Sorry to bring this back up after we're all ready for the benediction
but I will be brief here miss priss and just say that we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't agree that the D9 is elitist, although depending on one's definition of elitist, almost any group can be deemed elitist. Further, I'm kind of offended at the idea that the hard work that we do is seen as only to gain media attention, especially when *most* of what we do is not even publicized. You gave credit for the impact that the D9 has made in the community and I think that it is well deserved. I embedded a few other comments below.
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Originally posted by miss priss
<<Because this is a tri-part question, I'll address them separately....
1.) and 2.) In fairness the D-9, gives heavily to the community and, in some cases, work actively in them; however, unfortunately, (this has been discussed before somewhere) the D-9 is regarded as a bourgeois group of people who attack needs when deemed for media purposes...just because it sounds/looks good.....now we all know that's not true for all the D-9. >>
As I mentioned, this is just not the case and as mentioned, in fact, most of our work goes unpublished.
<<But some people feel that they are not taking a more active role in the political infrastructure of (Black) America, not making full commitments to community charity not just giving to them like they did in the sixties/seventies, and the persistent crutch of approaching the new millennial problems with the old millennial ways. >>
My sorority is registering thousands to vote all across the country, sorors are everywhere holding elected offices, chapters are nationwide hosting non-partisan candidate forums, how is this not taking an active role in the political infrastructure? Concerning not making "full commitments to community charity," ths is an easy thing to say but what does it really mean? We serve the community. Who is to say whether the commitment is a "full" commitment I don't know; however, I do know that we did a million hours of community service last year and not an insignificant amount was with community charities so that's really a hollow claim. Concerning approaching new millenial problems in old millenial ways, our Partnership in Math and Science to address the new wave emphasis on math and science is an example of our *we* are in touch with the new 21st century needs of the community so this old millenial claim is just not valid.
<<These are only a few that I hear....For me ideally, I would love to see a communal interaction occur with people in the D-9....like they do with Habitat for Humanity.....In my community, for instance, most of the Black/Latino community has trash and dilapidated homes everywhere...who's going to take the first step in seeing that these things are done? I personally take part in yearly clean-up...but we have a (Greek) mayor who has the power to say Hey let's get to work...and although he has made some initiative...the work must be continuous not just one weekend...and this is what poor Black folks see....it may not be true but that's what they say they see. The premise is that the D-9 only dedicates a weekend to (that) communities needs, but only a premise, and unjustifiably so!>>
We have joint alliances all the time.
<<2.) We need to empower our people with understanding the true definition of wealth, making a impact on how we address health; also, creating jobs for the jobless, issues like gay marriage and its impact on the Afro-American community, addressing the social ills of welfare, black on black crime, warfare involving the Tutsis in Rowanda, take back our urban schools by insisting that we have quality schools in neighborhoods and the presence of (professional) role models for our young Black men and women to name a few…>>
As I mentioned in my previous email: Education, Economics, Health, the Black Family, and Arts - need I say more?
<<Alpha Kappa Alpha does wonderful things in the community as well as the others …But personally for me, I look at my surroundings and ask myself am I making the difference? Has these orgs. empowered me to want to make one(a difference)? Do I feel important to them? Are they impacting me? Do I have take ownership by what they (the D-9) have given me? These are all personal accountability questions. >>
miss priss, these are questions that each person should ask him/herself so I agree with you that these questions should be asked. I would dare answer that in my opinion, the legacy that Alpha Kappa Alpha has established and given to African-American women all over the world (members and non-members) by her advancements for women, the causes that she has taken up, etc. *has* impacted you as a (presumably) Black woman and has lent a hand to paving the way for you to make the difference that you make today. You (and none of us) have gotten here alone - we are all riding on the shoulders of the phenomenal people who came before us. I would say to consider what a sisterhood of thousands of moving and shaking African-American women have done in each of our respective communities, both as members of the sorority as well as just African-American women and I dare say that no African-American woman (member or not) could *not* not be impacted by that. Each action by anyone in our community affects us all.
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