Description
Book SynopsisReveals the historical and political significance of The Divine Ninethe Black Greek Letter OrganizationsIn 1905, Henry Arthur Callis began his studies at Cornell University. Despite their academic pedigrees, Callis and his fellow African American students were ostracized by the majority-white student body, and so in 1906, Callis and some of his peers started the first, intercollegiate Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO), Alpha Phi Alpha. Since their founding, BGLOs have not only served to solidify bonds among many African American college students, they have also imbued them with a sense of purpose and a commitment to racial upliftthe endeavor to help Black Americans reach socio-economic equality. A Pledge with Purpose explores the arc of these unique, important, and relevant social institutions. Gregory S. Parks and Matthew W. Hughey uncover how BGLOs were shaped by, and labored to transform, the changing social, political, and cultural landscape of Black America from the era of th
Trade ReviewParks and Hughey offer a detailed, intriguing portrait of the history of BGLOs, making this a good introductory read for anyone interested in US racial history, particularly following the protests against the atrocious killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. * Choice *
Gregory S. Parks and Matthew W. Hughey have expanded the fascinating history of Black Greek Letter Organizations by delving into the fraternities and sororities’ role as social welfare safety nets and as organizations on the cutting edge of social reform, civic education, and civil rights. In examining the racial uplift the organizations provide, they discuss the achievements of notable fraternity members like W. E. B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Leon Ransom, Hayzel B. Daniels, and others who emerged as renowned leaders in education and civil rights. Importantly, Parks and Hughey also scrutinize the state of today’s BGLOs and their current decline in commitment to racial uplift, which must be changed through leadership. -- Grand Sire Archon Gregory J. Vincent, Sigma Pi Phi
When we talk about scholarship, and our continued understanding of the Black fraternal movement, Dr. Gregory Parks and Dr. Matthew Hughey have contributed an important addition to our knowledge with their new book,
A Pledge with Purpose: Black Sororities and Fraternities and the Fight for Equality. Black fraternities and sororities have long touted their contributions to the community beyond college campuses, but Parks and Hughey diligently record the hows and whys these organizations made that commitment to civil and human rights.
A Pledge with Purpose is a must read for anyone interested in how Black Greek Letter Organizations impact the lives of Black people specifically, and America writ large. -- Lawrence C. Ross, Jr., author of The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities
Gregory S. Parks and Matthew W. Hughey’s new book on BGLOs,
A Pledge with Purpose: Black Sororities and Fraternities and the Fight for Equality, provides a narrative of racial uplift that runs through the twentieth century in BGLOs…Parks and Hughey contend that the legacy of activism and the praxis of racial uplift has waned in recent years and argue for a conscious and focused shift moving forward. * The Journal of African American History *
