Jack & Jill

[SummerChild]

Come on ya'll PLEEEEEASE stop with all of this hard work crap.
Everybody on this board knows that it only takes being considered to be in the upper crust and having a connection to get into J&J, the Links, etc. I know from personal experience (not with J&J but with the Links). I had to exhibit absolutely NO hard work to have a Link who was the mother of a guy that I was dating (and who wanted me to get married to her son) ask me if I wanted to join her Links chapter. We decided that it would not have made sense b/c I was moving to another state for lawschool (I was an engineer at the time). No hard work there...just connections.

We all know that these organizations are all about ELITISM. The woman that I referred to above told me, for example, that when her children were in J&J, the chapter did not take single mothers (no matter how HARD they worked) and did not take families that had a blue collar father (no matter how HARD he worked to support his family). If you're not considered to be one of the elite and upper crust, sorry for ya. That seems to be how these orgs roll.

Not to say anything bad about them but just to keep it REAL cause ya'll are driving me crazy with all this hard work crap.

Now my personal opinion is that you can expose your kids to other positive AA kids and role models w/out putting them into an elitist org wherein they will never interact with other AA kids that are more typical to the economic levels of most AA kids. Not saying anything is wrong with J&J but it is not a NECESSITY to have well exposed kids. Similarly, the Links is not a necessity. It's a whole bunch of money and if you're already in the most prestigious sisterhood on the globe, what time will you have for the Links? Unless you're just going to be a member in name only or you just like spending all of your time in meetings away from your man and/or kids. If you just like GIVING AWAY YOUR MONEY then give it to me.

SC

Originally Posted by risingstar

I totally agree. It takes ALOT of work, hard
work, and I hope to one day be able to accomplish just as much as you have. I've just started but have a lot on my list to make happen. I know that is where I am going to build my networking as well.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

Come on ya'll PLEEEEEASE stop with all of this hard work crap.
Everybody on this board knows that it only takes being considered to be in the upper crust and having a connection to get into J&J, the Links, etc. I know from personal experience (not with J&J but with the Links). I had to exhibit absolutely NO hard work to have a Link who was the mother of a guy that I was dating (and who wanted me to get married to her son) ask me if I wanted to join her Links chapter. We decided that it would not have made sense b/c I was moving to another state for lawschool (I was an engineer at the time). No hard work there...just connections.

We all know that these organizations are all about ELITISM. The woman that I referred to above told me, for example, that when her children were in J&J, the chapter did not take single mothers (no matter how HARD they worked) and did not take families that had a blue collar father (no matter how HARD he worked to support his family). If you're not considered to be one of the elite and upper crust, sorry for ya. That seems to be how these orgs roll.

Not to say anything bad about them but just to keep it REAL cause ya'll are driving me crazy with all this hard work crap.

Now my personal opinion is that you can expose your kids to other positive AA kids and role models w/out putting them into an elitist org wherein they will never interact with other AA kids that are more typical to the economic levels of most AA kids. Not saying anything is wrong with J&J but it is not a NECESSITY to have well exposed kids. Similarly, the Links is not a necessity. It's a whole bunch of money and if you're already in the most prestigious sisterhood on the globe, what time will you have for the Links? Unless you're just going to be a member in name only or you just like spending all of your time in meetings away from your man and/or kids. If you just like GIVING AWAY YOUR MONEY then give it to me.

SC

I have to say a 'Ditto, amen' to this also. When my sister and I were little, my mom's sorority sister asked my mom if she wanted to get us into J&J. My mom considered it and asked what was required. My mom's sorority sister told my mom that she needed to submit her and my dad's income tax statement from the previous year. My mom said no thanks.


A lot of the activites that are done in J&J we did as a family. I think my sister and I got more out of that than we probably would have had we done those things through J&J. Bottom line, I'm sure that it is great to be in J&J, but it is not the end of the world if your kids are not in it.

Oh, I know some of those J&J kids, and they did not turn out any better or worse than we did (my sister and I).

[AKA_Monet]

I interpreted Black_princess' comments as one who was not born with a "silver spoon" could break into the some of these groups, not if one was fortunate to be pass the "paper bag test".

Yes, these groups are about elitism. It is all about who you know. It is all about who you married or simply how far you can passe blanc.

I was born into it. Yes, I am saditiy and what of it? But the Links blackballed my mother because they felt she did not contribute anything to the community, albeit my folks had just moved to SoCal and my father was establishing himself and his business. This ~30 years ago. And because we lived in a "new construction" area in 1975 and because my grandfather was very high up the elitist change it still did not remove the fact that the Links straightjacketed my mother...

Then she proved to be somebody, about something and make somethangs happen and they have since asked her to join dozens of time. She plainly say absolutely not.

Moreover, I HATED JNJ in my city. I can count on one hand how many in JNJ's in my teen group succeeded in life--meaning becoming taxpayers and NOT in jail... Because several of them had out-of-wedlock children, in jail, addicted to drugs.

On the West Coast, we are lucky to even discuss things like never have gone to prison, much less folks think about college. We all have to be mindful of that.

[black_princess]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I interpreted Black_princess' comments as one who was not born with a "silver spoon" could break into the some of these groups, not if one was fortunate to be pass the "paper bag test".

Yes, these groups are about elitism. It is all about who you know. It is all about who you married or simply how far you can passe blanc.

I was born into it. Yes, I am saditiy and what of it? But the Links blackballed my mother because they felt she did not contribute anything to the community, albeit my folks had just moved to SoCal and my father was establishing himself and his business. This ~30 years ago. And because we lived in a "new construction" area in 1975 and because my grandfather was very high up the elitist change it still did not remove the fact that the Links straightjacketed my mother...

