Black Sororities Research Articles

“Enhancing Human Dignity Here and Around the World”

Abstract In the second half of the twentieth century, Black sororities began establishing chapters and social programs across the globe, an intentional social action that Aisha A. Upton Azzam conceptualizes as the Black sorority movement (BSM). In this piece, Upton Azzam explores the style and extent of such international engagement. She illuminates the marginalized aspect of the movement’s international activism while clarifying how such activism may have also employed the very neoliberal, neocolonial, and patriarchal ideas and practices that the movement explicitly stated that they wished to resist and overturn.

Abstract PO4-09-08: Perceptions and Experiences of Black Women on Family History Sharing and Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Black women experience significant disparities in morbidity and mortality related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Early identification of women with HBOC is essential for proactive screening and timely diagnosis. However, evidence suggests that Black women receive genetic testing for HBOC at lower rates than their White counterparts. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 107 Black women with a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to understand their perceptions of their familial risk of HBOC and interest in genetic testing. In phase 1 of this study, participants were recruited from the networks of patient support organizations and historically Black sororities representing mostly highly educated and well insured patients. In phase 2, participants were recruited from a family medicine safety net clinic in Jacksonville, FL for socioeconomic diversity. Participants in both cohorts frequently expressed a lack of awareness about their family cancer history and identified many barriers to family disclosure of a cancer diagnosis. These include a culture of silence around medical issues and a belief that personal difficulties should be kept to oneself. Practical and cultural barriers to family history sharing were magnified among those with lower socioeconomic status. Many participants in both cohorts indicated a strong desire to understand their own risk of HBOC. They also expressed interested in genetic testing to proactively mitigate risk to themselves and future generations. Understanding of the potential relevance of HBOC testing to one’s personal health and post-test actionability was variable across both groups, although perceptions of genetic testing were generally favorable. These findings suggest that culturally tailored educational materials and alternative clinical modalities to collect family health history may be beneficial to improve timely identification of Black women who meet NCCN Guidelines for HBOC testing. Specifically, greater attention should be given to addressing barriers that led to underestimation of HBOC risk among patients experiencing disparities driven by adverse social determinants of health. Citation Format: Kirsten Riggan, Jane Yap, Ewan Cobran, Michele Halyard, Sarah James, Marion Kelly, Daphne Phillips, Megan Allyse. Perceptions and Experiences of Black Women on Family History Sharing and Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-09-08.

Gregory S. Parks and Matthew W. Hughey, A Pledge with Purpose: Black Sororities and Fraternities and the Fight for Equality. New York: New York University Press, 2020. Pp. 360. $35.00 (cloth).

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsGregory S. Parks and Matthew W. Hughey, A Pledge with Purpose: Black Sororities and Fraternities and the Fight for Equality. New York: New York University Press, 2020. Pp. 360. $35.00 (cloth).Joanna S. HunterJoanna S. HunterRadford University (USA) Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Journal of African American History Volume 107, Number 2Spring 2022Reconsidering the Uses of Violence in African American History A journal of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/718707 Views: 20Total views on this site For permission to reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

A Pledge of Faithfulness: How Black Christian Fraternity Men Embody Race, Gender and Religious Identities

ABSTRACTThough much has been written about the benefits that Black sororities and fraternities offer its members as well as broader communities within and beyond the ivory towers, comparatively fewer studies have addressed how these organizations interact with men's constructions and embodiments of masculinities. Moreover, even fewer studies examine the intersections of masculinities, race, and religion. As such, this paper examines how members of one Black Christian fraternity construct their manhood amid these intersections. To do this, we conduct an interpretative phenomenological analysis based on interviews, a photovoice exercise, and field notes taken during a fraternity retreat to examine how members of this fraternity negotiate race-gender-religion as they navigate both college life and emerging adulthood. Our analysis reveals that the men embody Black Christian masculinities as responsibility, assuming leadership roles, and actively working against stereotypes and tropes of Black Christian manhood. Ultimately, we argue that colleges and universities should be cognizant of the ways that Black Christian fraternity men experience and respond to gendered racism and that educators themselves be aware of the subtle ways (cisgender heterosexual) Black manhood can sometimes reinforce heteropatriarchy.

