Race & Sororities

Hi
I'm a bi-racial (black/white) female attending Ole Miss in the fall. I want to rush, but I don't want to limit myself to historically black sororities. Is race a deciding factor in most sororities? Are any of you members of sororities with members of a race other than the majority?

Any advice or information will be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by UMryanne13

Hi
I'm a bi-racial (black/white) female attending Ole Miss in the fall. I want to rush, but I don't want to limit myself to historically black sororities. Is race a deciding factor in most sororities? Are any of you members of sororities with members of a race other than the majority?

Any advice or information will be greatly appreciated.

Discretion is key. That's all I'll say about it.

[rhoyaltempest]

Believe it or not all kinds of people (not just black) join the historically black organizations. We have a lot to offer and rich legacies so you would not be "limiting" yourself but yes, explore all the organizations you want to. Race is not as big as it once was in these orgs although things are different on different campuses and in different chapters. All you can do is be yourself and go for it and do the research. Good Luck.

[cbm]

Originally Posted by OTW

Discretion is key. That's all I'll say about it.

Ditto this. Just don't make a big deal of race either way, and you should be ok.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by cbm

Ditto this. Just don't make a big deal of race either way, and you should be ok.

I think at Ole Miss, this may not be true. Maybe OleMissGlitter will come by and comment on the racial make-up of the sororities at Ole Miss. I refuse to call any of the chapter members racists since the lack of non-white members may be due to a lack of non-white PNMs, but I can't remember seeing too may non-white members in the pictures from that campus. Can someone give this woman an honest answer? She can rush if she wants, but maybe she should have a realistic idea of her chances.

[cbm]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I think at Ole Miss, this may not be true. Maybe OleMissGlitter will come by and comment on the racial make-up of the sororities at Ole Miss. I refuse to call any of the chapter members racists since the lack of non-white members may be due to a lack of non-white PNMs, but I can't remember seeing too may non-white members in the pictures from that campus. Can someone give this woman an honest answer? She can rush if she wants, but maybe she should have a realistic idea of her chances.

My sister was a Phi Mu at Ole Miss. Rushess are predominantely white, but they're not all blonde and blue-eyed. If you get my drift....that is why I advised the OP to just not mention it either way.

It's really sad that this is still an issue in today's world.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by cbm

My sister was a Phi Mu at Ole Miss. Rushess are predominantely white, but they're not all blonde and blue-eyed. If you get my drift....that is why I advised the OP to just not mention it either way.

It's really sad that this is still an issue in today's world.

I agree it's sad, but realistically in the south it will be a problem for awhile longer. I'm ashamed to look back and know that my chapter would NEVER have pledged an African American member. It was the culture of the times, and I am shamed that I didn't find fault with it then.

As for not mentioning it, we have no idea what this woman looks like. Not all mixed race people can hide their ethnicity, nor do many of them want to.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by cbm

My sister was a Phi Mu at Ole Miss. Rushess are predominantely white, but they're not all blonde and blue-eyed. If you get my drift....that is why I advised the OP to just not mention it either way.

Do you mean that she shouldn't ask them the question she asked GC?

Or do you mean that race is one of those topics like politics and religion that should be avoided, altogether. I don't agree with restricting topics like that but a lot of people do.

Originally Posted by cbm

It's really sad that this is still an issue in today's world.

Why shouldn't it still be an issue? Has something changed and I wasn't sent the memo?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by cbm

Ditto this. Just don't make a big deal of race either way, and you should be ok.

Although this would ideally be the case, and is the case at the vast majority of colleges and universities, there are still some parts of the country where this view is hopelessly naive. I know full well that if I hadn't rushed where I did, that I may not have been accepted with open arms the way I was in my chapter.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Although this would ideally be the case, and is the case at the vast majority of colleges and universities, there are still some parts of the country where this view is hopelessly naive. I know full well that if I hadn't rushed where I did, that I may not have been accepted with open arms the way I was in my chapter.

Same here. I considered LSU in HS and I am fairly certain that I would have gone bidless had I gone there and participated in recruitment.

Race is still an issue at some of the larger, more competitive recruitments in the south. So advising someone that "race isn't an issue" or "shouldn't be an issue" is not the best thing.

Also, regards to: "just don't make a big deal of race either way, and you should be ok." Race is race. It's impossible to "downplay" or "ingnore race" because well, it's not like a coat or something that you can take on and off.

Is it unfortunate that it's still an issue? Sure. But we can't advise people that "it'll be ok if they just downplay it."

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also, regards to: "just don't make a big deal of race either way, and you should be ok." Race is race. It's impossible to "downplay" or "ingnore race" because well, it's not like a coat or something that you can take on and off.

Is it unfortunate that it's still an issue? Sure. But we can't advise people that "it'll be ok if they just downplay it."

Oh, she meant for the OP to hide it? Hmmmm.

