Black Greek-Letter Organizations

February 25, 2022

|In Black History in Two Minutes (or so), Season 2

While more Black students sought formal education in a university setting, white organizations were not as open to embracing them into their space. Seeing a need, Black students formed their own fraternities and sororities aimed at creating community and celebrating key principles of success.

With education, community service, and philanthropy as their focal point, these organizations were able to foster academic and personal excellence on their own terms. As a result, Black greek letter organizations created the National Pan-Hellenic Council, totaling nine organizations with like-minded agendas. Each of those organizations continue to be pivotal in the continued advancement of Black people.

In this episode of Black History In Two Minutes or So hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., with additional commentary from Daina Ramey Berry of The University of Texas at Austin and Hasan Jeffries of Ohio State University, we celebrate the beauty in unity and what these nine divine organizations could achieve when told they were not welcomed.

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Archival Materials Courtesy of:
• Alamy Images
• Getty Images
• Library of Congress
• The New York Public Library

Additional Archival Material Courtesy of:
• C-SPAN
• National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• The New York Times

Executive Producers:
• Robert F. Smith
• Henry Louis Gates Jr.
• Dyllan McGee
• Deon Taylor

Senior Producer:
• William Ventura

Series Producers:
• Chinisha Scott
• William Ventura

Executive in Charge of Production:
• Robert L. Yacyshyn

Post Production Supervisor:
• Veronica Leib

Post Production Coordinator:
• Katherine Swiatek

Written By:
• Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Additional Writing:
• Kevin Burke
• Kelsi Lindus
• Chinisha Scott
• William Ventura

Editors:
• Margaret Metzger
• Anne Yao

Producer:
• Kevin Burke

Archival Producer:
• Megan Graham

Research:
• Zoë Smith