@southernelle25
I hear your points and they are excellent ones. That said, we as Greeks need to do a better job of "Checking ourselves" and our behavior.
A very dear friend of mine (Who is an AKA Silver Star) told me recently ...
"Alpha Kappa Alpha is not about social status or personal glorification. Alpha Kappa Alpha is an opportunity to serve"
That was one of the best comments about Greekdom that I've ever heard! Unfortunately, all Greeks (including many AKA's) do NOT comport themselves that way.
What I say next means no disrespect to AKA. Seasoned Greekchatters know that;
* My Mother is an AKA (For those who don't see this post:
My Mom, The Neophyte)
* One of my Dearest cousins is an AKA (For those that don't, see this post:
An Appropriate gift for a Neophyte
* I have designed websites for AKA (Click here to see one:
Theta Rho Omega Chapter )
* My Significant other (and potential fiancee) is an AKA!
My love and respect for Alpha Kappa Alpha is well known and documented and I don't mean to single AKA out.
With that said, I have been Greek for over 25 years. I have been an Iota since BEFORE we were members of the NPHC and have experienced the best and worst of what NPHC Greeks have to offer. Based on that experience, I have no problem saying the following:
Many of our fellow Greeks walk around with an attitude of "Better than thou/Prettier than thou/Haughtier than thou." What type of image does that send to potential members?
"Pretty and Saditty" C'mon, now? When did saditty become something to be proud of?
We all know of campus situations where young women were rejected for things like ...
* "She/He actually wore pink (or Red or Blue) on campus one day. Humpf - she must think she's already a Soror."
* "I heard that she was making eyes at my ex-boyfriend"
* "She/He had nerve enough to drive a green (or Red or Blue) car."
* "She hasn't gotten to know any of the Sorors/She never comes to any of the events"
and/or the converse:
* "He is always kissing the Brothers' behinds/He is so pressed that she shows up to every event -- she must think he's a Brother already."
And my all-time favorite:
* "If you want to be a member, do your research."
and the converse
* "He/she asked inappropriate questions."
See my point? We sometimes walk around like we are God's gift to the world -- just because we joined an organization. And the killer is, while many of us do good work, many of the benefits we enjoy as members of our organizataions is
due to the work of people that came way before us. We are literally standing on the shoulders of giants.
Attitudinally, we really need to check ourselves sometimes.
As always, I invite all replies and rebuttals.