Does Bi-cultural = Multicultural?

[agzg]

This may be a hijack, but I do tend to get frustrated when groups that are not specifically (or non-specifically, nowadays) "White" or "Black" or sometimes "Latino/a" they get lumped into some people's understanding as a multicultural organization. I tend to like more precise nomenclature.

Which leads me to my question - do you think it does a disservice to specific racially/culturally based organizations that are not multicultural, and to multicultural organizations?

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This is different than NPHC organizations that were founded and currently operate for Black Americans and others of the African Disapora. That includes different cultures but only within the "African Diasporic" race and ethnicity. Therefore, even Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta, with their diversity in some chapters, are not multicultural. People who are not of the African Diaspora can become members but the purpose of the organizations do not change with increased diversity in membership.

I think you got to the heart of my frustration here.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by agzg

This may be a hijack, but I do tend to get frustrated when groups that are not specifically (or non-specifically, nowadays) "White" or "Black" or sometimes "Latino/a" they get lumped into some people's understanding as a multicultural organization. I tend to like more precise nomenclature.

Which leads me to my question - do you think it does a disservice to specific racially/culturally based organizations, and to multicultural organizations?

I don't understand your question. LOL.

Multiculturalism is a relatively new phenomenon in this mainstream context. I'm still accustomed to anything that isn't NPC or NIC being called "cultural orgs" and not being included in the "awesome GLOs" category. That has always pissed me off but the majority will always do that to the minority.

Originally Posted by agzg

I think you got to the heart of my frustration here.

I don't think that I did. LOL.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I don't understand your question. LOL.

Multiculturalism is a relatively new phenomenon in this mainstream context. I'm still accustomed to anything that isn't NPC or NIC being called "cultural orgs" and not being included in the "awesome GLOs" category. That has always pissed me off but the majority will always do that to the minority.



I don't think that I did. LOL.

LOL I guess I better explain more:

I'm having a hard time organizing my thoughts right now but I'm going to think on this - even what's below probably doesn't make any sense (blame it on work or something, I don't know).

My question does relate, though, to the racial or cultural diversity of memberships and how it doesn't change any professed racial or cultural purpose of the group.

If I joined an NPHC organization it wouldn't change that aspect of the groups purpose. That's generally understood.

However, and this is because I'm coming from an NPC context and I think it's pretty clear that in general NPC sorority members are pretty terrible at relating to groups that are not NPC (or even other NPC groups, don't get me started), I see people lumping particularly Asian and some Latino fraternities and sororities with the multicultural groups when serving as a multicultural organization was not part of the intended purpose of the group. And I was just wondering what that means particularly for chapters of the organization that do have a relatively diverse member population, if that makes sense.

For many NPC/NIC members, it's easy to put everyone in the boxes of "NPC," "NIC," "NPHC," and "everyone else." And sometimes just "NPC/NIC" and "everyone else." It's my understanding that by not recognizing the differences between different types of Greek organizations, folks are doing a disservice to those organizations because recognition helps to understand differing points of view and approaches to functioning as a Greek Life organization.

So, basically, not understanding the general principles upon which different types of organizations were founded is poopy doo doo and I want to know if others agree and to what extent the poopy doo doo is.

Please forgive me for acting like dnall and generalizing my perceptions or those of people I know to mean that everyone views it that way.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by agzg

LOL I guess I better explain more:

I'm having a hard time organizing my thoughts right now but I'm going to think on this - even what's below probably doesn't make any sense (blame it on work or something, I don't know).

My question does relate, though, to the racial or cultural diversity of memberships and how it doesn't change any professed racial or cultural purpose of the group.

If I joined an NPHC organization it wouldn't change that aspect of the groups purpose. That's generally understood.

However, and this is because I'm coming from an NPC context and I think it's pretty clear that in general NPC sorority members are pretty terrible at relating to groups that are not NPC (or even other NPC groups, don't get me started), I see people lumping particularly Asian and some Latino fraternities and sororities with the multicultural groups when serving as a multicultural organization was not part of the intended purpose of the group. And I was just wondering what that means particularly for chapters of the organization that do have a relatively diverse member population, if that makes sense.

For many NPC/NIC members, it's easy to put everyone in the boxes of "NPC," "NIC," "NPHC," and "everyone else." And sometimes just "NPC/NIC" and "everyone else." It's my understanding that by not recognizing the differences between different types of Greek organizations, folks are doing a disservice to those organizations because recognition helps to understand differing points of view and approaches to functioning as a Greek Life organization.

So, basically, not understanding the general principles upon which different types of organizations were founded is poopy doo doo and I want to know if others agree and to what extent the poopy doo doo is.

Please forgive me for acting like dnall and generalizing my perceptions or those of people I know to mean that everyone views it that way.

I understand you. For the sake of clarity, let's say that I am discussing organizations who are:

1. Members of the National Multicultural Greek Council
2. Actual multicultural organizations who would generally qualify to be members of NMGC
3. Bicultural organizations not on any council at all.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I understand you. For the sake of clarity, let's say that I am discussing organizations who are:

1. Members of the National Multicultural Greek Council
2. Actual multicultural organizations who would generally qualify to be members of NMGC
3. Bicultural organizations not on any council at all.

I understand why bicultural organizations may specifically not want to be part of the NMGC, but would they not qualify?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by agzg

I understand why bicultural organizations may specifically not want to be part of the NMGC, but would they not qualify?

I don't know.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by agzg

LOL I guess I better explain more:

I'm having a hard time organizing my thoughts right now but I'm going to think on this - even what's below probably doesn't make any sense (blame it on work or something, I don't know).

My question does relate, though, to the racial or cultural diversity of memberships and how it doesn't change any professed racial or cultural purpose of the group.

If I joined an NPHC organization it wouldn't change that aspect of the groups purpose. That's generally understood.

However, and this is because I'm coming from an NPC context and I think it's pretty clear that in general NPC sorority members are pretty terrible at relating to groups that are not NPC (or even other NPC groups, don't get me started), I see people lumping particularly Asian and some Latino fraternities and sororities with the multicultural groups when serving as a multicultural organization was not part of the intended purpose of the group. And I was just wondering what that means particularly for chapters of the organization that do have a relatively diverse member population, if that makes sense.

For many NPC/NIC members, it's easy to put everyone in the boxes of "NPC," "NIC," "NPHC," and "everyone else." And sometimes just "NPC/NIC" and "everyone else." It's my understanding that by not recognizing the differences between different types of Greek organizations, folks are doing a disservice to those organizations because recognition helps to understand differing points of view and approaches to functioning as a Greek Life organization.

So, basically, not understanding the general principles upon which different types of organizations were founded is poopy doo doo and I want to know if others agree and to what extent the poopy doo doo is.

Please forgive me for acting like dnall and generalizing my perceptions or those of people I know to mean that everyone views it that way.

Okay.

diverse membership =/= biculturalism or multiculturalism

[agzg]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Okay.

diverse membership =/= biculturalism or multiculturalism

Right that's exactly what I'm saying, and exactly what I believe a lot of people (of the majority especially) don't get. And that that's doody.