cultural and social perspective on black Greek-letter organization membership: Perceptions of power and influence through affiliation

For nearly a century, historically black Greek-letter organizations have contributed to the educational, social, political and cultural experience of African-Americans. Consequently, these organizations composed of more than one million educated blacks have developed a unique subculture within the black community. This research investigates "black Greek" culture, its social impact, the influence of its members, and member and non-member perceptions of the black Greek experience. Ethnographic interviews and a questionnaire reveal that: (1) Members and non-members show significant familiarity with black Greek culture and believe that the culture is meaningful to African-American culture overall, and that (2) Members and non-members believe that membership in black Greek-letter organizations is a conduit for power and influence among African-Americans.