way that it played into certain sexual stereotypes. But in reality,like most stories, it's multifaceted and multilayered. It can be "spun" in different ways, to bring "heat" or "light." I'm interested in the Greek aspect of it as a non-sanctioned phenomenon and beyond that the "why" of this particular manifestation at this time in our culture. I think it has something to do with some men carving out a counter cultural identity in a hostile environment, using Greekdom. This is reflected in the broader contentious space of what is black manhood in this society,with its structres regarding gender,status, power and race. I can go into more detail but it would take us far afield from what this forum is about. But Greekdom, in a sense, is but a reflection of the social trends and the way our common life in America works along gender, racial, ethnic, and class/caste lines.This story,the DePauw one and the "blacflace" one must all be understood this way. We have to ask the right questions--we must demand that this happens--so that we can actually bring good and self-understanding out of it.

[pinkies up]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

More exposure, yes. Spreading hate, no, not really. See, the story itself was framed in such a way that it played into certain sexual stereotypes. But in reality,like most stories, it's multifaceted and multilayered. It can be "spun" in different ways, to bring "heat" or "light." I'm interested in the Greek aspect of it as a non-sanctioned phenomenon and beyond that the "why" of this particular manifestation at this time in our culture. I think it has something to do with some men carving out a counter cultural identity in a hostile environment, using Greekdom. This is reflected in the broader contentious space of what is black manhood in this society,with its structres regarding gender,status, power and race. I can go into more detail but it would take us far afield from what this forum is about. But Greekdom, in a sense, is but a reflection of the social trends and the way our common life in America works along gender, racial, ethnic, and class/caste lines.This story,the DePauw one and the "blacflace" one must all be understood this way. We have to ask the right questions--we must demand that this happens--so that we can actually bring good and self-understanding out of it.

No offense Wolfman, but I think you're trying to be too deep with your assertations regarding the "male sorority". The bottom line is that it is totally disrespectful to mock an organization by using the symbols and letters to glorify or flaunt the fact they feel they can do so. I don't think it has underlined implications of how society works. I think they are just a group of men who really think they can become AKA's by playing dress up. They are no different than those women who buy a pin off of ebay and attempt to "pass" as a member. The men who do this are just plain weird.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by pinkies up

No offense Wolfman, but I think you're trying to be too deep with your assertations regarding the "male sorority". The bottom line is that it is totally disrespectful to mock an organization by using the symbols and letters to glorify or flaunt the fact they feel they can do so. I don't think it has underlined implications of how society works. I think they are just a group of men who really think they can become AKA's by playing dress up. They are no different than those women who buy a pin off of ebay and attempt to "pass" as a member. The men who do this is just plain weird.

Thanks sistergreek. I thought it was just me.

[pinkies up]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Thanks sistergreek. I thought it was just me.

You're welcome Sistergreek. I thought Wolfman was about to write his thesis for a minute!

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by pinkies up

You're welcome Sistergreek. I thought Wolfman was about to write his thesis for a minute!

I've been restrained in the way I've done posts in this thread for exactly the reason you stated. I was tempted to launch into a mini-dissertation. But, I vehently disagree with your assertion about the multifaceted,multilayered nature of the story. It's the lack of deep, critical thought about issues that actually empowers what some people fear:the distortion and abuse of news stories for rank political reasons to hurt people. People use sterotypes to stave off real, thoughtful dialogue. People who have changed the world for the better have always sought to see the big picture and the interrelationships in society and amongst cultures. It's no accident that Dr. King used such strange stuff as personalist philosophy, the praxis of Gandhi, along with his all important background in the OT prophetic tradition as an analytic and critical basis for how he "exegeted" this society and what he did. Nuff said.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Thanks sistergreek. I thought it was just me.

You know it's pretty bad when ***I*** want to tell Wolfman to sit down and stop analyzing the social significance of this.

[DSTCHAOS]

Alpha lesbians or sweethearts gone wild?

I think it's the latter, which means it the Apes' faults so they need to fix what they allowed to get out of hand.

Unlike those MiAKAs who had no AKAs in their photos, there are Apes all throughout those photos of "Alpha lesbians."