Hey all,
Just to put my 4 cents in this. I see where you guys are coming from w/ this. I think it's bad that people refer to greek orgs as either white, black, latino/a, etc, etc. I myself do this from time to time but I do try to use the term NPC, IFC or what have you.
However, to equeen, your comment about
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I find the characterizations like this interesting, and usually spoken out of ignorance, rather than racism. So I try not to be offended.
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Well granted some people may be using those terms out of ignorance (no doubt about that). I think we've all probably witnessed those who use it in that way on this forum! BUT, I don't think that everyone refers to GLOs by race b/c they are ignorant. The reason that I sometimes refer to them as such is mainly due to the principles which they were founded upon. For instance, w/ NPHC orgs, they were founded upon the principles/goals of uplifting and educating the African-American community. So that is why I differentiate them by calling them a BGLO b/c that's part of the reason they were founded. You can even read that in their history books and websites, etc. I can also say this is true for Asian and Latino/a sororities and fraternities. Just read their history and most, not all, will say that they were founded to help that specific ethnicity's community. I think that's why some people tend to refer to orgs as either black, white, etc, etc. For me, my org is multicultural and I have no problem when people use that to refer to us b/c that's what our history, purpose and creed all includes. Our founders were from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and in our history it says that we were founded to promote multiculturalism and multicult. education, etc, etc around the communities where we are established.
But I agree w/ you all that we all should try to shy away from distinguishing sororities and fraternities by race, but sometimes, I think it's needed in order for people to truly understand what these orgs were founded upon and the goals and ideals that they are trying to promote/foster among others. Nowadays, so many orgs are saying they are multicultural b/c they may have a mixture of people in it. And that's totally cool. BUT, with my sorority, I want people who want to join to understand that we are not saying we are multicultural cuz we
LOOK it, but b/c, we
stand for that and promote that on our campus and community. Does this make sense? So basically, there can be 2 sides to this differentiation.
[This message has been edited by ZChi4Life (edited August 11, 2000).]