Whites in Black Greek Orgs.

[Blue1922]

Do you feel they should join? I like to hear what all of you think and I will respond

[RHOyal-Silence]

you know,
i had the opportunity to meet a soror who happened to be white. i also met a soror who is asian. i know SGRho does not discrimminate against color so i feel if the young lady can bring something to the sorority then why exclude because of color.

[EspeRHO]

My chapter has three white girls and two asians, and each one of them contributes to the chapter in their own individual ways. They worked just as hard as the rest of us for our letters and they are just as dedicated to SGRHO. I think they were bold to join a historically black sorority, and they feel like they belong and we treat them like they do. It's not the color that matters, but the woman behind the color. Just my opinion.

[prettypoodle6]

I'm kinda divided on the subject. My answer kinda depends on the reasons why THEY would want to join a BGLO.

There are those that have grown up in black neighborhoods, have black friends, and/or have proven through past community service that they are down to help our cause. In this scenario, I can totally accept a non-black soror and understand why she would want to join a BGLO (Just as there are blacks that feel more comfortable in predominately white organizations because that's the environment they've grown up in, I can respect that).

But there are those that (in my opinion) have come out of nowhere! As a sisterhood and business that's centered around uplifting the African American race, I honestly question (to myself of course!) the motives of those whose lives dont encompass ANYTHING from the black culture.

Do I feel they should join? That's a question I cant answer with a yes or a no, cause I am borderline on the subject.

But I would like to say that I give much respect to any and ALL sorors that put in WORK for Sigma--black, white, or otherwise.

I have another question related to this.......check out my next topic.......

[A_RHOyal_Delight]

I have met many sorors who happen to be of a different race than I. My sand is white. I don't love her more and I don't love her less. She is and will always be my sister for life. She works hard everyday for Sigma. I agree with those sorors who have already stated that a hard worker is a hard worker regardless of color. This sorority may have come about in the twenties but there have been advancements. We will continue to strive with the ever changing times. We were founded as an African-American sorority and our history will remain as such.

[Blue1922]

Yes I have ran into to white sorhors as well as Asian Sorhors. But I often sit back and think why would a she join a Black organization and how does her friends and family feel about that? Sometimes I think that they might seek membership in a Black organization is because maybe that the Black people were more friendly to them than those of their own race. So they join, once they graduate then what happens. Most of the white sorhors are never heard of again (correct me if I am wrong) I don't know of any white sorhors in grad chapters. But they might be (but once again correct me if I am wrong) It is Bad enough that Black people join orgs for the wrong reason, but if a white person joins that's another story!! I am not racist in anyway but if a white girl came up to me for memership I would be kind of skeptical about her

[CodeBlue_R3]

I believe that if a person who is not of african american heritage wants to join and understands the principles and is able to respect the rituals of the members of the organization and what it was found on then they should be allowed to go through process as anyone else.

[A_RHOyal_Delight]

I am just hoping that you are as critical of every young lady that would seek membership in this TRUE BLUE sisterhood as you are of the ones that are of a different race than you are.

[Interested_Lady]

Greetings ladies,

I hope I am not overstepping my boundaries by answering this question, but I personally feel that non-blacks should not join black organizations whether it be a fraternity, sorority, civil rights org etc.

Why:
1) Black organizations were established out of necessity, so why offer membership to the offspring of the people you were trying to stand up against? I'm sorry but there is no logic here.

2) Whites, Asians, Latinos (not of African descent) can never understand the day-to-day struggles we face as black people existing in a racist society. Therefore, this makes them unable to really connect with our community, let alone understand, respect and embrace our culture (referring to Black Americans only). A person does not need greek symbols to clean a community, mentor a young adult, or feed the poor. If non-blacks want to help our community (and I do not think they can), they can do so without any black organizational affiliation.

3) Non-blacks should not be granted membership in black organizations because non-black organizations have went to great lengths to prevent blacks from joining their organizations for many many years. If they can not and do not except us, why should we except them? For example on my campus during the 1970's the white sororities suspended their intake for more than a year to prevent black woman from seeking membership. EXTRA: If I remember correctly, SGRho was the first chartered BGL organization on my campus. I suppose someone felt a need for black representation on a predominately white campus.

Please forgive me for the long post, but hey I'm at work and I do not have one constructive thing to do:-(


Have a nice day!

[CodeBlue_R3]

I would like to say that just because someone is not of the African American race doesn't mean they didnt have there share of racial disadvantages. For one people need to stop using that as a crutch. I go to a college where there is about 10000 in population and only around 250 black students. Yes there is that discrimination from time to time but if you don't fit into the boundaries of the stereotypes then you really dont have a problem. I'm like how can someone help you if you don't help yourself. Another thing is if no one would of took sides of our people then how would we have been granted all the rights that we have today. Yes there was struggle and intolerance was building up. But what about native americans-forced to give up there land and work as slaves as well. What about the Mexicans in this country today who are still worked like slaves? What about the Irish who where treated as trash and started the ghettos in the southern louisana area. Everyone looks as we are the only group to struggle we may have been among the worst but that doesn't make us any less than anyone else. It seems more now that we are accepted by everyone else except ourselves. My thing is if someone wants to be affiliated with a black GLO then they should be allowed only under the conditions they understand our history. They will go through things themselves just because of wanting to join, then when they join. I'm not one who is 100% for it, but we say we dont want to be discriminated on so how can we do what we dont want done to us.

