Alphas and Kappas take notice

I copied this from another site. Any thoughts
I don't know much about these guys, but are they guys who were rejected by the Kappas. They call themselves Alphas, so maybe they were rejected by them. Even there colors seem to be similar to crimson and cream, though. For all interested check out there site. This could get confusing. www.homestead.com/aksig/aid.html

[ManndingoNUPE]

Yeah, I checked out their page. They do have some similarities. That Org. was started by two fellas at a school in Texas. I wish them well in their endeavors, but if they are trying to forge their own identity, they would do well to not call themselves Alphas, and do well not to kary kanes. They need their own identity. Also, their colors are not the same as ours. Theirs are red and white. There are a few other things that I can see that they modeled themselves after us, but I wont go into that.

Well you know what they say, imitation is the best form of flattery

[DeltaDoll99]

MandingoNupe, I SERIOUSLY hope that they are not trying to Kopy Kappa Alpha Psi, although I wished you would have posted some of those similarities. Boy, this is going to become very intersting, especially if they show-up at a Step-Show with a Kall, ooops- Call. (You get the Hint)

N'quisitive
Spr.99
OE

[ManndingoNUPE]

Yeah, it would definately be in their best interest not to even show up to a step show especially in Texas. I know a few brothers from Texas, and let's just say that it would be very very unkomfortable for them there.

[Talaxe]

How are maroon and grey similar to crimson and creme? I don't see it. Unless you're thinking along the lines of maroon = deep red, grey = dingy white? The former are popular colors for high schools. I digress. If they're not recognized by the NPHC, I don't see how calling themselves "Alphamen" is a problem. Alpha is the first letter of their fraternity. Carrying the canes is a bit cheesy, especially since Kappa Alpha Psi started that, but now all of the BGLO's step with canes. I'm sure that every new fraternity/sorority started by black folks is going to be compared to older ones. I'm sure black folks were tripping in 1911, 1913, 1914, 1920, 1922 and just about nearly died laughing in 1963. There are only five historically BLGO, maybe they discovered in their journey that none of the five was right for them. I didn't get to look at all of the pictures because the website made my computer unhappy.

[This message has been edited by Talaxe (edited September 30, 2000).]

[Living Legend]

Talaxe,
Your obviously are not in an NPHC frat, and therefore don't know what the f*ck you're talking about. Anyway, for the record I am a Sigma, therefore I took offense to your "carrying canes is a bit cheesy" line. And no, not all NPHC organizations step with canes. Secondly, I believe any member of Alpha Phi Alpha would take offense to them calling themselves "Alphamen" just as I would take offense to some upstart group calling themselves "Sigmamen". But there is no point of continuing this argument because some things you have to be a part of to truly understand.

[Asia2000]

From what I understand from my Alpha friends as well as from an outsiders point of view, being an "Alphaman" isnt' just a cute nickname. It is something they worked for, strived for, suffered for, and are RIDICULOUSLY proud of becoming. For those familiar with the culture surrounding BGLO's, being titled an "Alphaman" has strong signfigance and carries with it many associations that the fraternity worked hard to portray and preserve. Therefore, when someone else easily throws that "nickname" across their chest, it is offensive and worrisome. You have to wonder: How are these men going to carry this title that is so strongly associated with me (the member)?

I believe this train of thought can be extended to the use of the VERY similar colors and what those colors represent to a Nupe and those familiar to the culture surrounding the Nupes.

I can't speak negatively about this organization as I do not know the story behind it. I am just trying to open the point of view for those who might be offended.
Asia

[This message has been edited by Asia2000 (edited October 02, 2000).]

[ManndingoNUPE]

Originally posted by Talaxe:

How are maroon and grey similar to crimson and creme? I don't see it. Unless you're thinking along the lines of maroon = deep red, grey = dingy white? The former are popular colors for high schools. I digress. If they're not recognized by the NPHC, I don't see how calling themselves "Alphamen" is a problem. Alpha is the first letter of their fraternity. Carrying the canes is a bit cheesy, especially since Kappa Alpha Psi started that, but now all of the BGLO's step with canes. I'm sure that every new fraternity/sorority started by black folks is going to be compared to older ones. I'm sure black folks were tripping in 1911, 1913, 1914, 1920, 1922 and just about nearly died laughing in 1963. There are only five historically BLGO, maybe they discovered in their journey that none of the five was right for them. I didn't get to look at all of the pictures because the website made my computer unhappy.

[This message has been edited by Talaxe (edited September 30, 2000).]

Talaxe,

I will give you the point about the colors, although the kanes that they had were red and white, and In those pictures, I saw someone with a red and white shirt on with thier letters, but that point is not really what I was focusing on.

