For many black students in America, especially those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), being accepted into one of the most prestigious African-American fraternities and sororities – known collectively as the “Divine 9” to those interested in black Greek life — is a momentous rite of passage.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (or AKA), founded in 1908, is one of the most famous of these historical organizations that add texture and depth to the landscape of HBCU institutions — which is why the controversy over a clique known only as the “MiAKA Men” caused such an explosive stir several weeks ago. MiAKA made national headlines and spurred prickly conversations for allegedly filing a gender discrimination suit to seek entrance into the AKA fold.
It is now clear that the level of shock over this supposed desire of these men was ironic, given that the legend of Men Interested in Alpha Kappa Alpha has been circulating for years. A blog post from 2007, for instance, shows several masked men who ostensibly belong to this mysterious group, yet even the creator of this bit of copy begged at the time for a “real” member of MiAKA to “come out” and tell his story.
In 2012, this narrative re-emerged when a video of black men, who some believe were attending Prairie View University at the time, filmed imitating AKA style and mannerisms went viral. It was reported on by many respected sites including theGrio.
This video, showing “MiAKA men” imitating the calls, signs, attire and external mannerisms of the ladies of AKA, was accompanied by persistent rumors that MiAKA was threatening to sue Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for inclusion based on the grounds of gender discrimination. Yet, as has been noted by prominent feminist web site, Jezebel, “In none of the reports did any news outlet quote a source or attorney from MiAKA. Stories on MiAKA’s alleged recent actions are accompanied by the same pictures that went with stories reported on back in 2008. HuffPo and other outlets used as primary sources blog posts that don’t use actual quotes.”
So, what is the truth behind the MiAKA men? If they even exist, what were they trying to prove? And was the real cause of anger in the black community over their interest in infiltrating the AKA organization — or was homophobia at the root of the outrage? Revisiting this strange blip of recent controversy might uncover more truths about the black community’s attitudes about gays than these possibly mythical MiAKA men.
A history of black greek “affiliate” groups
According to several sources, MiAKA no longer officially exists. For 56 years until 1979, it has been stated on various black Greek sites that MiAKA was a support group for the ladies of AKA. But there have been many similar groups — of both genders — associated with the Divine 9 over the years.
Alpha Angels, Kappa Diamonds, Omega Pearls, Sigma Doves, Iota Sweethearts, Delta Beaux, Zeta Knights and Sigma Rhomeos were all considered to be affiliate organizations to the official fraternities and sororities from which their names derived. But in 1988, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) that oversees black Greeks “declared among all affiliates that there could no longer be any support organizations under AKA guidance,” according to an Alabama State University website, and other sources that detail the disbanding of all affiliate groups.
On February 5, 1979, Cavalier Fraternity, Inc. was formed to take the place of MiAKA, effectively beginning the process of severing ties with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated. (A Myspace page for Cavalier Fraternity, Inc. confirms this.) Championing such causes as “AIDS Awareness, nursing home visitations, volunteer tutoring, and mentoring programs, without discrimination,” the Cavalier men pride themselves on being an influential entity separate and apart from AKA, with their own sister sorority, the Emerald Queens. Other similar groups, like the former Delta Men (now the Beaux), have also established their own male fraternities in the wake of the 1988 decision of the NPHC.
The NPHC has officially disbanded any sanctioned affiliate group, regardless of gender. But some claim that despite this, MiAKA men still exist.
Will the real MiAKA men please stand up?
TheGrio found one source, a blogger and former Florida A&M student who prefers to be referred to as Anti_Intellect, who affirmed that MiAKA men have an underground presence on several black college campuses. Yet, he believes the lawsuit allegations are more than likely untrue.
This social media author blames sensationalistic media outlets for running with unconfirmed rumors, thus blowing the unconfirmed story out of proportion. In the process, normally respected sites like The Huffington Post allowed their comment sections to turn into homophobic breeding grounds.
“KollegeKidd.com, where the half-story originated, is less credible than Media Takeout,” the popular Twitter personality said.
“The unchecked dialogue is a slap in the face to black gay men,” the African-American gay male and feminist opined regarding the extreme homophobia that ensued.
“My concern with the MiAKA story is the homophobic narrative that it’s serving,” he added to theGrio. “I find it no small coincidence that during such a pivotal moment in this nation’s history, when President Barack Obama and black faith leaders are publicly fighting against homophobia, joined by coalitions of black people coming together, this story emerges again. People don’t want this shift to occur, so [they] play up the MiAKA story, cast them as villains and the honeymoon phase is over. Back to slurs.”
