White men in NPHC

[starang21]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Congratulations!

why would you congratulate her?

[Trey_P-I_47]

Oldblue,

If you dont mind telling me what city you are in.....I may be able to help. I attend an HBCU.....or did until I transferred.

I attended North Carolina A & T State University here in Greensboro, NC...........the reason i came to school here was for several reasons. It for one offered the major I thought I was interested in, and only like 1 of the 2 in the entire state, it offered me a chance to play football at a higher level than I even expected possible (I would have been a solid Division II player), the money was obviously right for me, and it was just far enough from home so that I could do what I needed to do, and be on my own, yet still close enough, that if something went wrong I could make it back in under 3 hours.

However, I have had to rethink my decisions. What at one time felt like the right thing to do, ended up not being so, I changed my major from Mechanical Engineering to Business Administration, I had surgery mid season last year and havent fully recovered, and I found out that the money difference isnt that much at a nearby school that fits me much better, so I am in the process of transferring.

I know that isnt helping your situation much, but now that you have a little history on me, I figured I could give a little more advice. When I was leaving high school, I knew I wanted to 'Go Greek', but upon arrival at the school for orientation I was met with nothing but contempt from the D9 groups, (before everyone gets mad, I have several good friends in ALL of the other Greek organizations, especially from the Greek Brothers on the football team) they wouldnt even give me the time of day, I expressed interest in joining a Fraternity, but it felt like none of them wanted me. So I walked a little further and ran into a table with 1 Black Guy, 1 White Guy, and 1 Asian. They then began to explain to me that all 3 of them were Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha, a fairly new Fraternity on campus (only being on campus for 4 years, and chartered that year) and that I should come out once school started. So they ended up getting my information and when Fall came around I was invited to the various events (mostly sporting, and an occasional party or 2), but I was getting to know the guys really well, and by that spring I was initiated, hands down best decision of my life so far.

So I guess what I am saying is dont give up until you find whats right for you. There are 2 different Historically White fraternities on 2 of the larger HBCU's Campuses. The Pikes (Pi Kappa Alpha) are at Howard, and the Lambda Chis are at A&T. So if you happen to attend one of those schools, dont miss out on them, but in the end you are going to have to do what is right for you, whether it be a D9 Group, an Historically White group already in existence, or some Group that you decide to help colonize there, Local or National, you have to do what makes you happy. Just dont give up if you dont find what you are looking for right off, there are other options, and plenty of people willing to help out.........after all alot of these groups are Nationwide and only want to see things grow.

[deeznutz]

Well, it seems to me that this question has been a topic in greek life for a long time.Now,there are many non-african american members of the NPHC throughout the "D9." And it was even a featured article in an issue of ESSENCE entitled: "WHITES JOINING BGLOs" during the 90's.SO WHY IS THIS STILL A SURPRISE????And Im quite sure that in this day and age many of you have met and "fellowshipped" with them at your respected regionals or national events.

And the the question of "WHY WHITES GO TO HBCUs?" that still is a question that I have yet to have clearity about.Because I graduated from a HBCU specifically, LINCOLN U.(PA) and there was 1 in my ENG.LIT class who didnt stay on campus at all.So yeah, "Why do some whites go to HBCUs?"

whos nutz???????DEEZNUTZ!!!!!!

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Ame

i, of course, meant this personally, not generally. but what i was referring to, especially on my campus, is the seperation that occurs. in order to feel comfortable in a white sorority here i have to be comfortable going to "old south" confederate balls, or having sisters who are openly racist. the divine nine sororities here are so used to being treated with prejudice that unless i was a "home girl" with no white roots whatsoever i'm looked at as just another white girl trying to be black. which is not the case. as far as latina sororities, there aren't any here, so i base this only on what i've heard and read, but i'm not interested in learning to speak spanish or trying to pretend their values are similar to mine, because they aren't. i find i'm most comfortable representing a sorority that openly embraces its sorors' cultural differences.

