Re-inventing the D9 sororities?

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by Eclipse
Question for you CT....Why not? If these women think being in a sorority will bring them something "extra" that a support group, club, etc. won't bring them, then what is the harm in them calling themselves a sorority?

What are they doing that makes them a sorority?
I honestly could care less what they call themselves.

But imagine if all orgs started calling themselves a sorority:
MADD Sorority
Girl Scouts Sorority
NOW Sorority
NCNW Sorority
Junior League Sorority

I just think that a lot of these orgs choose the name sorority and then replicate existing sororities, including the Fab 4 (I like), but why replicate us? Be original.

Fine, they are a meeting a need for single moms. GREAT!! KUDOS but do they HAVE to be known as a sorority or even utilize Greek nomenclature?

We're not going to agree on this and that's fine because I don't know any of these members of this organization although I know A LOT of single moms.

The members of this organization should understand that they are going to receive criticism. They just are. Delta did and still does.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
My issue is why does every "org" have to be a sorority? Why can't you be a single mom support group and just leave it at that? Why do you have to have colors, hand signs, etc. etc. etc.

There are single moms all over the world. Why can' they just join or get a Yahoo group to chat and debate and discuss? Why does everything have to be a SORORITY? Because that implies there is a line of sorts and initiation of sorts. Why do they have to have Greek letters? Why do they have to utilize Greek art to have graphics? WHY WHY WHY??

Why does there only have to be 4 black sororities? Why can't another black group form a sorority? Why does the NPHC have to have a monopoly on the Black Greek letter "market"? Why don't NPC orgs have this same mentality when a new sorority joins NPC?

Why are there TONS of local sororities and they can co-exist with NPC orgs peacefully? HC (as far as we know, anyway) the original 9 NPC orgs (Alpha Phi, Pi Beta Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma) didn't have that "the buck stops here" mentality.

Frankly, I highly resent the notion that the NPHC is the be all, end all choice for Black GLOs. But I will answer one of your questions on why it has to be a sorority?

Because it is the respective founders' right and perogative to start one. Period.

ETA: As far as "lack of originality" goes, I think our (Black) culture tends to bite off of others in some way, shape, form, or fashion to begin with and put our own original "twist" on it. So to be fair, the lack of originality argument, while I see where you are coming from, is rather weak.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by jojapeach
OMG I'm having a "It's not that serious" moment.

I would have to research the org, but I recall a sorority that was founded at Georgia Southern Univ. That sorority was basically a clique founded by some girlfriends, and it eventually dissolved.

Was that org called Xi Gamma Phi and did they have a brother fraternity called Gamma Phi Eta?

[33girl]

Originally posted by Rain Man
Why does there only have to be 4 black sororities? Why can't another black group form a sorority? Why does the NPHC have to have a monopoly on the Black Greek letter "market"? Why don't NPC orgs have this same mentality when a new sorority joins NPC?

Why are there TONS of local sororities and they can co-exist with NPC orgs peacefully? HC (as far as we know, anyway) the original 9 NPC orgs (Alpha Phi, Pi Beta Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma) didn't have that "the buck stops here" mentality.

Just to make a point, the original 9 NPC groups were NOT necessarily the oldest groups founded.

And I'm also guessing there are STILL women out there who think it's horrible that they let those "teacher sororities" join NPC. My point is that just because everyone's in NPC, it certainly does not mean every sorority is on an equal footing.

NPC isn't going to begrudge anyone the right to start a local, but if that local's copying things from an NPC or if everyone and their sister is starting locals rather than looking into the NPCs already there, then yes, there's going to be fur a flying.

Don't even get me started on the pedicure artwork.

[BirthaBlue4]

Originally posted by Boom_Quack13
Sistergreek, I have to disagree with you. I can't speak for Zeta or SGRho, but I can assure you that Delta Sigma Theta does not "copy" AKA in any way. I know where you're going with your statement, but it's not even close to being accurate when it comes to my sisterhood. We all have things in common, but that in no way implies "copying."

