BLACK GREEK LETTER FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES: A TRADITION OF MIS-EDUCATION

BLACK GREEK LETTER FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES: A TRADITION OF MIS-EDUCATION

By Fahim A. Knight-EL

Should African people join “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities? This question has always been raised by the conscious community when it comes to the relevance of “Black Greek” Letter Fraternities and Sororities on college life and outside of black college life. This article originated with a Prince Hall Masonic brother named Robert McClendon, Jr., from the PHAmily website who asked me to write an article on “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities. This writer must admit that this topic was not high on my visible radar screen and I personally did not have much interest in doing such a subject, but from time to time, I do take leads from others, relative to doing research topics. Although, I may have not chosen this one as a topic, but nevertheless, it is a legitimate conversation within the African American community. Brother McClendon stated: “when you get a chance, we need you to break down this "Greek fraternity and sorority stuff" for our people. I read your take on Masonry not having the courage, but please elaborate on this whole idea of black people wearing Greek Letters and stepping and whole concept of assimilation. Appreciate it. I don't feel like taking these folks back to school. It's draining. Not that white folks won't tell the truth, but black folks just don't want to get it.”

Thus, during the early 1900s African Americans who were considered bourgeoisie and had bought into this equation of class and status—viewed in terms of caste significance and of upward socio-economic mobility ranking, as it was being espoused and set by standards of the dominant culture; and more specifically by the Caucasian Elite and aristocratic societies who were part of a privileged world of academia. George G.M. James in his monumental book titled, “Stolen Legacy” explored the historical and cultural exchanges between ancient Egypt (Kemet) and ancient Greece, in which James dismantled the myths and misconceptions that Africa gave nothing to world civilization and intellectually challenged the Eurocentric worldview that had falsely proclaimed that Europe had culturally enlightened the entire world to the detriment of other civilizations. (Reference: George G.M. James; “Stolen Legacy”).

James research placed Kemet (Egypt) in Africa, as opposed to being suspended into outer-space and somehow landed within the Middle East, but his work redefined Egypt and Africa as the mother of civilization where philosophy, medicine, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, art, music, architecture, religion, etc., originated and Greek philosophy was stolen from Kemet (Egypt) and reclaimed by the Europeans as their own. This writer could have ended this discussion by simple stating that biologically and ethnically Blacks are not Greeks and to call themselves “Black Greeks” is an insult and a dishonor to their own African heritage and culture and it is culturally inexcusable. (Reference: Cheik Anta Diop; “The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality”).

The establishment of the so-called “Black Greek Lettered” Fraternities and Sororities were imitations that modeled after Elitist Caucasian Greek Lettered societies in philosophical scope and organizational intent including adopting the cultural models of their counterparts. The majority of the “Black Greek” Lettered Societies were established after the 1896 infamous United States Supreme Court Decision of Plessy versus Ferguson, which ushered in Jim Crow Laws of segregation and institutionalize racism. These laws advocated the “separate but equal” doctrine and it allowed the practice of racial segregation and legal discrimination against African Americans in the United States. Blacks were prohibited and denied membership into white fraternities and sororities and this led to them establishing their own so-called “Black Greek” Lettered Societies such as: Alpha Phi Alpha (1906), Kappa Alpha Psi (1911), Omega Psi Phi (1911), Phi Beta Sigma (1914), Iota Phi Theta (1963), Alpha Kappa Alpha (1908), Delta Sigma Theta (1913), , Zeta Phi Beta(1920), Sigma Gamma Rho (1922)—better known as the “Divine Nine.” (Reference: Lawrence Ross, Jr.; “The Devine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities”).

This is how Lawrence C. Ross who authored the book titled, "The Devine Nine” and who is an authority on “Black Greek” Lettered fraternities and sororities describes these societies in this manner: “America's black fraternities and sororities are a unique and vital part of 20th century African American history. Since the creation of the first fraternity in 1906 at Cornell University, they have provided young black achievers with opportunities to support each other, while serving their communities and the nation. From pioneering work in the suffragette movement to extraordinary strides during the Civil Rights era to life-changing inner-city mentoring programs in the 1990s, members of these organizations share a proud and vital history of brotherhood, sisterhood, and service.” (Reference: Lawrence Ross, Jr.; “The Devine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities” inside cover flap).

