brothers, and the next weekend I’ll be chilling with my Black friends. It’s never set in stone for me.” However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a disconnection between the two races. “[White fraternity brothers] don’t fully understand Black issues. When I bring up discussions like SAE you can tell that it sparks uneasy, insensitively unknowledgeable reactions because most of them may not be used to growing up around diverse groups of people,” said Michael as he reflected on the cultural barriers that racial identity provides. “Their environment probably allowed them to be unaware. But I do have brothers who will back me up and respect my point of view.”
ll exi st but t tha hite and ck men Bla an’tc erences d and come oaque unibro therhood orf
Another Black brother from a different fraternity noted an experience he had with this same issue. “During the Mike Brown demonstration in Bird Library, some of my white brothers didn’t agree with what was going on,” said James*. “They just complained that they were trying to study and seemed to be annoyed by the whole thing. They failed to recognize that there was a significant cause for what was going on.” One can imagine that these experiences would make these two wish they were brothers in a Black fraternity. Both agreed that strolling or stepping is one of the elements of Black fraternities that they are missing out on. “I don’t wish that white frats incorporated that into their routines because that’s what makes us all different and special in our own way,” states James, “Also, honestly I’m not sure how good or entertaining that would be.” It is evident that racial tensions still exist but that doesn’t mean white and Black men can’t put aside these differences and come together, sharing a unique brotherhood for a lifetime. In fact, there is something to be admired and respected about Black brothers who recognize who they are individually but also confront racial boundaries and challenge the typical stereotypes of being
t
Black in a white fraternity. l*Subject’s name has been changed to protect his privacy Spring 2015 | Renegade
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