Racism in sororities? - Page 2

Peaches-n-Cream · #1 07-08-2004, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LauGh A Lot
i'm actually a senior in high school, but i have always wanted to be in a sorority. i'm an only child and always dreamed about having sisters. i hope it's not too too early to start thinking about being in a sorority.

That is so sweet. You always dreamed about having sisters. I wish you the best!

NewBee · #2 07-08-2004, 06:11 PM

*Hearing alarm bells*

OMG, do minorities really feel like they have to hide their ethnicity to be accepted in white america?

I am in no way trying to cause trouble, it just saddens me to think that with all the progress we have made, it seems like people feel that they have to hide who they are to be accepted. LauGh a Lot, you should be proud of your heritage, and if you feel like you can't be yourself around your sisters, then thats not the place for you. ( I know you are a senior, just a bit of advice for next year.) Hope all goes well for you, just be yourself.

LauGh A Lot · #3 07-09-2004, 01:10 AM

NewBee, i'm sorry.. i don't feel like i have to hide myself at all! i came to the US when i was very small and feel more comfortable around english speaking people since my spanish is awful. i have light brown hair and a light complection so most people don't know i'm hispanic. i'm not trying to hide it, it's just the way i was born. if i would have been raised in Cuba i would feel more comfortable around spanish speaking people. i don't know, it's a really difficult concept to understand if you are not a minority. however, i'm sorry if i gave you the impression that i'm not proud of my heritage, because i am.. very much so.

AlphaFrog · #4 07-09-2004, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by recentASAalum
I'm also Hispanic... although I'm in the same situation as you... most people don't know unless I mention it... although I didn't go through rush I found this was no problem when I was COBing houses... so I say go for it!!!

Really? I knew you weren't stark-white European, but I didn't know you were Hispanic. Although I guess I can see it now.

shadokat · #5 07-09-2004, 09:39 AM

I'm just going to write this for information's sake...NPC groups do not discriminate, or shouldn't discriminate, based upon race. If you take a look at collegiate chapter websites across the country, you will see women of all races, shapes, hairstyles, and whatever else you want to compare. Not just to Laugh, but to all PNMs...don't be afraid to go through recruitment just because you're not white. My sorority would be a hell of a lot more boring without all of its diversity. In the words of one of our great founders, "we're an all-around crowd." GO MINNA!

NewBee · #6 07-09-2004, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LauGh A Lot
NewBee, i'm sorry.. i don't feel like i have to hide myself at all! i came to the US when i was very small and feel more comfortable around english speaking people since my spanish is awful. i have light brown hair and a light complection so most people don't know i'm hispanic. i'm not trying to hide it, it's just the way i was born. if i would have been raised in Cuba i would feel more comfortable around spanish speaking people. i don't know, it's a really difficult concept to understand if you are not a minority. however, i'm sorry if i gave you the impression that i'm not proud of my heritage, because i am.. very much so.

I'm a minority and I think I get what you are saying, you dont have to apologize! I wish you best of luck on finding a good sorority where you we feel comfortable regardless of skin color. Sisterly love and all of that!

Rollergirl2001 · #7 07-10-2004, 08:13 PM

I'm planning to rush in a NPC this fall and I'm not white. I had a lot of white friends because I went to mostly white schools all my life. I was scared that my mother would not accept the fact that I'm joining a NPC, but she let me do it. I'm so excited that I get to do this.

If you want to go through rush (or through recruitment as some schools would say nowadays), go for it. There are some people that are not white who will talk smack about you joining a NPC. They do not know you at all. Just ignore those people with a narrow mind. Go with rush with an open mind and good luck.

Sahara27 · #8 07-10-2004, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LauGh A Lot
i'm actually a senior in high school, but i have always wanted to be in a sorority. i'm an only child and always dreamed about having sisters. i hope it's not too too early to start thinking about being in a sorority.

No better time to start planning like the present! It's great that you've started thinking about it -- I didn't even know what a sorority was until my sophomore year of college! (came from a veeeeery small Greek Life community). Remember to check out all your options, and good luck!

Phasad1913 · #9 07-10-2004, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NewBee
*Hearing alarm bells*

OMG, do minorities really feel like they have to hide their ethnicity to be accepted in white america?

I am in no way trying to cause trouble, it just saddens me to think that with all the progress we have made, it seems like people feel that they have to hide who they are to be accepted. LauGh a Lot, you should be proud of your heritage, and if you feel like you can't be yourself around your sisters, then thats not the place for you. ( I know you are a senior, just a bit of advice for next year.) Hope all goes well for you, just be yourself.

This was how I felt when I read the posts too. I'm glad you mentioned it, I was going to myself. I hope you all feel more secure about your various ethnicities. They shouldn't be viewed as liabilities ( as it sounds like here ) but as assets.

starang21 · #10 07-10-2004, 09:45 PM

be yourself, if you have a heavy hispanic accent, be out with it. don't compromise your person because you want some letters. thats' what we'd call a "sell out."

CASIGKAP · #11 07-11-2004, 10:11 PM

O.K. I'm Hispanic, most of the time people think I'm Arabic. I'm not sure why but apparently, people think that I can't be of Mexican heritage b/c I look Arabic. Go figure.

When I rushed, my pledge class consisted of Caucasian ladies, African-American ladies, ladies of Latina heritages, and a gal from India! When I got to know the ladies of the sorority, I found that many of them "look" Caucasian BUT are if Hispanic descent. They never hid it, are proud to speak their native languages whether it be English, Spanish, Hindustani, or with their charming accents. I like to think that we've gone beyond looking at ethnicity as standards for giving a bid. I'm proud of who I am and have never had a reason to try to pretend I'm not of Mexican descent.

I belong to an NPC sorority & I say for you to go ahead & rush.
It's not a big deal BUT then again, I'm from California so we have a mixed pot here. I like to think it's the same everywhere else but I couldn't answer that b/c I'm not familiar with other states.
Have fun & Good-Luck!!!

The B Girl · #12 07-12-2004, 09:30 PM

In Florida, we have a variety of backgrounds in all sororities here (A melting pot like California). I don't know your school but I hope that they would never use that as a reason not to consider someone for membership.

Munchkin03 · #13 07-12-2004, 09:36 PM

It exists. Racism exists everywhere, and Greek-letter organizations are no different. Not every chapter at every school will accept you with open arms. My best advice is to understand your campus culture and to talk to people who have been in similar situations. Ideally, you'll find a home with sisters who can accept you as you are.

LatinaAlumna · #14 07-13-2004, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LauGh A Lot
hi, i'm new to this forum and i have really enjoyed reading all your posts! I'm not in a sorority, but i'm thinking about rushing next year. The only thing that concerns me is that i'm hispanic, but don't really look like it. I fit better with americans because i was raised here and i have a horrible accent in Spanish. So i was wondering if i do decide to rush, will historically white sororities accept me or is that not allowed?

I'm confused. You "fit better with Americans"? What do you mean by that? Millions of people have ancestry from other lands but are fully American. Perhaps you mean that you "fit better with Caucasian people"? If that's the case, that's fine, but please make sure that you recognize that non-white people can be Americans, toos.

TheEpitome1920 · #15 07-13-2004, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
It exists. Racism exists everywhere, and Greek-letter organizations are no different. Not every chapter at every school will accept you with open arms. My best advice is to understand your campus culture and to talk to people who have been in similar situations. Ideally, you'll find a home with sisters who can accept you as you are.

I was thinking the same thing. Of course it's against everyones policy to discriminate based upon race but we can't act like it doesn't/never happens. JMO.