Ross continues: “Today, America's nine black fraternities and sororities are two-and-one-half million members strong and among the most powerful and influential groups in African American society-with chapters at major universities and colleges across the country, including Stanford University, Howard University, and University of Chicago. Many of America's most prominent business leaders, scientists, politicians, entertainers, and athletes took their first steps toward making a difference in the world in a fraternity or sorority.” (Reference: Lawrence Ross, Jr.; “The Devine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities” inside cover flap).

George G.M. James advocated that the study of history and humanities needed to be intellectually revamped and there is perhaps no other source (Stolen Legacy) written by an African American scholar which has led to such a critical evaluation and assessment of Greek and Roman culture than this book. Thus, most critics and pundits of “Black Greek” Lettered Societies, almost always uses James’ research as a legitimate point of argument to show forth the greatness in African Kemetic people who taught all the Greek philosophers directly or either indirectly in the Egyptian Mystery Schools. African people have no justification in the 21st Century to still be calling themselves “Black Greeks” when it was the Nubian- Egyptians who enlightened humanity and not the other way around. Yes, there comes a time in history that we must demonstrate courage and the moral intestinal fortitude to depart and breakaway from tradition; in particular if new information has arisen, which renders past information and ideas as being obsolete, outdated and irreverent in spite of how painful the process may be, it becomes necessary to make the transitions—correct the wrong and allow these organizations to move forward within the proper cultural context. (Reference: Asa G. Hilliard, III; “The Reawakening of the African Mind).

Black Greek Lettered Fraternities and Sororities in 2008 must debunk the cultural and historical worldview of their founding fathers and mothers of these organizations that were established over one hundred (100) years ago, which reflected the political, economic, and social reality of white superiority and black inferiority based on that time in history and space. Many apologist of these “Black Greek” Lettered societies are always quick to point out the positive history and legacy of the good that has been made by these organizations in the areas of community outreach, academic pursuit, public service, mentoring programs, donated scholarships to underprivileged children, soup kitchens, etc., their philanthropy efforts are undeniable and the good that they do, is commendable and must be applauded by us all. Most of these so-called “Black Greek” Societies were founded on pristine principles of academic excellence and service to humanity.(Reference: Gregory S. Parks; “Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun”).

This writer was very proud of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc, in 1995 during the organizing of the Million Man March, which was headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Sigmas stood front and center by lending their resources to Dr. Benjamin Chavis-Muhammad and the Nation of Islam in organizing the march. I believe Chavis-Muhammad is an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, but nevertheless they played a huge role in logistics and organizing this event on a national level. Their efforts were commendable. Also, this writer can not forget the Omega Psi Phi Urban Radio Talk Show Host, Tom Joyner and the Tom Joyner Morning Show who has done yeomen’s work in the area of using his forum to give African American students that attend a Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) scholarship money; indeed often Joyner challenges his Omega Psi Fraternity brothers to give back and to put your money where your mouth is.

We will never discard the good work that they have done and continue to do, in the area of service; there is no doubt that the founders had good intentions and perhaps based on that time period saw fit to extract from the dominant culture, a model of excellence, thus emulating the names and practices of white Greek societies—Black Greek Lettered Fraternities and Sororities arrived as that beacon of light for the uninitiated black race. These early “Black Greek” Lettered Societies were very selective in its membership, they initially only recruited what whites referred to as “uppity Negroes” who oftentimes came from very light skinned miscegenation relationships and for many years it was difficult for very dark skinned blacks to gain membership into these black societies (there were exceptions, if your were dark skinned but came from a prominent named black family who was economically prosperous). Blacks were practicing a form of intra-racism within African American race based on the spectrum of pigmentation and the system of racial hierarchical that was created by white America. (E. Franklin Frazier; “Black Bourgeoisie”).

