BGLO and GLO

[starang21]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

cringes at using that label

what do you propose?

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by starang21

what do you propose?

I don't propose anything--I simply don't like labels, in general. I don't think the words "white" and "black" fully encompass all that people are.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

I don't propose anything--I simply don't like labels, in general. I don't think the words "white" and "black" fully encompass all that people are.

ok.

now i'm confused as to the point you're trying to make. are you saying that everyone should recruit everyone and we should be all one big happy family?

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by starang21

ok.

now i'm confused as to the point you're trying to make. are you saying that everyone should recruit everyone and we should be all one big happy family?

I suppose I am. Then we should all sing "Koombaya," hold hands, and pretend that nothing bad ever happened to any minorities in this country. Of course I'm not saying that! I'm just saying that I would like to see more inclusiveness across the board. Of course no one should just recruit everyone or anyone--all GLOs want people that will help them strengthen their organization. I'm just saying that it might not be a bad thing to look beyond skin color.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

I suppose I am. Then we should all sing "Koombaya," hold hands, and pretend that nothing bad ever happened to any minorities in this country. Of course I'm not saying that! I'm just saying that I would like to see more inclusiveness across the board. Of course no one should just recruit everyone or anyone--all GLOs want people that will help them strengthen their organization. I'm just saying that it might not be a bad thing to look beyond skin color.

that's all well and good, but for people of color, race isn't something that can be turned on and off.

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by starang21

that's all well and good, but for people of color, race isn't something that can be turned on and off.

And I never said it could be. I am very well aware of this fact.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

And I never said it could be. I am very well aware of this fact.

then your dream will never occur on a large scale level

[Furious Styles]

The majority of white people will never understand or even try to show empathy for the black experience in America. Partially the responsibility is on our culture because of an under current of race, economics, and sexism that has ruled north america for well over 500 years. As a nupe I can identify with the struggle of what the word really means. Kappa Alpha Psi does have white members but these members respect the importance of our heritage and embrace our ideals within the fraternity and the African American Community. Typically these "white" brothers are submerged and fascinated with black culture. Most black people embrace these types of whites but we diss these types of blacks.

White people for the most part will accept a black person who doesn't fit the BET/MTV stereotype. There is a degree of separation in both examples because they will always be people who notice the skin tone before they notice whether a person lives the values of their organization or if this person really fits into the culture of the group. Our generation now and before us labled blacks as sell outs while the whites were labeled nigger lovers or white trash. This will never be an easy topic but should it be? Joining an organization is a personal choice that includes a commitment to upholding the core values. All of us lacking in our commitment to service to humanity (WGLO/BGLO) if we aren't cross referencing ideas that will make our communities at large a better place.

[KAY10]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

I suppose I am. Then we should all sing "Koombaya," hold hands, and pretend that nothing bad ever happened to any minorities in this country. Of course I'm not saying that! I'm just saying that I would like to see more inclusiveness across the board. Of course no one should just recruit everyone or anyone--all GLOs want people that will help them strengthen their organization. I'm just saying that it might not be a bad thing to look beyond skin color.

LOL

[KAY10]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

I don't propose anything--I simply don't like labels, in general. I don't think the words "white" and "black" fully encompass all that people are.

Kappa Delta you sound very intelligent and a lot of the things you say make so much sense, and I think it's great you don't label but most people are always going to label. Sad but that's the way this country has always been. People here will always see color and label.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by KAY10

Kappa Delta you sound very intelligent and a lot of the things you say make so much sense, and I think it's great you don't label but most people are always going to label. Sad but that's the way this country has always been. People here will always see color and label.

A lot of people claim not to label in order to convey a point.

Everyone labels. EVERYONE.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

A lot of people claim not to label in order to convey a point.

Everyone labels. EVERYONE.

You're right, everyone labels. And, we don't just label by skin color but by gender, religion, social class, economic class, intelligence, athletic ability, nationality, etc. The danger is when you make assumptions about an individual based on the stereotypes associated with that label. My nationality is Italian and specifically, I'm Sicilian. I've been asked if I have relatives in the mafia simply because I'm Sicilian. Not all Sicilians are in the mafia and it's ignorant to think they are. It isn't having a label that's the problem, it's people's assumptions about you because of that label.

NPC/IFC organizations definitely have a different focus than the Divine 9 and Multicultural GLOs have an even different focus. This doesn't mean that one is better or worse. It just means there are numerous organizations out there designed to meet different people's goals/needs. The hope would be that nobody would be excluded from joining one of those organizations based only on their heritage, if they met all other membership criteria (grades, service, dedication, commitment, etc).

On my campus, wayyyy back in the mid-80's, the NPC/IFC groups and the Divine 9 groups did things together sometimes. The Divine 9 groups were always invited to participate in Greek Week, for example. Some years they voted to do so, others they didn't. I believe we all respected each other because I never heard of any animosity between the groups. And, on my campus, it was during that time period that there started to be integration within the GLOs too. It seemed like everybody just took it in stride, but it was a very diverse campus to begin with.

[GDIfly]

So.... do you have relatives in the mafia?

[KAY10]

Originally Posted by AGDee

You're right, everyone labels. And, we don't just label by skin color but by gender, religion, social class, economic class, intelligence, athletic ability, nationality, etc. The danger is when you make assumptions about an individual based on the stereotypes associated with that label. My nationality is Italian and specifically, I'm Sicilian. I've been asked if I have relatives in the mafia simply because I'm Sicilian. Not all Sicilians are in the mafia and it's ignorant to think they are. It isn't having a label that's the problem, it's people's assumptions about you because of that label.

NPC/IFC organizations definitely have a different focus than the Divine 9 and Multicultural GLOs have an even different focus. This doesn't mean that one is better or worse. It just means there are numerous organizations out there designed to meet different people's goals/needs. The hope would be that nobody would be excluded from joining one of those organizations based only on their heritage, if they met all other membership criteria (grades, service, dedication, commitment, etc).

On my campus, wayyyy back in the mid-80's, the NPC/IFC groups and the Divine 9 groups did things together sometimes. The Divine 9 groups were always invited to participate in Greek Week, for example. Some years they voted to do so, others they didn't. I believe we all respected each other because I never heard of any animosity between the groups. And, on my campus, it was during that time period that there started to be integration within the GLOs too. It seemed like everybody just took it in stride, but it was a very diverse campus to begin with.

Excellent points!!