Dr. Lawrence Ross Jr. spoke to students at the Education Building last Tuesday.

Thinking for yourself: Fraternity style

By: Sam Sheffield

Posted: 2/16/09

Finding a group you can relate to can help your college experience and help you find a niche in which to grow and learn more about yourself.

This was part of Dr. Lawrence Ross Jr.'s presentation on a diversity event put on last Tuesday in the Education Building.

Ross talked about his book, "The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities," and about how he got started with his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha.

He was a freshman history major who worked for a newspaper and didn't really know anything about fraternities. But he pledged with Alpha Phi Alpha that year and became a full member after seven weeks and one day as a pledgeling. He rose higher in his fraternity as his college career continued.

"When I look at the achievements of another fraternity, I don't get angry," said Ross when talking about other black fraternities. "I feel proud because I'm part of the same fraternal movement."

John Michael Banks, also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and a member of the audience which consisted of different Greek organizations from the UMKC campus, said, "I really enjoyed coming here, [Dr. Ross] is a really good speaker and had some good insights."

Ross said there are about 1.5 million members in black fraternities in the United States, which means that 5-10 percent of the total population of black people in the U.S. is in fraternities.

"We're worldwide," Ross said. "South Korea, Western Africa, England and so many others. When I visited Ghana, I was taken care of by members of different black fraternities."

Ross mentioned that a number of people join black fraternities or sororities but then they can't afford to stay in school or can't keep up.

"It's not like [white] schools learn Math at a rate faster than others, it's just that a lot of African American kids don't even think of college as an option," Ross said. "What [black] fraternities need to do is go do actual physical visits to high schools and do step shows to raise money for scholarship funds."

He then talked about different famous African Americans who have belonged to black fraternities like Martin Luther King, Jr., who was an Alpha Phi Alpha, and others like Booker T. Washington and W.B. Dubois who helped found the original black collegiate organization movement.

Ross also gave some advice to current members and those who are looking to pledge in the future.

"Remember when you're initiated that you're a servant to the community, to move the African American community and the community in general forward," he said.

Ross warned about what he called "false pride." He said to consistently remember who you are.

"It's a 24/7/365 job," he said. "You're a member of the fraternity even when you're not wearing your letters. It's okay to drink, but don't have pictures of you with a beer bong on Facebook."

He went on to talk about hazing versus pledging and how they're both part of fraternity and sorority history. But he noted that pledging has a purpose and hazing doesn't.

"So many people go on and on about what they did to pledge. But what you do as a member should be more memorable than your pledging."

He continued, "College is meant to learn how to think for yourself. Don't do things because others do them."

Banks continued on Ross's message of unity by saying that all fraternities, black, white and Hispanic should do more events with each other.

"Most of it is just getting together, and both realizing they're having a good time just having fun and kicking it," Banks said. "It's a way of finding common ground."

Ross closed talking about how black fraternities need to show a united front in their community because, "Regardless of flaws, we are the people who are in the arena. We're not fixin' or fittin' to do things, we actually do them."

ssheffield@unews.com