CW + 1956 Collab Edition

JOSEPH KING & JAVON WILLIAMS
‘Sometimes it’s like we’re not there’
Black students reflect on exclusion in Greek community
The University of Alabama has
one of the largest sorority and
fraternity communities in the
United States. But despite Greek
life being a cornerstone of campus
life, disparities between traditional
white Greek organizations and
Black ones are stark. For many
Black students, attempts from
administration to bridge these
gaps have come off as performative.
According to the University of
Alabama’s Division of Student Life,
the University’s Greek community
makes up over 35% percent of
undergraduates enrolled. The
Greek community at the University
of Alabama is composed of four
councils: The Alabama Panhellenic
Association (APA), the Alabama
Interfraternity Council (AFC), the
Alabama National Pan-Hellenic
Council (NPHC), and Alabama
United Greek Council (UGC).
Currently, there are 40 Greek
homes at the University of Alabama
and out of that 40, only two homes
house a traditional Black Greekletter
organization.
One of those homes is Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Joshua
Gill is currently the second vice
president of the Kappa Alpha
chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. He said
the University has
done little to
bring Black organizations together
with white ones. Gill believes UA
should try to plan more mandatory
events – rather than voluntary
“DEI” programming – to actually
help mend this gap.
I don’t think they’re
aware of these gaps
when they get here. It’s
just something that’s
not talked about.
“You can’t force people to get
together or force people to
bond,” Gill said. “But I think if
you were truly for that diversity
and inclusion, then certain
things would be mandatory
to be a partnership.”
Brea James, a senior member of
the Theta Sigma chapter of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., believes
the University can do more to
support organizations like hers.
“I feel like it’s not really a big
issue seen on campus,” James said.
“I ask people from out of state
why did they come to UA, and it’s
always football and
Greek life. I don’t think they’re
aware of these gaps when they get
here. It’s just something that’s
not talked about.”
James recently made a presentation
on the difficulties of being the
only Black Greek home on sorority
row. In her PowerPoint, James
discussed the obstacles and racism
her chapter had to go through to
get their house in January of 1986.
It was reported by The Crimson
White and The Associated Press
on March 29, 1986, that a wooden
cross was burned on the front
lawn of where the house is today.
Two people were seen at the site
by security and were questioned
before being released.
Cierra Murray, another member
of the Theta Sigma chapter,
believes many problems that
her chapter has faced have
been seen as insignificant.
“One time someone came banging
on our door late at night,” Murray
said. “One of our sisters was
here and she was scared, and
she called campus police. The
police were trying to gaslight
the situation saying it’s probably
a prank. We asked the police to
look at the camera and they said
no. The person was banging on
the door saying, ‘We see you b----,
open the door.’”
James and Murray said
they’ve experienced several
microaggressions within the
Greek community that have
made them feel excluded. They
both mentioned times that white
members in the Greek community
asked questions like, “Why are you
guys’ house so small?” or “Are you
all a scrapbooking club?”
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