As Black History Month continues and campus events are in full swing, students are encouraged to take time during this month to recognize groups and institutions that play a role in preserving and discussing Black history. One of the biggest places this is done on campus is Black fraternities.
Northwest has three historically Black fraternities – Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma – as well as one historically Black sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. Many of these organizations were founded over 100 years ago and have become pillars in college communities.
Omega Psi Phi Chapter President Edwyn Brown said something unique about Black fraternities and sororities is the way that they were started.
“Black fraternities and sororities started out underground, and they had to sneak into meetings. I also feel like it’s a more tight unit because I could talk to a chapter brother from the ‘90s right now,” Brown said.
Alpha Phi Alpha Secretary Isaac Adesope said he didn’t really know anything about fraternities and sororities in the U.S. as an international student, but he worked his way up in the fraternity after he joined.
“One of the first people I met here was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. Hanging out with people in that organization and seeing the work they do and seeing how much they look out for the communities around them lines up with the morals that I have grown up with,” Adesope said.
Adesope said that in Nigeria, where he is from originally, fraternities and sororities aren’t viewed in the best light and are often looked down on because of the partying. Joining one was his way of proving that stereotype wrong, and having opportunities to do good things.
“A lot of international students when they come here, they don’t really have a lot to show aside from the fact that they came to school here. And so, I wanted to be able to say that I did this, I impacted this person’s life, I did this for this community, aside from just coming to school here,” Adesope said.