Academic Achievement Among Black Sororities: Myth or Reality?

The purpose of this study is to explore the association between student achievement and Black sorority membership, specifically within the four National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations. African Americans’ college persistence and graduation rates continue to lag behind those of White and Asian American students (NCES, 2011). While much attention is paid to African American males, research on African American women is needed to understand their challenges and concerns (Chambers, Bush, & Walpole, 2009; Howard-Hamilton 2004; Haniff, 1991; Matthews & Jackson, 1991). Black Greek Sororities are a unique space on predominantly white campuses and African American sororities historically have assisted female African American college students’ persistence and graduation rates (Harris, 1998; Phillips, 2005); yet, more recently, African American fraternities and sororities have been criticized (Kimbrough, 2009; Parks & Spencer, 2013; Phillips, 2005). Given research that has found that Black fraternities are not necessarily fulfilling their academic goals (Harper & Harris, 2006; Johnson, Walpole, & Chambers, 2011), we believe that examining academic achievement within historically Black sororities is critical. This study confirms that African American women involved in NPHC sororities are not immune from some of the same academic issues that have been reported about their male peers (Harper & Harris, 2006; Harper, 2008).

Lifting as They Climb: Race, Sorority, and African American Uplift in the 20th Century

The common narrative about African Americans’ quest for social justice and Civil Rights during the Twentieth Century consists, largely, of men and women working through organizations to bring about change. The typical list of organizations includes, inter alia, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Urban League, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. What is almost never included in this list is African American collegiate-based fraternities. However, at the turn of the Twentieth Century emerged a small group of organizations founded on personal excellence, the development and sustaining of fictive-kinship ties, and racial uplift. Given these organizations’ almost immediate creation of highly-functioning alumni chapters in cities around the United States, members of these organizations who were college graduates could continue their work in actualizing their respective organizations’ ideals. Two such organizations, founded at Howard University and Butler University in 1920 and 1922, respectively, were Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho Sororities. This article explores the history of these sororities involvement in African American’s question for racial uplift in the United States. In doing so, the article raises a few interesting points: First, black sorority racial uplift engagement was different from that of black fraternities in one particular sense. There was far less civil rights litigation and possibly public policy work on the part of black sororities, at least when compared to black fraternities. Second, and as a result, black sororities — like Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho — largely engaged in racial uplift work via efforts to shape public policy and through philanthropy. Much of their racial uplift work, however, was demonstrated through community service and non-social justice philanthropy. Third, when compared to the black sororities that predated them, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho engaged in less social justice work, comparatively. Fourth, over time, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho’s racial uplift efforts and strategies shifted, largely, away from social justice work to even more community service and philanthropy work. In an effort to clarify these points, the authors rely heavily on Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho’s primary documents — their history books and national magazines.

An intersectional social capital analysis of the influence of historically Black sororities on African American women’s college experiences at a predominantly White institution.

Research exploring the college experiences of African American women at predominantly White institutions (PWI) continues to be a necessity as African American women graduate at lower rates than their racial/ethnic peers. This qualitative study explored the influence historically Black sororities had on the college experiences of African American women at a PWI using an intersectional social capital framework. The study revealed that the women, as Black women, positioned themselves lower than others in terms of social status; they joined historically Black sororities because of family, role models, and mentors; and, building community, academic pressure, and high standards were fostered through involvement in historically Black sororities and shaped their educational experiences at a PWI. Recommendations for practice and future research are included.

