Tigger,
You make a good point that culture can be a problem. I'm not saying I disagree, but for the sake of argument, this is the other side. This is the Great Melting Pot, many of us are from the same culture today, whether you are black, white, hipanic, or another race. Historically, our cultures might be different, but today they are the same. We attend the same schools, churches, restraunts, activities, stores, etc. That is where most cultural differences lie. Education, lifestyle, religion. Those are the three biggies. I just wanted to throw that side in, not that I believe it 100%, but like I said, for the sake of argument. . .
I do see what you are saying though, that history has come full circle within your sorority. The practices and traditions of many sororities/fraternities are about 100 years old, this can cause quite a stir, especially for traditionally white sororities who initiate black members. I would bet that the founders of traditionally white sororities/fraternities were racist. They probably had no intentions of every initiating a black member, but then again, they probably never even considered that black people would have rights either. A lot has happened in the last 100 years and today we are working to learn, gain, and used those changes to further our ideals and our society.
If the members of your sorority have a hard time with those traditions and with how the sorority should be run, why are they members? I'm not trying to be mean, but why wouldn't you want to join a sorority that has the ideals, traditions, aims, and so forth that you are in tune with? I know why. Those member felt a draw towards the sorority. They felt that they could relate to something or someone. They loved what the sorority stands for. Those are all important things. You should draw from that energy and that love to create the bonds that you desire. The rest of the stuff, the no so desirable stuff, can be left for meetings. It has to be discussed sometime, so discuss it like adults in a meeting and don't let it ruin the friendships and bonds that you have outside of the business part of the sorority. That's just my little tid bit. I hope that this helps.
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Mikki Gates
Delta Zeta Alum
Kappa Mu Chapter
Sigma Alpha Iota Alum
Eta Tau Chapter
"I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."
--Julia Roberts
(Steel Magnolias)
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