Diversity in the SEC

[TriDeltaSallie]

Here's another example that left me dumbfounded.

I found an interesting article online about why more middle class AA don't choose to homeschool. It was written by an AA woman who left a very good law job, downsized her home substantially, etc. so she could homeschool her children. She explained a number of cultural reasons within the AA community that impact why AA women are not inclined to homeschool. It was an interesting post and made me realize issues faced by AA homeschoolers that I hadn't considered before. So I shared it on FB with the comment that I found it really interesting.

An AA homeschooling mom was annoyed that I shared the post because it was a judgmental article and what good does it do to introduce race into the topic of homeschooling?

Are you kidding me?

I learn something helpful and share it. Now I'm the bad guy for doing so. But if I met an AA homeschooling mom who was facing these issues and wasn't aware of them, then I'm a privileged white person who doesn't care about the challenges women face in the AA community.

That's just one example of why whites feel damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by carnation

I seriously doubt that any NPC group was founded with an eye to keeping blacks out. I'm betting it never crossed their minds They probably just wanted to be friends.

Except for the part where many NPC groups had explicit WASP clauses not allowing Jews, blacks, etc., right? It never crossed their minds, except when they created those membership standards?

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Could you give me the Cliffs Notes for your "sandbox" post too?

I guess there is also great irony and cliché in your dodge.

It's a serious question -- what should NPC chapters be striving to say or do that wouldn't be considered "cliché?"

If NPC chapters want more women of color, they should be encouraging more women of color to participate in recruitment. There are many, many, many ways this could be done. For example, the local alumnae panhellenics could reach out to high school affinity groups (black students union and so on) to include them in the pre-rush activities. You better believe, at the schools where recs are required, women of color are going to have a MUCH harder time finding them than do white women.

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

Here's another example that left me dumbfounded.

An AA homeschooling mom was annoyed that I shared the post because it was a judgmental article and what good does it do to introduce race into the topic of homeschooling?

Are you kidding me?

You should not assume that a single member of a group is authorized to speak for that entire group. That's pretty much the definition of tokenizing.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

You should not assume that a single member of a group is authorized to speak for that entire group. That's pretty much the definition of tokenizing.

And this is where I give up. If you can't see the point I'm making, then there's nothing left to say.

Have a great day!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

And this is where I give up. If you can't see the point I'm making, then there's nothing left to say.

Have a great day!

I get your point. It is SO HARD to be a white woman, and you are going to flounce.

[DrPhil]

Wow. Just wow.

These discussions are not about tutorials for white people. Not every nonwhite person is going to like what you say and do. No one is obligated to be receptive and welcoming to white people. Racial and ethnic minorities (in general) are accustomed to that. Whites (in general) are not accustomed to that and feel entitled to getting unwarranted smiles and tutorials. Perhaps silently observing would work when all else fails. The need to figuratively shout your presence and flounce is the same race cliche and white privilege all over again.

Going to a Black woman with an article you read tends to only work if you and that person have discussed the topic and have established such a relationship. Otherwise it is the same routine all over again of whites thinking thy are awesome enough to teach and save nonwhites. The same goes for certain men coming to me with an article on women and if I were to go to a LGBT person with an article I read if I don't already have that relationship with the person. My powerful non-LGBT identity can be construed as attempting to teach and save as opposed to simply discussing a topic.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

If NPC chapters want more women of color, they should be encouraging more women of color to participate in recruitment. There are many, many, many ways this could be done. For example, the local alumnae panhellenics could reach out to high school affinity groups (black students union and so on) to include them in the pre-rush activities. You better believe, at the schools where recs are required, women of color are going to have a MUCH harder time finding them than do white women.



You should not assume that a single member of a group is authorized to speak for that entire group. That's pretty much the definition of tokenizing.

This is an interesting topic! (I've read most of the previous threads covering this.) At my suburban high school (in a college town) the Black students had a high percentage of NPHC mentors and advisors. When I got to college, I had absolutely no familiarity with the NPC recruitment system. Myself, and many of my black classmates (10% of our school system) knew plenty about the NPHC organizations, through our teachers, mentors, coaches and (in a few cases) parents. I think since NPHC organizations do have very active Alumnae/Alumni groups, the students could actively identify who was in an organization. My mentor, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho, volunteered as a track coach at my junior high and was my history teacher in high school, She also started an auxiliary group, in which participants did service. My bball coach is a member of Phi Beta Sigma who also is a motivational speaker. The local undergrad Delta chapter coached the step team at our high school (they also did community service.) We were never "recruited." When I became a Delta my SGRho mentor got me gifts and we celebrated! We had more of a familiar knowledge of basic history/cultures of the NPHC, because we watched it in action. It would've been a tough crowd of AKA, Delta, Zeta and SGRho interests asking why NPC groups don't have stepshows! (I kid...kind of .) You can only recruit the willing.

So with that, if NPC groups want "diversity," it takes a commitment to reach out to those who are not represented in their orgs. But I question how one could do so without looking like they just want these members to "diversify" their organizations. Or perhaps the concern should be less on recruitment and more on "inclusion" for those people of color who DO care to participate in NPC recruitment. (In regards to SEC schools, my midwest university has quite a few members of color in represented in NPC orgs, it's not a big deal to us, but we are a very liberal university.) Make sure that there is an opportunity for all interested ladies get a fair shot at all the houses on campus. I know that's easier said than done in many cases where Alumni control or personal biases can make equity difficult.

Just a few theories!