Evaluation of Community Baby Showers to Promote Safe Sleep

Background. In recent years, Kansas has ranked 40th among all states for worst infant mortality rates. For African American infant mortality, Kansas had the highest rate in the nation. Because of these statistics, initiatives have been implemented to reduce these rates by the KIDS Network, in partnership with the Black Nurses Association and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. The purpose was to describe participants’ knowledge and intentions regarding safe sleep following a Community Baby Shower. Methods. The Community Baby Shower was targeted to African American women via black churches, physician offices, clinics, black sororities, word of mouth, radio, and print. All Baby Shower participants were asked to complete a brief survey following the shower. Results. The majority were African American (61%) with a high school diploma or less schooling (63%). Nearly all (97%) planned to place their baby supine for sleep. However, less than half (47%) planned to have the baby sleep in the parents’ room in a separate crib. Attendees exhibited high levels of safe sleep knowledge, stated intentions to utilize most safe sleep recommendations, and reported babies would have slept in unsafe environments without the portable crib. Conclusions. Our Baby Showers were attended by the target audience, who exhibited high levels of safe sleep knowledge, and stated intentions to utilize most safe sleep recommendations following the Shower. However, some participants were resistant to following at least some of the recommendations. Additional venues and other educational strategies may be needed to maximize the uptake of these recommendations.

Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities (review)

Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities (review)

Sisterhood and Sexuality: Attitudes about Homosexuality among Members of Historically Black Sororities

This research examines attitudes about homosexuality among members of historically black sororities. Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that although most respondents were either completely accepting or somewhat accepting of gays and lesbians, and none were aggressive homophobes, homosexuality is typically not discussed within their sororities, and it can be difficult for a lesbian to be a member. The heterosexist nature of the sororities was attributed to the influence of conservative Christianity, the power wielded by socially conservative older members, and the construction of standards of femininity that exclude lesbians. However, all respondents noted that they knew or suspected that other sorority sisters were lesbians, but their acceptance in the organization was frequently premised on concealing their sexual orientation. The findings of this research suggest that characterizations of blacks as extremely homophobic are overly simplistic, yet black gays and lesbians continue to struggle for full acceptance in black organizations.

Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities

Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities

Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities

Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities

Disciplining women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, black counterpublics, and the cultural politics of black sororities

Disciplining women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, black counterpublics, and the cultural politics of black sororities

“The Harvest is Plentiful but the Laborers are Few:” An Interdisciplinary Examination of Career Choice and African American Sororities

Teaching was a popular career option pursued by African American women prior to the 1970s; since then, there has been a steady decline of interest in the profession. Historically, black sororities helped to recruit new teachers and provided social networks of support for professional African American women. In this article, we examine research literature from multiple disciplines that links the historic mission of black sororities to the ethic of caring and othermothering routinely practiced by teachers in their communities. We contend one way black sororities may demonstrate their relevance in contemporary society is by employing new strategies to help recruit and retain African American women teachers.

The Membership Intake Movement of Historically Black Greek-letter Organizations

The author reviews the history of pledging and the recent movements for reform of this practice among historically Black fraternities and sororities. He describes the membership intake process that has been adopted and its resultant problems, and suggests that the national leadership should emphasize the founding ideals of the organizations as a means of overcoming resistance to change.

Twice removed: a White scholar studies the history of Black sororities and a Black scholar responds

In this article, the authors engage in a conversation about outsider research around issues of African American history and education. They focus on issues of agency, respect, and core cultural knowledge. The authors also develop an ethical code by which outsider researchers, in collaboration with insiders, can explore the history, culture, and experiences of groups of people to which they do not belong.

GETTING A MAN OR GETTING AHEAD

In-depth interviews with thirteen white and thirteen black sorority members at two college campuses show that white sororities encourage romantic pairings (“getting a man”) evidenced by their extensive social affairs and formal recognitions for women who achieve relationship milestones, while black sororities focus on careers and community service (“getting ahead”) evidenced by their reliance on sorority alumnae for career networking and by their extensive involvement in community service. The authors argue that the key to understanding the variation lies in the different histories and current structural positions of the groups. For black sororities, historic images of strong, independent black women and the modern reality of black female marriage and poverty rates have shaped the sorority structure. White sororities have emphasized finding a man as a source of support, an orientation at odds both with a modern reality that dictates labor force participation for all women and with members' career aspirations.

The Membership Intake Movement of Historically Black Greek-letter Organizations

The author reviews the history of pledging and the recent movements for reform of this practice among historically Black fraternities and sororities. He describes the membership intake process that has been adopted and its resultant problems, and suggests that the national leadership should emphasize the founding ideals of the organizations as a means of overcoming resistance to change.