pink bunny/ Black/White Greek Organizations

[chAKAlate]

I tried to send you a message but I guess you have your e-mail blocked off. Soror I wanted to give you mad props for how you represented on that Black/White discussion on the greek chat board.

Some of those "ignorant" posts made me so mad. I don't know how you kept your cool. I responded to a similar issue on the greek chat on the African-American home page about
whites being in Black organizations.

I agreed with everything you said. As a Black women I don't see how any Black women would be comfortable joining a non-Black organization unless you're bi-racial or were raised in a predominantly white environment. Even then I would still question it.

But to each his own. There was this biracial girl at my school who wanted to be an AKA. But she made some very stupid comments like She told my Dean that she didn't want to be pledged by her sands because they were younger than her. To top it off at a party she was hanging with some sorors and another soror asked her was she an AKA and she had the nerve to say "Not yet". Well of course that killed her chances. Anyway she joined a white sorority after it.

She did have it hard because her mother wanted her to reject her black heritage. She told her she wouldn't come to her graduation if she wore a kente cloth with her robe.

Oh wait I have another story. My undergrad was predominately Asian and there were Asian fraternities and they were in the yearbook talking about they were stepping champs. Me and my sands were hot about that and that was even before we were Greeks. We were just hot at that just being Black. What business do they have stepping?

One more story. An Asian sorority called my big sister and asked her could she come teach her some traditions about pledging. My soror told her as politely as she could our pledging process was tradition and tied to our culture and she would NOT be sharing anything with her.

It just trips me out how now that whites want to let us in their organization, they all of a sudden want us to be banging on their door. We've created our own. Deal with it!!

Skeeweee sorors

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Aim for the moon,.... if you miss you'll be among the stars.

[Poplife]

Originally posted by chAKAlate:
As a Black women I don't see how any Black women would be comfortable joining a non-Black organization unless you're bi-racial or were raised in a predominantly white environment. Even then I would still question it.

I agree with almost all of your post because with BGLO's, tradition is VERY important. It was all good except for this paragraph and I had to speak on it.

I grew up in an area that was about 70% black, and the rest were white and asian. I attended schools that were predominantly black (both private and public), a black church, and now I attend a white college. I was always taught that I was lucky to grow up in a place that was both well to do AND black, and there would be a time where I'd have to cross the color line to get what I want. To get me used to the idea, my parents sent me to all white overnight summer camps and encouraged me to join Girl Scout troops and other organizations that contained a variety of races. I got used to living my daily life alongside Jews, Whites, Arabic Muslims, Asians, East Indians...you name it, I was friends with one. I learned a lot about their cultures in this way, and saw that we had more in common than we all thought.

My mother's nursing union, my dad's lawyers group, and my sister's swim team are all white organizations, but they are members because they have a common interest. It doesn't define who they are as black people. I’m in a group that studies Japanese Culture here at my school and I’m the only black person. So what? When the meetings start and we are talking about a book we read or a documentary on A&E, people stop seeing a black girl and see someone who is into the same things they are and who has something to say.

I will say that a large reason I am attracted to this sorority is because it uplifts back women, but the fact that it's a black organization does not make me think that I will be better excepted. I am comfortable in any racial environment because my actual color is a small part of me. It is the heritage and culture that follows my color that means a lot to me, and it and can't be threatened by being put with people that are not the same. I don't see why participating in an organization that is not black should be questionable because it really comes down to the security and exposure of the individual. If they have something I want that's where I go. Not everyone is going to like me no matter where I am.


[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited April 27, 2000).]

[pearlsNivy]

Well said Poplife!!

[pink bunny]

Hmmm alright then. Well thanks Chakalate for your post . Poplife speak on it SkeeWee Sorors.

[Asia2000]

Maybe I'm asking for it but I really have to know,

what is the big issue with Asian sororities stepping?

Aisa

[Asia2000]

Sorry,

I realize I should introduce myself. I've been monitoring this forum for so long and I am so familiar with all of you, I forgot you all don't know who I am.

I am currently a member of a group that is working to bring a chapter of an Asian-American interest sorority to our campus.

I monitor this forum for a few different reasons. One being this is the most active board on this website. I don't believe any others post as much as you all do.

Plus, I have two friends. One just crossed and the other is trying to make a line. AKA is all I hear about. I got goosebumps and teary-eyed watching my friend at her come out show. I giggle at my other girl who reminds me every day that she is "green with envy" and is always finding ways to DISCRETELY stick her pinkie up (one day, she sighs, one day).

Additionally, I am learning a lot about greek life from you ladies. It's not necessarily facts I am learning, but more of an attitude, a demeanor and an outlook on greek life that I wouldn't be able to pick up on otherwise. I am inspired by the pride AKA's have in their organization and by how much love they show for their fellow members.

Ok, that's enough for now.

Asia

[Discogoddess]

Asia2000: I can't speak for all of my sorors, but I think the issue for me is one of appropriating black cultural symbols, but disregarding the people of that culture. Black Americans have had many of the outgrowths of our culture appropriated by whites here in the states and Europe and Asians and others abroad, including: jazz, hip hop, rock n' roll, dance, fashion,etc.-only to be rejected as people by those same folks. Hell, even our innovations in the scientific world have been used by others without so much as a word of recognition (the traffic light, first open heart surgery, planning of Washington D.C., etc.).

So when we see other cultures using our greek organizations' symbols, such as stepping, calls, hand signs, etc., we may get angry, because we know that while others may like our style, they will still shoot us in the street, treat us badly in their stores, and refuse to acknowledge our talents and capabilities beyond sports and music.

DG

[This message has been edited by Discogoddess (edited April 28, 2000).]

[LadyAKA]

Well said Soror DG I totally agree! I will catch up with you next week - we need to chat

Sisterly

[pink bunny]

Awwwww Disco you went there you Go Soror.
Ok my spill. Asia2000 i think its fine for other groups to take things they like and incorporate them into their organizations.
Everyone takes something from somebody
But i think the concern comes when people fail to understand the significance of different traditions that we as BGLO's have.
It means more to us then stepping, or throwing up signs (it should) there's a reason for everything we do and history behind it. And even in the Y2K what my Soror Disco said holds true, unfortunately. Nonetheless good luck with starting your chapter may it mean as much to you as AKA means to me