Black/Multiracial women in "White" sororities

[Discogoddess]

NPCmember:

Just as a point of reference, African-American-founded organizations are just as "traditional" as other GLOs founded by whites. I hate the use of the words traditional, mainstream, majority, etc. to describe institutions that are largely and/or historically white, which implies that nonwhite institutions are somehow less valid.

To your statement about blacks attending white institutions and affiliating with black organizations while there: Why wouldn't blacks want to get educations from the nation's top schools, whether they are historically white or black institutions? And while there, black students may feel the need to affiliate with those familiar to them or those who share their same experiences and/ or beliefs. Isn't that kind of the point of joining ANY greek organization, to fellowship with like-minded individuals? So why would blacks be any different?

Why is it not odd that whites associate with each other freely and at times, exclusively at these same institutions? Why is there no outcry about that? At my university, no one batted an eye when white students ate, studied, lived, and partied in all-white settings, but had a coronary when black, Asian, Arab, Latino students did the same. Why is that?

[mgdzkm433]

you see discogoddess, you are thinking the same thing I am, only in reverse. Why would a white person not want to attend a college that (might be predominantly black) but has a great program for their major? Why wouldn't a white person want to join a BGLO if they share like-mindedness? The point is, both predominantly white organizations and predominantly black organizations and any other orginizations that are greek run along the same lines in focus. They ALL contribute to the community and society as a whole in some way, shape, or form. They might NOT have been founded for the same REASONS, but they all share a common goal, and that is to better the world we live in. In my opinion, it shouldn't matter what organization you join as long as you have the aims and ideals in mind and a love for what your organization you are in. In other words, you shouldn't join a GLO cause you're white and you shouldn't join a BGLO cause you're black. You should join XYZ cause it supports Animal Rights and you are all for that, or you should join GRT cause they help further research for breast cancer, or join YJR cause they are professional organization in your field.

[This message has been edited by mgdzkm433 (edited June 13, 2000).]

[equeen]

My personal experience, now that I think about it, is that in my chapter, there 2 sisters that are black, and 2 that are Native American. There's 1 that's Chinese-American, a couple who are Greek-American. I am Indian-American. Most everyone else is white - however there are a couple sisters who are quite proud of their heritage (one sister is from the South, for example, and another sister has Norse heritage). I've no idea what anyone else's cultural identity struggles have been like; I know I've caught some flak now and then for not hanging out with Indians enough. I've never really understood the logic of that: either I'm with Indians, or against Indians? <shrug>...I have my values, and I live up to them...I don't need to prove anything to anyone, as long as I'm true to myself.

[PandaBear]

Originally posted by mgdzkm433:
The point is, both predominantly white organizations and predominantly black organizations and any other orginizations that are greek run along the same lines in focus. They ALL contribute to the community and society as a whole in some way, shape, or form. They might NOT have been founded for the same REASONS, but they all share a common goal, and that is to better the world we live in. In my opinion, it shouldn't matter what organization you join as long as you have the aims and ideals in mind and a love for what your organization you are in. In other words, you shouldn't join a GLO cause you're white and you shouldn't join a BGLO cause you're black. You should join XYZ cause it supports Animal Rights and you are all for that, or you should join GRT cause they help further research for breast cancer, or join YJR cause they are professional organization in your field.

[This message has been edited by mgdzkm433 (edited June 13, 2000).]

Well said! I would agree with these thoughts - you should go where YOU can be supportive of the aims & ideals of that organization. This will make you a better member through your support of the group, while making the group stronger in improving our communities. This, to me, is what mattered when I chose my group! I support the goals of my group 110%, and through each individual effort, our sisters have been able to be more active and productive in the community.

PandaBear & NPCgirl,
Your culture is a reflection of yourself, so how can you be true to yourself withour recognizing your culture? ( I'M GOING TO PAUSE SO YOU CAN READ THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT AGAIN AND GET A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING).........................OKAY. That's who you are and where you've come from, whether you are Black, White, or Biracial.

NPCMember,
I hope your mental capacity isn't that shallow to really make a comment like that. I'll let you read DiscoGoddess's response AGAIN, because she hit the nail on top of the head.

[PandaBear]

Originally posted by sadeluv:
PandaBear & NPCgirl,
Your culture is a reflection of yourself, so how can you be true to yourself withour recognizing your culture? ( I'M GOING TO PAUSE SO YOU CAN READ THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT AGAIN AND GET A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING).........................OKAY. That's who you are and where you've come from, whether you are Black, White, or Biracial.

NPCMember,
I hope your mental capacity isn't that shallow to really make a comment like that. I'll let you read DiscoGoddess's response AGAIN, because she hit the nail on top of the head.

What I am trying to say is that I believe in the ideals of my GLO, and that I joined the group because I knew I would belong regardless of my cultural background.

I'm glad to discuss this issue with you (or anyone), but do you have to sound so condescending? I'm not going to PAUSE so you can re-read that statement because I'm assuming you would do so anyway! As far as the proverbial "nail" goes, it has been hit on the head by many different hammers. I'll respect your opinion as long as you respect mine.