I was in no way saying that we copied ANYONE, what I was saying was that if people want to have the attitude of saying why join/create other orgs to mimic us when there's already 4 orgs, that would be the same thing as saying that every org after AKA copied them, every orf after DST copied them, etc. My point was that to each her own. Like you said yourself, "We all have things in common, but that in no way implies 'copying'". So why all the drama over these girls that are doing their own thing, just like the founders of ALL of our organizations. Why crush their dream, when we fought to have ours realized? Afford them the same opportunity.

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by BirthaBlue4
I was in no way saying that we copied ANYONE, what I was saying was that if people want to have the attitude of saying why join/create other orgs to mimic us when there's already 4 orgs, that would be the same thing as saying that every org after AKA copied them, every orf after DST copied them, etc. My point was that to each her own. Like you said yourself, "We all have things in common, but that in no way implies 'copying'". So why all the drama over these girls that are doing their own thing, just like the founders of ALL of our organizations. Why crush their dream, when we fought to have ours realized? Afford them the same opportunity.

PREACH, Sands.

[jojapeach]

Originally posted by Rain Man
Was that org called Xi Gamma Phi and did they have a brother fraternity called Gamma Phi Eta?

Thank you. Exactly.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by Rain Man
Frankly, I highly resent the notion that the NPHC is the be all, end all choice for Black GLOs.

And? So you came in here to tell people that they shouldn't resent these new orgs popping up, but you resent a certain notion? Sooooo what? Well, I don't think you should resent the fact that we are the end all be all. How about that? And I'm not saying that we are, but if I was, I highly resent the fact that you resent the notion that we are the end all be all.

And who said we couldn't co-exist peacefully?

You know, when I was a little girl, I HATED when my neice would mimic or mock me. HATED IT. But I LOVED her. And I always supported her, and still do. But I would always complain to my mother that she was copying me. Ooh, it would get on my nerves. But you know what? She did it because she loved me and (for lack of a better word) idolized me. To this day, we are two very different people, and have grown in different directions. I know that my sister resented the way that I would treat my neice from time to time. I'm sure she did. But I wanted my neice to be her OWN person, not a mini-me. Influence is one thing, replication is another entirely. Had my neice been her own person instead of copying the actions of others and adopting their belief systems, she would have had a very different life with less struggle and hardships. Why do we teach our children lessons (e.g., BE YOURSELF) that we don't seem to embrace in real life?

If a new artist came on the scene, and all they did was paint Monet's works, but in different colors, what would people say? If a new recording artist came on the scene and all they did was sing other people's songs and changed a couple of the words, how would they fare on the charts? If you wrote a book, and a new author wrote one just like it, but changed the characters' names and the cover of the book, would it be cool? What would you think if they advertised a brand new game show and then when it came on, it was just a rip-off of another show? Same game, different name and different host, but the same game?

Anyway, I said all that to say this: just like you have the right to resent the fact that we are the be all end all, we have the right to resent WHATEVER we want to.

Yeah, I'm rambling. I'm bored. What?

[BirthaBlue4]

Originally posted by Ideal08
If a new artist came on the scene, and all they did was paint Monet's works, but in different colors, what would people say? If a new recording artist came on the scene and all they did was sing other people's songs and changed a couple of the words, how would they fare on the charts?(Puffy and his crew, count the millions) If you wrote a book, and a new author wrote one just like it, but changed the characters' names and the cover of the book, would it be cool?Pick up two "trendy" books at random, odds are... What would you think if they advertised a brand new game show and then when it came on, it was just a rip-off of another show? Same game, different name and different host, but the same game? Watch the Game Show Network for a few hours, its been done. Not to mention Reality TV

All of this happens everyday. I think that what Rain Man was trying to get at (IMO) is it seems as if since there is the NPHC group of sororities and fraternities geared for African Americans, and anyone that chooses to go Greek and does so outside of these ranks are looked at by NPHC members as "copycats", "traitors", and "unnecessary". Yes these groups have colors, symbols, mascots, calls, etc, but maybe they feel this is the protocol for a sorority. Most prominent non-white organizations have these things, so maybe they thought, "Hey, this is how its supposed to go". And that's ok. Do you feel the same way when you see a Latino organization or an MC organization do the same thing? Or are we all too protective of our people and what EVERYONE to fit in the same 9 molds? Again, most of us wouldn't even be here if people felt this way. Look at it as our Founders and our organizations blazed the trail for other African American organizations to rise up as well. Look at it as progress and freedom of choice, not as something to be offended by or to resent. It's counterproductive; it really does waste energy and time. But, to each her own, you are right you can feelhow you want.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by BirthaBlue4
Or are we all too protective of our people and what EVERYONE to fit in the same 9 molds?

