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But even though I chose not to pledge during college, I gained a degree of respect for many of those who decided to do so. Quite a few members of the African American community are proud of the black greek tradition and find it to be one of the cornerstones of cultural, economic and political power within our society. While the college students get a bad rap for using their greek identity as an excuse to wear matching clothes and have more parties, there are more mature members who see their involvement as an avenue for political and social engagement.
Black America is in consistent need of organizations designed to pursue our collective purposes. Our community lacks the economic and political infrastructure necessary to lift us from the bottom of America's racial caste system. Delta Sigma Theta is part of that tradition, as are other African American sororities and fraternities.
One thing that many sororities do quite well is pull together money. According to the most recent financial reports I could find online, the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta saw over $11 million in income during 2008, and carries over $38 million in assets on its books. Roughly half the sorority's revenue comes from membership dues, and much of the remainder comes from "government fees and contracts" (I'm not quite sure what those contracts entail).
Delta Sigma Theta's Group return actually states that the organization received over $25 million in income in 2008, which compares quite favorably with the $31 million hauled in by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority during the same year. The media hasn't reported on any serious financial problems for the Deltas similar to those experienced by the AKAs, but almost no organizational house is going to be perfect.
Black greek organizations, with their significance and power, may be well-advised to continue pursuing avenues to best utilize that power. As it pertains to problems such as mass incarceration and educational inequality, black greek organizations can become meaningful political players in a country that oppresses the citizens whom these organizations profess to represent. Although a great deal of work has already been done, it's never too late to discuss new paradigms of engagement and activism. The late, great Dorothy Height is a perfect case-in-point. She fought for justice until she died at 98.
Happy Founders Day to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. This is a day worth celebrating.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (16)
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By: penelope' on 1/13/2011 4:04PM
OOooooo! givin' out beat-downs
you been working out B-Dubya?
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By: The Truth on 1/13/2011 2:35PM
An organized fraternity prepares young people for life AFTER college.
A fraternity should be run like a business, allowing each member the opportunity to perform (and succeed at) various "necessary" functions that keep the household together.
Other fraternities that promote continued adolescent (high-school) behaviors of hazing, picking on the geeks and partying their lives away are available as well.
There is a choice and if you're concerned which one your kid is in all you have to do is talk to them about it.
Their answers may illuminate you what your money is paying for.
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By: DAVID HARRIS on 1/13/2011 9:56PM
WHEN WILL WE LEARN SORORITIES AND FRATS ARE NOT FOR THE WELLBEING OF THOSE IN NEED.
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By: Neosho on 1/13/2011 10:28PM
OOOOOOOOOP!! Thank you Dr. Watkins for your kind words, but you could have left off comparisons to other organizations. :)
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By: Nay on 1/14/2011 11:10AM
What's the point of this article? Were you trying to wish us a Happy Founders Day, talk about our revenues, how effective Black Greek-letter orgs are....what? You're a bit all over the place and I don't even get the relevance of you bringing up the money or comparing it to that of AKAs. This isn't the first of your articles I've read where you seem all over the place. How about you revisit the basic rules of writing: pick a topic, support it in the body and draw your conclusion. You, however, seem to introduce a new topic in every paragraph. Please get it together, or if you lack passion for writing, then stop.
On another note, I hope all of my Sorors had a wonderful Founders Day. YID Oo-oop!
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By: Phyllis on 1/14/2011 8:05PM
It was very enjoyable, Soror!
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By: truediva on 1/14/2011 11:26PM
OOO-OOOP! Thanks for the article and Happy Founder's Day to all of the DevaStating Soror's of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.OOOO-OOOOP!
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By: 1913 Facts on 1/15/2011 1:38PM
What a cheap shot from a GDI - who until now I had more respect for. Is a 98 year old organization supposed to be broke? Now THAT would be a story worthy of coverage.
NO context is included on the THOUSANDS of programs CURRENTLY being funded and conducted all around the world by Delta and Deltas - from the hood to the United Nations and beyond.
There is absolutely no justification for raising the painful financial matter affecting our sister Greeks, so there is clearly no good reason to imply mishandling on Delta's part because you, a non-member, disagree with
what little you have gleaned about our financial planning and/or programmatic thrust.
And lastly Brother, never mind your happy founders day. You can (in For Colored Girls style) keep your happy founders day . . . I got unnecessary negativity "greeting me at the front door. You can keep yours."
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By: BroMan on 1/15/2011 1:57PM
"I'd end up going to jail for issuing a couple of beat downs."
Yeah. Right. Pleeze . . . That's the wolf ticket cousin to "I wouldn't have picked no cotton."
Talk is cheap. Especially when you avoided ever havin to live up to your big badd words. Joining orgs should not come down to blows. But you didn't man up to even try to join back then - so don't try to take on your old demons of what you wish you had did with this fantasy.
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By: KAMMs on 1/17/2011 2:39PM
I agree, I finished reading the article wondering what the point was. Based on the headline it didn't go in the direction I thought it would. I'm not actually upset about the article just a little puzzled. I also agree there were a few cheap shots and the hint of what sounded like a bit of regret. But both of those are easily shrugged off by what I know to be true about Greek life and BGLOs.
Non-Greek individuals often make excuses for why they didn't pledge, but at this point in life, who cares? Who are these justifications for? The reader or yourself?
If this was merely an attempt to draw in readers, it worked. I saw the headline it peaked my interest, the article then fell apart because it had no point.
Oh and by the way, the apostrophe in founders goes after the s. We have 22 illustrious founders.
Good Day.
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