BGLO origins

[Gina_lynn]

I have read over and over again on these boards (from black and white alike) that BGLOs were formed because black people couldn't get into GLOs and this saddens me. I would just like you all to think about this one thing: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, and Zeta Phi Beta were all founded at Howard University when the school was TOTALLY BLACK. So which orgainzations were the founders of these orgainizatations excluded from joining? By the time Sigma Gamma Rho was founded at Butler, the other 3 organizations had already formed and (at least Delta) had chapters on their campus. They had a group they could have joined had they wanted to. We sell ourselves and our founders short when we say that our Sororities and Fraternities were formed because we couldn't get in somewhere else. Our founders had specific goals and objective that they didn't find ANYWHERE ELSE. Think about it.

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If you can't raise conciousness, at least raise hell!--Rita Mae Brown

[SoloRHO]

Gina, I agree with you. Not only does it sadden me when non-greeks think that BGLO's were formed because blacks couldn't be members of the established white organizations, but it also bothers me to hear black greeks perpetuatue this myth. These people have either been misinformed or uneducted on the topic. We all need to know our history. It gives greeks and nongreeks true insight into just how great and purposeful our organizations are.

PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error

[Eli]

What saddens me is that until today, I never thought about there being a difference between blacks and whites in Greek organizations. I didn't. Until I saw all the people here refer to everything as black and white. Maybe I am ignorant, I do come from a school where only 1,300 attend. Why dont people here simply refer to their Greek group (eg, PSS, AXO, etc whatever) and *not* dub their (or my fraternity) as a GLO or BGLO. (Note, I have never used these terms in my life; read any of my posts, I dont feel a need to differenciate).

Easy E www.angelfire.com/va2/gammachi
Please visit and sign our Guest Book linking ot your fraternity or sorority!

[Finer Woman10-A-91]

Eli,
Don't be disturbed. This is an education for us all. Quite frankly, being a product of an HBCU, I had an extremely limited view on Non-NPHC organizations prior to joining the dialogue of these boards. We had other greek letter organizations. But they were treated more like clubs than "organizations".

The "origin" distinction is not made to exclude commentary...its a means of identification. As I am sure you have learned NPHC/BGLO have a VERY different view on the culture of Greek life.

For example, I have noticed many WGLO members have been critical about how BGLO members "treat" "communicate" with interests. I have also noticed that many BGLO members have been critical of the issue of "loyalty" in the WGLO, primarily based on the system of "rushing". These are MAJOR fundamental issues. We are not the same and thats okay.

Undeniably there is a LOT we can learn from one another. We just have to learn to stay open to change.

Originally posted by Eli:
What saddens me is that until today, I never thought about there being a difference between blacks and whites in Greek organizations. I didn't. Until I saw all the people here refer to everything as black and white. Maybe I am ignorant, I do come from a school where only 1,300 attend. Why dont people here simply refer to their Greek group (eg, PSS, AXO, etc whatever) and *not* dub their (or my fraternity) as a GLO or BGLO. (Note, I have never used these terms in my life; read any of my posts, I dont feel a need to differenciate).

Easy E www.angelfire.com/va2/gammachi
Please visit and sign our Guest Book linking ot your fraternity or sorority!

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

[equeen]

Gina_lynn, I am glad you bring up this point, because I've wondered about it for quite some time, and couldn't quite make sense of it.

I have read over and over again on these boards (from black and white alike) that BGLOs were formed because black people couldn't get into GLOs and this saddens me...Our founders had specific goals and objective that they didn't find ANYWHERE ELSE. Think about it.

I definitely empathize with realizing there is a void to be filled, and then carving out a niche and creating a legacy, being a member of my (very small, very young, and very unique) GLO. It would be interesting to know from you (and other BGLO members') point of view, about what the goals/ideal/objectives were that you didn't find in already established organizations, and how establishing your BGLO created a niche and filled that void. I (and others, I am sure) don't necessarily understand the point of view, not being in a BGLOs.


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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies

[This message has been edited by equeen (edited July 13, 2000).]

[thatgirl]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding Sigma Gamma Rho was the first Black sorority at Butler. According to the Butler U. website (http://www.butler.edu), the only NPHC orgs on their campus even today are Kappa Alpha Psi, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Alpha Kappa Alpha.

[ZetaAce]

Good point, thatgirl. Maybe one of the SGRho's on here can clarify?

ZetaAce

[Gina_lynn]

I have been corrected about the number of BGLOs at Butler, so for that I do Appologize..

As anyone who has read just a few of these posts would know, BGLOs and GLOs are FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT. If you felt as though you just didn't feel "at home" in an organization, but liked the style, goals and objectives, you would also tend to copy the format. BGLOs didn't do that.

To answer your question equeen,

would be interesting to know from you (and other BGLO members') point of view, about what the goals/ideal/objectives were that you didn't find in already established organizations, and how establishing your BGLO created a niche and filled that void.

Delta Sigma Theta was established to be a sisterhood of Black women committed to public service (in the black commuity).

