Fraternity...
What
is it?
It's defined on
dictionary.com as:
1. a local or national organization of male students, primarily for social purposes, usually with secret initiation, rites and a name composed of two or three Greek letters.
2. a group of persons associated by or as if by ties of brotherhood.
3. any group or class of persons having common purposes, interests, etc.:
4. an organization of laymen for religious or charitable purposes; sodality.
5. the quality of being brotherly; brotherhood.
6. the relation of a brother or between brothers.
This may be a concrete definition of the word and meaning, but what do you think of when you hear the word? Does anything positive come to mind? Anything negative?
I know when I mention one certain frat around a group of ladies, I always hear the same screeching sound full of disgust and regret.
Not a good look.
I, being a black man with no background of any kind of Greek organization, is trying to find the answer to my question that I've been pondering on since I entered college and was exposed to Greek organizations:
Why do people join fraternities?
Besides the fact that some may have a background of generations in the organization, why do other people do it?
Do you have to do it because your father, or uncle did it?
Why do people pay a good amount of money to join an organization when they could just simply joint a club for free?
I hear it looks good on your resume, it teaches you how to be a 'better man', it gets you involved with the school and different charities, but I honestly don't see that...
If all of this is true, why do I keep hearing complaints from female friends of mine saying that their man joined a frat and it got to their head- causing the relationship to fold? If a fraternity is about making you into a better man, and teaching you responsibility- why does it seem to do the opposite for some men?
Why did I go to a fraternity informational and hear "bitch" and "hoe", among many other derogatory terms during the speech explaining the organization?
Are these really dudes that we're suposed to look up to?
What's up with the big secrecy?
I have honestly never seen a fraternity participate in some kind of community service or charity. I know that's what it used to be all about years aog, but nowadays it seems the only times I see them out if when they're at a stroll off, throwing a cook-out, or shutting a club down for an event!
Maybe I'm just blind...or maybe I'm not paying attention...
For all I know, they may do it!
But if so, why is it not visible to the public? Wouldn't you be proud of it, and make sure everybody knows so people can choose a fraternity due to their services rather than who 'runs the yard'?
People constantly tell me- 'Lucius, you look like a _____. You should pledge!'
Can you really look like you belong to one??
Why do some people pledge as one person, and cross as another?
Do you choose the frat, or does the frat choose you?
Some of the most quiet people go in, and as soon as they get those special letters, they change into obnoxious, disrespectful, arrogant assholes.
It seems that the meaning behind fraternity has been so watered down over the years that it no longer holds substance. They seem to now be just a way to get popular, pull women, and have a right to do a certain dance.
What's the difference between a fraternity and a gang? I mean, is there even a difference? They both do a certain dance, they both have a certain call, they both claim a specific color, they both disrespect each other, and when it comes down to it- they fight one another.
Where is the line to separate the two?
The drugs?
Not there, because I'm sure you've all been to a social party thrown by a frat and have tasted the different alcoholic drinks served to the public- Nupe Juice, Omega Oil, Blue Juice...
Does the line stop at murder?
I don't think so, because if you disrespect a fraternity, things may get out of hand...very out of hand. But besides people outside the frat, how about those inside the fraternity? I'm sure you've heard about the horrific hazing that takes place during a 'hell week', some of which leaves innocent students in the hospital for months, holding on tightly to their life! Making people walk and fall into water blindfolded? They died...
If you don't know, now you do.
Maybe I'm completely wrong and have my information completely twisted, because I've only attended one university and seen only one chapter of each frat. I only attend their events, and hang in their prescence. Maybe it's different at other schools.
Maybe it's different at HBCUs...
Is it?
YOU tell me!
Please don't think I'm disrespecting any fraternities or hating on what they do...not at all. I'm just looking for the reason that people join them. They pay thousands of dollars, deal with hazing, and let it take over their lives...for what?
I already have a band of brothers...we call ourselves The Brethren, and we're there for each other no matter what. The only time we have to pay anything is when we have to spot one another for food, or an event. The only time we haze each other is well...never. We don't live to harm each another, we try to help one another. We make each other into better men by helping each other up when we fall, and making sure we don't walk the same way we were to keep us from stumbling again. Are we a fraternity?
Maybe not, because we don't harm one another, nor throw special parties to get into women's pants, we all dress differently, and we all share different interests. We don't have a special call, and we all do a different dance- yet it looks so right when put together. We're all different ages, and we don't think that we're on a pedistal above anybody...I love my brothers, and we weren't put together by chance, or 'chapter'...
I mean, that IS all a frat's about, right?
I want your feedback.
Let me clear the air really quick...please understand that in no way, shape, or form am I downing fraternities. I'm just giving my opinion about them all, and trying to see if I can find the answer to my question. I'd have no problem with joining one- as soon as I find a reason besides the ones listed above! Please, no hate mail...let's keep it mature. Share your opinion!
Let me take the time to show love for some of the chapters at Valdosta State University.
Those Q-dogs (Omega men) doing their usual creative thing at the stroll off...
A sexy Delta, a beautiful Zeta, and a brand...lol
Those deltas smashing the yard- as USUAL!
Throw that diamond up!
Battle! Sigmas, Qs, Alphas...
Those pretty in pink AKA women...
Iota? Eh? No comment...lol. JK.
Peace & Blesings
Lu
This photo was found on Shawty's myspace page...profile pic, actually. The caption under it read: THOUGHT U SAID U DIDNT KNOW ME.....WELL GODAMN IT MUST BE 2 SIDES!! PIC TAKEN 1-30-06 GET YA LIES 2GETHA T-LIE !!!
