BGLO and GLO

[MeezDiscreet]

Originally posted by BlueandBlueHey...no real comment but I just wanted to remind you guys that a lot of people find the term "WGLO" somewhat offensive.

Originally posted by LeslieAGD:
Just a side note, maybe "social GLO" would be a more PC and less offensive term than "white GLO."

anyhow, pm_mama00 addresses the topic of voluntary segregation on college campuses. but, and this goes back to grade school, people have ALWAYS associated themselves with people who they sense familiarity with. so, of course they are separated more from the wglos, but the same way that greeks are separated from non-greeks, athletes and non-athletes. and to that i say: SO WHAT?

and, i really want you to go back and read then re-read, and possibly read again, ideal08's first response and pay attention to what she says about the history behind bglos.

------------------
I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind

[This message has been edited by MeezDiscreet (edited June 29, 2001).]

[showstopper_1908]

PM_Mama00, when it comes to joining a NPHC (the 9 historically Black Greek Letter Organizations) people tend to join based on what the organizations goals are. They join because of what the organization stands for. I am from NYC and I know so many Latino's who are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. I know a few white members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and I know 1 white member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and 1 white member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity. These organizations are well respected around the country and even highly respected around the world. All of the people that I know love and honor their affiliation and wouldn't change it for a thing. They are all very active. Yes, one of my friends has dealt with people who didn't agree with his choice, but you move on. In life people will find any reason to judge you based on your hair style, your shoes, what ever. Maybe this person went to a school where the social Greek Organizations were about partying, drinking and sex. Maybe the BGLO's were the only positives Greeks on their campus. Maybe they valued scholarship and no other organization on their campus did. Maybe they wanted to be apart of an organization that you can be active in for life, not just until you get your Bachelors. Maybe the social Greeks only wanted you if your daddy had a lot of money and a house where they could party on weekends. Everyone has a choice, it's no ones business why they came to the conclusion that they did when choosing what they wanted to be affiliated with for life. I know that when I meet a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha of another race that I greet her with open arms because she is my sister no matter what. PM_Mama00, don't judge an international organization based on the members on your campus. That is only a small percentage of a huge population. To be chosen for membership into these organizations is an honor, it's not to be segregated. For the record, there are members of all races in NPHC organizations, they are historically black because they were founded by black people. We were using the term WGLO's because those organizations were founded by white people, but today include may races (but I don't know 1 black person who is a member of one, funny huh?) The same goes for the historically Latino/a organizations. I know black people who are members but again, they were founded by Latino's/Latina's and they are the majority of the membership.

[This message has been edited by showstopper_1908 (edited June 29, 2001).]

[Nubian]

Awwwwww, I didn't mean to be harsh. I meant well, maybe the previous post just touched a nerve. Sorry if I was rude.

God Bless

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by Kimmie1913:


BGLO's DO NOT discriminate on the basis of race. I have met members of all 9 BGL organizations who represent all races. I have Black, White, Asian and Latina Sorors in Delta Sigma Theta. Please do your homework before spreading misconceptions.

Now your experience may be tha you hav eonly encountered chapters that were 100% Black but that does not represnt the entire organization. Just as I have encountered many GLO's that were 100% White.

I would'nt know what girls were Delta Sigma Theta because I've only seen one girl that has worn her letters. Also, I've only seen one man who wears Alpha Phi Alpha letters. So I'm sorry. maybe I was wrong.



[This message has been edited by PM_Mama00 (edited June 30, 2001).]

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by Ideal08:


Do you invite the BGLO's on your campus to party with you? On my campus, BGLO's DID participate in GreekWeek. And they DID party with the GLO's.

There needs to be BGLO's, just like there needs to be a Black Miss America pageant, just like there needs to be Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU's), etc. We have to provide for OURSELVES what America has not provided for us. Plain and simple.

Does that help?

First of all, as I had said before, BGLO's rarely wear their letters. A lot of people didn't know we had them till we saw a list of Student Orgs. They are more than welcome to participate in Greek Week, but if we never see them around, how are we supposed to ask them? We don't know any of them and it's not like we are able to make the effort to. Parties are not just for Greeks. The fraternties on campus makes extremely large signs advertising their party, whether Alpha Kappa Alphas or Delta Sigma Thetas are there is beyond me. We will talk to anyone who will be social with us. Without that, we never know who they are.

As for black beauty pagents, there have been so many black miss teen usas. I see no discrimination there. Vanessa Williams, and there was a woman from Michigan a while ago who was crowned. I dont know now becuz I dont watch them anymore. I'm not saying do away with them, I just don't understand them.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by showstopper_1908:
We were using the term WGLO's because those organizations were founded by white people, but today include may races (but I don't know 1 black person who is a member of one, funny huh?) The same goes for the historically Latino/a organizations. I know black people who are members but again, they were founded by Latino's/Latina's and they are the majority of the membership.

[This message has been edited by showstopper_1908 (edited June 29, 2001).]

I dont mean to judge BGLOs based on my campus. However, you say that u dont know one black social fraternity guy, and then u say funny huh? Well, on my campus there are many black men who are a part of Delta Sigma Phi, and I totally love each of them. I don't see them for their color, I see them for their personality.

[SweetestDiva]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00:
I would'nt know what girls were Delta Sigma Theta because I've only seen one girl that has worn her letters. Also, I've only seen one man who wears Alpha Kappa Alpha letters. So I'm sorry. maybe I was wrong.

Just because they're not wearing para everyday doesn't mean they're not out there! I guarantee you they're doing service of their own. And you must be mistaken about seeing a man in AKA letters... I hope so, anyway.