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Perhaps at the crux of this issue is the swiftness with which readers spewed venom at the MiAKA organization, linking it to some dark, hidden “Gay Agenda,” without considering that there was never any official statement pertaining to a lawsuit from the group. There is no web site for MiAKA. There is no official spokesperson. In fact, if not for KollegeKidd.com regurgitating the story, it would not have returned to the mainstream media space at all. Was there a sensitivity to it re-emerging, because blacks for the first time in recent history are seeing many of our icons openly support gay marriage?
Whatever the reason, the angry comments rolled in, such as these found on various entities:
“It is terrible! Everywhere I go in Chicago I’ve seen way more gay black ‘flamboyant’ men than any other race! My heart hurts at this sad epidemic…. where does it really leave the Black family dynamic/community…”
“The Black woman is being taught to accept the behavior by the ‘AGENDA.’ Hence why many black women have homo sexual men doing their hair. They have homo sexual male friends. And then we have a LACK of black men being proper fathers and role models for our young men. So the media and TV then becomes the role model. We are now seeing the fruit of what cabel tv can do to the minds of our youth. This is what happens when the TV spends more time with our children than we as parents do.
“Then you take the first black president and get him to verbally support this life style, and you now have made a HUGE impact on the minds of millions of young Black people. This is a system that was started long before President Obama got into politicts, but he is now being USED to get the Black community on board with the “AGENDA.”
“I’m getting really annoyed by the GAY movement.”
Homophobic statements such as these circulated for weeks without most responders caring an inkling about whether the story was confirmed. Even attorney and media professional Star Jones joined the melee. The prominent AKA sorority sister took to the Twittersphere making it clear that there was no way for the men of MiAKA to join Alpha Kappa Alpha, and that they should just give up:
“Shall I start with what the hell is a MIAKA?”
“Just because you’re INTERESTED in #AKA doesn’t make you an #AKA. I’m interested in basketball…but my free throws suck. #getAgripJoinaFRAT”
“Tell the MiAKAs (how hilarious) the former 2nd Supreme said don’t waste your money on a lawyers retainer; you have no case! Oh..and #DUCES.”
In her heated social media response to the alleged suit, Jones was blinded to the basic journalistic necessity of verification, despite her intense involvement in the profession as a commentator.
Any real evidence of MiAKA’s existence or the gender discrimination suit is scant. Speaking to radio personality Jacque Reid on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, alleged former MiAKA member Lewis White is the only person who has publicly commented about being in the group on the record. In his disjointed radio interview with Reid, White claims that the organization was not conceptualized to mimic AKA, and that it began with the purest intentions. His interview did little to illuminate what was real about the lawsuit and what was fabrication.
Sounding unsure of his words, White claimed on the air that MiAKA originated as the “Academia Society,” an organization committed to “community service.” He left the group when its priorities shifted, although what composed that shift was not made clear. White also claimed that he personally never consented to participate in a lawsuit; nor has he personally ever imitated the attire and symbolism of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Then what made him a man interested in AKA? Even his open explanations confounded the search for truth.
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TheGrio followed what additional clues were available in this puzzling scenario.We reached out to an alleged MiAKA member on Twitter named @I_Sustain_Klass, who did not respond to our interview request. He had come to our attention through his Twitter debate about the controversy, but — perhaps in response to too much outreach — he has since changed his Twitter handle from the aforementioned name to I_Sustain_Fame.
Certainly, if MiAKA men exist, they don’t want notoriety. They don’t want to pull back the veil of their organization. Then why stage a high-profile lawsuit?
Did MiAKA have a valid legal claim?
According to a statement posted by the North American Interfraternity Conference, single-sex fraternities and sororities not only develop the character of an individual, their existence is also protected under the law:
Fraternities and sororities have the right under the United States Constitution and civil rights laws to exist as single-gender organizations and to maintain that status, especially under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Further, Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972 provides that sexual discrimination shall not apply to membership practices of a social fraternity or social sorority that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the IRS Code of 1954, the active membership of which consists primarily of students in attendance at an institution of higher education.
