Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
2013
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis & Resolution
Department
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
First Advisor
Dustin Berna
Second Advisor
Judith McKay
Third Advisor
Jason J. Campbell
Keywords
Social research, African American Studies, Black Community, Black Greek Letter Organizations, Colorism, Double Consciousness, Fraternity, Sorority, Higher Education
Abstract
This dissertation study was conducted in order to examine and gain an insight on two topics that are considered to be highly under researched: American historically black fraternities and sororities and colorism within the back American community. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact that colorism has had on black American collegiate Greek letter organizations. Using the qualitative phenomenological approach, 18 graduate or alumni members, two from each of the nine historically black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellanic Council were interviewed using open ended questions to see what impact (if any) colorism has had on historically black fraternities and sororities. During the interviews the following five major themes emerged: discriminatory practices between black Americans, stereotyping black Greek letter organizations, stereotyping skin tones, colorism as a part of American history, and colorism as being permanently a part of the black American community. The following theories were also explored during the study: Social Identity Theory, Double Consciousness, Primary Identification Theory, and Conflict Caused by Colorism, to further see what impact colorism had on historically black fraternities and sororities. Through these five themes and theories, it was found that colorism has had and continues to have a significant impact on not only members of historically black fraternities and sororities, but also that of members of the black American community as a whole.
NSUWorks Citation
Patience Denece Bryant. 2013. The Impact of Colorism on Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences. (20)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/20.
Included in
African American Studies Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Educational Sociology Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons