How to be a Grown-Up Greek

Work with other organizations (not just your frat/sorority) in service to the community

It’s important to stay committed to doing the work of your organization and being involved in community service. I would say it’s equally important if not more important to do some of the work with organizations outside of your fraternity or sorority. Often when we do events with third party organizations they allow us to be exposed to an audience we may not have interacted with otherwise–thus furthering the impact of service and our relationship to our community. We also have to align ourselves with organizations that are committed to our youth. There’s a war on family and our youth are the ones who suffer most, so we have to be involved with youth organizations to ensure that they have the opportunity to be successful pillars in our society.

Excel in your career and/or academics

When a friend of mine started law school in Houston a few years ago she was pleased that many of her fellow black classmates were also members of BGLOs. She expressed her joy to one of her classmates and he simply replied, “That’s what we’re supposed to do.” Members of BGLOs are supposed to stand out in their careers and academic pursuits. Be an example for your colleagues, your shining presence will only help to garner more support and admiration for the organization you are a part of, which in turn lifts the ideals your founders’ set forth some 100 years ago.

Advocate the rights of our people politically

Last week the women of Delta Sigma Theta and the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha went to Harrisburg, P.A. to protest the budget cuts the state is proposing. Seated on the capitol floor together locked in unison fighting for a just battle, a powerful sight to see I’m sure. This is the greatness of our organizations, mobilizing our community members around issues that are integral to our sustainability and growth. The Alphas and the Deltas are not the only organizations using the strength in numbers model, many other Divine 9 organizations are doing the same thing across the country and utilizing that strategic voting bloc that Malcolm X spoke of in the “Ballot or the Bullet”.

Embrace all members (Stop calling folks “paper”)

Skater Haters! Grow up! And this is coming from someone who went on Power 99FM in Philadelphia trash talking “skaters” and anyone who didn’t pledge. I was also 21 at the time, not 30 – as the scripture says, “when I was a child I spoke as a child but now that I’m a man I put away all childish things”. It looks mighty immature of folks to still be calling people “paper” and questioning someone’s process. I question your process if five years removed from college, you are still focused on who pledged and who did not. Let’s talk about who’s doing what in their community, who’s doing what in their respective career paths. Not to mention, our internal beefs only further the stereotypes that paint the picture that we’re a gang or a cult when in fact we are young, college educated leaders whose aim is to lift our people up out of the despair we’ve been oppressed by here in America.

Give financial support to your frat/sorority

A member’s duties should be:

PROMPT PAYMENT of all financial obligations, the prime requisite for successful fraternal life.

Too many of us including myself left college and remained active for a year or two but now are lost on the rolls of financial support to our great organizations. I commend those who have never wavered in this commitment because our organizations could not do the great work they do if it were not for committed members who financially support its endeavors. I’m making a promise to myself and I ask that you do the same to “get back active” with your organization and financially support the many programs they are providing to under-served communities.

Leave the boots and the all-nighters to the undergrads

I’ll admit, I can’t drink the punch like I used to. I never could stroll much and I haven’t won a step show since the earlier part of the 2000’s. Alumni have to leave undergrad life to the undergrads. It’s our responsibility to support college chapter functions and help guide younger members in the fraternity/sorority but when you know more undergrads than you do young professionals and you’re a young professional “Houston, we have a problem!” Leave undergrad to the undergrads and bring the young professionals in your city together, Greek and non-Greek. Work to build an alliance of young black professionals together so that we can create a stronger community.

Keep your Founders’ legacy alive

Our Founders are lucky that they did not live in the age of technology and social media where your every move and word can and will be scrutinized. But we do live in this time and it is our cross to bear. All I’m suggesting is that when conducting yourself in these public spaces show your organization the respect you would if you were on the yard in para.  Go ahead and rant but don’t rant from the chapter’s account or don’t hashtag the organization with your ignorance. When representing your organization do it with the vigilance and respect you said you would when you were expressing interest to your big brothers and sisters.

Keep repping your frat or sorority to the fullest, it’s yours, you worked hard for it and it’s up to you to further the legacy for another 100 years. And wear some para, you’re not too old to wear some (emphasis on some) para, let people see the greatness you worked for!

Do you know anyone who hasn’t quite figured out how to be a grown-up Greek?

You can follow nativenotes on Twitter or check out his writings on Notes of This Native Son