Re-inventing the D9 sororities?

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by miss priss
Oh No offense taken...this is an intellectual conversation...right?

Because this is a tri-part question, I'll address them separately....

Rain Man's note: Due to length, points 1 & 2 were deleted, but they were EXCELLENT points as well. Point 3 was what I considered to be the strongest and most relevant as it pertains to this thread, so I kept it in.

3.) You are right what more can they do? I read this, "Groups such as Nun Phi Nun, Hound Phi Hound and Vash Na Ha were short-lived groups formed to parody NPHC organizations," ….."Other organizations saw themselves more as reflections of the Black Power ideology espoused…. and saw their purpose on campus as challenging the status quo of the more conservative Greeks." Individuals finding a home that reflects their current value system, thoughts, and search for acceptance which causes people to form other orgs. We all know that the D-9 are considered as elitist organizations that separate the wealthier middle/upper class from poor black folks…So people tend to fight that "elitist" system by forming these new orgs. How effective they are determines longevity and that's why the D-9 continues to survive. Alpha Kappa Alpha does wonderful things in the community as well as the others …But personally for me, I look at my surroundings and ask myself am I making the difference? Has these orgs. empowered me to want to make one(a difference)? Do I feel important to them? Are they impacting me? Do I have take ownership by what they (the D-9) have given me? These are all personal accountability questions. Can the D-9 implement a desire for the AA community to be (socially) accountable? Keep in mind they are the same questions being asked intuitively and individually by many communities…so I guess (political/social) activeness/accountability is decided by where you are and what the D-9 does in that community. (which depends on chapter involvement/numbers, assumably)

WAYLE! read: well
CAN I GET AN AMEN?



AAAAAAAAAAAAMENNNNNN!!

[abaici]

As my soror previously stated, everything we do is not printed in the mass media. As for sorors, I can proudly say that we have donated over 1 million hours of community service in the past two years.

However, my question (that has not been answered), is what do people expect for us to do. Are 9 organizations expected to solve the all of the problems that affect the community? If so, our charge is greater than the government's or our political leaders.
It's not OUR responsibility alone, it's EVERYONE'S responsibility. Stop accusing the D9 of being aristocratic and ineffective...it "just ain't so."

To me, it's a case of someone from the outside looking. Before, I was granted membership in AKA, I was critical of D9 groups. I felt they were not doing enough. HOWEVER, when I got in, I realized that people see the FUN and the "glamour" but not the hard work that goes into it.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

So what I am hearing is that people expect the D-9 to be the Saviors of the entire African American community and no matter what we do it will never be enough. My sorors are correct when they say that we don't publish nearly the amount of service that we do. But herein lies the rub, if we don't publish all of it people think that we don't do anything. On the other hand if we do publish it, people think we are doing it just for good press. It baffles the mind how black people always find something bad to say (usually quite publicly) about organizations who's focus is on doing good for the community. People are always talking about what we don't do or are focusing on isolated incidents that give us bad press. It is sickening.
"The D-9 are elitist so we will form our own group". To me that sounds the same as " I couldn't get in, so I will form my own group". That has nothing to do with us not taking care of business in the community. "Poor blacks" as you say, will be to some extent excluded from membership in our orgs as they are COLLEGE-BASED organizations. That doesn't mean that we are estranged from the community. Members and non members (educated and not) can do a part in helping the community.
Prior to joining AKA, I was extremely active in the community and continue my activism IN ADDITION to the work I do as a function of my membership. People act like they have to be in a sorority to serve the community. You can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Urban League or whomever and still do service without being in a sorority.
I've got class. I'll come back to this later.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by abaici


However, my question (that has not been answered), is what do people expect for us to do. Are 9 organizations expected to solve the all of the problems that affect the community? If so, our charge is greater than the government's or our political leaders.
It's not OUR responsibility alone, it's EVERYONE'S responsibility. Stop accusing the D9 of being aristocratic and ineffective...it "just ain't so."