The question is does EVERYONE have to be in a GLO? THAT is the question that CT4 was trying to get at.

ETA: I missed your blue words, lol, don't ask me how. For all the millions that Puff and crew have, there are millions more who don't like it and resent the fact that he has no original music, but all tracks. We have talked about that very thing here on GC. The same with books; I've seen authors copy their OWN work. That sucks, and people complain about it. Girl, don't EVEN get me started on Reality TV.

And I do think that we are protective, but I'm not sure if I think that there is a such thing as TOO protective, y'know? To be honest, these orgs can keep popping up. No one REALLY cares. Like, I bet CT4 didn't call her mom and say, "Ma, you ain't gon' believe what I found out..." No, it's not THAT deep. But we have opinions on everything, y'know? I don't think it's any more counter productive to form opinions about this anymore than it is to form them on the different brands of toothpaste.

[BirthaBlue4]

Originally posted by Ideal08
The question is does EVERYONE have to be in a GLO? THAT is the question that CT4 was trying to get at.

No, they don't, but if that's what they want to do, then more power to them. Is it a problem for people to want to have a "sorority" over a "regular" organization? I'm really not seeing what the problem is.

[CrimsonTide4]

Ditto with Ideal08.

That is all.


KTHXBI!

[allsmiles_22]

Starting a sorority for superficial reasons doesn't bother me. People can do what they want there. If it's for service, I think we are better in large numbers than scattered here and there with no resources to carry out goals/agendas. I really don't see the point in making a sorority to promote better reading when AKA and SGRO (pardon me if I'm wrong or I've left out another who has a reading initiative) have national reading programs. The same thing goes for an org directed at single moms when ZPB has the Stork Nest program. I also don't think the number of single moms being denied membership is so enormous that another org had to be created to fill the void.

It's bad enough many people don't take us seriously when the word sorority comes out of our mouths. It does us all an injustice when you have these cracker jack box orgs saying they recruit only fine people, what size their shoe is or how many babies they have especially since we are working hard in our communities to achieve our targets.

I also have the same feelings towards new graduate chapters being formed in areas where there are already a good number of them. Members say I don't like this chapter or any of the other chapters within this 20-mile radius, so I'll just charter another one. IMO we are diluting our resources and or org when we do this. Different topic though.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by allsmiles_22


I also have the same feelings towards new graduate chapters being formed in areas where there are already a good number of them. Members say I don't like this chapter or any of the other chapters within this 20-mile radius, so I'll just charter another one. IMO we are diluting our resources and or org when we do this. Different topic though.

Get out of my head.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by allsmiles_22
Starting a sorority for superficial reasons doesn't bother me. People can do what they want there. If it's for service, I think we are better in large numbers than scattered here and there with no resources to carry out goals/agendas. I really don't see the point in making a sorority to promote better reading when AKA and SGRO (pardon me if I'm wrong or I've left out another who has a reading initiative) have national reading programs. The same thing goes for an org directed at single moms when ZPB has the Stork Nest program. I also don't think the number of single moms being denied membership is so enormous that another org had to be created to fill the void.

It's bad enough many people don't take us seriously when the word sorority comes out of our mouths. It does us all an injustice when you have these cracker jack box orgs saying they recruit only fine people, what size their shoe is or how many babies they have especially since we are working hard in our communities to achieve our targets.

I also have the same feelings towards new graduate chapters being formed in areas where there are already a good number of them. Members say I don't like this chapter or any of the other chapters within this 20-mile radius, so I'll just charter another one. IMO we are diluting our resources and or org when we do this. Different topic though.

On your last point, Soror, I completely agree. Then again, I'm biased because my chapter is the only one in my area. We're a good size.

Now as for the other orgs being discussed, I pay no attention. My concern is with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and what we are doing.