Join me if you will. Will ya?

Ayy yo,

I attended the 2010 Urban League Annual College Football Game at GIANTS stadium two weeks ago between Howard University and Morgan State University.  Why these two teams from the Baltimore/Wash. DC area felt the need to hash out their beefs and differences in the Meadowlands of NJ is beyond me, but I like a good football game and party so fugg it.  It never ceases to me amaze me though how well-behaved and congenial we as a people are when we want to be or dare I say the right class of our folks show up.  Oh don't trip, I'm not going to put all our flaws and shortcomings as a people on blast here but I will say that if you're a die-hard fan of and live by Faux News, while believing everything that "the Man" publishes about us in a negative light, then you'd probably be afraid to participate in your local 'hood gatherings too.

But I digress...

Besides the cool watered down atmosphere reminiscent of many moons ago and cool Greekfests gone by, I was still glad to see the the African-American fraternal and sororal orders boldly and proudly displaying their letters, colors, and organzational spirit for all the world to see.  Kappas, AKAs Zetas, Deltas, Sigmas and ever the ever popular Omegas were on the scene.  Oh my!  Not to be outdone were the various Masonic lodges, Eastern Star chapters, and Noble Shriner factions showing out in droves.  All of these different black organizational types to watch a dayum HBCU college football game?!  Legendary Coach Eddie Robinson of Grambling State University fame must've been smiling down from heaven that day.  Despite all of this, one nagging question managed to pop into my head and has not left yet for all that I've tried to do to make it go away:  Is anybody still joining or feels the need to join anything anymore?

Check it out, I didn't attend an HBCU but rather a small liberal arts school in Northern NJ, where not only were those stale jokes about "taking classes in basket-weaving" actually true, you could also major in it AND they'd even teach you how to apply to the government for a grant to pursue your basket making dream.  Go on 'head you dayum hippie you.  Back then the only frat that I would've ever considered pledging at the time, quite honestly, would have been Omega Psi Phi.  Go figure right?!  But alas, they probably wouldn't have taken me though because I was waaaaay crazier than those brothers were back then.  For example, it was a short term dream of mine to show up at Greek Week wearing nothing but some gold Timberland boots, while sporting a thong made out of a Crown Royal bag for the entire week.  See, I told you I had issues.  Anyway, the nearest chapter was either at Rutgers (approx. 65 miles away) or Cheyney State (approx. 118 miles away) over in PA; two places I wasn't going to try and get to on a city bus pass and a dream for 6 weeks straight while I pledged. But a couple of guys from my school did it though.  They'd posse up in an old hooptie and make the trek over to Cheyney State to get on line and loved it.  I guess despite all of my enthusiasm I just didn't have the spirit to fully commit. 

So tell me BAF is anybody joining anything anymore?  If so what?  Holla atcha boy.

You know I had to jump in on this one _Ayy!  I just returned from my HBCU homecoming reconnecting with my classmates and sorors, so here's my view:

"Check it out, I didn't attend an HBCU "

That in and of itself explains a lot!  Being a part of an HBCU family atmosphere is unexplainable and invaluable.  That type of surrounding does nurture a sense of "join" and be a part of something larger than self for your community.  To directly answer your question:

So tell me BAF is anybody joining anything anymore? 

Yes they are in large numbers year after year after year!  As evidenced by our last intake of 106 into my glorious sisterhood.  These 106 were the few of the more than 1000 or so that came to the initial interest meeting seeking membership.  Many are called.....few are chosen!

To further expound upon your question, and to answer "why join"?  The black Greek letter fraternities and sororities were primarily founded upon one core principle...community service.  This wasn't mentioned in your post, but we all participate and give greatly to our respective communities year round.  Often times when you hear news of sororities and fraternities, especially the "black" ones, it's the news of something negative or some hazing.  For sure, that still happens unfortunately, but clearly that represents a tiny portion of the activities and hard positive work that we do in the community.  Positive programs like building Habitat homes, mentoring youth, and countless millions of dollars in scholarship funds are often overlooked for the gossip of a hazing incident.

These organizations are not for everyone, but it is a positive and longstanding staple in our black community.  Most of us have, or will be celebrating 100 years of community service.  That's a century of unity, love and giving back.  Not many groups of any kind can boast that accomplishment.

Just a sorors thought!........oo-oop!

J

That type of surrounding does nurture a sense of "join" and be a part of something larger than self for your community. 