And THAT is (at least for some of these new orgs) the reason why some of these new orgs are popping up; to pick up the slack that the NPHC orgs cannot do due to limited resources. You're right, it is everyone's responsibility. And I would think that the NPHC would adopt the mentality of GLOs who want to serve the community, that "we need all the help that we can get." But IMHO it's that very aristocratic attitude is what creates needless chasms b/t NPHC orgs and non-NPHC orgs.

You're also right that 9 orgs cannot possibly solve or even seek to solve every issue(s) that affect the community. But the question is: are these orgs humble enough to admit this and would welcome non-member orgs to discuss, address, delegate, and execute plans that all orgs involved would tackle certain issues and problems?

Now let's face it, I know that there are some orgs that just want to be a Greek letter clique. If you know and they know that they are not about anything, then their fruits (or lack thereof) will speak for themselves, and either their growth will be stunted, they will die out, or they will find a meaningful purpose for their org and take on a new direction.

But let's not get high and mighty here. I am not naive to believe that every NPHC org was originally founded to "set out and change the world". There were necessary social components needed to create a sense of solidarity, comeraderie, and fellowship. A strong social bond is critical in the first 5-10 years of ANY org to insure its future survival. There's nothing wrong with that and that's not at all disgraceful. So if you see these orgs being a little cliqueish and they are only a year or two old, let them have their fun now. They have the rest of their natural lives to get down to business and to seek which community service venues they wish to venture into. But for right now, leave them alone and let them have their fun. Believe it or not, that's the best way for them to strengthen their orgs and insure their survival.

They need your support, not your criticism.

[reddawn18]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
I'm glad that the came out about why people found these organizations! If a BGLO member had said this, the "copycats" would deny it vehemently. These folks couldn't make the cut in BGLO's so they made up their own. Bottom Line.
Is there anything wrong with it. I guess not. I don't think that it is anything to get miffed about. These orgs never last long anyway, because people see them for what they are.

MY statement was more because I graduated College, I would never be in a BGLO. I got false information about how to get in a BGLO after graduation. That is why I joined these organizations--again mistakes of my youth and lack of information from people who are in a D9 sorority.

I should have put that in my original post.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
"The D-9 are elitist so we will form our own group". To me that sounds the same as " I couldn't get in, so I will form my own group".

Is it "I couldn't get in", or I don't want to get in? It is an unfair assumption to make by saying those who start these new orgs are only those that couldn't join NPHC orgs, as opposed to those who start orgs because certain elements of the NPHC turned them off. It unfairly puts the whole burden of responsibility and accountability on the individual and none of it on the orgs. Let's not get hasty here, Skee.

Prior to joining AKA, I was extremely active in the community and continue my activism IN ADDITION to the work I do as a function of my membership. People act like they have to be in a sorority to serve the community. You can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Urban League or whomever and still do service without being in a sorority.

That begs the main question in this thread: Why does it have to be an NPHC org or nothing at all? Nobody is addressing this key issue which is in part why these orgs are starting up; to go against the "norm" the NPHC has created.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by Rain Man
...And I would think that the NPHC would adopt the mentality of GLOs who want to serve the community, that "we need all the help that we can get." But IMHO it's that very aristocratic attitude is what creates needless chasms b/t NPHC orgs and non-NPHC orgs.

You're also right that 9 orgs cannot possibly solve or even seek to solve every issue(s) that affect the community. But the question is: are these orgs humble enough to admit this and would welcome non-member orgs to discuss, address, delegate, and execute plans that all orgs involved would tackle certain issues and problems?

They need your support, not your criticism.

I'm still waiting for the first post that said a) these groups couldn't form or b) if they were effective, more power wasn't due to them. But this D9 "aristocratic attitude" charge is largely hollow, IMO.

Recent case in point: a new chapter of 100 Black Men is forming in my city. Last month they sought out my chapter for discussions and to discuss some possible future partnerships. We welcomed them. A lot of their initiatives are things we, and others, are already doing but cool...if they can join in and hit the problem from their angle and bring more resources to the fight, then welcome to the battle! (Besides, knowing Alpha, we'll have 40 percent membership in 100BM within a year and will probably be running it in two anyway).

I can take reasoned criticism from anybody, but I respect it more when it comes from those with some "skin in the game." If you want to form x, y, or z org., go ahead. But save the holla for me until we can shake glad hands over how many kids "WE'VE" helped go to college, or how many at-risk boys/girls "WE'VE" redirected and shown a better way.


