Women of Color in NPCs?
 

FIRST and FOREMOST:
This is NOT a flame war and it will be a travesty if it turns into one!

I am considering pursuing Alumnae Initiation and have been reading this wonderful board to read about other AI experiences.

I am wondering about the women of color on this board, black women in particular, who are in NPCs.

Of course I welcome ALL races of men and women on this thread because I would love to hear the point of views! Anywho...
What are/were your experiences?

Looking forward to your responses!

Thanks in advance! :D

Hi Jill,

First, let me say that I'm absolutely thrilled that you're considering alumnae initiation! As a recent alum initiate, I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

My experiences in Alpha Phi have been good ones. I've been made to feel welcome whenever I'm around other Phis - my race has never been an issue. As a matter fact when I went to the Regional Conference back in February, the first Alpha Phi I talked to (other than the women I traveled with) was an African American woman.

Since then, I've had the pleasure of meeting Alpha Phis of all races, creeds, colors, and national origins. No one's ever said a mumbling word to me. :)

I wish I could say that my experiences as an undergraduate were as positive, but they weren't. Still, I managed to find a home where I truly fit in -- and I hope you'll soon find a place for you in the NPC!

Best of luck to you in your AI search!

Hi Jill!

Welcome to GC and potential NPC sisterhood. Be sure to read all the Alumnae Initiation threads. While chapter makeup varies from chapter to chapter, state to state, every NPC group has initiated non-white members. I am Hispanic and was initated in a very diverse chapter on a diverse campus. Don't be discouraged by any negativity that may be brought on by people on this board (it is a public board!)
Good luck with your process!:D

Re: Women of Color in NPCs?
 

Hi Jill,
Here is a thread about African American DGs (mainly about women who joined as collegians, but I thought it might interest you just the same)

I can understand your concerns, given that certain "pockets" of North America are a tad less progressive in the "race relations department" than others. I also wanted to mention that Vancouver BC is my hometown and I have never known nearby Blaine, WA (where you are) to be a "hotbed" of racism. I think you should be fine! :)

Good Luck finding your new home! :D

Re: Re: Women of Color in NPCs?
 

As a fellow Washingtonian, I'd have to agree (though we probably aren't the most diverse area of the country relative to others).....

Good Luck!

HI Jill,

Could luck in your quest for Alumni Initiation. As others have said I think it depends on what region of the country you're in. At my chapter we are extremely diverse and yet if you go to some of the chapters back east they may not have as much diversity if at all.

However for Phi Sigma Sigma's we practice what our founders believed in - Inclusiveness and welcoming the diversity of women. When our sorority was founded in NYC religion and socioeconomic standing was the "racism" of the time and the 10 founders were friends who wanted to join the same sorority but couldn't because they weren't all the same religion (you had a mix of catholic, protestant, and jewish) and socio-economic backgroud, so they decided to create their own sorority that is open membership to all women of character regardless of background.

The best thing to do is to probably visit various organizations websites to see if their principles are close to what you believe and then contact their headquarters to see where to go from there.

Good luck in AI
Carolyn

Good luck Jill1228! I hope that you find what you are looking for through A.I. :D

Jill1228-- Best of luck with your exploration of AI with an NPC group. As someone who had many diverse women in her chapter, I can tell you that it may be a tough idea for some to swallow, but it's well worth it!! :)

Not to offend anyone...
 

I will have to agree with the other posts....the chapters (GLOs) I'm pursuing at one of the local colleges are very diverse. It does vary by state, region & campus chapter.

From what I can tell overall, the "race-relations department" at the GLOs near by has change for the better since I went through formal rush back in 1989; I think that is partly b/c more and more minority women are going to college these days. etc.).:D :)

Umm... Not to make a big deal, but don't you mean Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish?

She probably does mean that.

Thanks for the wonderful response ladies (and any gents out there)

Keep them coming! I am taking it all in!