[EspeRHO]

CodeBlue_R3 you took the words right out of my mouth. That is so true. I just want to educate Intested_Lady on one point. Sigma Gamma Rho's constitution states "membership in sigma gamma rho sorority shall not be restricted because of race, color, creed or national orgin". It is okay to be all about your color, but it is another thing to want to do to others what has been done to our ancestors in the past. It is time that we as African American people get beyond the color barrier and start exceling just as other races. How do you think we as black organizations are going to become better people if we walk around like we prejudice and can't learn from other races.

[This message has been edited by EspeRHO (edited September 11, 2000).]

[Blue1922]

To answer A_Rhoyal_Delight's comment about me being critical about other young ladies interested in SGRho, YES I AM CRITICAL as a matter of fact!!! I am 10 times more critical of sorhors who are already in the org as well. Because there are some of us just wearing t-shirts and stepping at parties and not doing anything for the org!!!

It's messed up that I am getting critized for just bringing up an subject just to see everyone's point of view.

Some of you all who are saying that it is cool for a woman of a different race to join our organization, will be the first to complain about a woman of a different race marrying Black men!!!! SO what is the difference!! You all try to sound so liberal on this race subject on this message board, but most of you all feel totally different when it hits home!!!

[SoloRHO]

Wow, heated topic...
Well sorors and friends, this is my take.
I don't have a problem with having sorors of other race. Quite honestly I love it. She may not have gone through a lifetime of what some of us go through, but if she pledges and she understands what our people went through, that takes her one step closer to the reality. And not only does she want to help MY PEOPLE and MY COMMUNITY, she wants to call me "soror" in TRUE sisterly Sigma love. Many sorors (black or other) don't understand how deep that is. We are bonded to each other though organizational history, laws and policies, beliefs, and goals. That is simply why she deserves to be called my soror. Sigmas are not bonded by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character (hmmm, where'd I get that one? lol).
As far as SGRho being started on a white campus, this is true. But Im tired of hearing from Greeks and nonGreeks that we were founded because we couldnt get into the existing white orgs at Butler, or just because we wanted to have our own sorority. We were founded as a network of school teachers to better the quality of education for minority youth. NOT because we couldnt get down with the white sororities. And not because we wanted to be seperate. It was because we wanted to fulfill a SPECIFIC purpose that NO ONE else was addressing. And While our founders aims may have been targeted at African Americans, we know FULL WELL that our aims have extended past that. Do we only serve black schools? black community centers? black nursing homes? black teenage girls? I hope the answer is NO!!
"Whites, Asians, Latinos (not of African descent) can never understand the day-to-day struggles we face as black people existing in a racist society. Therefore, this makes them unable to really connect with our community, let alone understand, respect and embrace our culture (referring to Black Americans only)." The first part may be true, but does one need to connect with the school kids to fix their school or donate books and school supplies? All they need to do is see the need and adress it. I may not know fully the plight of Africans dying from starvation, but with our project Africare, I can address it. Feel Me?
"A person does not need greek symbols to clean a community, mentor a young adult, or feed the poor. If non-blacks want to help our community (and I do not think they can), they can do so without any black organizational affiliation." This is true also, but the same goes for blacks. We dont need organizational affilliation to do community service either. Is that the only reason we join? More than likely it isnt. We join for the service, sisterhood, and scholarship.
So the next time yall see a white, asian or Latina soror, think of the work she is doing and the purpose she is fulfilling before you look at her color.
Yeep Out
SoloRHO
PS: I used a lot of Interested Lady's response in my post. Please dont take it as an attack friend, I just wanted to address alot of the opinions you put out there. Peace always!

[EspeRHO]

SoloRHO you have my utmost respect, because you are speaking nothing but the truth.

SIGMA LOVE TO YOU MY SISTER

[A_RHOyal_Delight]

I haven't been on in a while and I missed a WHOLE LOT. First of all Soror Blue, in no way did I call you out. I simply asked a question just as you did by starting this topic. Secondly, I would never call out a soror on a message board that can be viewed by others, if I had something to say to you personally I would have just asked you to email me privately as I have done in the past. This is a good topic to talk about, and everyone has a little to add from sorors to non-sorors. I am in now way asking anyone to change what they have said on my account. I was speaking from experience being that my ship is white. I can speak on her behalf. I don't have a problem with black men dating, marring, or asking out non-black women being that that is a part of my heritage. Sisters can always disagree but there is no love lost. Always love. Sigma love.

Delight