We must continue to always honor the original founders of these societies because in one sense they were visionaries who desired to elevate African American people politically, economically and socially, but the present, mandates that we take the next step in our cultural and historical development, which is to rename our “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities in order to incorporate the language and symbolism of the Metu Neter (Hieroglyphics) that which was written and spoken in Kemet (Egypt) 10,000 years ago. Africans will no longer be referred to as “Black Greeks”—there was a wise saying that was inscribed on the walls of Temples (pyramids) in Kemet, it read “MAN KNOW THY SELF” this was perhaps the greatest knowledge that were being taught in the lower chambers and upper chambers in the Mystery School curriculum. Kemet (Egypt) should be the new focus in re-establishing our “Black Greek” lettered Societies based on African values and African principles. (Reference: Ra Un Nefer Amen; “Metu Neter: The Great Oracle of Tehuti and the Egyptian System of Spiritual Cultivation”).

The term “Black Greek” should immediately become a term of yesterday because we must understand that change is constant and anything that becomes static, it dies. Tradition dies hard, but this writer believes that the time has come to end a century of cultural and historical mis-education and pursue social progress with the highest level of political correctness. All of humanity has an obligation to respect the fact that we live in a cultural melting pot and cultures have infused in all respect—but Marcus Garvey said it best “Africa for the Africans at home and abroad" and he said, One God, One Aim, One Destiny."

James wrote: “a system of re-education, in order to stimulate and encourage a change in the attitude of races toward each other In combining their efforts, both , races must not only preach and teach the truth that the Mystery system of the African Continent gave the world philosophy and religion, and the arts and sciences, but they must see to it that all false praise of the Greeks be removed from the textbooks of our schools and colleges; for this is the practice that has blind-folded the world, and has laid the foundations for the deplorable race relations of the modern world. (a) The name of Pythagoras, for instance, should be deleted from our mathematical textbooks: in Geometry, where the theorem of the square on the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle is called the Pythagorean Theorem, because this is not true. (b) we must point out to the world the deception in attach­ing the authorship of Socrates to the precept 'man know thy­self'; and in attaching the authorship of Plato to the four car­dinal virtues; since Socrates obtained the self-knowledge pre­cept from the Egyptian temples where it was used as an in­scription; and Plato reduced the ten virtues of the North African Mystery system to four (c) we must also prove to the world that the doctrines of the so-called Greek philosophers originated from the ancient Mystery System of North Africa. (Reference: George G.M. James; “Stolen Legacy” pg. 156).

This writer can re-call a very recent experience he had at one of the Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) with an African American college student who he had just witnessed was a part of a “Black Greek” Probate ceremony (this is a public ceremonial and festive tradition where the neophytes who had endured the pledging process and had so-called crossed over the hot burning sands, is presented to the general public as a newly made fraternal brother or sorority sister, and has earned the right, as a recognized member of these various “Black Greek” Societies where these new pledges may put on step shows and other activities, upon completion of the probate they are ordinarily showered with gifts and congratulatory wishes) and this brother who had just pledged one of the Black Greek Lettered Fraternities and I said to him, “peace African”. He became upset and angry that I had called him African as opposed to calling him Greek, but I saw this same student moments later and someone said, “ what's up newly pledge Greek” and this young man responded more favorably. The movie “Stomp the Yard” gave us somewhat a look into Black Greek Fraternity and Sorority life and culture. For example, stepping may not resonate with white Greek Fraternities but it is big with Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities, it is an intricate part of character of these societies.