Smartblonde-there is not much diversity in Washington State anyway! :) (well unless you are near a military base)

I am originally an East Coaster

I'm living proof of this
I'm black
I've been in Phi Sig for 2 yrs.
It's definitely been an experience

And on our campus, Sigma Kappa and Alpha Phi have minorities
And you can ask them, we wouldn't trade it for the world

Jill,

As a proud memeber of Sigma Kappa for 3 years I can honestly say that it has been the best experience of my life. Being an African American I know how hard it can be with all the thoughts that may run through your head. But if you are honest with yourself you will make the best decision for you. I hope that you find what you are looking for and if you need any help PM me.

One heart, One way

sorry about that. that is exactly what I meant. I've edited the post to correct my mistake

Phi Sig, we all know what you meant! :) It's all good! :D

Thank you for the responses so far! Wish I woulda found this site a LONG time ago! :D

Jill,
Do you have an idea of which groups are of interest to you or which ones "speak" to you? Do you know whether some NPCs have alumnae chapters in Blaine?

Also, since you are in Blaine, WA, I am thinking that your nearest Greek campus would be either UBC in Vancouver or UW in Seattle, WA. [I don't believe that WWU in Bellingham has a Greek system (correct me if I am wrong!) :D ]

I am an African American
I am an Alpha Gamma Delta alumna (AGD, Alpha Gam etc.) also ;)
I can honestly say that being an AGD is one of the best things in my life.
Never felt like a "token" girl point blank period.
I believe the my chapter has been one of the most diverse on campus since its chartering.

The important thing is to go where you feel at home/comfortable. Please keep us updated :)

WWU doesn't have fraternities or sororities. I know of one alumnae group in Vancouver that would love to meet her! :D

I'd have to say I know one too! But I believe our Bellingham/Blaine alumnae are few and far between. With the time at the border crossing, it might be a toss up between UW and UBC.

One of my favorite Greek stories is about one of my sisters:

Her grandma is a Delta Sigma Theta
Her mama was a Tri-Delt in college and initiated into Delta Sigma Theta after college.
She is a Pi Beta Phi
Her dad is an Alpha Phi Alpha
Her sister just pledged Delta Sigma Theta

At my school there has never been any issue with African-American members of sororities. :)

Oh REALLY?
Is that so?

There are no alumnae groups in Blaine. The closest Beta Sigma Phi chapter that I am in is based out of Bellingham (I also work in Bellingham).

WWU does NOT have a Greek System. The closest school with a Greek System is U Dub (University of Washington).

We are moving up to BC in August (husband is Canadian, originally from Quebec, and works in Richmond, BC)

Thanks for the wonderful replies and awesome support.

Right now I am studying the groups and one of my best study guides is GC.

Gotta go and workout (got a FIRM video tape waiting for me) and then back to studying :D

Thanks again and keep the replies coming! :)

I think UBC (while being in a different country) is actually closer to Blaine than Seattle is.

UBC is 30 minutes from Blaine. Seattle is 2 hours..

But we will be moving to BC in August...either Surrey or Delta

Well good luck with your move, and good luck with your search for a group!

Thanks Astro!
Since Western Washington does not have a Greek system UBC has been and is the closest


Astro, love your website!

Starbucks anyone?
 

Cool...if I am in Vancouver over the summer (highly likely), you, Sistermadly and I should meet up for coffee (or something "stronger" ;) ...LOL )

Re: Starbucks anyone?
 

Hands off! I saw her first! :D

But seriously - let's! I decided to drop my term 2 summer class (YAY!) so now I'll have lots more free time this summer.

I could drive up if it's on a weekend............:)

I live just north of Seattle.

Par-tay over here! :D http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies...tz/wiggle2.gif

Coffee, tea or something stronger...it's ALL good! http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/otn/party/beerchug.gif
SmartBlonde, I used to live in Everett. (Was in the Northern VA area before moving to Washington)

I live in Edmonds........

