As an African-American in an NPC sorority, I don't feel as if I'm ostracized from the black community at my college. I guess it depends on what sort of school you went to...I know at mine (Ivy League "progressive"), most of the blacks came from backgrounds similar to mine--we were raised in upper-middle-class predominately white areas, but had parents who instilled in us a certain pride in our heritage. There are people who didn't receive the latter, and they're pretty messed up now. I think it's the security in my heritage that I had growing up that made me feel less self-conscious in joining an NPC group. I rushed because I liked what I saw the sisters doing at my campus and in Providence, whereas I didn't see the NPHC groups doing all that much. Plus, I really hit it off with the chapter last year (FYI, we have about a 50-50 white/minority population in my chapter) and I felt comfortable there. Maybe I would feel even more comfortable as an AKA or DST, but that is neither here nor there. I don't feel as if I'm shirking my racial heritage--I'm involved with other activities on campus that are primarily African-American in nature--just not a Greek letter organization.
For the person who said that if a chapter of an NPC group isn't predominately white, it isn't really a "WGLO". Yes it is. People are still going to associate your group as an "WGLO", because of its name, where it's located, or what groups you socialize with on a regular basis--not to mention the national affiliation.
I would get into this more, but I have this stupid model (due Monday) that I have yet to do past the foundation. Grrrr....
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