I'm just a little confused with this statement. Are you saying you were told by D9 Sororities that you wouldn't be accepted because you were multi-racial? I wanted to ask if that was your experience before I called this statement ridiculous. Do you think we have a bias against those of mixed-heritage that most likely would be identified as a person of color? While I wouldn't vote for a white member (my opinion), I just don't see being of mixed-heritage an issue. May I ask how you self-identify? And please know that when they come with the rope for us they coming for your azz too.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by pinkies up

Just join an organization that you are interested in WORKING YOUR ASS OFF in. You'll be fine.

^^Yeah, what she said.

Originally Posted by Finer Woman10-A-91

Every NPHC organization has caucasian members. I think I know the frat you are talking about. He shot our pictures when our boule was in Cali in 2002. He is a good photographer.

All I saw when he had his table set up, was a photographer with pictures I may have wanted to purchase. We chatted a little bit and I told him I'm a photographer too. He's a hella cool dude. I actually didnt find out he's PBS until the end of the conference, which wouldn't have mattered to me anyway because he was a nice guy who knew what the heck he was talking about regarding the photography.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by starang21

why would you congratulate her?

Simple, it is this persons decission and no one elses.

Any problem with that?


He/She goes where feels comfortable!

[poeticace]

Originally Posted by Reds6

I'm just a little confused with this statement. Are you saying you were told by D9 Sororities that you wouldn't be accepted because you were multi-racial? I wanted to ask if that was your experience before I called this statement ridiculous. Do you think we have a bias against those of mixed-heritage that most likely would be identified as a person of color? While I wouldn't vote for a white member (my opinion), I just don't see being of mixed-heritage an issue. May I ask how you self-identify? And please know that when they come with the rope for us they coming for your azz too.

Not to put words into my Soror's mouth, but I'm going to explain one of her statements from my personal end... I too am mixed (although in appearance, I'm white) - with Czech, Norwegian, English, Black, Cherokee, and Spanish. When I was seeking out orgs, I headed to the multicultural ones simply because a) by appearance ALONE I would not be "black" or "Latina" enough to join D9 or Latina orgs b) I wasn't considered "white" enough (in actions) to be a part of a historically white org. I was never rejected or any such sort from any other org, so I don't think she's saying that the D9 organizations reject people who are mixed, I think she's saying she didn't feel comfortable enough to be in an org who is historically black. That does not mean that they wouldn't have accepted her, it's just a personal decision...

Soror, please correct me if I'm wrong, this is just my interpretation of what you were trying to say

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Simple, it is this persons decission and no one elses.

Any problem with that?


He/She goes where feels comfortable!

Wait I am totally lost, what did you think I said? All I said, what one of my linesisters or co-pledges is of a different ethnic group from me. Do I have a problem with that because her folks are Japanese? Absolutely not! I am proud to call her my linesister and my Sorority sister. I don't care what she looks like.

All I care about from anyone is will they pay their assessments. No since in taking in dead weight into the organization.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Ame
i, of course, meant this personally, not generally. but what i was referring to, especially on my campus, is the seperation that occurs. in order to feel comfortable in a white sorority here i have to be comfortable going to "old south" confederate balls, or having sisters who are openly racist. the divine nine sororities here are so used to being treated with prejudice that unless i was a "home girl" with no white roots whatsoever i'm looked at as just another white girl trying to be black. which is not the case. as far as latina sororities, there aren't any here, so i base this only on what i've heard and read, but i'm not interested in learning to speak spanish or trying to pretend their values are similar to mine, because they aren't. i find i'm most comfortable representing a sorority that openly embraces its sorors' cultural differences.

I wondered about that. I have a niece who is bi-racial and will be going to college next year and has been accepted to Spelman and UGA. She was leaning towards Spelman b/c of it's liberal arts focus, but I know she had hoped to rush a sorority. Knowing this would be helpful to her in her decision....I hate that it is like this. I would prefer to see her at a smaller school, HBCU or whatever, but I wouldn't like to see her not get into a sorority b/c she is half white.
I don't want to sway her choice, but I do think she should be aware that she might not get accepted in a BGLO. I know it shouldn't be the deciding factor in her college decision, but I do think it is worth considering.

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by poeticace

When I was seeking out orgs, I headed to the multicultural ones simply because a) by appearance ALONE I would not be "black" or "Latina" enough to join D9 or Latina orgs

What the hell is "Black" enough? Do you think we all come in one shade? Are we supposed to have a color quota when it comes down to "Blackness"?

