Minorities in 'white' frats/sororities

[DGqueen17]

I dunno. When I first saw this thread I was like huh? Because I never think about the fact that some of my sisters are black. I just think of them as crazy Sarah or Amy with the cute Burberry bag. Just my sisters.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
We've had instances were NPC women will tell women (both white and non-white) that our organizations are only for Black/Latino/Asian women. It's sad because they actually thought they were telling them the truth. I honestly don't see how anyone could believe that in this day and age.

Oh, I can see how it happens, especially when the NPHC chapters at your campus might be all African-American. Sometimes, and this is even more true when you're only a freshman or sophomore, you aren't 100% aware of the fact that not every Greek system is exactly like yours. I've had plenty of NPHC members tell me that my organization was just for white women...au contraire!

At my undergrad, there were a lot of people--Greeks and non-Greeks--who thought Kappa Alpha Theta was a nationally Jewish sorority because of the fact that the vast majority of sisters were Jewish, they co-sponsored several annual events with Hillel, and they had mixers with AEPi. They obviously aren't, but that was the frame of reference my classmates had to go on.

[roqueemae]

This post makes me all warm and fuzzy-like

Originally posted by phikappapsiman
So here's my funny "minority" story...

Back in the late 1980's (around 1989 or so), I decided to take a road trip from my parents house in Tennessee back to Palo Alto. I had been out of college for a few years, and I really wanted to see some of the other Phi Psi chapters, knowing that my chapter at Stanford was DEFINITELY more racially diverse than others, especially in the South. So, I was really apprehensive about stopping by Ole Miss and OU and some of the other schools, because even though I am a Brother (fraternity wise), I am also a Brother (African-American wise) as well.

Anyway, I pull up to the Ole Miss house, debating whether or not to go knock on the door, and I basically say to myself, "...What the F***..." and knock. This guy opens the door, I introduce myself, and he made me feel SO welcome-it was like visiting a chapter anywhere! I stayed the night, talked to the guys, and I even met up with a few of them in Memphis a few years later as they were trying to start an alumni chapter there.

The bottom line is...I was so caught up in my own worries and insecurity about race that I overlooked the important thing-I was as much of a brother as any other Phi Psi. Now, would I have ever been a member of that chapter? Probably not, but each chapter is individual and chooses their members based upon what is best for that particular chapter. My Cal Beta chapter is not the same as PhiPsiRuss's Florida Alpha chapter, or IowaStatePhiPsi's Iowa Beta chapter, but I am sure that if I were to visit either one, I would be welcome, as they would at my chapter. College life is so short that finding a group that you like and that likes you should be the one thing that matters most...

"...I can't deny the fact that you like me...Right now you LIKE me!..."
Sally Field, Oscar Night 1984

[sigtau305]

Originally posted by JocelynC
I'm going to be really bold and say something:

As a black member of an NPC sorority, I think others like me need to just be Phi Mu, Tri Sigma, Chi Omega or whatever and not be concerned wth whatever anyone else thinks or speculates about their membership. I sure don't.

And in response as to why bblacks and hispanics don't typically join NPC's, I'll repost what I said in another thread.

---------

Speaking as a Black member of an NPC sorority:

Ok, we can all agree that NPC's are HISTORICALLY white organizations although not entirely (I'm evidence of that). All I think people are trying to say is that you should qualify it with "historically" instead of just white because that gives the impression that the org is specifically for whites. Hence the reason why I don't say "black fraternity/sorority", because it unfairly limits the organization.

And also, while I think diversity in our chapters is important, I do not feel it's appropriate to "target" minority women for that specific reason. I'm a Tri Sigma because my sisters felt I would make a good addition to the chapter, NOT because I would make it "diverse". I think sometimes that we as a conference need to let our organizations speak for themselves and not look at diversity as this quantitative thing that can be measured by the number of faces like mine on a composite.

And on the subject of why multicutural organization exist, people have different needs. Yes, NPC/IFC's serve a myriad of non-race specific causes (Children's Miracle Network, Make A Wish, etc) and that's great. Our organizations are changing as more and more women of different races go through recruitment. The values encompassed by NPC's are those that are shared by a universal group of women no matter their color.


