BGLO origins

[blu_theatrics]

Originally posted by 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).

Thanks for clarifying those issues soror. I also wanted to know are you the same solorho from collegclub

[Pink Passion08]

Originally posted by 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.

Gina_Lynn, all of the organizations that you listed above were, indeed formed at Howard University. However, not one of the organizations listed was the FIRST BGLO that prompted the formation of BGLOs.

Let us not forget that in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha was formed on the campus of Cornell University, a Non-BLACK college. After the formation of Alpha Phi Alpha, my sorority became the first sorority to be founded by African-American women, yes, on a Black campus, but it was Alpha Phi Alpha founders that faced blatant racism that prompted them to form their own Greek-letter fraternity.

Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded because there was an interest to form a sorority, the first of its kind (a Black one) like the first Black fraternity. Alpha Kappa Alpha founder, Soror Ethel Hedgeman, was the girlfriend of George Lyle, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Yes, our founders did have specific goals and objectives, but goals and objectives that were refused by, then, exclusively white greek letter organizations because of the race of those who sought to implement those objectives.

[thatgirl]

Good looking out. I immediately thought about Alpha Phi Alpha when I read the initial post, but I ended up getting sidetracked. Thanks for the information.

[blu_theatrics]

I don't know, so please someone tell me is Cornell a HBUC?

Pink passion08 maybe you know the answer, just curious if it was that's all

[ZetaAce]

Originally posted by blu_theatrics:
I don't know, so please someone tell me is Cornell a HBUC?

Nope!

ZetaAce

[blu_theatrics]

thanks girl, I was just about to go find the Cornell website, you saved me a trip

Originally posted by ZetaAce:
Nope!

ZetaAce

[Gina_lynn]

Yes, APhiA was founded at Cornell (a non-HBCU), but even then, you must dig deeper into your history. The site of Cornell University was one of the original stops on the Underground Railroad, and consequently became a haven for escaped slaves. A strong, self-identified black community had been established their for GENERATIONS. Because of the segregation of the time, the members of the study group that became Alpha Phi Alpha were on a whole other side of the university, and (most) came from families that were strong in the emerging civil rights culture of the time. It is highly unlikely that they would have sought membership in the greek culture of that university given the strong black commuity there.

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

[SoloRHO]

Hey soror Blu_theatrics,
Yeah I am the same solorho from Collegeclub, although u know thats not my handle there. Geez, I use so many aliases (sp) it seems kinda pointless. But all of them have a different special meaning to me.
**** Now back to the regularly scheduled conversation****
SoloRHO
PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error

[Pink Passion08]

Originally posted by Gina_lynn:
Yes, APhiA was founded at Cornell (a non-HBCU), but even then, you must dig deeper into your history. The site of Cornell University was one of the original stops on the Underground Railroad, and consequently became a haven for escaped slaves. A strong, self-identified black community had been established their for GENERATIONS. Because of the segregation of the time, the members of the study group that became Alpha Phi Alpha were on a whole other side of the university, and (most) came from families that were strong in the emerging civil rights culture of the time. It is highly unlikely that they would have sought membership in the greek culture of that university given the strong black commuity there.

I am sure, of course, there were some other historical meanings behind the beginning of Alpha Phi Alpha. But the bottom line is, during that time, even during the time that the last Black sorority in the NPHC, Sigma Gamma Rho was founded in 1922, traditionally white Greek-letter organizations had no African-American members, nor did they intend to. You and I both know that it had absolutely nothing to do with acceptance of the fraternity's (APhiA) objectives.

Judging by your screen name, I take it that you are not a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I am an AKA and obviously not a member either. I think it would probably be helpful to all of us if some members of Alpha Phi Alpha shed some light on this subject.

[DIRTY-BILL CLINTON]

NPHC Organizations:
Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity Inc.
Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity Inc.
Iota Phi Theta, Fraternity Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta, Sorority Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority Inc.

One thing above all else is that NPHC members are aware of and can name every NPHC organization. Can NPC members do the same?
Also, all BLGO aren't in the NPHC. There is a difference.

[cash78mere]

Dirty Bill-

Good question, except let's remember how many sororities and fraternities there are in the NPC and IFC! There'a huge difference! I CAN, however, tell you the name, year of founding, symbols, chapter president, open motto, and colors of almost every sorority and fraternity on my campus! (that's 15). I don't know it all, because I have other things to do, but it interests me so I've looked up all of their homepages on the web.

How's that?

[Corbin Dallas]

Originally posted by DIRTY-BILL CLINTON:
NPHC Organizations:
Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity Inc.
Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity Inc.
Iota Phi Theta, Fraternity Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta, Sorority Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority Inc.

One thing above all else is that NPHC members are aware of and can name every NPHC organization. Can NPC members do the same?
Also, all BLGO aren't in the NPHC. There is a difference.

No, but I CAN name every social fraternity and sorority on my campus, which is still more than the number in the NPHC. Of course I know some campuses have more than that many sororities, let alone fraternities! By the way, NIC has 67 member fraternities, that would be a lot to remember just their names, let alone founding year, founder, symbol, colors and whatnot!

Lambda Chi Alpha
Alpha Tau Omega
Triangle
Sigma Nu
Pi Kappa Alpha
Phi Gamma Delta
Theta Xi
Delta Sigma Phi
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta

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

[This message has been edited by Corbin Dallas (edited July 17, 2000).]

[HER_STORY]

gina_lynn,

girl you are deep. after reading your his story lessons, i was like wow! you go girl!

[BlueReign]

I agree with the above. I enjoyed the history lesson on Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and I also thank my soror for sharing some of my sorority's wonderful history at Butler University.

[Gina_lynn]

Thank you for the complements, but I didn't write the post(s) to brag, it was to prove the point that we ought not prepetuate the lie that everything founded by Black People in this country that remotely resembles something orignially founded by whites is becuase we weren't wanted. Members of the NPHC can think of it this way: After you did all your research and found the orgainzation that was right for you, would it have mattered to you if you had heard that you had been black-balled from another orgainzation? It wouldn't have mattered to me!! What do I care where I won't be accepted if I didn't want to be there anyway, and have made arrangements to "do my own thing".

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