NPHC Greeks - how do you feel about this?

[Senusret I]

And again, when did the NPHC become a monolith? Alpha has more in common with Malik Fraternity, Inc., than some NPHC orgs.

NPHC traditions DO imitate others. Greek letters, rituals, grips, passwords, and handsigns didn't get created in a vacuum. The organizational structure wasn't unique. And as our organizations matured, we assumed the characteristics of our communities.

Where I'm from, the neighborhoods have calls and chants. Did NPHC orgs do it first? Does it really matter?

Did we have crossing jackets in 1906 or did they evolve over time?

We need perspective here.... sure, I agree with Chaos when she says traditions need to be acknowledged. But everything else is literally just a facade.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Where I'm from, the neighborhoods have calls and chants. Did NPHC orgs do it first? Does it really matter?

It's funny you should mention this. When I was in undergrad, BGLOs did not have calls or handsigns (nor did Deltas collect elephants.) But Black students from various states did. The Delta call sounds very similar to what was then the New York call.

[Little32]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

It's funny you should mention this. When I was in undergrad, BGLOs did not have calls or handsigns (nor did Deltas collect elephants.) But Black students from various states did. The Delta call sounds very similar to what was then the New York call.

And when my grandmother pledged in '59, those things were not a part of her experience either.

The bolded bit is interesting.

[PrettyBoy]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

And again, when did the NPHC become a monolith? Alpha has more in common with Malik Fraternity, Inc., than some NPHC orgs.

NPHC traditions DO imitate others. Greek letters, rituals, grips, passwords, and handsigns didn't get created in a vacuum. The organizational structure wasn't unique. And as our organizations matured, we assumed the characteristics of our communities.

Where I'm from, the neighborhoods have calls and chants. Did NPHC orgs do it first? Does it really matter?

Did we have crossing jackets in 1906 or did they evolve over time?

We need perspective here.... sure, I agree with Chaos when she says traditions need to be acknowledged. But everything else is literally just a facade.

I see you and ladygreek's points, but the crossing jackets, the hand signs, and the terminology that we use is unique among our organizations and is not used among NPC/IFC organizations, at least not where I'm from.

ladygreek, you asked how BGLOs could get started without seeing another black student for weeks at a time. I was getting the impression that you thought this couldn't be possible. At IU it was possible, and it did happen. Our fraternity started off as Alpha Omega just to hold the 10 men together while the fraternity was being created. I can't speak for the other 8 GLOs, but I can for mine and it's history is accurate. Yes, black students would go days to weeks without seeing another black student.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy

I see you and ladygreek's points, but the crossing jackets, the hand signs, and the terminology that we use is unique among our organizations and is not used among NPC/IFC organizations, at least not where I'm from.

ladygreek, you asked how BGLOs could get started without seeing another black student for weeks at a time. I was getting the impression that you thought this couldn't be possible. At IU it was possible, and it did happen. Our fraternity started off as Alpha Omega just to hold the 10 men together while the fraternity was being created. I can't speak for the other 8 GLOs, but I can for mine and it's history is accurate. Yes, black students would go days to weeks without seeing another black student.

But that is my point. Rather than to continue to allow that to happen a support group was formed--Alpha Omega, which I guess became Kappa Alpha Nu. Thus those 10 Black men saw each other often I would assume.

Having first gone to a PWI that only had 50 Black students, we found ways to get together and be each other's support. So was IU's campus so big that folx literally didn't see each other?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

But that is my point. Rather than to continue to allow that to happen a support group was formed--Alpha Omega, which I guess became Kappa Alpha Nu. Thus those 10 Black men saw each other often I would assume.

Having first gone to a PWI that only had 50 Black students, we found ways to get together and be each other's support.

Precisely.

Black folks almost had support groups of some sort. They just became formalized Greek lettered organizations in the early 1900s.

[PrettyBoy]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

But that is my point. Rather than to continue to allow that to happen a support group was formed--Alpha Omega, which I guess became Kappa Alpha Nu. Thus those 10 Black men saw each other often I would assume.

Having first gone to a PWI that only had 50 Black students, we found ways to get together and be each other's support. So was IU's campus so big that folx literally didn't see each other?

Exactly. Not only did they not want this to continue, but they also didn't like the fact that blacks were not allowed to share the same facilities at IU either. Before two of our founding fathers left Howard to attend IU, there were only 10 black students attending IU, so they really would go weeks without seeing another black student.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy

I see you and ladygreek's points, but the crossing jackets, the hand signs, and the terminology that we use is unique among our organizations and is not used among NPC/IFC organizations, at least not where I'm from.

When I pledged we had sweaters not jackets. The other non-BGLOs had sweaters, too. The sweaters became windbreakers, then coach jackets.

In other words, not any of these current "traditions" are set in stone. And at least in Delta they are not listed in our Protocol and Traditions Manual as such. Who knows what the future generations of BGLOs will adopt?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

When I pledged we had sweaters not jackets.

I've seen photos of my ol skool family members' sweaters from the 50s and 60s. Adorable. I have seen some 80s Sorors bringing them back and wearing them to homecomings. I got one passed down to me from a 60s Soror and opted to keep it as a keep sake instead of wearing it.