You Got Served, Sucka!!!... On The Yard!

Great Acting from the trailer of Sony Picture's "Stomp The Yard":

Main Character Guy: "What the Hell are they doing?"

Ne-Yo *with disgust and disbelief*: "THEY'RE STOMPING THE YARD!!! Where are YOU from?"

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I actually attempted to see Stomp The Yard with frat on the day that it came out. We got there 20 minutes before showtime thinking that we were early, but it had already sold out. But as I looked around, I realized that we were the only people over 20... Hell, we were the only people over 15! All I could hear was chatter about how "Chris Brown is so fine," and "I wonder if Ne-Yo is gonna sing in it!"

I suddenly started feeling old, and this reaffirmed my belief that I would probably think that the movie was wack. I still haven't seen it, and I still think it's going to be corny, but I STILL want to see it, if only out of curiosity.

My concern is that, since I'm an Alpha, I think that I am going to take offense to their portrayal of Greek life. Looking at the previews, I see more Crump Dancing than I do actual stepping. And on TOP of that, it seems like they're going to over-sensationalize the "dancing" and take away from the true meaning of what fraternaties and sororities are all about. Please note that I realize that stepping and throwing parties is what some chapters are all about (in all orgs), but will supporting this movie perpetuate stereotypes?

Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha both released statements denouncing the film prior to its release, even though the movie was made by Alphas from FAMU. They argued that it made Greeks look like gangs, but I've argued with people who've compared black greek organizations to educated collegiate gangs WELL before this movie was conceived. They argue that there are strong parallels to street gangs complete with exclusiveness, feared initiation practices, heated rivalries between orgs, signs, secret hand shakes and calls (everything outside of murder).

Is there validity to those assumptions? Obviously I feel there is a HUGE difference and argued my case with all I could muster, but maybe those viewing this movie won't be able to make that distinction.

I know that it's just a movie and shouldn't be that serious, but for some people, this is the only portrayal of fraternities and sororities that they will ever see. I just don't want folks to walk away thinking that our traditions are a joke and that our usefulness is non-existent.

Am I overthinking this? Please don't feel that you have to be Greek to respond.

Ignorance: Here's the main character caught dipping in Britney Spears' Cookie Jar when he was one of her dancers. Apparently his pregnant wife divorced him after she found out they were messing around. Doesn't this cat look like T. Smith?