The Great Divide: Black Fraternal Ideals and Reality

Black Greek‐letter fraternities (herein after “BGLFs”) are unique and complex organizations with a rich history. Holding the ideals of high academic achievement, developing and sustaining fictive‐kinship ties, maintaining strong racial and gender identity, implementing a racial uplift agenda, and demonstrating a commitment to the perpetuity of their organizations together define BGLF members. Drawing upon the growing corpus of Black fraternity scholarship, this article first investigates the extent to which Black fraternities have remained faithful to these founding ideals. Second, it explores the ways in which Black fraternities articulate fidelity to these founding precepts. Third, it assesses the degree to which Black fraternities are currently consistent with these foundational ideals. And fourth, it examines the future of Black, collegiate‐based fraternalism in specific to contemporary challenges to BGLF's function and even existence, especially in regard to hazing. Broader implications, specifically in the legal realm, are discussed.