Amidst a slew of recent attacks and accusations made about the Greek system at Dartmouth, we thought it would be helpful to present some thoughts on frat life from a perspective that is not often heard that of the black male fraternity brother. Lately we have heard a lot of "ist" labels being applied to "the inherent structure" of the Greek system racist, sexist, homophobic, classist and as people who live their normal lives within "the structure," we have been scratching our heads trying to reconcile labels that are overwhelmingly disconnected from our experiences. While we do not wish to dismiss or discredit the observations of those who have had a less positive experience with Dartmouth Greek life, we feel obligated to offer a different perspective.
We are, after all, two men who should theoretically be negatively impacted by at least one of the "isms" that Greek life is supposed to stand for, right? And the insufferably ignorant perpetuators of "white privilege" the dominant narrative tells us that we should feel constantly and forcefully oppressed. Well, we must have missed that memo. Consequently we have an alternate story that may not quite fit with the rhetoric used to describe our system on campus and across the Internet. The Greek system, and our respective fraternities within it, has been for us the defining hallmarks of incredibly positive Dartmouth careers. For us, the Greek system has created, not destroyed, life-enriching camaraderie and fellowship that cannot be replicated in any other way.
That being said, we do not live in some dream world. We, like every other black member of campus, are still tasked with acknowledging our identities as black, at least in part, and accepting the different set of circumstances that are prescribed to us. It is a burden that our white brothers do not have to bear. But it is exactly these differences that have provided us with the endless opportunities for personal and brotherly enrichment and growth from which our houses benefit every day. Diverse backgrounds, worldviews and cultural heritages are not simply tolerated; they are exalted within our brotherhoods as opportunities. Our brothers do not tear us down for being outside of society's constructed paradigm of "white privilege." Instead, they protect us and uplift us with the acknowledgement that things are different outside of the brotherhood.
In fact, the whole concept of brotherhood that we value so deeply is predicated on the very idea that, regardless of socioeconomic or racial status, everyone within the brotherhood is equal. To us, this seems natural, which is why we are a little confused by the argument that the Greek system needs to be abolished because it inherently divides based on long-standing hegemonic structures that prioritize X and degrade Y and hate Z. In our experiences, the opposite has proven true. We have found both equality and others who strive for it by fulfilling the tenets of the Greek system, not by attacking them. And while we acknowledge that recent events seemingly run directly counter to our entire narrative, we would like to say that in no way do the actions of some accurately reflect the characters of many. Neither of our houses had any involvement in the most recent uproar, and thus attack dogs have been kept at bay.
As two of the very people the system supposedly oppresses, trivializes and diminishes, we find that the only aspect of Greek life that has made us feel marginalized is the argument that it should not exist. Current campus rhetoric has created a palpable tension that puts us in a truly awkward position as black students who unwaveringly see the Greek system as integral to our emotional well-being at Dartmouth, how is it that we have dodged all of the bigotry within the system? How did we become what detractors deem as exceptions?
Well, after careful consideration, we have come to a decisive conclusion. We have not missed it because, at least in our brotherhoods, it just does not exist. And there you have it, the untold story of two black guys who love the Greek system.
