the fly in the buttermilk: the history, perceptions and principles of black Greek lettered organizations at Ole Miss

the fly in the buttermilk, is a documentary series detailing a variety of black experiences. This segment details the history, perception and principles of black Greek-lettered organizations. After a brief national history of the fraternities and sororities, the film looks into their presence on college campuses, specifically the predominantly white University of Mississippi.

The university has a haunting past of racial tension, most notably beginning with the riots around the integration of James Meredith in 1962. Since then, the university has made much advancement for inclusion and cross-cultural engagement. However, cultural disparities within the Greek system allows for some racial tension to continue today.

This film explores the 1973 chartering process of black Greek- lettered organizations at the university, unveils past and present racial sentiments of some whites and proves the value and excellence of these nine organizations -four sororities and five fraternities - at the university and throughout their communities. Although black lettered organizations differ by name, color, hand signs and calls, they all serve the same purposes: sisterhood/brotherhood, scholarship, service.