The privilege of exclusion and selectivity

[AKA_Monet]

Not everyone will be admitted into their preferred GLO. But many in OUR community have issues with "exclusion"... Do we still have the "right" to exclude persons because the fall short of the organization's expectations? Is it right to select the person we collectively want in our organizations or jobs? Can we as African Americans "afford" the choice to exclude or to be selective?

Just been having these ideas on my mind...

What do you think?

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91:
good question.

BTW, Yes, we do have the "right" to include or exclude anyone. We can select anyone we want for jobs, positions, memberships, etc.


That's life, everyone will NOT get EVERYTHING he or she THINKS they deserve.

IMHO!



[This message has been edited by AKA2D '91 (edited May 06, 2001).]

[NYMinute]

Ladies,

Of course my opinion on this topic will change after I....
But, absolutely, how many college hopefuls do not get accepted to the college of their first choice? How many people have been let down by unreciprocated affection of the opposite sex? How many people get turned down for credit cards?, etc. Life is a about joy AND pain. That is not to say that you should give up on the first try, but I see no harm in exclusivity.
There are so many other things more important than belonging to a BGLO, like being a good parent, being an asset to society, helping those less fortunate than you, the list goes on.


[This message has been edited by NYMinute (edited May 06, 2001).]

[NYMinute]

Victoria's Secret,
I agree. Also, "that thing" only has as much value as we attach to "it". I know several young women who possess all of the qualities associated with BGLO's, who could care less about joining an organization.
Some "get it" or or "want it", some don't.

[AKA_Monet]

Anyhow, VctoriaSecrt-- I hear numerous folks who were less fortunate than I that say they do not appreciate the idea of social exclusion--"the you think you're better than me". In fact, some of us self-esteem-wise, have that issue, both in a positive way and a negative way... Some folks are snobby. Some folks are "everyday people". And some folks think they are worst person on the planet and usually get sooooo helpless that they commit suicide...

But that's off the point I'm trying to make here, which is, why is it that we that we get soooo jealous of one another??? I get jealous sometimes of those who do better than me on a "test" when I know I've studied just as hard. Am I stupid??? NO. But like y'all say--C'est la vie...

I guess for me, since I am from SoCal, most of us have had the opportunity to be literally be in the "limelight" one just gets use to auditioning and getting rejected...

[This message has been edited by AKA2D '91 (edited May 06, 2001).]

[mccoyred]

As a member of the 'other elite" , I believe that we all must have standards but I do not see that as exclusionary. Everything is not for everyone. If there were no standard, where is the pride of being a member? We must be selective to ensure the longevity of our groups and the quality of our programs.

As members of the 'talented tenth', we have a moral and social obligation to those less fortunate than ourselves. However, the problem arises when we become snobbish or place more value on things that don't matter (ie skin color, birthplace, family weatlh).

While everyone is not destined to be a member, our organizations can have positive effects on our entire community.

------------------
MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

[Poplife]

Originally posted by AKA_Monet:
Not everyone will be admitted into their preferred GLO. But many in OUR community have issues with "exclusion"... Do we still have the "right" to exclude persons because the fall short of the organization's expectations? Is it right to select the person we collectively want in our organizations or jobs? Can we as African Americans "afford" the choice to exclude or to be selective?

Just been having these ideas on my mind...

What do you think?

AKA_Monet, since I started looking at AKA I often think about this too.

Because you are a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, you do retain the right to exclude certain individuals. If a particular organization wants to represent a certain image then they should be able to do so. However, just because a group of people have the right doesn't mean that every instance of exclusion is right (if you get what I'm saying).

Being rejected hurts, and sometimes you don't really understand how privledged you are until you meet someone that wants to be whre you are but couldn't make it. I met a girl this semester that got rejected from the same company I worked for. It really made me think when she said "I can really see why they would hire you over me."

On the flipside, some people can really get a swelled head when they are accepted into something that rejects many people. They seem to want to tell everything that they are a member of/student at XYZ. Quite frankly those people make me ill. I see it this way: You might have something I want, but chances are I have something you want even more.

There is a fine line between snobbishness and selectivity. Some organizations say they are "selective" when they really are just a bunch of snobs. Some people say organizations are snobs when they are really just selective.

