Black Greek Letter Organizations

Greek letter societies –known internationally as fraternities and sororities – are social clubs which have their own houses and are popular amongst college students, albeit controversial. Members believe that fraternities and sororities are beneficial to students’ social life, while non-member students look at those organizations in disdain and they have a solid reason to do so. Greek letter societies are harmful to youth because of their hazing rituals, their history of favoritism and racism, and the way that group psychology can have a negative effect.

This essay examines the societal influence of the North American non-traditional Greek Letter Organizations, and more specifically the societal construction and control exercised by Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and Latino Greek Letter Organizations (LGLOs) upon their communities. The essay begins by exploring the historical context for the development and expansion of BGLOs and LGLOs, followed by the presentation of each respective community’s academic challenges to societal success. The paper then examines the use of symbols and rituals for both groups in an effort to demonstrate the power that BGLOs and LGLOs have over the creation and maintenance of societies and communities. Without the often paradoxically destructive and constructive power of rituals and initiation processes, BGLOs and LGLOs would not be as successful in empowering students in professional achievement, which would negate their purpose by hindering the raising of the overall professional and social attainment of their respective cultural cohorts.