The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School Department of Learning and Performance Systems BLACK GREEK-LETTER ORGANIZATIONS: A LEGACY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULT EDUCATION A Dissertation in Adult Education by Keiwana O’neal Jones © 2012 Keiwana O’neal Jones Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctorate of Education December 2012 ii The dissertation of Keiwana O’neal Jones was reviewed and approved* by the following: Esther S. Prins Associate Professor of Adult Education Dissertation Advisor Co-Chair of Committee Graduate Program Coordinator Nicole Webster Associate Professor of Agricultural and Extension Education Co-Chair of Committee Felicia Brown-Haywood Affiliate Assistant Professor of Adult Education Committee Member Dwayne Wright Assistant Professor of Education Shepherd University Special Committee Member *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT The education of African American adults evolved in response to the changing social, economic, and political needs of the Black community. To address these needs, Black Greek- Letter Organizations (BGLOs) created and implemented initiatives at the local, national, and international levels using education as a catalyst to change aspects of African Americans’ social conditions in the United States. Though many individuals and civic organizations influenced and contributed to the education of African American adults, the initiatives of BGLOs were left in the shadows. Although the historical and cultural aspects of BGLOs have been well documented, research has neglected to examine this role from a graduate or alumni perspective. This qualitative case study sought to examine the role of five BGLO graduate chapters as providers of adult education, and to examine whether and how their initiatives embody the Black self-help tradition. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using ethnographic methods of data analysis, reflection, and writing. The findings demonstrate that BGLO graduate chapters sponsor and/or participate in educational programming that: (1) builds healthy communities; (2) develops communities economically; (3) advocates on behalf of the race; and (4) uplifts the community through service. This study also elucidated how the adult education initiatives embodied the self-help tradition. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. viii DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Coming to the Question ................................................................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................................ 3 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................................. 5 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................................. 6 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature ........................................................................................ 8 Self-Help Tradition .................................................................................................................................... 8 Philanthropic Efforts ....................................................................................................................... 10 Adult Education ....................................................................................................................................... 12 African American Adult Education .................................................................................................. 13 Black Greek-Letter Organizations ........................................................................................................... 18 Historical Development .................................................................................................................. 19 Adult Education Initiatives .............................................................................................................. 22 Self-Help in BGLOs .......................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter Summary ................................................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 3: Research Methods ...................................................................................................... 32 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................................ 34 Sampling .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Participants ..................................................................................................................................... 38 Data Sources ................................................................................................................................... 44 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................................... 48 Standards of Evaluation .......................................................................................................................... 50 Data Quality .................................................................................................................................... 50 Researcher’s Identity .............................................................................................................................. 53 Ethical Concerns .............................................................................................................................. 54 Chapter Summary ................................................................................................................................... 54 v Chapter 4: Findings ....................................................................................................................... 55 Adult Education Initiatives ...................................................................................................................... 55 Building Healthy Communities ........................................................................................................ 55 Economic Development through Education ................................................................................... 63 Advocating on Behalf of the Race ................................................................................................... 67 Uplifting the Community through Service ...................................................................................... 70 Challenges to Implementation ........................................................................................................ 74 Self-Help Embodied ................................................................................................................................ 76 A Responsibility to Give Back .......................................................................................................... 77 A Spiritual Connection .................................................................................................................... 79 Establishing Social Networks .......................................................................................................... 81 Chapter Summary ................................................................................................................................... 87 Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications ........................................................................................ 88 Limitations of the Study .......................................................................................................................... 90 Implications ............................................................................................................................................. 90 References .................................................................................................................................... 93 Appendix A: BGLO Adult Education Program Questionnaire ..................................................... 114 Appendix B: Interview Guide ...................................................................................................... 115 Appendix C: Consent Form ........................................................................................................