That's sad and has opposite than the desired effect. It makes race, ethnicity, and culture some kind of scarlet letter or controversial topic when it doesn't have to be. The way to make race not a bad thing is NOT to ignore it altogether. We all were taught some racial, ethnic, or cultural identities.

[cbm]

I did not mean for the OP to hide her race, I should have clarified... I would not make a mention of her race being a deciding factor to the sororities when obtaining recs or during rush. This was in response to her comment re: limiting herself.

I think it's probably difficult for any black woman to get a 100% fair rush in the South or parts of the Midwest, partly due to the fact that 99% of rushees are white. I went to a Big 12 with a very active Greek system and only recall 3-4 black rushees coming through while I was on the chapter side of rush. They all got bids to decent houses.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by cbm

I think it's probably difficult for any black woman to get a 100% fair rush in the South or parts of the Midwest, partly due to the fact that 99% of rushees are white. I went to a Big 12 with a very active Greek system and only recall 3-4 black rushees coming through while I was on the chapter side of rush. They all got bids to decent houses.

you might be pleasantly surprised cbm, that many southern chapters have members of ethnicities other than caucasian.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by cbm

I think it's probably difficult for any black woman to get a 100% fair rush in the South or parts of the Midwest, partly due to the fact that 99% of rushees are white.

I'd be interested as to what exactly you are basing this on - first, what do you define as "100% fair rush"? There are plenty of white women who don't feel they had "100% fair rush". Trust me - their mothers will come here and complain about it. There are many reasons why any woman, black, white, purple or green, might not be extended a bid to a sorority. Legacies are cut on a regular basis - does that mean they weren't given a "100% fair rush"? Unless you were in the membership selection of a particular chapter, you cannot say with any certainty why a pnm was not invited back or given a bid. Is it possible race could be a factor? Of course - but you shouldn't present what is a possibility as a fact.

Not knowing ANYTHING about the membership selection of the chapters in the South and Midwest you reference, and also not knowing ANYTHING about the black pnms who do go through recruitment, you really should not make a gross generalization like this. It's the kind of comment which could influence black women and convince them there is no point in going through recruitment. Then the problem becomes a vicious circle. No black pnms go through recruitment, so chapters remain largely white.

I personally know of many southern and midwestern G Phi Bs of color - a veritible rainbow of sisters. The best way to solve the issue of race is to encourage women to go through recruitment - not telling them it is "probably" difficult based simply on your gut instinct. By your own admission, in the seemingly enlightened Big 12 you only had 3 - 4 black pnms going through - so why aren't there more? And does that mean your chapters are 99% white? If so, does that mean it is because of racism?

[baci]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'd be interested as to what exactly you are basing this on - first, what do you define as "100% fair rush"? There are plenty of white women who don't feel they had "100% fair rush". Trust me - their mothers will come here and complain about it. There are many reasons why any woman, black, white, purple or green, might not be extended a bid to a sorority. Legacies are cut on a regular basis - does that mean they weren't given a "100% fair rush"? Unless you were in the membership selection of a particular chapter, you cannot say with any certainty why a pnm was not invited back or given a bid. Is it possible race could be a factor? Of course - but you shouldn't present what is a possibility as a fact.

Not knowing ANYTHING about the membership selection of the chapters in the South and Midwest you reference, and also not knowing ANYTHING about the black pnms who do go through recruitment, you really should not make a gross generalization like this. It's the kind of comment which could influence black women and convince them there is no point in going through recruitment. Then the problem becomes a vicious circle. No black pnms go through recruitment, so chapters remain largely white.

I personally know of many southern and midwestern G Phi Bs of color - a veritible rainbow of sisters. The best way to solve the issue of race is to encourage women to go through recruitment - not telling them it is "probably" difficult based simply on your gut instinct. By your own admission, in the seemingly enlightened Big 12 you only had 3 - 4 black pnms going through - so why aren't there more? And does that mean your chapters are 99% white? If so, does that mean it is because of racism?

I would have to pretty much agree with SWTXBelle on her above post.

I know countless "white" females that don't meet with success during recruitment and what do we say about that? When it comes to "people of color" (and I mean any other color than one classified as "white") really think about how many people go through recruitment. In most cases (notice I say most), we do know if you go through the process you will be placed somewhere. Maybe it is just that "people of color" choose not to go through recruitment for numerous reasons.

To even begin to bring the thought of racism into it is quite sad. We definitely do not know the selection process in every single sorority on every campus. Might there be some that would not vote for a "person of color" - sure. It could very well be that same group that does not vote many white people into their membership. (Is it then fair for those white PNM's) To say some of the things that have been said truly keep women from even entering the process and as a result, keep "people of color" from pledging.

It is hard on some campuses to be "white" and be selected into membership. I truly feel each woman needs to stand on her own two feet with confidence and go through the system. It is with great hope that this person does go through rush and give the process a chance. I wish her the very best and I hope she comes back and tells us all about her experiences.