[thatgirl]

I'm a chatterbox, y'all, so if you don't feel like reading, GET TA SCROLLIN'! Lol, j/k. Every BGLO has a different story. You don't always have to 'get in where you fit in', though. I certainly understand why a person would venture to establish a brotherhood/sisterhood befitting to them if they felt that those existing didn't fit their needs. Not ME, but I do understand. If I feel like I would do justice to a pair of size 10 black bootcut jeans, then that's what I want to buy. I am NOT coming home with a pair of size 16 pipeleg Sasson's. LOL, I know you remember Sasson's (with the "okay" sign on the butt). Now, I don't KNOCK the folks that wear them. They might even look good on someone else, but NOT ME. If I want something, I am NOT going to accept the next best thing even if it seems like the only viable option. That goes for jeans, men, and even sororities. If I can't find what I'm looking for, then I get it tailor made. There's nothing wrong with that. Thank goodness we have that opportunity. That is EXACTLY what these orginizations were created for. To specifically fit the needs of the respective FOUNDERS and those that would follow in their footsteps. There's nothing wrong with having your OWN. You have to go with your HEART. If your heart is not with XYX, then you have no business trying to be a part of XYZ. If you feel like you can do it so that it fits you better, I say GO FOR IT. That doesn't make the org that you didn't pursue any less PRESTIGIOUS than it already was/is. Scholarship, Service, Uplift, Finer Womanhood, Intelligence, Sisterhood, Wisdom, Perserverance, Manhood, Brotherhood.......the list goes on and on and on. BGLOs were created because they NEEDED to be. That is all. That's something that you just can't argue!

Jada B.

[This message has been edited by thatgirl (edited July 13, 2000).]

[thatgirl]

The Disclaimer

***I am NOT a member of any Greek Letter Organization, nor am I in the process of trying to create/found a Greek Organization. I have SO much respect for all of the NPHC member organizations, though I am partial to one in particular *s* ***

If the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn't, it's PROBABLY not your shoe.

Okay, back to work again.
Jada B.

[BFulton]

Originally posted by Gina_lynn:

As anyone who has read just a few of these posts would know, BGLOs and GLOs are FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT. If you felt as though you just didn't feel "at home" in an organization, but liked the style, goals and objectives, you would also tend to copy the format. BGLOs didn't do that.

Gina_Lynn - first - I was really glad to see your thread started in order to clarify this history. I've learned a great deal reading these posts and it was bothering me, after learning the history, to keep reading that the BGLOs were founded because their members had been excluded from other organizations.

I have an additional question - and excuse me if this sounds ignorant. Do you think that the organizations when they were founded (NPHC and NPC) were more similar in style, goals, etc. that perhaps they are today? (ex. the very formalized NPC rush vs. the NPHC process for offering membership) I'm guessing that in the early 1900s, sorority and fraternity rushes were a bit different than they are today.

[SoloRHO]

It's interesting to see how this forum has developed from this morning. lol
But seriously, see how much we learn when we talk and exchange ideas. I love that!
As far as Sigma Gamma Rho's founding at Butler University (a predominantly white campus), it's true that the sorority was the first african american one there. However, Sigma's birth had nothing to do with our founder's rejection or intentional seperation from other established white org's. Many may not know, but SGRho was initially founded to be a network to connect school teachers (specifically minorities) to improve the quality and methods of education for youth. (and going back to the "if the shoe fits, wear it" comparison, this was a huge factor in my seeking SGRho ). It wasnt until later that the sororities scope was changed to include all professions to advance the race as a whole. (However scholarship was and still is our foremost aim).
Now that Im done with my little history lesson (I guess Im a little chatterbox too! ), back to the original topic. We all (GLO's and BGLO's) were each formed for our own seperate reasons: to fill some sort of seen void by our founders. We should respect them by acknowledging their vision. To say that ANY founders started their org's because they weren't accepted elsewhere is pure disrespect for all of them. And a false view of what GREEK LIFE really is. (Sort of like the misconstrued idea of greeks "buying friends" when we join our org's. We all know that this isnt true. So let's educate each other and grow past the myths)
SoloRHO
PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error
PS: Sorry for the long post

[Gina_lynn]

Originally posted by BFulton:

I have an additional question - and excuse me if this sounds ignorant. Do you think that the organizations when they were founded (NPHC and NPC) were more similar in style, goals, etc. that perhaps they are today? (ex. the very formalized NPC rush vs. the NPHC process for offering membership) I'm guessing that in the early 1900s, sorority and fraternity rushes were a bit different than they are today.

No, the question doesen't sound ignorant. I honestly don't know. I know that faily quickly, BGLOs took on the "public service" aspect of their organizations because of the social possition of African-Americans at that time. As far as I understand, it took a little longer for GLOs to do that (please correct me if I am wrong). I also imagine that formal Rush became a neccecity only after so many organizations were formed, which would have taken some time. I know our MIPs are a growing and evolving process, I would image most Greek organizations have gone through some changes.



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If you can't raise conciousness, at least raise hell!--Rita Mae Brown

[akirakay]

I have actually found the alpha chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, sorority Inc. during my search. I'm not sure why it's not under the Butler University directory though.

[Corbin Dallas]

I definitely see the argument about the reason behind BGLO's. However, I can also see them starting, to fill a void or niche not filled by the GLO of the day. Perhaps they looked into getting an existing GLO chapter started on their campus, but either couldn't, or decided that wasn't what they wanted in a fraternity, as many other people who started GLO's felt. Since BGLO's and GLO's are quite different, I can't see them starting because they couldn't get into a GLO, because then I imagine they would have just started another GLO, just like the rest. That's my take on this situation anyway.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.