Skee, I feel your holla. Shake the rest off.

[mccoyred]

I have read through (well I sorta skimmed ) but I didn't see a particular challenge stated.

Our organizations are NON-PROFIT SERVICE groups. By law, we must refrain from any type of partisan acitivity as a group else we risk our tax-exempt status and all of the other benefits to our status. For example, we can register people to vote but we cannot pick and choose which people we want to register. We can disseminate information on candidates but we must do it for ALL and not just particular ones who go along with our agenda; we are NOT a PAC.

To a previous poster's point, just because the group cannot be a political voice, it doesn't mean that it's individual members are not activist. Most of our Black elected and appointed public officials in Maryland are Greek so we are active! DST has regular social action meetings with legislators at the national, state AND local level.

[Kimmie1913]

Originally posted by Rain Man
HEL-LO!!!


Again, Greeks, PICK YOUR BATTLES!!

Who is battling? All I have seen in this thread is a bunch of folks expressing their different opinions. No movements to block the way of these orgs, no plan a foot to keep them down. If I want to say that most of the ones I see are silly to me, seem fly by night and few show any long term sustainability because once their so called founders graduate the chapter is done- that is my opinion. Just because that opinion ruffles some feathers hardly makes it a battle. In reality, even those who have expressed some mild opposition give these groups little thought and are only talking about them because that was the topic of the thread. Let's not over dramatize the situation- kay?

I do have a great deal of respect for those orgs who have been able to sustain themselves over time and develop a mission and goal they adhere to. I think that when the common theme is uplifting the community people are sometimes too quick to reinvent the wheel just to say they did rather than join an existing group. Not that there is not room for others. There certainly is. I am just reserved in my assessment of a group until I can see what they are really about. And that is not just Af Am orgs. I feel the same about LGLO, MCGLO’s etc. I have a great deal of respect for the men of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, probably because they were founded at my alma mater and I got to see them in action and what they were about first hand for 4 years. (as an example)

[Shelacious]

1. This is the same discussion that the American Heart Association would have about a new group created focusing on heart education for women. All our organizations get our money to implement programs from membership dues, government grants and private and charitable organization contributions. There is not an unlimited amount of money, and if group A gets a grant, there might not be enough left over for group B to execute its programs--so the more crowded the playing field, the more it can effect an organization's programmatic success. If only for that reason, it is a topic worthy of discussion.

2. I would daresay that most of the D9 groups do partner with a variety of other organizations--there is strength in numbers, and a need to collaborate using each’s core competencies. I don't know if that translates to individual chapters partnering with brand new sororities and fraternities, but it could if that made sense for the chapter. Certainly we have allied with organizations that might be considered "competitors" to the D9, like 100 Black Men/Women and others of that ilk as well as organizations like the March of Dimes.

3. I'm guessing that new sororities and fraternities have been being created for many years. The advent of the Internet has made them more visible to the general public, but they have always been there. Personally I have no challenge with their creation. If someone wants to form a social group and call it a sorority, so be it. If someone takes a service group and calls it a fraternity, I think that’s cool. I do take a bit of personal umbrage when the rationale is because "D9 groups are not doing enough, visible enough, down-to-earth enough..." but that's because I strongly disagree, not because you have no right to say it. As many have said on here, it will be time that tells.

[abaici]

Originally posted by TonyB06
I'm still waiting for the first post that said a) these groups couldn't form or b) if they were effective, more power wasn't due to them. But this D9 "aristocratic attitude" charge is largely hollow, IMO.

Me too!

[rho4life]

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.

Can someone start a different thread about this?????

I don't know how to start a thread!

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by rho4life
Can someone start a different thread about this?????

I don't know how to start a thread!

You don't? THere is a new thread button at the top of every page in every forum. That's all.

[miss priss]

It would be unfair to assume that everybody starting a greek org. couldn't get in to the D-9 but it is the social ills of classism and divisiveness that exist in the AA community hat plagues us. Ideal, truly and clearly no one expects you to be Captain Sav-the Whole-World.....It's just that we live in a classist society where po' black folks look at middle/upper class black folks and say "they aint doin' sh@# for me' and these are the main people that you help.

