Recently-released Netflix original film, Burning Sands, follows the journey of a favored pledge brother who is wavering between honoring his organization’s code of silence or standing up against the escalating violence associated with underground hazing.
Throughout the movie, the main character Zurich, played by rising actor Trevor Jackson (American Crime), consistently finds himself struggling to adapt and persevere during his season of pursuing membership into Lambda Lambda Phi, a fraternity found on the fictional campus of Frederick Douglass University.
Check out Blavity's exclusive interview with Jackson here.
The film boasts a roster of quality actors and actresses to the likes of Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage) and Steve Harris (Chi-Raq) as well as notable newcomers including Trevante Rhodes from Oscar-winning movie Moonlight, Serayah seen on popular television show Empire, and Rotimi from the gritty drama Power.
As these artists unite to deliver an intriguing account of what the voyage to joining a black Greek-letter organization (BGLO) looks like, they assist Director Gerard McMurray, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., in fulfilling his mission to initiate a dialogue that we must challenge ourselves to talk about.
As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. myself, I have been privy to and engaged in the many conversations related to the film that have been abuzz amongst the Greek and non-Greek communities. Due to the movie’s blatant and debatable portrayal of the pledging process members of the African-American community have traditionally experienced on their path to joining these organizations, many members of the Greek community have shared an outcry pertaining to how they wished the interpretation of their personal experiences would have gone.
Photo: Netflix
Much of the backlash that the film has received from Greeks has been due to the film’s lack of highlighting positive elements that come with seeking membership into a brotherhood or sisterhood. Instead, many Greeks see the account as an overdramatized and inaccurate rendition of the complete experience millions of African-Americans have gained. It is noteworthy that the film could have made several adjustments to its direction, such as giving more time to the extensive and genuine conversations concerning college life, professional goals and the importance of remaining safe in all that you do. These are things that older members of our organizations make a top priority with new aspirants. Also, it can be argued that leaders in the Greek community believe that the focus on social elements such as partying and sexual activity were emphasized too much in a way that cast our organizations as no more than promiscuous socialites.
It can even be taken to the point of Greeks feeling that this movie does nothing more than add to the negative stigma predominately associated with BGLOs, but highlighted less when similar, illegal acts by members of the Interfraternity and PanHellenic Councils (primarily for Caucasian individuals) as well as the National Multicultural Greek Council are called into question.
After watching the film, I came to the realization that there was one question that all viewers of this story, regardless of whether you hold Greek membership or not, should start with:
How will you dictate the view that the public eye has about black-Greek letter organizations and black people collectively?
To answer that question, think back to the mission and values the nine historically African-American organizations within the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), commonly referred to as the “Divine Nine," were founded upon. Despite each group possessing their own aims, our fraternities and sororities share a common theme for the advancement of our communities through service, uplift, and scholastic achievement. Additionally, all black Greek-letter organizations require potential new members to learn national history that is essential to understanding the purpose of each group’s founding and progression. However, in order to answer this question for myself, I had to dig deeper into what it means to know your history.
Those fond of African-American studies are familiar with “Sankofa," a word deeply rooted in African principles, specifically stemming from the Akan people of Ghana. Visually, the Akan people use an Adinkra symbol to portray the concept through two images: one being the eastern symbol of a heart and the other a bird with its head turned backward, taking an egg off its back. The message conveyed by this ideal stresses looking back to reclaim our past so we may understand how and why we become what we are today; thus aiding us in moving forward toward a better future.
During two of the movie’s scenes, the parallel to the belief in Sankofa can be found. Both near the latter part of the movie, one moment occurred when Zurich’s teacher, Professor Hughes tells him, “Take the passion that you have and use it to lead your brothers to what the fraternity was founded on.” Furthermore, the second instance happens during a moment of leadership where Zurich reminds his fellow pledge brothers to remember that they came from Kings and Queens and motivates them to change the direction of how new members and old members are treated amongst the brotherhood.
Despite the search for answers to this question, the truth of the matter comes down to the fact that we are all inherently responsible for the misconstrued image the public eye has and may acquire regarding our black-Greek letter organizations. After decades of allowing hazing to take place on and off college campuses, the coalition of the NPHC came together to abolish hazing and pledging in the 1990s after a streak of high-profile lawsuits, injuries and deaths began to occur during their respective pledging processes.
However, since the 90s, it can be assumed that elements of hazing may not be fully extinct throughout all sects of fraternity and sorority life as black, brown, and white organizations alike have dealt with assorted cases of college chapters crossing the line when it comes to administering a new member process. If you were to ask a sample study of Greek members about the situations they subjected themselves to in order to gain entry into their respective group, you would surely receive a varying set of responses. For far too long, members seemingly forgot where they came from and attached too much importance to how new members got into the organization instead of what contributions they could make.
Photo: Netflix
Yet, the point still remains that it is up to us as the leaders of BGLOs to narrate how the story of our significant organizations and their relevant places in society will be told to those seeking to become members and those who are not.
During the politically driven civil rights era, some of the most revered leaders of the black community bore membership to black Greek-letter organizations. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.), to Congressman John Lewis (Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.), to Shirley Chisholm (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.), these individuals were only a few of the many Greek leaders who wrote the tale of how blacks would be perceived as a whole.
These icons were fearless, outspoken, and driven towards the vision of building black excellence and instilling an unrelenting passion for activism in the generations to follow. Decades later, the tide has turned as the responsibility to clean the lens society has placed on us as young black men and women is solely upon us.
So ask yourself: How can I lend my hand to improving the image that the world has placed upon the black community?
Ponder about the ways in which you can provide mentorship to your peers or the individuals younger than you. Consider the opportunities you have to go the extra mile and serve in your community. Seek the highest levels of education so you can return to our neighborhoods and educate the youth who need it most. Run for office and implement a better structure of government and policies. Remind yourself of the lessons you were told concerning the need to remain active and financial in Greek-letter organizations and other auxiliary groups throughout life, not just college.
Photo: Netflix
Most importantly, hold yourself accountable for speaking out for the unspoken that face injustice on a daily basis in our communities near and far. The uproar associated with the occurrence of illegal hazing against young minorities only serves as a minor hurdle to address as a community in order to elevate ourselves to tackling bigger issues in education, healthcare, economics and more on a local and national standpoint for African-Americans everywhere.
Closer to the end of the movie, Zurich battles with an internal strife centered around his desire to advocate for the needs to change the methods and rites of passage that he and his fellow pledge brothers have been going through. In one of the film’s last defining moments, he internalizes his decision to speak out and takes a stand toward supporting his brothers, even when he is expected and told to do otherwise.
Although viewers of the film hold different perspectives of what the message of the film was to them, the main takeaway should be seen in our need to serve as change agents in all spaces concerning black culture and history whether it is fraternal, social, political, or economical.
In a time where the future and fate of black America rests in our hands, I leave you with one final question:
Whose line is it anyway?
I hope the answer is yours.
