What’s Gud, Family and Friends.
The recent song and ideology of the SAE fraternity at OU (my sister’s alma mater) reveals the deep-seeded racism that continues to exist within the experiment of America. And this shows exactly why there are Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities for university students and alumni.
However, I posit to you the consideration: how much liberation can people of African descent experience by simply imitating “massa’s” ego-based and nihilistic indulgences? At best, it is tenuous assimilation within a political-socioeconomic system that intrinsically is extremely hostile and oppressive (which prompts the very emergence of the fraternities and sororities in the first place). At worst, it prevents the affirmation of self-knowledge (and Self-knowledge) and political-socioeconomic self-determination. We can do better.
To be sure, for over 100 years, Black Greek-letter organisations provide tremendous guidance for bonding, leadership, and community. That is a primary reason I pledge a fraternity over 20 years ago. And amidst the community service, step shows, and parties of Black Greek life, I wonder why the Drum has yet to pervasively emerge within the culture of BGLOs (and HBCUs, for that matter). It is indicative of the self-denial (and even self-hatred) that is perpetuated through the assimilationist paradigm.
We need to tap beneath superficialities of Western popular culture, and temporal pursuits, and reach into our respective African ancestry; and return to the global table of humanity with confidence and inspiration. As the children of African slaves, kings, and Divine servants and ambassadors, we have something very valuable to share. And we have something very valuable to learn; because every culture of every ethnicity is perpetuated by the children of slaves and kings, Divine servants and ambassadors. Every culture of every ethnicity has something very valuable to share and to learn.
As a mixed ethnicity man with multiple ethnic heritages and allegiances (including African, Scandinavian, Seminole, Israeli, European, and additionally), my particular vocation is to facilitate pluralism and harmony.
I abstain from hating on fraternities and sororities. I am aware that pledging actually begins after crossing, and the test of loyalty is a life-long commitment. Instead, I call upon BGLOs to step up and fulfil the leadership potential that intrinsically exists within us: to be like Dap and “Wake Up.”
Love And Peace,
Peter.
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