You said, "The assumption (I realize that it's an assumption and perhaps not everyone's) is that we are stuck up snobs who only do good to get noticed by the media. " You see there are folks who see you as snobs who snub good folks who give too and they ain't greek. Now coming from a mostly greek family I know better....but once again it's my own level of personal accountability. It's not so much as what the D-9 has done/doing, it's what being seen that's done. If you read one of the articles I posted (I think i did) one guy said people see parties/balls and don't see community service projects. You don't have to be greek to work for your community we all know this....but look at our communities they are a direct reflection of what we don't do COLLECTIVELY! Right now the D-9 is viewed as a collectively body in itself. So it doesn't matter if Monique, the AKA, went to Africa and fed the poor. All they see is Monique, the AKA, who hazed girls in Florida. You are unfortunately defined by your association. Once again (community) activism only means something to the person who is involved/doing them; I don't think anyone is disputing that the D-9 IS doing something. It's just that it has been questioned about how much they do do.
It doesn't have to be publish in (print) media to be recognized ,right? But whatever you do in the AA community has to have meaning to why you are doing it. Take MLK he did alot of things but he was martyred in death because (AA) took some personal accountability and he was an Alpha!
Forming sisterhoods/brotherhoods has simply now become a matter of affiliation. Those that chose to have new groups great for them....

For me, this is certainly not a battle of "i do more than you". It's about making EVERYONE have some type of accountability for our communities that look like a tornado hit them and black folxs(in these communities) to stop using the excuse "they ain't gon' do nuthin"...People, just do something!

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by miss priss
It would be unfair to assume that everybody starting a greek org. couldn't get in to the D-9 but it is the social ills of classism and divisiveness that exist in the AA community hat plagues us. Ideal, truly and clearly no one expects you to be Captain Sav-the Whole-World.....It's just that we live in a classist society where po' black folks look at middle/upper class black folks and say "they aint doin' sh@# for me' and these are the main people that you help.

You said, "The assumption (I realize that it's an assumption and perhaps not everyone's) is that we are stuck up snobs who only do good to get noticed by the media. " You see there are folks who see you as snobs who snub good folks who give too and they ain't greek. Now coming from a mostly greek family I know better....but once again it's my own level of personal accountability. It's not so much as what the D-9 has done/doing, it's what being seen that's done. If you read one of the articles I posted (I think i did) one guy said people see parties/balls and don't see community service projects. You don't have to be greek to work for your community we all know this....but look at our communities they are a direct reflection of what we don't do COLLECTIVELY! Right now the D-9 is viewed as a collectively body in itself. So it doesn't matter if Monique, the AKA, went to Africa and fed the poor. All they see is Monique, the AKA, who hazed girls in Florida. You are unfortunately defined by your association. Once again (community) activism only means something to the person who is involved/doing them; I don't think anyone is disputing that the D-9 IS doing something. It's just that it has been questioned about how much they do do.
It doesn't have to be publish in (print) media to be recognized ,right? But whatever you do in the AA community has to have meaning to why you are doing it. Take MLK he did alot of things but he was martyred in death because (AA) took some personal accountability and he was an Alpha!
Forming sisterhoods/brotherhoods has simply now become a matter of affiliation. Those that chose to have new groups great for them....

For me, this is certainly not a battle of "i do more than you". It's about making EVERYONE have some type of accountability for our communities that look like a tornado hit them and black folxs(in these communities) to stop using the excuse "they ain't gon' do nuthin"...People, just do something!

Miss Priss, I take your comments in the sincere spirit in which I think they're given. But to me it just represents an ever-moving target. To some the D9 will always be seen as too elitist, too self-serving, too-whatever else. As to community, ultimately people see and hear what they want to see and hear.

I spoke earlier on this thread trying to shed some light, but will have to let it go knowing that some (not speaking of you specifically) are just not going to get it---and that'll have to be ok. What we do, and more importantly the spirit in which we do it, will go forward; no matter who joins or doesn't join us, and no matter what anyone else thinks.

peace to errrybody.......