THERE are many men and women who would prefer to join something that was FOUNDED on the core values of their culture and building their community up. As all encompassing as NPC's mission is, it cannot specifically address the needs of the hispanic/black/asian communities in the specific way that multicultural or orgs historically based in those cultures can. Those orgs exist to honor build and address the needs of men and women in those communites and for them to keep their "ear" to what goes on there while working closely with people of their own race. There is nothing wrong with that.

Again, I love being in the NPC, it encompasses all types of women and charitable causes. But some women prefer to address the needs of their specific ethnic community and with the broadness of the NPC, she may be more likely to be able to so in an NPHC or multicultural org.

Simply put, the NPC/IFC cannot address the issues and causes SPECIFICALLY facing African Americans, Hispanics, etc. so that's where these organizations come in and I respect them. They have a very important and valid place in the Greek world.

Good Post.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Oh, I can see how it happens, especially when the NPHC chapters at your campus might be all African-American. Sometimes, and this is even more true when you're only a freshman or sophomore, you aren't 100% aware of the fact that not every Greek system is exactly like yours. I've had plenty of NPHC members tell me that my organization was just for white women...au contraire!

At my undergrad, there were a lot of people--Greeks and non-Greeks--who thought Kappa Alpha Theta was a nationally Jewish sorority because of the fact that the vast majority of sisters were Jewish, they co-sponsored several annual events with Hillel, and they had mixers with AEPi. They obviously aren't, but that was the frame of reference my classmates had to go on.

But that's not the case at my university. We have VERY diverse chapters within our council. So they were just pulling stuff outta their arse in my opinion.

[sambadoll]

I'd have to agree, and I like the perspectives I'm seeing here. Perhaps I am too concerned about reasons for this or that.
I also really appreciate the story about visting another phi psi house, that one shouldn't be apprehensive.
I think I was just trying to point out, that while it's great that some don't view respective brothers/sisters as anything but that, apprehension is still there for others, like me.
Like I've said, my sisters love me and we joke and it's all cool. I realize, although I think more so now that I've asked other opinions, it may be an insecurity. It's a growing up process. But I don't believe that it's not an issue for all people either. I suppose it doesn't matter. You go where you feel comfortable, and if that issue makes you feel that uncomfortable, then you just wouldn't go there.

And also,
I made this name a long time ago, when I was a big bossa nova nut. So 'samba' is in reference to the dance.

[CarolinaDG]

I think... and I know I can't be very educated on this subject because I only know about large southern schools... that it also depends on the size and locale of the chapter. When I was an undergrad, there was this completely cool mixed girl in my chapter. All of us saw her as just that... cool, outgoing, and the kind of person you always wanted to be around. But, being in the south, there were the ones who certainly made snap judgements about a chapter that would *gasp* let in a person who was not completely white. And on the flipside, there were judgements about her for not *gasp* embracing her culture by joining a historically black sorority (believe it or not, it's just as much of a stigma as far as what could be wrong with this girl if she "couldn't get into" one of the historically black sororities). Chances are, someone who is not completely white in a historically white sorority is going to feel uncomfortable at times. Unfortunately, there are still many many many people who are stuck back in the traditional race roles of sororities/fraternities.

[phikappapsiman]

Originally posted by roqueemae
This post makes me all warm and fuzzy-like

It's all about the love...


"...Why can't we all just get along..."

Rodney King

[PrettyKittieJ]

Of course I had to put my now deserved 19.25 in.

As an African- American female (and Native American) I can see the many points that people are making and so many of them are relevant to the way that my school works.

BUT with my school also being in the South I think that there is more discrimination in the NPC so you usually dont see alot of minorities trying to join their organizations.

I also dont understand, no offense to the NPC ladies here - how your system works. I dont get how it is fair to pay a fee, pick 3 and then hope you get the one you want?

I pledge my frat (Co-Ed) b/c I researched it and found that I could honestly add to the organization and grow within it. And whatdoyaknow - my first semester as a brother and already I am holding a position.

So if an NPC lady would like to explain to me the progress more in depth I would greatly appreciate it....

But my frat is awesomely diverse - men and women from all different creeds who are also members of the NPC, NPHC and IFC - so we are kind of like a big melting pot and I enjoy that!