My major point for them was that if they are trying to start thier own thing, and if they are trying to forge thier own identity, then they should try to be Original. Why use a name that has been around since 1906. As for how the Alphas feel, those brothers are more than articulate enough to voice thier opinions, so I will leave that to them.

And yes, if I happen to take offense to them stepping with kanes, then I am more than within my rights to do so. Kappas have been carrying kanes for many decades, and it has become part of our "mystique" for lack of a better term. Something that we pride ourselves on.

I don't believe that my earlier post, was negative about that frat, but I did point out a few things that I thought they were doing wrong. If you don't see it that way, so be it, but that's my opinion, and I am sticking to it.

As for folks trippin back in 1911, and so on, yeah, they probably did. But if this frat goes about the buisness of helping out in thier kommunity, then I have no beef with them. But I stand by my earlier posts. And Texas is NUPE Kountry. Wherever they go, they are going to be compared to us.

Oh, and not all BGLOs step with kanes. There is some debate on who started it first, the Kappas or Sigmas (I won't go there). But normaly when you see sigmas step, they step with sticks, not kanes (someone please correct me if I am wrong).

There are other similarities between us, and that frat, but I won't go into those.

Peace and Luv

MN

[Talaxe]

Living Legend, you need to chill. It will be alright.

Talaxe,
Your obviously are not in an NPHC frat, and therefore don't know what the f*ck you're talking about. Anyway, for the record I am a Sigma, therefore I took offense to your "carrying canes is a bit cheesy" line. And no, not all NPHC organizations step with canes. Secondly, I believe any member of Alpha Phi Alpha would take offense to them calling themselves "Alphamen" just as I would take offense to some upstart group calling themselves "Sigmamen". But there is no point of continuing this argument because some things you have to be a part of to truly understand.

Let me clarify before you lose anymore of your ruffled feathers.

• Why are you offended by the carrying canes comment? Do you carry a cane around campus on your backpack? Maybe that's something that Sigmas at your school/town/area/region do. Whatever.
  
• All of the NPHC organizations step with canes on my campus. CANES, not sticks. In fact they started this when the Kappas' suspension was lifted.
  
• I have no desire to join a frat, for obvious reasons.
  
• As for the title "Alphaman" -- a bit uncreative on their part-- would this still be a huge issue if it were a non-black fraternity, carrying canes, with maroon and grey colors? No, I am not trying to simplify/put down the image that Alpha Phi Alpha men are working to portray.

[MIDWESTDIVA]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Talaxe:
There are only five historically BLGO

Please elaborate on this.



------------------
We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

Aesop c550 BC

[Talaxe]

MIDWESTDIVA posts:
[quote]

Originally posted by Talaxe:
There are only five historically BLGO
Please elaborate on this.

I left out the word FRATERNITIES.

[mojo]

To all concerned about this. I would suggest a very respectful email voicing your concerns and asking for a response. There email address on their site.

[PositivelyAKA]

Originally posted by Talaxe:
[*]I have no desire to join a frat, for obvious reasons.
[/list]

then why are you smack dab in the middle of this conversation, on a greek site? it kills me when folks say they are not interested in joining a greek organization but have trash bags of things to say about them. you can not BEGIN to understand what the deal is. so as much as you are entitiled to your own opinions if for obvious reasons you are not interested then why continue to speak on it.
surely you have better things to do.

[tickledpink]

Interesting....
The hand sign displayed in the picture next to "Our Founders" looks like a combination of the Kappa's and Alpha's signs.

[Talaxe]

Previously posted by PositivelyAKA:

then why are you smack dab in the middle of this conversation, on a greek site? it kills me when folks say they are not interested in joining a greek organization but have trash bags of things to say about them. you can not BEGIN to understand what the deal is. so as much as you are entitiled to your own opinions if for obvious reasons you are not interested then why continue to speak on it.
surely you have better things to do.

--I said that I didn't want to join a frat (meaning a greek organization full of dudes). I am not a dude. If frat is the general term for greek organizations, then I stand corrected.

--I am entitled to my own opinion as you are to yours. I was trying to look at this "controversy" objectively. I think I am more objective than a greek is because they have secrets and whatnot that is not common knowlege. Therefore, my opinions may be formed different from yours.

--What are the "trash bag" things? You must be taking something out of context as many of the other greeks on this post have. Everything I have said is the truth.

--So, generally speaking, not being interested in joining a greek organization prevents one from posting on a greek organization message board? How about friends of greeks? Are they excluded as well?

A lot of posters don't read what they are responding to and take so many things out of context.