Race & Sororities

[agzg]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Her problem is that she is making a generalization when what she's typing about seems to be more the exception than the rule. You can't make generalizations from exceptions. It is not only wrong, but it is offensive.

THANK YOU.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

DUH

Is that what this back and forth has been about? I'm pretty sure deepimpact doesn't believe that NPC sororities have racial requirements (at least not in the 21st century).

She seems to believe that there are informal racial requirements.

What she seems to be typing about is the informal decision making process. Aspirants are assessed on a number of subjective criteria (i.e. when people say don't discuss religion and politics during rush).

My point about membership selection is that she is making an assumption based on what she "heard" (she says on the news, but I can't imagine anyone stating in front of a news camera that they didn't vote for a pnm because of race). It is not "hiding" behind secret membership selection - it is simply a fact that membership selection is, like ritual, kept private, for both NPC and NPHC groups. My argument all along has been that because she is not in a postion to know what membership selection is based on she is not in a position to authoritatively state that race is or might be an issue for the op. She has been quite adament in stating that it is a problem - and when asked what she is basing this on has not presented a very solid case. I have also said several times that if black or minority pnms believe the idea that their race will prevent their being given a bid and thus do not go through recruitment then the situation will never change.

I find it sadly ironic that it is the NPC members who believe the bi-racial op should go through recruitment while some NPHC members have been arguing that she will/might be subjected to racism. If we were all these horrible racists, wouldn't you think that we would be the ones arguing that she shouldn't go through NPC recruitment? I think the best case for most NPC chapters being open to women of all races is the spirited response to the idea that the op will in not be given a fair shot.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

My point about membership selection is that she is making an assumption based on what she "heard" (she says on the news, but I can't imagine anyone stating in front of a news camera that they didn't vote for a pnm because of race). It is not "hiding" behind secret membership selection - it is simply a fact that membership selection is, like ritual, kept private, for both NPC and NPHC groups. My argument all along has been that because she is not in a postion to know what membership selection is based on she is not in a position to authoritatively state that race is or might be an issue for the op. She has been quite adament in stating that it is a problem - and when asked what she is basing this on has not presented a very solid case. I have also said several times that if black or minority pnms believe the idea that their race will prevent their being given a bid and thus do not go through recruitment then the situation will never change.

I find it sadly ironic that it is the NPC members who believe the bi-racial op should go through recruitment while some NPHC members have been arguing that she will/might be subjected to racism. If we were all these horrible racists, wouldn't you think that we would be the ones arguing that she shouldn't go through NPC recruitment? I think the best case for most NPC chapters being open to women of all races is the spirited response to the idea that the op will in not be given a fair shot.

We both agree that she's typing about informal membership requirements. That's really neither here nor there because, while it's her burden to substantiate her claims, you all have no basis to disprove them with absolute certainty.

For what it's worth, there are NPHCers who say they wouldn't vote for a white person. It has also been said on GC. Those personal opinions can impact chapter practices. In fact, there are chapter whose members don't want white members. The next batch of members may feel differentlly. So, if a chapter(s) with people who have been at the receiving end of disadvantage in this society can make such informal judgments, so can a chapter(s) with people who have been at the receiving end of privilege in this society.

That's basic logic. Deepimpact's problem is that she tried to type definitively.