Then she proved to be somebody, about something and make somethangs happen and they have since asked her to join dozens of time. She plainly say absolutely not.

Moreover, I HATED JNJ in my city. I can count on one hand how many in JNJ's in my teen group succeeded in life--meaning becoming taxpayers and NOT in jail... Because several of them had out-of-wedlock children, in jail, addicted to drugs.

On the West Coast, we are lucky to even discuss things like never have gone to prison, much less folks think about college. We all have to be mindful of that.

AKA_MONET, you did interpret my question right . . .I was just wondering what the chances are of a young person, mother, ect making it into these orgs. without a prior history. Also, I have to say I love everyones honesty . The fact that you all are able to say "yes I was able to participate" while also suggesting that not making it is not the be-all-and end-all was also refreshing. When I first proposed this question, I honestly was not sure what the reaction would be. Thankfully, I was able to learn a few things and gain some more insight. Thanks yall

PS: I love the comment "Yes, I am saditiy and what of it?" When I read that, I immediatly thought of myself and the bourgeois adjectives that my friends sometimes use to describe me

[jubilance1922]

This a great discussion.

My hometown doesn't have J&J, but we do have a similar org, which was actually co-founded by a Past National President of Delta Sigma Theta. It was very much an "elite" organization, and it was well known that only girls from certain families would be invited to join. My parents were from the ghetto, and not from my hometown, so I guess we (or should I say I) wasn't good enough. Even though I'm one generation from the projects, I feel like I'm doing good to be only 24 with 2 degrees and a job that I love.

Who knows, maybe when I grow up and get married and have kids, maybe I'll be cool enough to be invited to J&J.

[NiaX]

Originally Posted by jubilance1922

This a great discussion.

My hometown doesn't have J&J, but we do have a similar org, which was actually co-founded by a Past National President of Delta Sigma Theta. It was very much an "elite" organization, and it was well known that only girls from certain families would be invited to join. My parents were from the ghetto, and not from my hometown, so I guess we (or should I say I) wasn't good enough. Even though I'm one generation from the projects, I feel like I'm doing good to be only 24 with 2 degrees and a job that I love.

Who knows, maybe when I grow up and get married and have kids, maybe I'll be cool enough to be invited to J&J.

You better stop that Jubi! You are too cool!

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by NiaX

You better stop that Jubi! You are too cool!

Yay! I made it into the cool club!

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by jubilance1922

This a great discussion.

My hometown doesn't have J&J, but we do have a similar org, which was actually co-founded by a Past National President of Delta Sigma Theta. It was very much an "elite" organization, and it was well known that only girls from certain families would be invited to join. My parents were from the ghetto, and not from my hometown, so I guess we (or should I say I) wasn't good enough. Even though I'm one generation from the projects, I feel like I'm doing good to be only 24 with 2 degrees and a job that I love.

Who knows, maybe when I grow up and get married and have kids, maybe I'll be cool enough to be invited to J&J.

Is that org Tots and Teens? Which PNP co-founded it?

[WenD08]

i would also like us to be mindful as to not paint the orgs. or its members w/the same brush. having grown up in J&J, gone to Spelman, "pledged" AKA, and chartering a chapter of The Links, Incorporated, what you all see isn't exactly what's real. everyone in these groups isn't rich/wealthy (i'm sure as heck not), or oh-so-connected, well-known, etc. the common thread is is that people wanted it (and not even w/the same desire, mind you). these folks did what was necessary to join whether they worked hard or little or paid a lot or a little. these groups do have members that weren't looked upon years ago so things have changed. apparently, perceptions haven't but that's understandable.
so, i thought i'd share and i do find this thread interesting as well

[risingstar]

I apologize. I must have been told completely wrong so I retract my statements. One person that I spoke with said that it was all about hard work, but she was sadly mistaken so I apologize for that. My bad. Please don't hold that against me.

[Little32]

I thought that the mention of hard work was in reference to AKA_Monet's statement about creating change in our respective and collective communities--not about getting invited to join one of these organizations.

[risingstar]

It really was. I was really responding to how much she has done in her community, which is inspiring, and a lot of hard work. You are very right. But I did also receive the wrong info about how the organizations want individuals who are hard workers in the community. I am still in school and have about 2 years left and that is what I am focused on, but I do have a lot of goals and plans for myself once I am finished and it is all about what I can do for the community. I would just like to be involved with organizations as well, but I will not base what I do on that.

[NiaX]

Originally Posted by Little32

I thought that the mention of hard work was in reference to AKA_Monet's statement about creating change in our respective and collective communities--not about getting invited to join one of these organizations.

It was... you are correct.

[SummerChild]

Oh, my fault ya'll. I thought you guys were talking about it takes hard work to *get into* these orgs.

SC

[NiaX]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I have to say a 'Ditto, amen' to this also. When my sister and I were little, my mom's sorority sister asked my mom if she wanted to get us into J&J. My mom considered it and asked what was required. My mom's sorority sister told my mom that she needed to submit her and my dad's income tax statement from the previous year. My mom said no thanks.


A lot of the activites that are done in J&J we did as a family. I think my sister and I got more out of that than we probably would have had we done those things through J&J. Bottom line, I'm sure that it is great to be in J&J, but it is not the end of the world if your kids are not in it.

Oh, I know some of those J&J kids, and they did not turn out any better or worse than we did (my sister and I).

the underlined... that is so true! Actually I had more fun hanging with the kids in church, school, after school activites, etc, then I did at J&J. But I have seen very sucessful folks that were NEVER in J&J.

But I really do think every chapter is diff for real!