Women of Color in NPCs?

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
a few things that are gonna get nit-picked to hell.

Whenever discussions of race come up everything will be nit-picked. We all have assumptions about each other. The only way to find out if there is any truth is to ask, discuss and move on.

[Dionysus]

I think women of color in NPCs are uncle tom sell-out negroes.

[TheEpitome1920]

Ooooh. You gonna get it!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by Dionysus
I think women of color in NPCs are uncle tom sell-out negroes.

I'm gonna go ahead and laugh b/c I'm assuming you aren't serious

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
I think it's insulting to imply the NPHC has the corner on "lifelong membership". The NPC certainly strives for the same goal and, arguably, is quite successful at it.





I take issue with this too. Look at examples from just a few NPC creeds:

"... To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand. To be unto others what we would they would be to us." FM

".... To place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive'..." CW

"...I promise temperance and insight and courage, To crusade for justice, To seek the truth and defend it always ...." DZ

"I believe in its high ideals which lift me up beyond myself. I believe in its earnest drive for good scholarship, moral character, and genuine culture..." AF



My arguement is, if you want to say joining the NPHC is a "uniquely black experience," that's fine, go for it. But it's not only untrue but also unfair to imply that the NPC doesn't strive to uplift its members and the community OR to imply the NPC doesn't require membership for life from its members.

I don't understand how, especially in a forum like this, we strive for equality and try to avoid stereotypes... somehow the NPC is left out EVERY TIME, and the sterotype of a bunch of giggling, immature, white, blonde, former high school cheerleader girls who're just in it to meet fraternity boys and get drunks continues.

Look at all the advances NPC women have made in the last 20, 50, 100 years. We are not the organization(s) we were when we started -- and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure we were ever organizations that fit the stereotype.

I'm just saying, if we're going to leave the sterotypes at the door, let's leave the stereotypes at the door.

I *think* what Bluethunder was saying was that NPHC organizations' focus was community service because we saw and still do, see a need to assist our (Black) community because no one else was/is doing so. While NPC organization may have a philanthropy (?sp) or two, NPHC orgs have 5 - 10, check out our National web sites.

And I also feel that while the creeds are very noble and should be attained, its just that they were written at a time when a. my great-grandmother could not go to a PWI and b. if she did, she would not be asked to join.

I am glad there is integration of NPC and NPHC, beacuse if you are about sisterhood, then love and respect has no color.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by sigmadiva

I am glad there is integration of NPC and NPHC, beacuse if you are about sisterhood, then love and respect has no color.

Applause!!!!

That's MY exact feeling.

[kddani]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
[B] While NPC organization may have a philanthropy (?sp) or two, NPHC orgs have 5 - 10, check out our National web sites.

I just wanted to point out that that is a very false statement.
For instance, my own NPC sorority has 5 (national) philanthropies: Girl Scouts of the USA, Prevent Child Abuse America, Orthopaedic Research Awards, Children's Hospital of Richmond Virginia, and the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship money that we raise.

Not only that, but each chapter adopts at least one local philanthropy. This is also IN ADDITION to the local panhellenic/IFC charities that receive the proceeds of Greek Week.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
One black, Asian, or Latina member in an NPC chapter does not diversity make.

I agree 100%.

My chapter tries to use our "diversity" as a selling point during recruitment. We are considered the most "diverse" chapter on campus.

Where does our diversity come from? One African American, two Indians, one Egyptian, and four Asian Americans. When you're using the fact that 8 out of 190 girls are non-whites as an example of diversity, you're way off base.

[Dedicated2Delta]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
I have to adress this comment. I've noticed that some members of NPHC groups on this board continually say that a big difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC groups is that their's is a life long commitment. This really bothers me when I hear this/see this because ours is a life long commitment too. NPC/NIC members take their commitment to their org, seriously. If we didn't we wouldn't still be around. Yes, we have members flake out on their commitment as I'm sure NPHC orgs have members flake out on their commitments. In a perfect world we'd be able to retain 100% of our membership. But the world isn't perfect.

Honestly, it wasn't until I joined this site that I heard NPC/NIC members consider their commitment as "life long." I can't tell you the number of times I have heard people in NPC/NIC orgs. say "I USED to be a XYZ" or "I WAS an ABC in college." Many of them are surprised when I talk about attending meetings and service projects with my Alumnae Sorors. They feel as if I should have let go of my sorority involvement at graduation.

I also have several African American friends who are members of Phi Mu, Alpha Phi and ADPi. While we were in college, they had a great time in their organizations. However, I have had a few mention to me that they wished they joined an NPHC organization because *in their opinion* they didn't see it as a life long commitment. But now I can encourage my friends to get active in their orgs. as alumnae members.

[RedAngel]

I have to agree with my Soror! Sisterhood is what you make it!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by Dedicated2Delta
But now I can encourage my friends to get active in their orgs. as alumnae members.

I'm glad
While I can't speak for all chapters. I'm glad to say that about 70-80% of my chapter remains active and financial as alumnae.

[bluethunder]

this is for all the individuals who wanted to quote me and elaborate on my initial post:

I am in no way implying the IFC/PC organizations do not have a lifelong commitment; however, I PERSONALLY was speaking from the perspective of an NPHC member and was mentioning why NPHC appealed to ME. that is MY OPINION and i am aptly entitled to it. FURTHER MORE, what Dedicated2Delta stated very accurately summarizes my understanding of PC/IFC greek membership; i have almost always heard them say, "I was a member of XYZ when I was an undergrad"... however, my understanding of it isn't the gospel, so there isn't any need to get up in arms... SIGMA DIVA--thank you for understanding where i am coming from and posting your reply.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

And I am entitled to MY opinion, so no need to get defensive.

With regards to your Phi Mu/ADPi/other NPC friends...

I could tell tales about ladies I know in NPHC who aren't involved in their groups after graduation, too.

I wholeheartedly agree with Red Angel -- Sisterhood IS what you make it, no matter the group.

[TheEpitome1920]

So what are we discussing again?

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

actually....

Jill started this thread because she was considering AI and wanted to hear about the experiences of women of color who had joined NPC orgs.

she has since joined an NPC org and is a proud sister of Alpha Phi.