This writer loves Black College Basketball and there is a huge black basketball tournament called the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament, a NCAA Division II tournament that is perhaps one of the largest basketball tournaments in the United States, which is more of a large black college family reunion that includes a lot of festivities including “Black Greek” Fraternity and Sorority step shows. It is indeed a sight to see, as far as the social bonding and the impact these societies have on “old heads” and “new heads.” Here is a YouTube link from “Stomping the Yard” http://video.google.com/videosearch?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLR,GGLR:2006-39,GGLR:en&q=stomp+the+yard&um=1&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title. But this writer has always enjoyed the CIAA Tournament and the festivities, and it is difficult to explain this to outsiders who have not experienced black college life; however, the fact remains African Americans are not “Black Greeks” and this alone makes these organizations unacceptable and fundamentally wrong. This writer will not succumb to the continued mis-education of young impressionable black minds out of an emotional appreciation for these festivities; they can continue this, but the philosophy and names of these Black Greek Societies must be rooted in African values and principles. Sam Cooke the legendary soul singer said it best “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

This African American student response to me was a microcosm and an indication that he lacked the knowledge of self and kind, but the problem was systemic and far beyond that young man’s reaction towards me. He perhaps had no idea that Herodotus, Hippocrates, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and all the great Greek philosophers and free thinkers had learnt their world altering knowledge and wisdom from his Nubian Kemetic (Egyptian) ancestors. Some who read this article may not know that Black Greek Lettered Fraternities brand their neophytes (new members who have crossed over in the fraternity) with fraternity symbol on some part of the body (a practice of self mutilation). They brand their members with permanent fraternal symbolism as to say you are the property of this organization and you belong to us. This writer abhors such a practice because it takes me back to Chattel Slavery (1555-1865) where the vicious white slave masters would brand his black slaves as if they were livestock and that his chattel belonged to his plantation and no one else could claim his slave property, but him because the markings identified certain Africans as belonging to a certain slave master and plantation. This practice of branding was inhumane yesterday and it is inhumane today. This writer looked up the definition of Brand and one of the definitions stated: “Mark on criminal or enslaved person: history formerly, a mark made on the skin of a criminal or a slave, especially to identify the owner”

Dr. Naim Akbar who is a psychologist on the staff at Florida State University and author of the book titled, "Chains and Images of Psychological Slavery" he stated: "Slavery was 'legally' ended in excess of 100 years ago, but the over 300 years experienced in its brutality and unnaturalness constituted a severe psychological and social shock to the minds of African-Americans. This shock was so destructive to natural life processes that the current generation of African-Americans, though we are 5-6 generations removed from the actual experience in both our social and mental lives. Psychologists and sociologists have failed to attend to the persistence of problems in our mental and social lives, which clearly have their roots in slavery. Only the historians have given proper attention to the shattering realties of slavery, and have dealt with it only as descriptive of past events." (Reference: Naim Akbar; “Chains and Images of Psychological Slavery”).

The crossing of the hot burning sands—this is symbolic and geographically talking about the rugged and difficulty of those who we forced to walk 2,200 miles across the hot Arabian Desert (years ago before hazing was outlawed it was mentally and physically challenging for a Neophyte to cross the hot burning sands into a “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities , but today they are just certificate card carrying members who paid money to join and was required to remember the history of the organization; when I came along years ago that paddle made pledging a very difficult task) and this no more evident than in the ritual of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) which they acquire the knowledge of this process and then play these silly games with the Islamic religion. But it was taught more fully and given a complete explanation by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. The “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities have failed to understand just as the Freemasons, which is their parent organization of the “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities; which they both failed to understand that all this history and culture belongs to the original man. The five schools of architecture style that is relished in the Fellowcraft degree of Freemasonry (Second degree Middle Chamber lecture)—Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite did not originate in Greece and Roman. But in Kemet who gave enlightenment to the entire world.