[soror_hopeful]

I'm am a minority interested in spring recuitment for a historically white sorority. i havent really told many people outside my very best friends and family and they totally support my decison and tell me i need to be at a place that i feel comfortable and not somewhere where i am exepected to go.

[PrettyKittieJ]

Originally posted by soror_hopeful
I'm am a minority interested in spring recuitment for a historically white sorority. i havent really told many people outside my very best friends and family and they totally support my decison and tell i need to be at a place that i feel comfortable and not somewhere where i am exepect to go.

And your friends are exactly right and I think that you are bold in making the decision to NOT do something that was historically black.

My thing is - and I have admitted this - that I did look at some of the sororities in the NPC - but I just wasnt okay with the fact that I might not get into the sorority of my choice and that I had to pick 3 and even after I rushing I may not get in...

Whereas when it comes to the frat I am in now and the NPHC sorority that I may decide to pledge - they are both organizations that I researched and decided that it was something that I wanted to do...

What would I do if I wanted to Pledge Delta Zeta or Kappa Delta (the two I was looking at...) and I picked them and Alpha Omicron Pi....and I researched all of them and figured that I would/could fit into either of them and then didnt get picked for any? Isnt that like a slap in the face?

I dunno = thats why I want someone to explain this to me....

[soror_hopeful]

Originally posted by PrettyKittieJ
And your friends are exactly right and I think that you are bold in making the decision to NOT do something that was historically black.

My thing is - and I have admitted this - that I did look at some of the sororities in the NPC - but I just wasnt okay with the fact that I might not get into the sorority of my choice and that I had to pick 3 and even after I rushing I may not get in...

Whereas when it comes to the frat I am in now and the NPHC sorority that I may decide to pledge - they are both organizations that I researched and decided that it was something that I wanted to do...

What would I do if I wanted to Pledge Delta Zeta or Kappa Delta (the two I was looking at...) and I picked them and Alpha Omicron Pi....and I researched all of them and figured that I would/could fit into either of them and then didnt get picked for any? Isnt that like a slap in the face?

I dunno = thats why I want someone to explain this to me....


__________________
Im Done! ;-)

I have researching alot about historically white sororites and i am just now starting to better understand. as you may know researching sorority info in general is a lot of reading but at my university, which is in the south, the system of picking pleges in "white" sororites isthe same as u described, pick three and maybe you'll get your first or second choice....i know many people that didnt get their top sorority and pledge the second choice and are today very happy they did. and then there are the stories of those simply picking the second or third choice for the sake of just being in a sorority. as for me i didnt go through formal recuitment at my school but i am going through spring informal recuitment and its with my top sorority so that gets rid of the worries about me having to pick and second or a third choice becuz if the dont accept me then thats fine no hard feelings i will go from there....

[tunatartare]

Good Luck to you!

[Rho_Rho]

I have read alot of these posts and I feel that it is a shame that some people would feel that they would have to hide the fact that they dont want to be apart of a historically black sorority or fraternity. I mean I feel like you just do what you feel comfortable with because being greek is hard work, harder then alot of people think, and so I feel like you better love that orgainization because you're gong to be doing alot of work in its name. For me personally though it also bothers me when they say that cpc/ifc groups are "white greeks" and nphc or other multicultural councils are for "black, asian, or latin greeks." It's just so sad that people have to label our orgainizations in such a way. I know for myself that i have been approached by several people who are not black but who are interested in membership in my sorority and the first question they asked me was "if i pledged do you think i would be accepted?" I just found that so disheartening that people would feel that they wouldn't be accepted because of their race. Ok that's it. I appologize for my long winded response.

[PrettyKittieJ]

Originally posted by soror_hopeful
I have researching alot about historically white sororites and i am just now starting to better understand. as you may know researching sorority info in general is a lot of reading but at my university, which is in the south, the system of picking pleges in "white" sororites isthe same as u described, pick three and maybe you'll get your first or second choice....i know many people that didnt get their top sorority and pledge the second choice and are today very happy they did. and then there are the stories of those simply picking the second or third choice for the sake of just being in a sorority. as for me i didnt go through formal recuitment at my school but i am going through spring informal recuitment and its with my top sorority so that gets rid of the worries about me having to pick and second or a third choice becuz if the dont accept me then thats fine no hard feelings i will go from there....

Thanks for that information - it is much appreciated.