I figured that it did but what can I say, I was poor as a church mouse and couldn't get the type of financial aid to one that suited my needs (100% full ride scholarship and suitable housing).  As usual I blamed it all on the man keeping a brotha down ya know.   

Yes they are in large numbers year after year after year! 

Glad to hear it.  That's great.

The black Greek letter fraternities and sororities were primarily founded upon one core principle...community service.  This wasn't mentioned in your post
 
Sorry.  I had a touch of Sugar before WLS so I get forgetful sometimes.

Often times when you hear news of sororities and fraternities, especially the "black" ones, it's the news of something negative or some hazing. 

True.  That does make the news unfortuately. 

These organizations are not for everyone

You ain't lying!  When they told me how much it was just to try and join the Grad chapters I was like,  "Sheeeeeeeeeeee-it!  You must be outta your dayum mind..."  But I do feel good that we Masons started all of the black Greek letter organizations so I'm in there somehow, someway.

You are right _Ayy, we owe the masons a great deal of credit for paving the way for us!.......Props so noted, and thanks!  And I think you made a real wise decision on your choice of higher education!  A full ride trumps a HBCU or any college for that matter anytime!.....

These organizations, like others, can be costly.  And trust......it does not stop at the dues!  That's just the start of it!  I'm grateful for the wisdom of getting a lifetime membership when it was available.  That helps some.

J

These organizations, like others, can be costly.  And trust......it does not stop at the dues!  That's just the start of it!  I'm grateful for the wisdom of getting a lifetime membership when it was available.  That helps some.

That's great on the lifetime membership.  I just wish we Masons had that.  One of the first things I had to learn once I joined was how to say, "No!"  Hey, I'm down for a good cause and all here and there but I can't afford to slip in my financial duties elsewhere just to save face.  

I have one daughter who is a sophmore in college now.  Last week she told me she was going to pledge AKA.  I was surprised.  My 11th grader said she didn't want to pledge anything.  I have very good friends that are in Greek organizations that urge me to pledge grad chapter all the time- most of them are AKAs.

I went to Va State my first year of college.  I wanted to pledge Delta.  When I went back up north to finish, there was no chapter on my campus and other things became a priority.

Maybe I'll revisit it after the kids are grown and on their own.  I'm involved with church, youth recreation and my daughter's dance company.  That's plenty of networking and money being spent out of my household.  I just don't see the need for someone else to dig into my pockets at this point in my life.  I'm having dreams of a TT in 2011 and then a Mercedes Benz CLS 500.

When I went back up north to finish, there was no chapter on my campus and other things became a priority.

I know exactly how you feel.  When you're not surrounded by it then you don't get that same feeling of belonging. 

I didn't attend an HBCU either for the same financial reasons - I chose a full ride at a non HBCU right across the street from an HBCU! lol - I joined my sorority and glad I did - all the Greeks on our campus would joke we went to our school for the education - and the HBCU for the parties......

Unfortunately, the HBCU in my area isn't very well respected for its academics - my other main reason for not attending is because I didn't want a degree that would be questioned or not seen as 'worthy' on the scale of one from another school.  I am all for fighting the good fight on things - I just wasn't gonna fight THAT fight..... I'm signed up for several others..... lol

However - in the end - I dropped out of the scene and all - at my core, I am not a 'joiner' and I like to be left the **** alone at times that make no sense - hard to do with a group of mofos that wanna 'get together' all the dayum time.... urrgghhh.  LOL! 

I didn't attend an HBCU either for the same financial reasons - I chose a full ride at a non HBCU right across the street from an HBCU!

Congrats!

lol - I joined my sorority and glad I did

Which one did you join?

- all the Greeks on our campus would joke we went to our school for the education - and the HBCU for the parties......

Not me and my crew.  By the time we could all bought our first cars Go-Go bars were going through a resurgence and we were like, "Fugg those stuck up broads at the those college parties, Man.  Let's go a ***** bar..."  We were such gentlemen.

However - in the end - I dropped out of the scene and all - at my core, I am not a 'joiner' and I like to be left the **** alone at times that make no sense - hard to do with a group of mofos that wanna 'get together' all the dayum time.... urrgghhh.  LOL! 

I'm sorta like that too believe it or not.

I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. - royal blue and gold deep down in my soul!!! 

My daughter is in the Big Bros/Big Sis of America - her Big Sister told me this weekend that she will be pledging SGRho - I have to admit - I was touched! *queue the single tear*