Yes, the Seven Liberal Arts—Grammar, Rhetoric, logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music had its origin’s also in Kemet (Egypt); European scholars such as Albert Churchward in his monumental book titled, "Signs and Symbols of Primordial Man" verify and substantiate that Kemet (Egypt) had fed the entire world civilization. Also, Gerald Massey in his book titled, "Ancient Egypt The Light of the World" he to took the cradle of knowledge and civilization back to Kemet (Egypt), Manly P. Hall who authored the book titled, "The Secret Teachings of All Ages" and he also pointed the ancient wisdom back to Kemet (Egypt) and lastly, Sir Godfrey Higgins in his book titled, “Anacalypsis: An Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil of the Saitic or an Inquiry into the Origin of Languages.” Therefore this is nothing that we made up, but from Kemet (Egypt) sprung world civilization and most of these scholars of antiquity have written treatise that documents the complexity and majesty of a society that is unduplicated in their contribution towards humanity. All knowledge and wisdom originated in the East and to the East lies the answers to solving our cultural dilemmas and stagnation. (John G. Jackson; “Introduction to African Civilization’).

Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Phi Alpha and other “Black Greek” Lettered Fraternities and Sororities do have Egyptian symbols and language in their ritual, which they reference Kemet (Egypt). Shahid M. Allah stated: “The Greek letter of Delta, with the sorority’s symbols, resembles a triangle. This is the same shape that this organization’s members use as a sign, which is formed by making a pyramid (triangle) with the pointers and thumbs of both hands. We need to take a second look at the sign made by the Deltas because there is much significance below the surface value of it. . . Some of the Supreme Wisdom of the Great Pyramid has been incorporated into the esoteric orders like the Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.). The Eastern Stars are the female auxiliary to the Masons. This women recognize the above mentioned hand gesture of the Delta's as the "Sister's Sign," or "The Sign of Martha." It is done by raising the triangular shape (made with the fingertips) to a parallel position with your eyes. This sign represents Martha's appealing to Jesus Christ, after the death of her brother Lazarus. "Believest thou this?" is the question asked when an Eastern Star sees a woman holding up this sign. Hence, there is a resurrective value in the pyramid sign that the sorors of Delta Sigma Theta hold up.” (Reference: Shahid M. Allah; “Take A Second Look”) and also reference Paula Giddings book titled, “ In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenge of the Black Sorority Movement”.

Sherrod N. Gresham in his book titled, “Prominent Prince Hall Masons on the Philatelic Materials: Stamps, First Day Covers, and Post Cards” stated, “On March 2, 1784, African Lodge #1 petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, the Premier or Mother Grand Lodge of the world, for a warrant (ort character), to organize a regular Masonic lodge, with all the rights and privileges thereunto prescribed. The Grand Lodge of England issued a character on September 29, 1784, to African Lodge # 459, the first lodge of blacks in America.” (Reference: Joseph A. Walkes; “Black Square and Compass: 200 years of Prince Hall Freemasonry).

Prince Hall, a free black man of Boston, Massachusetts was initiated and raised as a master mason by a traveling British Military lodge in 1775 along with fifteen other free black men. In addition, Prince Hall received an official and legitimate Masonic Charter from the Grand lodge of England on September 29, 1784, which led to the establishing of African lodge Number 459. This was perhaps the first black fraternity in America and all the Black Greek Lettered Societies owe their ritual (Reference: Walter M. Kimbrough’ “Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities”).

Dr. Carter G. Woodson (a Omega Psi Phi member) the father of Black History Month, which was originally Black History week, wrote a profound little book in 1933 titled the “Mis-education of the Negro” and Woodson wrote about how African Americans were mis-educated and taught to admire and appreciate all other people’s culture and history but themselves. This of course was systematically done to instill self-hatred and foster a disconnection to one of the oldest and luscious histories to be found any place in the world. Thus, black people during the Transatlantic slave trade and the Middle Passage Africans were systematically stripped of their religion, names, values, folkways, mores, etc., and most of all denied the right to their own culture and heritage for 310 years (1555-1865). Some Africans resisted this forcible enculturation process, but out of survival many became inculcated within a system of white supremacy. (Reference: Carter G. Woodson the “Mis-Education of the Negro”).

