Queering black greek-lettered fraternities, masculinity and manhood : a queer of color critique of institutionality in higher education.

Abstract

Byrd, and Anne Caldwell. My committee not only challenged me over the past four years, but has been supportive, generous, and kind, making space for me to be the scholar I saw myself to be. Dr. Story, as chair and advisor, exemplified the best of this committee and I could not have asked for a better mentor and friend. I am forever grateful for the Department of Pan-African Studies-the faculty, staff and students-who have provided community and support, especially my incoming cohort family, Saleema and JC as well as Drs. Theresa Rajack-Talley and Joy Carew who were instrumental in shaping our transition and first-year in the program. My "push" into doctoral studies started long before I entered UofL. So many people inspired and encouraged me along the way. Thanks to all my Florida State University (FSU) friends and family who "aided and abetted" in the push to get me here, especially all the folks at the Center for Leadership and Social Change. My initial scholarship interest was shaped by the first doctoral studies courses I took at FSU with Drs. Tamara Bertrand Jones and Deana Rohlinger after much encouragement from Dr. Estee Hernandez. Furthermore, this study was partially inspired by some of my previous work with Dr. Shawna Patterson-Stephens at FSU. I have also been very fortunate to have met scholars I deeply admire, including Professors E. Patrick Johnson, Marlon v Bailey, and Jeffrey McCune. Though the encounters were brief, they all offered great advice and encouragement. Also, special thanks to Zeta Alpha Delta Fraternity. Moreover, I could not have done this without all my friends and family, near and far, who supported me throughout this endeavor. Far too many for me to recognize them all. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the spoken/unspoken, named/unnamed prayers, texts/DMs, calls, and Ms. Cynthia from the airport. My parents-Lee, Gary, Anthony and Karen-for always believing in me. Tony and Xaivian for keeping me grounded and connected. Shout out to my Louisville roommates, Jarrod and Jakia, for making Louisville home, Sunergos Coffee for providing my go-to writing space and fuel, and UofL Multicultural Graduate Students Association, along with Dr. Craig and Ms. Yvette, for being a haven within the graduate struggle. Last but definitely not least, I am grateful for all the black queer folks I've been blessed to be in community with-it's our labor and love that keeps me going. This is especially true of all the participants and subjects of this study.

Narratives of queer men of color in culturally-based fraternities making meaning of masculinities

“…As Scott noted, these practices are counter to the inclusive nature of these groups. And still, it is important to note is that these hegemonic masculinity is not exclusive to culturally-based fraternities, as these behaviors emerged from larger issues of institutionalization in the academy (Mahoney, 2019) and are present across fraternity life (Biddix, 2016). Additionally, as McGuire et al (2020) showed, participants named how organizations exposed them to productive masculinities, those that are healthy and that lead to positive outcomes, which inherently shaped these men's perceptions of their queerness.…”

“…Beyond the contexts noted above, scholars also studied how culturally-based fraternities perpetuate different views on masculinities (e.g. Anderson, Buckley, & Tindall, 2011;DeSantis & Coleman, 2008;Jenkins, 2012;Mahoney, 2019;McGuire, McTier, Ikegwuonu, Sweet, & Bryant-Scott, 2020).…”

“…Namely, a subset of scholars has studied masculinities in the context of culturally-based fraternities (e.g. Anderson et al, 2011;DeSantis & Coleman, 2008;Jenkins, 2012;Mahoney, 2019;McGuire et al, 2020). This scholarship has articulated how Men of Color construct masculinities with gender and race in mind.…”

“…Still, only a few scholars have focused on the impact of culturallybased organizations on gay members (see DeSantis & Coleman, 2008;Mahoney, 2019;Williams, 2017). For example, DeSantis and Coleman (2008) noted that Black fraternity men perpetuated certain maxims, which included a belief in being strong, hypersexual, and avoiding embodying white culture by being too refined or intellectual.…”

“…In Williams (2017) research on Black gay men in historically Black Greek letter fraternities, he found that gay men who fit traditional notions of masculinity were less likely to be targeted even though they still reported instances of heterosexism and homophobia. Potentially explaining why these behaviors exist within Black fraternal spaces, Mahoney (2019) argued that the institutionalization of minority differences within higher education in the post-Civil Rights era led to a conceptualization of racial uplift that privileged cis-heteropatriarchy. Therefore, it is important not to see these behaviors as problems originating within Communities of Color, but rather those that are always emerging in response to whiteness.…”