It's ridiculous statements like that which makes ME happy that people who have twisted thoughts like that didn't bother to seek membership into my sorority. While I can ONLY speak for Alpha Kappa Alpha (though I'm sure my sistergreeks would agree), we accept young women from ALL shades of the rainbow. We have Sorors that have deep chocolate skin all the way to the palest white. In fact, one of my very good Sorors is white. We have Sorors from all nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds.

For people to use the scapegoat that they were not "____________" enough to join a particular sorority just goes to show that you were never really interested, nor did you do any research. Membership in an NPHC sorority doesn't automatically grant you force you into an NAACP membership, nor would you have to stage a sit-in at the local lunch counter.

I wonder what year this is sometimes....

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by JWithers

I wondered about that. I have a niece who is bi-racial and will be going to college next year and has been accepted to Spelman and UGA. She was leaning towards Spelman b/c of it's liberal arts focus, but I know she had hoped to rush a sorority. Knowing this would be helpful to her in her decision....I hate that it is like this. I would prefer to see her at a smaller school, HBCU or whatever, but I wouldn't like to see her not get into a sorority b/c she is half white.
I don't want to sway her choice, but I do think she should be aware that she might not get accepted in a BGLO. I know it shouldn't be the deciding factor in her college decision, but I do think it is worth considering.

Please do not spread this nonsense on to your niece. It's NOT worth considering because it NOT true. Skin color or the fact that she is of mixed races will not exempt her from membership. Period.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

Please do not spread this nonsense on to your niece. It's NOT worth considering because it NOT true. Skin color or the fact that she is of mixed races will not exempt her from membership. Period.

Thanks for your post. I hope you are right. She has her heart set on Spelman....and joining a sorority. I want for her what her heart desires...almost like she were my own daughter. I love that little girl!

She is biracial, but we are an old "Southern" predominately white family and most everyone has pledged NPC sororities. But you would be surprised how atypical we really are. This family's generation has Black, White, Japanese, Chinese and Dominican 'blood'. (I hate that term )

I love our family reunion photos. It hides my nasty pastiness and adds some color to the mix! I hope she finds a sorority like that! Then she will feel like she is with family!

[preciousjeni]

I am at Ilaria Ame and poeticace in this thread. Really there is a lot of nonsense going on in here. Excellent advice has been given by members of NPHC organizations. That's all one need know.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by JWithers

I wondered about that. I have a niece who is bi-racial and will be going to college next year and has been accepted to Spelman and UGA. She was leaning towards Spelman b/c of it's liberal arts focus, but I know she had hoped to rush a sorority. Knowing this would be helpful to her in her decision....I hate that it is like this. I would prefer to see her at a smaller school, HBCU or whatever, but I wouldn't like to see her not get into a sorority b/c she is half white.
I don't want to sway her choice, but I do think she should be aware that she might not get accepted in a BGLO. I know it shouldn't be the deciding factor in her college decision, but I do think it is worth considering.

Please don't feed into this mess Ilaria Ame is saying. She is clueless and is making a lot of wrong assumptions.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by poeticace

Not to put words into my Soror's mouth, but I'm going to explain one of her statements from my personal end... I too am mixed (although in appearance, I'm white) - with Czech, Norwegian, English, Black, Cherokee, and Spanish. When I was seeking out orgs, I headed to the multicultural ones simply because a) by appearance ALONE I would not be "black" or "Latina" enough to join D9 or Latina orgs b) I wasn't considered "white" enough (in actions) to be a part of a historically white org. I was never rejected or any such sort from any other org, so I don't think she's saying that the D9 organizations reject people who are mixed, I think she's saying she didn't feel comfortable enough to be in an org who is historically black. That does not mean that they wouldn't have accepted her, it's just a personal decision...

Soror, please correct me if I'm wrong, this is just my interpretation of what you were trying to say

Ok you and your Soror sound mis-informed. Do you realize how many of us can go down our family line and say we have this and that in regards to different heritages in our blood line. When I hear someone say they aren't this or that enough I think they aren't comfortable with themselves and who they are.
Oh BTW, they coming for your azz too.