Originally posted by sadeluv:
PandaBear & NPCgirl,
Your culture is a reflection of yourself, so how can you be true to yourself without recognizing your culture?

Gee, how many times have I heard THAT argument?

Don't make assumptions about things you know nothing about. Aside from what I've posted on this topic, you know absoultly nothing about me JUST as I know nothing about you.
As I said before, I'm happy with my decision and had race been the issue,which is was not,
I would not have been given a bid. The content of my character and what I have to offer & contribute was/is enough for my sorority.
http://www.phisigmasigma.org

I invite you to look at my fraternity's national website. (yes, we are known as a women's fraternity)
http://www.npcwomen.org

I also invite you to look at the NPC website which has links to all 26 NPC houses. Each has something unique & different to offer.


"Never limit yourself, open your eyes and see the world for all it's possibilities!"

PandaBear,
My intent was not to disrespect your opinion. If I didn't respect your opinion, I would not have responded.

NPCgirl-phisig?
Apparently you haven't heard it enough. I don't have to know you to say that "your culture is a reflection of you." That's not an assumption.


"If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything."

[Finer Woman10-A-91]

You took the words right from my mouth! And just a little FYI...FACT...people of color are NOT minorities...people of color are indeed the MAJORITY.

Originally posted by Discogoddess:
NPCmember:

Just as a point of reference, African-American-founded organizations are just as "traditional" as other GLOs founded by whites. I hate the use of the words traditional, mainstream, majority, etc. to describe institutions that are largely and/or historically white, which implies that nonwhite institutions are somehow less valid.

------------------
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

[Asia2000]

EQueen - What organization do you belong to? It's so diverse, I am curious.

Anyway, I looked very closely at both the traditionally white and traditionally black sororities. Greek life appealed to me. I examined all my options. I signed up for NPC rush, had my application all ready -- but once I got on campus and learned about the NPC sororities and met girls in the sororities, I realized that wasn't for me.

I found the NPHC sororities very appealing -- something about the passion they have for their organizations and the pride they show -- it really sort of personified what I had expected from greekdom.

But, I soon realized that I would never quite fit in all the way (this is my experience only -- not speaking for everyone else). I realized that was't right for me either - especially after reading some of the comments written by NPHC sorority members on this forum regarding their non-african-american members.

So, we decided to bring a chapter of an Asian American sorority to our campus -- we researched them all and found one that we "felt" -- and I am so happy with my decision.

God bless all of you who know they made the right decision.

Asia

Sadeluv, maybe you should go back and re-rread my post. Discogoddess, I read your ppost, and for the most part, I totally agree with you. Especially the point about

blacks getting an education from the nation's top schools, whether they are historically white or historically black.

Nowhere in my previous post will you find a statement that argues that. Furthermore, you go on to state:

And while there, black students may feel the need to affiliate with those familiar to them or those who share their same experiences and/ or beliefs. Isn't that kind of the point of joining ANY greek organization, to fellowship with like-minded individuals? So why would blacks be any different?

Once again you make an excellent point. However, I'm not sure how it relates to my post. Maybe I should make my point clearer.

I find it quite interesting that there exists an attitude among "some" african american college students, particularly at traditional (white) universities, that black students should join black organizations, exclusively.

Do you think black students "should" join black organizations "exclusively"? I find it interesting, particularly at traditional universities, because at the Historical Black University, this is not an issue. Which brings me to this: The notion that I refer to Non-Historically Black Colleges as "Traditional" is in no way meant to imply mainstream, majority, etc. It's calling it what it is. I am an Alumni of a prestigeous, "Historically Black University". Most people refer to it as an HBCU. In any event, I take great pride in calling it what it is... an HBCU. Congress approved legislation a couple of years back, guaranteeing the preservation of the phrase,
"HBCU's",because the (HBCU) is considered a historical site. What about the organization you belong to? How often do you refer to it as a "TGLO"? Don't you call it a "BGLO"? I think most members of NPHC orgs. take great pride in calling it a "BGLO". I think "HBGLO" is more appropriate, but thats my own opinion. In any event, I was only hoping to gain a better understanding as to why people think others "should" join only one type of organization, because of their skin color.

NPCgirl-phisig
Apparently you haven't heard it enough. [/B]

Well,that's how you feel, oh well.

Sadeluv,

I forgot to ask..Did you even bother to visit the sites I suggested?

[equeen]

Originally posted by Asia2000:
EQueen - What organization do you belong to? It's so diverse, I am curious.

Asia

Asia, I'm a member of Alpha Sigma Kappa -- Women in Technical Studies. Actually, the diversity in terms of ethnicity is true of my own chapter -- I can't speak for our other two chapters, but I'm fairly sure they are not as diverse.

I like what you said:
"God bless all of you who know they made the right decision." After all, our decisions to pledge/initiate our respective GLOs are personal and from the heart! I'm glad things are working out for your sisterhood. Which one did you end up establishing a chapter for, and at what school? I'm curious.

NPCgirl-phisig,
Actually, I did look at the sites briefly.