Quote:
Originally Posted by Sororitysock
The whole defense of "we can't give them bids because they don't go through our recruitment" is bull excrement. Let's look at the most egregious offenders in modern times, Alabama. In all the 110 years prior to 2014, only one black woman was given a bid to an NPC sorority, and that sorority was degraded and ostracized for it all the way up to the time the sororities were forced to desegregate. When asked why there were no women of color in their chapters, the go-to response was the tired "we can't bid them because they don't rush."
But what happened after they received national attention? The university extended recruitment and quota. Then 21 black women were extended bids. That to me says it all. There were many black women have wanted to join NPC chapters there but knew they had no chance. Now black women in recruitment and sororities are a regular occurrence.
I cobbled together the approximate number of black undergrads there who could potentially become one of our sisters.
Total undergraduate students 33028
Total males 44%
Total females 56%
Total black enrollment 10.4%
10.4 x 33,028 = 3435 total black students
3435 x .56 = 1935 estimated Black females
That 1935 total also includes women who want to go NPHC, those without financial means, those who adamantly want to remain independent for any reason. We should be approaching, supporting and encouraging the women who want to join our sororities.
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This is exactly the same point I made in another thread. The numbers will absolutely go up as people realize that can have a positive experience in the NPC. It’s simple causation. And despite that, there are still growing amounts of diverse populations that want to find their home. I’ve seen schools with super diverse biddays.
In my previous posts, I never picked on southern schools specifically. Alabama is obvious because it was well documented and clearly systematic. There are plenty of situations and incidents at schools all over the country (including my alma mater in the Midwest) that have and would deter diverse young people from finding a home in the NPC.
• The “Blackest Chi O Award” given to an active during a ceremony, because she dated a Black student. There were no Black members in the chapter and barely any in the NPC at the time. (At my alma mater)
• “There will never be a ‘blank’ in SAE.” As young men and sorority women sat and laughed on the bus.
• Catching multiple actives across the country in Blackface on Snapchat in the past couple of years.
• Costume parties where the theme is mocking racial/ethnic groups and their cultures.
• The frat guy that sat in front of his house with some actives on Halloween asking Black students (including me and my friends) if we had Ebola. The girls just sat there and looked at us. What if I was a PNM or an active in another chapter?
These experiences (some personal) were very real and hurtful. It’s deeper than simply saying, “WOC don’t want to join,” or “Black girls would rather be in the NPHC.” I’ve said this multiple times, we are not a monolith. There are plenty of women who want the Panhellenic experience and that is something that the NPHC will not offer them. Just like the first Soror that contacted me on social media after I was initiated is White. She chose Delta, because that was the sorority experience she wanted.
There’s thousands of things that the NPC does yearly that are positive and exemplary. There are chapters full of women who would never purposely harm or offend anyone and that’s great if that’s people’s personal experiences. But the discrimination is real and it exists, rather it’s Alabama in the past decade or a micro aggression from a specific chapter member that will hurt a WOC active. The trash stuff is not every chapter, not every school and it’s not every girl. But...one girl or chapter can bring awful attention to an organization. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that in some ways, things can be improved!
I agree that no one is perfect. I just wish that when people post the “I see you. I hear you,” posts that they actually mean it and are really listening to us. There’s been plenty of statements I’ve made in here that appear to go ignored. Some of the Women of Color from the University of Georgia NPC made a video talking about their experiences. Check it out:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDC0BEz...d=dbi1pc8c217x