New Netflix Film Takes On HBCU Fraternity Pledging

For those who attend(ed) a historically black college and university, the spring is known as the time for mid-term exams and Greek probate ceremonies.

After months of pledging, new members of The Divine Nine let the world know that they’ve successfully completed the process.

But the journey to get there has historically been controversial.

In a new Netflix film titled Burning Sands, co-writer and director Gerard McMurray, who’s a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., hopes to shed light on HBCUs, Greek organizations and hazing. 

“I wanted to tell a story set at a black college,” McMurray told Variety. “I went to an HBCU and I wanted to show the culture of fraternities and sororities. I thought it would be a great time to explore that world and that subject matter… and what it was like to pledge a Black fraternity.

The film stars Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight), and newcomer, Trevor Jackson.

As expected, #BlackTwitter has been chatty about the film that essentially exposes a culture that’s frowned upon publicly, but nonetheless exists.

Burning Sands debuts on Netflix, March 10.