Molefi Kete Asante in his book titled, “Afrocentricity” stated: “Some of us have been asleep so long and so deeply that we were not able to heed the words of Cheikh Anta Diop and Chancellor Williams (Diop, 1974, 1978; Williams, 1974). But when the New York Times came out with the story that Nubia had an older civilization than Egypt it validated the Afrocentric histories of Diop, Ben-Jochannan, and Williams in the minds of even the most stubborn Eurocentric Africans (Ben·Jochannan, 1972). Numerous writers have challenged the basic premises of Afrocentricity by expounding a Eurocentric viewpoint of everything from culture to the origin or civilization. The African writers who have mimicked such Eurocentric formulas are unable to think in an Afrocentric frame of mind. As result, they relinquish their thoughts and research to Eurocentric purposes, and consequently deny their own humanity. Enslavement of the mind is the most pernicious kind of enslavement because the person so enslaved will never be able to see clearly for himself. Breaking the mental chains only occurs when a person learns to take two sets of notes on almost everything encountered in the Western world. (Reference: Molefi Kete Asante; “Afrocentricity” pg. 40).

The BOULE (Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity) is perhaps one of the first black Greek letter fraternities that was founded in 1904, but most of its founders were Prince Hall Masons and/or had strong Masonic affiliations. The term BOULE means “advisor to the king”. Steve Cokley is considered the authority on the BOULE, he has a video series titled, “Boule Buster: The Plot To Destroy Black Education”. Frontline Magazine did an article titled, “Boule” stated, “We know the Illuminati (Rhodes/Rothschild secret society) also goes by the name, the ROUND TABLE GROUP the Boule, which created the 8 black fraternities and sororities (now known as the Divine Nine). Rockefeller is a subdivision of the Rhodes/Rothschild or New World Order regime.” Charles H. Wesley who was a prominent Prince Hall Mason wrote the definitive history of the Boule (Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity) titled, Reference: Charles H. Wesley; “History of Sigma Pi Phi, first of the Negro-American Greek-letter fraternities”).

This African-American secret society is a “powerful” fraternity and sorority known as the BOULE which is a Freemasonic type organization that attracts some of the top black politicians, intellectuals, business persons, etc, and those who are considered influential and part of the black bourgeoisie.

W.E.B. Dubois preached and advocated that blacks should pursue a classical and/or Liberal Arts education, as opposed to Booker T. Washington espousing technical training. Dubois model was geared towards sending 10% of the black population to the universities and colleges of higher learning with an objective of attaining liberal arts education and coming back to the black community and help to elevate the race. Dubois and historians called this theory the “Talented Tenth” theory (Reference: W.E.B. Dubois “The Souls of Black Folk”). Also, there is an interesting book written by Charles H. Wesley, titled, “The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life” that deals African American race, class and the pursuit of education.

The Boule has been known for attracting the African American Talented Tenth for now over a century; it was described this way “the quintessential brotherhood for African-American men." The incoming Grand Sire Archon, New Orleans banker and financier Charles Teamer, says the Boule "is unique because no other organization brings together so many talented leaders--sometimes you have in the same room the mayor and the biggest educational and economic leaders in town--and no other organization provides such an unparalleled opportunity to mentor, change structures, and build bridges." He says his administration will concentrate on mentoring, creating new international connections and moving networking to another level.

The BOULE was originally styled after the Skull Bones Fraternity conceived as an organization that would contain the "best of Skull and Bones of Yale and of Phi Beta Kappa," In the keynote address, Archon Vernon Jordan Jr. (former aid to Bill Clinton and Civil Right leader) presented a 12-point program for personal and collective renewal, saying, among other things, that "we must create a new sense of community among our own ... bridge the growing economic gap within the Black community [and] re-Brown Brown to counter the long slide back into de facto segregation." We must also, he said, "constantly remind the new entrants into the Talented Tenth that their exciting jobs in corporate America and investment banking and in law firms are not the result of their grades and their ability and their school all by themselves. They did not get there by themselves ... and they have to know it."