Originally posted by PM_Mama00:
As for black beauty pagents, there have been so many black miss teen usas. I see no discrimination there. Vanessa Williams, and there was a woman from Michigan a while ago who was crowned.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by SweetestDiva:

Sorry....didnt mean to quote the . Anyway, yes I meant Alpha Phi Alpha

[LeslieAGD]

What's up with the eye rolling on this topic? That's the type of thing that makes others want to respond with nasty posts!

[BlueandBlue]

Guys, not to be Captain Obvious but haven't we learned from the last million and one threads on this topic that as soon as this topic comes up, nastiness on both sides inevitably follows? The eye rolling is totally unnecessary, by the way. Just because we aren't living experts on the BGLO's on our schools does not make us deserving of eye rolls. Anyway, like I said, the BGLO vs. GLO topic ALWAYS gets hostile. Do we really want to go through this AGAIN????

[MeezDiscreet]

ya'll kill me!! i mean, ya'll really have me laughing!! *what's with the eye rolling* and *the eye rolling isn't necessary* so very funny to me!! does the eye rolling offend you all that much? maybe you shouldn't post if you don't know how to shake things off.

as i am not a member of any greek lettered organization, i can't speak for them, BUT, i will go out on a limb and assert that this topic is pretty exasperating. i'm sure members of bglo's get tired of defending their existence and purpose just as members of any other greek org. that is not historically blacks gets tired of defending the "sorority girls are sluts" and "fraternity boys just drink beer" stereotypes.



[This message has been edited by MeezDiscreet (edited July 01, 2001).]

[SweetestDiva]

Originally posted by worriedsenior:
Isn't it a matter of opportunity as well? I will be going through rush this fall and everything I have read suggest the possibility of getting a bid from a sorority will rely on numerous variables. Yes, I will face discrimination, but on a different level than what blacks have suffered/are suffering. In other areas, there may be a different attitude towards rushing people from a different ethnic background. Do you really think at campuses like LSU, an intelligent, black female would be given the same consideration as her "paper" equivalent who is white? So, by having a BGLO, this woman has the chance to experience sisterhood and perhaps more importantly, enter into a network of people who will encourage and aid her in rising to success.
It would be ludicrous to suggest attitudes that have formed over years and years can be changed by merely integrating a social organization. Change will come one person at a time. That is where the leadership within each respective organization must pave the way. On a grand scale, all Greek organizations should strive to create opportunities for interaction between the groups. However, a sisterhood is a family and like all families, different traditions and rituals exist. Seperation is not always negative.
Instead of focusing on erasing our differences, we should celebrate them.
If anything I have said offends anyone, I am sorry. It is not due to a lack of sensitivity, rather a lack of writing skills.

Amen.

[SweetestDiva]

MeezDiscreet -
Girrrl.. that is why I said I wanted to meet you! Too crazy.

And to those who felt compelled to admonish me... if you read my post carefully, you would note I rolled my eyes at the part about the Miss America. Like naming Vanessa Williams and "some other girl" justified a point. NOT at her confusion on the BGLO representation. We're all adults, so please don't try to chastise me.

In the words of my girl MD..

That's how I feel about that.

[Sig624EI]

Why does every other post on here turn into someone taking a shot at someone else rather than just answering a post?

Can't we all just get along. Oh, and I am a fraternity guy, and I do like a beer now and then. :::read sarcasm:::

I like greek orgs. They are good, they are like lays chips, you can't just have one. I think having a lot of different ones is cool. I mean if we got rid of GLO's or BGLO's then why stop? Then why not get rid of them all, and we could have just one fraternity and sorority, just XYZ, that would make it easier for the GDI's... I'm sorry it's late and I must have been sipp'n some of Tom Earp's private stock.....

[mdstudent]

Even though this topic has been discussed many times it obviously is important enough to get the number of responses it has so far so I'll add my opinion. First, I'm sure it was just a slip of the finger, or maybe it is the way you truly feel, but why would you make a statement like you have black friends that chose to join "regular" GLO's instead of black ones? Who are those organizations "regular" to? You, the people on your campus, your friends, family? I as a young black man in college consider the 9 NPHC organizations regular. So as you see what you consider regular probably isn't the same in my book. Now, I feel that BGLO's are still needed and they serve a vital purpose not only in the black community, but in the community in general. And the truth of the matter is, GLO's and BGLO's are fundamentally different. When you become
a member of a GLO it is pretty much for your college years. You may see some frat brothers here and there but there really isn't any active participation after graduation. The exact opposite is
true of BGLO's. In fact I would venture to say from what I have seen, more work is done on the graduate level than on the undergrad level simply because you have become more mature and financially secure. If you have been around members of BGLO's you will see a deep sense of pride and commitment to their respective organizations from the moment they become members until the day they die. It is an extremely important part of who they are. It is something that ties
generations of families together. It is something that is hard to understand if you have not grown up with family members or friends who are not members. It is a bond that is unmatched by any GLO I have ever seen.If you want further elaboration on the differences I recommend you look
for the thread the distinguished brother of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. (I believe his name is IotaNet) wrote. And for that reason, I can tell you without hesitation, I as a young black college student would never and have never wanted to be a member of any organization other than one of the 5 NPHC fraternities. You may call that racist, narrow minded or you may say I have a
segregation mentality, but that is just the way I feel. The Divine 9 have been in the forefront of the struggles of not just black Americans but all Americans since their beginning, from the participation in the women’s rights in the early 20th century to the recent Florida election scandal. So when people ask why do we still need BGLO's I shake my head because if you knew the history of the organizations, what they have been doing for almost 100 years, and
the important members they have had and have now, a question like that wouldn't even enter
your mind.