I believe sometimes situations call for an "Any man, Every man" type situation like the Montgomery Boycott and millions of marches. Do you think that it would have been effective if only the middle class stayed of the buses?? But, other times it is ok for people to pick and choose. It really depends on the mission of the organiation.

[AKA2D '91]

Soror, let's see how many posts YOU receive.

[mccoyred]

Originally posted by VctoriasSecrt:
i know this girl did not just say the "t t" word...oh lord...that is almost a cuss word in some circles..my roots are callin' me...everyday i look in the mirror...there is a controversy...between history...and what's right...who i am...and who i am not...exclusion does one of two things...it alienates and weakens...or it bonds and strenghthens...in that sense...it is a necessary evil...

[This message has been edited by VctoriasSecrt (edited May 07, 2001).]

WHAT THE...?



------------------
MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

[Kimmie1913]

Originally posted by VctoriasSecrt:
i know this girl did not just say the "t t" word...oh lord...that is almost a cuss word in some circles..my roots are callin' me...everyday i look in the mirror...there is a controversy...between history...and what's right...who i am...and who i am not...exclusion does one of two things...it alienates and weakens...or it bonds and strenghthens...in that sense...it is a necessary evil...

[This message has been edited by VctoriasSecrt (edited May 07, 2001).]

What exactly is your objection? I cannot discern from your psot your particular objection just that you have one. Please clarify.

In other words- "you dislike the phrase Talented Tenth because..." please complete the sentence.
Thank you.

[AKAtude]

Kimmie, don't worry about her. She is only here to cause trouble.

[mccoyred]

Too much PBS this week

Originally posted by sphinxpoet1:

A public Service Announcement from the Fraternity that brought you W.E.B. Dubois, Fredrick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., A former United States Vice President, Garrett Morgan, David Dinkins and was sponsered today by the number 1906.

Sphinxpoet

Great points, though!


------------------
MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

[Kimmie1913]

Originally posted by AKA_Monet:
Not everyone will be admitted into their preferred GLO. But many in OUR community have issues with "exclusion"... Do we still have the "right" to exclude persons because the fall short of the organization's expectations? Is it right to select the person we collectively want in our organizations or jobs? Can we as African Americans "afford" the choice to exclude or to be selective?

Just been having these ideas on my mind...

What do you think?

I feel there are too many people, particularly young people who are convinced that they are entitled to the things they want. Not that they may be able to accomplish them or are capable of earning them but are simply entitled to them. Yes you should believe you can get the job you want as long as you stay grounded in the reality that they do not owe you the job. They do not have to hire you and if they do not it does not make you any less good or worthy.

I feel as though too many people approach GLO's as though because they want in, they are supposed to get in. Just like that job, just because you feel you are qulified, it does not mean that the hiring prtner is going to agree. Everything is not for everyone. Delta Sigma Theta (like other BGLO's) are about the WORK they do. We are interested in women who can help reach our goals and build our bond. As one if my esteemed seasoned Sorors said on Saturday, "Delta does not NEED any new Sorors." And I am sure netiher does AKA, ZPhiB or SGRho. Each org wants to see qualified women enter the org but that menas that she can choose whom she deems as qualified.

As far as we as African-Americans go, I think anyone who allows their BGLO affiliation or lack there of to be divisive and sway them from the common goals shared by the community has a problem as an individual and that is not the problem of the BGLO. While the work we do is seriuos, we cannot take ourselves too seriously. Or rather so seriously that we forget that we were Black and women before we were Greek. There are plenty of orgs in the world that have open membership and someone is always welcome to create a greek lettered org with open membership. But I feel exclusivity in BGLO's is only a problem to the extent individuals try to make it one.

My mother used to always say back wehn I said I want this or that- "It is good to want things." It is a natural desire but ehr point was that does not mean you are going to get it.

[Discogoddess]

Originally posted by Kimmie1913:
My mother used to always say back wehn I said I want this or that- "It is good to want things." It is a natural desire but ehr point was that does not mean you are going to get it.

Or as my mom used to say in response to our statement about wanting something: "People in hell want ice water...so???"

[AKAtude]

Originally posted by Discogoddess:
Or as my mom used to say in response to our statement about wanting something: "People in hell want ice water...so???"

Soror DG, you took me back...