[preciousjeni]

Before 1930 (and actually much later than that) the time wasn't ripe for the multicultural organizations to develop. Our culture first had to grasp the concept of cultural organizations (for better or worse), those to which multicultural GLOs owe a tremendous debt of gratitude.

The first 'minority multicultural sorority' wasn't founded until the 1980s and inclusive multicultural sororities (founders were not majority Latina or Asian and the organizations are very open to non-'minority' members) were founded in the 1990s.

In Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., I saw the beginnings of a social movement - something different from "diversity" and "melting pots" - a place where people are situated in such a way that they can't avoid each other and they have to come to terms with their own perceptions of the world and the consequences that follow.

I suppose it sounds more idealistic than what generally occurs in reality, but my organization still provides something that I don't see very often and that is a place to openly learn, ask questions, realize how much bigger the world is than the self and have an opportunity to make a positive change in someone's life in the face of the oppression that still occurs in the U.S.

I wasn't joining a sorority for the social aspect although the networking is certainly a plus. I made the decision that if I were going to put my blood, sweat and tears into anything, it had to be progressive, inclusive, socially aware and willing to stand against the norm. For this reason, I personally take cues from and deeply respect NPHC sororities. I see that they are doing similar things in their contexts. I would like to see my organization grow to the level of influence that these organizations have though I realize getting there will be a drastically different process.