The Skull and Bones of Yale University, the author John Lawrence Reynolds book titled, “Secret Societies: Inside The World’s Most Notorious Organizations” he assess this secret society by stating, “One, however, exerts day-to-day influence over the lives of virtually everyone on the planet, and it achieved this not with a tightly structured organization but via an association of privileged young men attending a prestigious university. Its existence is verifiable, its history is linked to MASONIC traditions and the ILLUMINATI objectives, its practices remain shadowy, and its activities are replete with suspicious behavior. It is Skull & Bones, a hatchery of American leadership whose members has not only achieved POWER and Prominence on a scale far in excess of their numbers, but retains their close bond throughout their careers, creating at least the semblance of a cabal and perhaps something much more than that.”

Now! The above assessment is real high degree Freemasonry because these OATH TAKERS of an Elite sector of our society have sworn to use their DYNASTIC influence (High Finance) that is tied too prominent banking families and have placed their Devotes in every decision making endeavor which to influence the political, economic and social reality of world society. The 33rd Degree in Freemasonry under Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is styled the Sovereign Grand Inspector General. This degree is an honorary and conferred degree and it is not up for petition; thus entry into this final and terminal degree is only at the recommendation of another 33rd Degree Mason.

The ceremonies and rituals of this conferment ordinarily include some of the most powerful men in the United States in particular and the world in general. We learn in the ritual a set of questions and answers that reads like this: QUESTIONS: Are you a Sovereign Grand Inspector General? ANSWER: By giving you the past word. QUESTION: Begin. ANSWER: Jacques de Molay. QUESTION: Hiram Abif. ANSWER: Frederick of Prussia. QUESTION: What are the meanings of the skeletons skulls, bones and torches in our Council? ANSWER: They serve to remind of the massacre of our ancestors by Philippe the Fair who delivered them to the most cruel tortures. QUESTION: Why do you appear in mourning armed with a sword? Answer: To mourn their loss and be ready to avenge them. QUESTION: Who established this degree? ANSWER: Our Illustrious Brother of Brunswick, Frederick, King of Prussia.
This writer wonder does the Skull and Bones and Black BOULE’ have a loose philosophical connection to The United Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree in Freemasonry. This writer resides in Durham, which the Mayor of the city William V. “Bill” Bell is a BOULE’ member and in a recent citywide mayoral race, Obama came to Durham and endorsed the black BOULE member and it left this writer inquisitive whether his relationship with BOULE’ Mayor Bell was based on them both being perhaps OATH TAKERS. A writer in Ebony Magazine who authored and article titled,“1904-2004: the Boule at 100: Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Holds Centennial Celebration” stated, “What makes the Boule's success all the more interesting is that it was founded as a secret or quasi-secret organization and did not seek public notice until the 1960s and 1970s”

On most of the white college campus throughout America; they had white only Greek lettered societies and organizations, in which their existed a long tradition of social and academic prosperity and social networking that ventured far beyond college life into the social, political, and economic lives of its members, as far as politically maneuvering and stationing its members in key positions through out society. The undergraduate mission statement for most Greek Letter Fraternities on the white college campus was getting drunk and partying and having a good social time, but many of these students were third and fourth generation Greek Letter Oath Takers and their parents were getting them prepared for the task of leading humanity (once they sobered up). The Skull and Bones was founded on the campus of Yale University in the year of 1832 and is perhaps the most powerful and influential college fraternity in America. Black Greek Lettered Fraternities and Sororities are miniature Skull and Bones organizations, but lack the real Elite networking, which is reserved for those individuals who will eventually be initiated in the REAL ORDERS (many are call, few chosen) such as the Bilderberger, Council on Foreign Relations, and the Trilateral Commission this is the real brotherhood and sisterhood that rule over humanity and their membership is not based on race or ethnicity, but on an ideology that is rooted in the principles of GLOBALIZATION AND A ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT. (Reference: Gary Allen and Larry Abraham; “None Dare Call it Conspiracy”)

Fahim A. Knight-EL Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of good will of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolisms and reinterpret the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlighten world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight-EL can be reached at fahimknight@yahoo.com.

STAY AWAKE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
Fahim A. Knight-EL