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The Rainbow in Black: Recognition of Queerness in the Divine Nine.

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Title: The Rainbow in Black: Recognition of Queerness in the Divine Nine.
Authors: Darbonne, August1 ADarbonne@DallasCollege.edu, Cross, Carolyn2 carolyn.cross@hccs.edu
Source: Taboo: The Journal of Culture & Education. Winter2026, Vol. 24 Issue 1, p213-230. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Greek letter societies, *Activism, Intersectionality, LGBTQ+ identity, Queer theory, Homophobia, Cultural activism, Pride Month
Abstract: This article interrogates the complex and often contradictory relationship between Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and Black Queer identity. Drawing on intersectionality and Black Queer Studies, the analysis situates contemporary debates within a broader historical lineage of anti-queerness in African American communities, tracing how racial uplift ideologies, respectability politics, and exclusionary gender norms shaped the Divine Nine. Through historical synthesis, archival scholarship, and digital content analysis of BGLO websites and national Instagram accounts, the study reveals persistent patterns of Queer erasure: organizations simultaneously rely on the cultural labor of Black Queer members while publicly minimizing their identities and inconsistently recognizing Pride Month. These tensions illuminate how BGLOs serve as microcosms of larger negotiations around Blackness, gender, sexuality, and belonging. The article concludes by calling for fuller acknowledgment of Black Queer contributions and for institutional commitments that move beyond symbolic inclusion toward genuine intersectional advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Taboo: The Journal of Culture & Education is the property of Caddo Gap Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: The Rainbow in Black: Recognition of Queerness in the Divine Nine.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Darbonne%2C+August%22">Darbonne, August</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> ADarbonne@DallasCollege.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cross%2C+Carolyn%22">Cross, Carolyn</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> carolyn.cross@hccs.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Taboo%3A+The+Journal+of+Culture+%26+Education%22">Taboo: The Journal of Culture & Education</searchLink>. Winter2026, Vol. 24 Issue 1, p213-230. 18p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Greek+letter+societies%22">Greek letter societies</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Activism%22">Activism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intersectionality%22">Intersectionality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22LGBTQ%2B+identity%22">LGBTQ+ identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Queer+theory%22">Queer theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Homophobia%22">Homophobia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+activism%22">Cultural activism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pride+Month%22">Pride Month</searchLink>
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  Data: This article interrogates the complex and often contradictory relationship between Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and Black Queer identity. Drawing on intersectionality and Black Queer Studies, the analysis situates contemporary debates within a broader historical lineage of anti-queerness in African American communities, tracing how racial uplift ideologies, respectability politics, and exclusionary gender norms shaped the Divine Nine. Through historical synthesis, archival scholarship, and digital content analysis of BGLO websites and national Instagram accounts, the study reveals persistent patterns of Queer erasure: organizations simultaneously rely on the cultural labor of Black Queer members while publicly minimizing their identities and inconsistently recognizing Pride Month. These tensions illuminate how BGLOs serve as microcosms of larger negotiations around Blackness, gender, sexuality, and belonging. The article concludes by calling for fuller acknowledgment of Black Queer contributions and for institutional commitments that move beyond symbolic inclusion toward genuine intersectional advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Taboo: The Journal of Culture & Education is the property of Caddo Gap Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – SubjectFull: Activism
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      – SubjectFull: Intersectionality
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              Text: Winter2026
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