To protect the single-sex status of fraternities and sororities, at the annual National Panhellinic Conference in 2010, they prohibited sororities from participating in fraternity recruitment:
The NPC resolution states that one of the reasons sororities must refrain from supporting fraternity recruitment is so that sororities and fraternities can maintain their status as single-sex organizations. A 1972 amendment to the Civil Rights Act banned sexual discrimination in educational institutions, and sororities were only able to remain a single-sex organization by demonstrating that they do not rely on the presence of men, and vice versa.
“The presence, involvement and activity of sorority members at fraternity recruitment events greatly weakens our position and gives support to the argument that fraternal organizations do not need to remain single-sex groups,” the resolution details.
Yet, in an exclusive interview with theGrio.com, attorney Kia Baldwin Richardson, who practices criminal law in Louisiana, states that it may not be so clear-cut as that in terms of any claim by MiAKA men.
“Even though Alpha Kappa Alpha is a private organization that is probably not subject to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, the organization would be subject to the Interstate Commerce Clause of Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution,” Richardson told theGrio. “The Interstate Commerce Clause grants Congress the authority to regulate commerce among the several states. This clause was used repeatedly during the Civil Rights era to prohibit privately owned businesses and organizations from admitting and servicing African Americans. The rationale of the Supreme Court rulings during the time were that since these privately owned businesses relied on interstate commerce to survive (i.e. located on or near intertstates or received their goods from out of state, etc.) then their discriminatory practices could in fact be regulated.
“Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated is a national organization; thus it is undoubtedly involved in interstate commerce and is subject to federal regulation,” Richardson continued. “Which brings us to the Equal Protection Clause. What interest is Alpha Kappa Alpha seeking to serve by prohibiting men? Is the prohibition against men in general or homosexual men only? In order to survive a claim of gender discrimination, the sorority must be able to articulate an important interest they are seeking to protect and they must show that prohibiting men is substantially related to that interest.”
Legalities aside, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha are far from pleased with this recurrent “threat” of male invasion. In addition to high-profile “sorors,” everyday women have spoken strongly against MiAKA.
“This sisterhood is for women,” said Naomi LaTrice Walton, an educator and member of AKA. “It has nothing to do with homosexuality. They have a right to be homosexual, they do not have a right to be sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. To try and destroy a sisterhood with discrimination allegations is absurd. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was clearly founded upon the intentions for unity amongst women. It is offensive for any non-member to imitate a stroll, call, or paraphernalia if they are not members. However, it is more offensive because there are organizations for men.
“There are rules, constitutions, and by-laws for any organization,” Walton elaborated to theGrio. “These young men must accept the fact that AKA is a sisterhood. It is not for men, period. If being a part of a Greek organization is that important to them, why not join a male fraternity? Why sue and smear the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha with their lawsuit, but yet still want to be a part of it?”
Certainly, AKAs like Walton have the right to be angry about unwanted change. Yet, the fact remains that any existence of such a suit has yet to be uncovered, even if MiAKA might have a legal course of action.
TheGrio has also spoken to AKAs who refused to comment on the record, because it would disrespect their vows of sisterhood. Off the record, some sorors stated that the source of the negative energy between the two organizations actually stems from some MiAKA’s theft of private AKA documents and other items. Of course, without substantiation and transparency, these allegations cannot be confirmed.
MiAKA men remain a mystery
As we traveled deeper into the rabbit hole to find the truth about MiAKA, the “truth” became more vague. This emotionally-tinged confusion is a reflection of the numerous taboos the myth of the MiAKA men triggered, including the secrecy that tends to envelop black greek organizations themselves.
As Anti_Intellect insightfully stated, “Homosexuality in the black community is taboo, and Greek organizations, by definition, are very hush-hush. When the two issues are compounded, the possibility of getting to the root of MiAKA’s existence is almost impossible.”
Only time will tell if the real story of the MiAKA men will emerge from these shadows comprised of YouTube videos, random blog posts, and bitter tirades on Twitter. As people have now totally moved on from voicing their outrage surrounding the alleged lawsuit brought by MiAKA against AKA, it is likely that what seems to be merely an urban legend will totally be forgotten.
With dissipated interest, the chance to grasp at the truth will be lost. These pictures and videos and blog posts will fold back into the shadows of collective memory, forgotten — until the MiAKA men’s next mythical — inevitable — re-emergence.
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Until then, some will be left stirring the bitter dregs of homophobic rhetoric that monopolized the Internet for weeks, a mirror held up to the black community that reveals more about us than it ever will about some unknown men interested in AKA.
Follow Kirsten West Savali on Twitter at @KWestSavali.