Pledging to a frat or sorority is a sacred part of the African American culture. Whether a person pledges or not they know someone who has. Pledging a Black frat or sorority is completely different than pledging a White frat/ sorority. There is so much history in a Black frat/ sorority from how it is founded, crossing the burning sands, and the process of doing so. The history starts with the nine original sorties/ frats also known as the Divine Nine. The Divine Nine consists of Alpha Phi Alpha Sorority (1906), Alpha Kappa Alpha Fraternity (1908), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (1911), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (1911), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (1913), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (1914), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (1920), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (1922), and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity (1963).
The history of pledging has caused Ade Awolola, a grad student at the University of Illinois, to pledge Iota Phi Theta Fraternity. Iota Phi Theta is the youngest frat out of the Divine Nine. Though that alone may have some impact on his pledging experience, it isn’t the only thing. Pledging at a Predominantly White Institution and Covid-19 striking has also impacted him. Although these factors play a role in his experience, attending a PWI is the major factor.
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To learn more about this experience I asked him a couple of questions in an interview. These answers have been edited for length purposes.
Question: What made you decide to pledge Iota Phi Theta?
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Answer: A gut feeling made me pledge Iota simply because it is different from the other fraternities in the Divine Nine. Iota wasn’t always known on campus and that’s one of the things that made it different. I went to an info session and it was mainly older and established men. I wanted older people to connect and establish with so that I can have a mentor and a brotherhood.
Question: Since Iota Phi Theta hasn’t always been on campus, when did they come to U of I? What happens next?
Answer: We enter the yard at U of I in 1980 but for seven years there wasn’t that many of us until my fraternity brother KP crossed. The narrative of the Iota man faded away and now that we are back it is time for us to rebuild and establish the legacy of what Iota should be. We have to bring more brothers in or else we will disappear off the yard at this campus again.
Question: What’s the difference between pledging a Black fraternity and a White fraternity?
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Answer: The White fraternities on campus have more fun simply because they bring in more people which brings more fun and a different process. Not only that but their alumni put more money into the community than the Black fraternities.
Question: How does it feel to pledge at a Predominantly White Institution? Do you think it would be different at a Historically Black College/ University?
Answer: Pledging at a PWI wasn’t as exciting as it would be in the south or New York because Iotas are more prominent there. It’s not that many Black people on campus so, you’re seeing more white people. This made me felt less welcomed as I made my way on the yard. We didn’t have probate, and no one was hyped about our crossing. It made me feel like no one support Black Greeks on this campus.
Question: Do you think that the pledging process being secret reflects Black History?
Answer: Yes, because it is in us. Many of the greatest things that have happened to the African American community has happened in secret. Like the Underground Railroad and Martin Luther King Jr. having meetings in the church. Everything that’s done secretly we have succeeded. It’s like pledging is done in secret because you’re joining a family who is supporting you and know
Source: https://t-tees.com
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