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Originally posted by DeltaBro1:
Yes, they do share certain elements, but overall, the design is sufficiently different to pass copyright. We have not infringed on your trademark, as AKA_Monet states.
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Mr. Charles,
First off, what I was saying was Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has two trademarked symbols. How can I trust you that you won't take those symbols, too since you have taken the other ones--no matter how you doctor it up for change?
If you have spoken to my Soror Norma S. White, and my Executive Director, Soror Betty James and felt they have been gracious toward your organization and knowing the history of the past imitations, I cannot speak for them. But my Soror Norma White speaks for my Sorority--it says so in my constitution and bylaws. And I as of yet have ever heard about your situation in any one of my clusters, regionals or international meetings. You should appeal to my Soror Norma S. White to make a presentation to my Sorors at my next International Meeting which will be in 2002. Then as a body, we will let the sorors decide the actions we should take regarding this issue.
My concern is that some caucasians confuse the diverse nature of our African American organizations as a whole. The government, who I think is seriously bigoted against gays and lesbians--even in Congress--has specific mandates for 501c3 foundations to remain a not-for-profit entity. It is the government and for that matter the media that I have concerns. They are going after Jesse Jackson's charity organizations very harshly based on his allocation of contributed funds. African American organizations have severe limitations on financial resource availibility and capital, if these bigoted forces can take down Jesse's Rainbow Coalition, they can damn sure take Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. down with one stroke... And you know they cannot tell the difference between us negroes... (I'm using that language for effect...)
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Now, while certain traditions cherished by Delta cannot and will not change, such as the founding date, the ivy, the pearl, the motto and the shield, I assure you that there WILL be a revision to our stated purpose. I must tell you that I personally have never felt comfortable with it and will use this opportunity to mandate a change. I realize that this is a small compensation you most of you, but surely you understand the impossibility of changing our traditions simply because another organization has a problem with them. Such a change would affect the hundreds of men who have pledged lifetime loyalty to this fraternity and would only serve to invalidate that pledge.
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But you said your foundations were rooted in mimicry? Am I incorrect? You still are using us as a resource, to what end? Some of my sorors could see this as stealing. Some of my sorors don't care. Either way, what did your members pledge a lifetime for? Moreover, your traditions do look like they have been based on some of ours and as for me, I can admit that hurts. Because, I felt I pledge my heart out for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I've been a financially active and participating soror for over 10 years and I feel that what was once so hard for me to reach which I now possess is being invalidated by an organization to which I have some reservations. I take it as an invalidation of my commitment to my Sorority. I understand that some of my sorors do not feel the way I do. But, it's a free country.
No, it is not right for us to demand you all to change. At the same time it would be incorrect of you to assume we have no reservations about both our organizations similarities... Some folk are incapable of being open enough to understand why.
However, I consider myself as a compassionate conservative. Yes, I said it. I can admit it. I realize your pains. There are teenage gay men and women who are commiting suicide because of lack of resources availible to them to strengthen their pursuit of their sexuality. And there are heterosexual teenagers that commit suicide too. I feel you are asking us to put the cart before the horse. How can I say you have a speck in your eye when I got a board in mine? So, I feel the need to help out ALL children regardless of their sexual orientation if they have a problem with their self-esteem.
All of us cannot have it all. Be it Princesses, Queens or Goddesses...
However, there is one common thread among us and that is humanity... I don't know what else I can say but I am sorry this is the way I truly feel.