Commentary
Crowds filled the seats of the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center on March 23, 2019 to support their friends and family, as they become part of a black Greek organization.
Overall, my favorite part of probate week was the actual probate. The energy in the building was unmatched.
To see alumni return to Jackson State University in support of their organization was a huge thing for non-Greeks to see. It shows that they support each other, no matter the distance that separates them.
Most people were amazed by the routines that the organizations had planned, but I noticed something different. As the newly crossed members gave a brief history of their organization, I noticed that the Divine Nine goes far deeper than what they are stereotyped for.
I believe we were all witnesses to the rebirth of the young men and women who crossed their respective lines that day.
Each individual became more than one. They all became many, and more importantly, they all because someone’s brother or sister.
Being from the north, and not having one friend or family member join a black Greek organization, I came to Jackson State blind to the ways of the black Greek life.
Events like homecoming and probate are testaments to how much of an influence these organizations have in our society.
Almost like seeing Jackson State service the community for hundreds of years, seeing multiple generations of the same families join the same organization show that the Divine Nine is bigger than one person’s expectations.
Even people who have no interest in becoming Greek can get inspired by watching some of the things at the probate.
The Divine Nine is a staple in the black community, and many of our heroes (past or present) were products of those very organizations including: Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity), Huey P. Newton (Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity), Toni Morrison (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority), Angela Bassett (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority), Zora Neal Hurston (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority) and MC Lyte (Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority), Michael Jordan (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity) Colin Kaepernick (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity) and T.C. Carlson (Iota Phi Theta) trusted that these organizations would help society move into a better state; and the new members at probate are continuing the legacy.
Since the probate means so much to everyone involved, there is no way that anyone should have to pay so that they can show support of their loved one. It is ridiculous to believe that a prestigious institute like JSU will do everything in their power to capitalize off of their students who are already struggling financially.
Nevertheless, the Divine Nine compliments the university in a way that the probates will be some people’s greatest memories from JSU besides acceptance and graduation.
Something else that caught my attention at probate was how some organizations paid homage to the men and women of other fraternities and sororities.
A small gesture like that gives people like me a sense of understanding that even though they are all separate, the Divine Nine are respectful towards each other.
Obviously, there is much more to learn about each organization, but as a person on the outside looking in, the probate was successful at demonstrating togetherness.
It also stood out that despite some fraternities and sororities not participating in the probate, the members still showed up in support of each other.
My experience at probate increased my love for the university as a whole. Hopefully, one day my children can experience a probate like the one I did.
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