During the twentieth century, black Greek-Letter organizations (BGLOs) united college students dedicated to excellence, fostered kinship, and uplifted African Americans. Members of these organizations include remarkable and influential individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr., Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, novelist Toni Morrison, and Wall Street pioneer Reginald F. Lewis. Despite the profound influence of these groups, many now question the continuing relevance of BGLOs, arguing that their golden age has passed. Partly because of their perceived link to hip-hop culture, black fraternities and sororities have been unfairly reduced to a media stereotype—a world of hazing without any real substance. The general public knows very little about BGLOs, and surprisingly the members themselves often do not have a thorough understanding of their history and culture or of the issues currently facing their organizations. To foster a greater engagement with the history and contributions of BGLOs, Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the Twenty-first Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun brings together an impressive group of authors to explore the contributions and continuing possibilities of BGLOs and their members. Editor Gregory S. Parks and the contributing authors provide historical context for the development of BGLOs, exploring their service activities as well as their relationships with other prominent African American institutions. The book examines BGLOs' responses to a number of contemporary issues, including non-black membership, homosexuality within BGLOs, and the perception of BGLOs as educated gangs. As illustrated by the organized response of BGLO members to the racial injustice they observed in Jena, Louisiana, these organizations still have a vital mission. Both internally and externally, BGLOs struggle to forge a relevant identity for the new century. Internally, these groups wrestle with many issues, including hazing, homophobia, petty intergroup competition, and the difficulty of bridging the divide between college and alumni members. Externally, BGLOs face the challenge of rededicating themselves to their communities and leading an aggressive campaign against modern forms of racism, sexism, and other types of fear-driven behavior. By embracing the history of these organizations and exploring their continuing viability and relevance, Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the Twenty-first Century demonstrates that BGLOs can create a positive and enduring future and that their most important work lies ahead.

"The population of many nations around the world are becoming increasingly diverse (Stone-Romero, Stone, & Salas, 2003). For example, recent reports estimate that by 2060 the U. S. will become a majority minority nation (i.e., ethnic minorities including African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans will represent the majority of the population) (U. S. Bureau of Census, 2019). As a result, many U. S. and worldwide organizations will employ large number of ethnic minority group members, and will face numerous challenges associated with attracting, motivating, and retaining employees who are culturally diverse. In view of the growing cultural diversity in worldwide organizations, the primary goals of this issue are to (a) advance theory and research on diversity and inclusion in organizations, (b) present new theoretical frameworks to foster future research, and (c) consider a variety of diversity-related issues that have key implications for research and practice. It includes twelve very interesting articles that focus on an array of diversity-related issues including multiculturalism, gender, stereotypes of racial minorities, effect sizes in diversity research, diversity training, LGBT issues, age, and racial harassment, etc. For example, the first article by Dianna Stone, James Dulebohn, and Kimberly Lukaszewski discusses how differences in the cultural values of four U. S. ethnic minority groups (e.g., African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans) will influence HR policies and practices. The second article by George Dreher, Aarti Ramaswami, and Thomas Dougherty focuses on a very important issue, and considers the extent to which a life partner can act as a career catalyst (or inhibitor) and contribute to women's career attainment. The next article by Eugene Stone-Romero, Dianna Stone, Mark Hartman, and Megumi Hosoda examines the stereotypes of six ethnic groups (e.g., African-American, Mexican-American, Native American, etc.). Their results are intriguing and revealed that Anglo-Americans, Chinese-Americans, Native-Americans, and East Indian Americans were viewed most positively whereas African-American and Mexican American were viewed most negatively"--

Starting in the early twentieth century and still thriving in the contemporary era, Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) provide social support, networking opportunities, and service for the Black community. Although BGLOs have always been majority-Black organizations, there are small numbers of non-Black individuals who choose to pledge their membership. Diversity in Black Greek-Letter Organizations: Breaking the Line explores the experiences of these non-Black members who have immersed themselves in organizations rich with Black history and culture. Through in-depth interviews with thirty-four such members, Wendy Marie Laybourn and Devon R. Goss reveal how and why these individuals come to identify with organizations designed for the uplift of races other than their own. For non-Black BGLO members, the association with a Black organization provides them the opportunity to consider the meaning of racial inequality and their own racial identities. Although many non-Black BGLO members recount challenges to their membership, the participants in Diversity in Black Greek-Letter Organizations ultimately find a sense of belonging with their Black brothers and sisters, which Laybourn and Goss argue can provide an example of the challenges and promises of cross-racial interactions as a whole.

We know a great deal about civil rights organizations during the 1960s, but relatively little about black political organizations since that decade. Questions of focus, accountability, structure, and relevance have surrounded these groups since the modern Civil Rights Movement ended in 1968. Political scientists Ollie A. Johnson III and Karin L. Stanford have assembled a group of scholars who examine the leadership, membership, structure, goals, ideology, activities, accountability, and impact of contemporary black political organizations and their leaders. Questions considered are: How have these organizations adapted to the changing sociopolitical and economic environment? What ideological shifts, if any, have occurred within each one? What issues are considered important to black political groups and what strategies are used to implement their agendas? The contributors also investigate how these organizations have adapted to changes within the black community and American society as a whole. Organizations covered include well-known ones such as the NAACP, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Urban League, and the Congress of Racial Equality, as well as organizations such as the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. Religious groups, including black churches and the Nation of Islam, are also considered.