An upcoming film produced by North Carolina Central student, Cameron Elyse is drawing is facing backlash online from HBCU students and alumni. The film Legacy, set to be released soon, showcases the pride and joy of Black Greek-lettered organizations. However, it's facing backlash for being filmed on UNC-Chapel Hill's campus instead of the campus of an HBCU.

UNC's student newspaper The Daily Tar Heel did a feature on the project entitled “Film project explores pride and joy of historically Black Greek organizations”. The article covers the promotional images that Elyse posted to her Instagram in late February. In comments to The Daily Tar Heel, she says Legacy aims to “expose people to the service, tradition, and history of the National Pan-Hellenic Council”.

“These different organizations were really created to be able to have a community for Black Americans within the collegiate spaces, especially for the advancement of Black Americans. So the common themes of each of these different Divine Nine organizations are being able to talk about community, service, scholarship, sisterhood, and brotherhood and being able to have that unity within this space.”

In the article, Elyse says that the film is currently in development and will depict our different generations of National Pan-Hellenic Council members. She looks to, “create a connection across generations of Black Americans, finding a common ground among different perspectives. The article also highlights the varying cultures of Greek life across different campuses such as UNC-Chapel Hill and her HBCU North Carolina Central.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by CAMERON ELYSE (@cameronnelyse)

Per the article, Elyse isn't a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization but her family members state are a part of Divine Nine organizations inspired her to create the film and use an outsider's perspective.

“I think a lot of times, we see the outside of what these organizations represent; however, through this project, I want to be able to show that it’s more than simply wearing letters and it’s more than simply stepping, strolling, whatever the case may be, but being able to show the totality of these organizations in a positive light.”

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Former RocNation Music president Benny Pough is joining North Carolina Central as the Executive-in-Residence.

Randall Barnes ·

Johnson O. Akinleye, the 12th chancellor of North Carolina Central University, recently announced his retirement at the end of the year

Wynton Jackson ·

Duke University recently received a $100 million gift from The Duke Endowment and a portion of the funds will help HBCU grad students.

Randall Barnes ·

The backlash to the film from HBCU supporters

The Daily Tar Heel's post promoting the article from March 20th faced backlash from Black Greek Letter Organizations and HBCU advocates for not featuring an HBCU. North Carolina is home to the second-highest number of HBCUs in the US with 10. Supporters of HBCUs propose that the film could have been enriched by spotlighting HBCU Divine Nine organization chapters, especially given their origins at Howard University and Morgan State University where Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated was founded.

Renowned journalist Roland Martin, who is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, posted, “Well this is BS. Why in the hell not at an actual HBCU?!”

 

Renowned HBCU social media commenter and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated @TendentiousG posted, “Apparently, the producer/creator is from NCCU. The article specifically mentioned NCCU, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, and UNC-Greensboro. In the same cities/area is NCCU, Shaw, SAU, NCAT, and Bennett. Hopefully they are included.”

 

Other Twitter/X users also chimed in.

 

“NC A&T, NCCU, ECSU, Shaw U, St. Aug, Livingstone, WSSU, Fayetteville State University, Bennett College, Claflin University, JCSU, and then you chose Chapel Hill for Black Greek Letter Orgs. Copy,” posted @joebeKoolin.

 

“Mind you, the largest HBCU is an hour up the highway.” said @desdollas.

 

“Sooooooo, ignore all the HBCUs in the same state. Take a film honoring the D9 in North Carolina and make it on a PWI campus. Nevermind that most Black Greek Organizations were founded at HBCUs. That sounds sensible,” said @srburris.

 

@CallMeThePilot posted, “With St Aug, NCCU, & Shaw literally within shouting distance I would have elected to choose one of those institutions as they better represent what’s being presenting here but hey what do I know?”

 

“HEAR ME OUT: NCCU—a HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY. with black greek letter organizations. is DOWN THE STREET. LITERALLY. i am confusion,” said @itsdee_eh_druh.

 

Legacy is in development and is scheduled to be released soon.