First I would like to say that I am very pleased with the content of this trip. All Praise is due to God.

Please post your experiences from the college tour here. We need feedback and constructive dialogue. How can we help you? What are your thoughts? Where do we go from here? Let's use this as a tool to talk amongst each other so that we can keep more beneficial and exciting events like this coming your way.

-Blake E. Odum, CEO

    In my great quest to find our lost children and to help them find themselves, I've been captivated by the song of our dear brother John Legend entitled, "Shine".

    I realize that it is up to those of us who have been privileged enough to receive education, to educate our children lest they dwell in ignorance.  Our duty, especially those of us who are members organizations for the betterment of mankind, is to deposit seeds of power in hope that they will one day blossom into great Oak Trees of wisdom baring fruit that will render peace and righteousness to deliver our children out of their ignorance. The educated man who fails to educate the children, isn't educated at all--he is a victim of his own ignorance, thus making him an ignorant man.

    Our dear brother John Legend speaks in profound reference to     our children when he said;
            "They wait to plead their case, unknown cast aside
            I love to see their face, can we spare the light?
            Are we afraid to see them, prisoners of history
            These beautiful minds, trapped inside, bring them back to             life."
Let not organized education and degrees of certification rob us of the true function of education itself.

"The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals. We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true
education."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

May Peace be upon you and may your heart be touched,
-Blake E. Odum, CEO
The Motivational Foundation

I am very aware that I may receive backlash for this post and I am also aware that this may not be the most popular post.  However, I will keep it short for those of you who can't/don't read. And I will speak my mind.

Initially, the "Black Greek" was introduced to the collegiate environment for the edification of the African American students.  These fraternities and sororities were built on principles like education, and community service, love for all mankind, etc.  This is a very commendable thing (in spite of those black sororities and fraternities who would administer the "paper bag test" for admittance).  Out of black fraternities and sororities, a pride was born; boys and girls were turned into men and women.  Many successful people were birthed out of organizations like this, which is extremely commendable to me.

Today, I question whether or not some of the founders of these organizations could recognize the particular organization in which they started, if they were to come back from the grave today.  What was meant to be a stepping stone to the collegiate atmosphere, has now become a stumbling block to many college students.  In many aspects joining a sorority or fraternity has almost become a popularity contest.

The process in which many of these students face is despicable.  My father, who is a member of a Greek lettered organization, explained to me the purpose of "the wood".  It was very similar to grade school paddling for misbehavior.  Somewhere along the line, people got out of hand with their processes and inhumane hazing was birthed. What constitutes an individual to put their hands on another, in order for them to gain membership into an organization? We minimize the power and intellect of these organizations into the mere mentality of a modern day slave exchange.  I mustn't fail to mention our lost brothers and sisters who died in the process of trying to "pledge" a Black Greek organization.  In reality, many of these brothers and sisters don't even know what they are pledging for.

It has been said that Black Greeks get a "bad rep".  This is true, however, no one can give you a "rep" except those who rep-resentation your organization.

Don't get me wrong, there are good things and people who still emerge from these organizations, but the dynamic of life is different which produces different morals of the people.  Many of my dear friends and associates are Greek which is why I constantly question my reasoning and my morals pertaining to a decision of such great magnitude. I challenge all Black Greeks to step it up a level and make a true impact on your college campuses.  How are you making your founders proud? And I challenge those who are considering the Greek life to examine yourself and put your morals at the forefront of your decision. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

I have more, but I want to hear from you. Go and comment;
Peace be upon you,
Blake E. Odum