My personal take:
 

There are going to be prejudiced people everywhere, sororities included. When at my national convention, my chapter's president (who is Bengali) and I encountered some prejudice from the president of a southern alumnae association. We also met hundreds of wonderful women who were proud to call us sisters. They are the majority, and the others are the exception.

Good luck in pursuing AI. Keep us posted!

I think your experiences joining as an alum would involve fewer experiences with racial overtones than if you were joining as a collegian.

I personally never had any incidents stemming from my ethnic background, but my chapter is extremely diverse, at a liberal school in a fairly progressive area of the country--so I guess I am biased. Almost all of the national fraternities and sororities are currently or have been integrated. I never felt like I was a token, but I've never talked to another woman in another area of the country about her experience, so I can't say that it's impossible. Joining my house was one of the better decisions I made in college, but I am one of those people who could make herself happy anywhere.

I really hope you find a chapter that is right for you. Feel free to PM me anytime! :)

I joined A Phi as an undergrad and was one of only a handful of women of color in the group(also at the school, but that's another story).

My race was NEVER an issue. At least not one that I was aware of.
We were sisters because we had similar goals and likes.

It all depends on the school I suppose.

If they don't like you because of your color, they won't let you in. In which case, screw em, you didn't need them anyway.

However if this happens remember it is a reflection of THAT particular group and not NPCs nationwide.

I'm at a school where there's plenty of diversity but not in the sororities. Maybe because we have a lot of traditionally black sororities on campus as well, and that might split up the numbers of potential NPC black rushees. (Meaning, maybe a proportionate number of minority women join sororities here, but if half go NPC and the other go to the traditionally black sororities, it looks like only half as many join sororities, period. Here the traditionally black sororities and fraternities don't mix much with the NPC and IFC groups except during all-Greek events.)

Anyway. We had, for years, the "brown sugar club" in my chapter. A group of girls who were varying degrees of brown (including a Korean girl and an Indian girl -- membership criteria seemed to depend on interest!) and those girls REVELED in both their differences and their similarities. Just like the sorority as a whole did. More than anything they were just a group of Phi Mu friends who loved hanging out together and probably needed a handle to call themselves, instead of Anna/Megan/Kristen/Keisha/Ellen/Martie/Jenna/Deandra......

How did her mom become a Delta after being a Tri-Delt?

DST is a NPHC organization. Tri-Delta is a NPC organization.

Yes, they are sororities of different councils and conferences, but if I may quote DST member 12dn94dst: "as far as Delta is concerned, one is not allowed to hold membership in Delta and an NPC group."

I have been on this board for a long time and read enough threads to know that NPHC sororities seem to frown upon being a member of an additional social non-NPHC sorority, perhaps more so than an NPC would frown upon a member joining a 2nd non-NPC sorority. I don't know how that person managed to become both a Tri Delta and a DST without being "detected" but I guess she has managed to accomplish this..........for now (the world is a SMALL SMALL PLACE).
joining more than one sorority
dual membership

I really would not want for Jill's thread to get off track, so I have posted some threads (above) for this side-topic and those who want to discuss that topic can head over there. Thanks! :)

It's all good! :)
Well I have officially started my AI quest.

Kappa Kitty-Re: there will be prejudiced people wherever you go...

Ain't that the truth!

The Pac NW hasn't been too bad. Being in an interracial marriage, I watch out for crap like that

And it has been VERY few and Far between

Well...
 

...Jill, I for one cannot wait to hear about your quest...what contacts have you made thus far? It'd be great for you to meet SmartBlonde -- she can give you the scoop about our beloved Gamma Phi Beta...just as CutiePie (one of my fave GCer's in the world!) can give you the scoop about DG and Sistermadly can tell you all about Alpha Phi...I realize you may not want to let the cat out of the bag just yet but maybe you could share who you have contacted so far -- there may be GCer's who could help!

Good Luck! I think the AI program is awesome -- right Cluey and Houstonchica???;)