In today's time, there are many ways that someone can go Greek. There are organizations for academic honors and specific professions, religious and ethnic groups and community service, as well as social organizations. Social organizations are what typically come to mind when someone thinks of Greek life. There's the National Panhellenic Council (NPC), comprised of 26 sororities who's members are predominantly white. Then, there's Interfraternity Council (IFC) for fraternities, also predominantly white. Finally, there is the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), otherwise know as the "Divine Nine," comprised of nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities.
None of my family members are Greek, and I never really gave it much thought until I came to college, but rushing was one of the best decisions that I've made so far in life. The only problem (for some people) is that I'm an African American woman in an NPC organization. People always have the same questions and comments, and they never shy away from voicing these opinions.
1. People assume you're in NPHC.
When people see me wearing letters around campus, they always try to guess which organization I'm in, and they always assume wrong. I accepted a bid as a sister of Alpha Omicron Pi in the Fall of 2014. There have been so many times that people see "Alpha" and automatically think AKA. Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first Greek-lettered sorority to be established by African-American women. People also see my sorority colors, red and black, and assume that I'm a Delta. Delta Sigma Theta was established in 1913 and values programs for the well-being of the African American community. Even though these are both great organizations, neither of them felt right for me. And just because I would be surrounded by other women that looked like me, I didn't think that I would "click" with the women on my campus. Why would I pledge my life and invest my money in something that never truly felt like I belonged?
2. There's a double standard.
Maybe you've heard of a gentleman by the name Sam Whiteout. If you haven't, I'll catch you up. Sam is a white male. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, an NPHC fraternity. His name blew up when videos of him shimmying with other members of his fraternity suddenly went viral. He's a regular guy doing regular NPHC things but he's famous for it just because he's white. There's also the "Asian Bruhz," who briefly went viral for being members of Omega Psi Phi.
Me, on the other hand? I was a disgrace. A traitor who abandoned my people. That may sound dramatic but these are things that people on my campus have actually *said* (anonymously written) about me. The day that I go viral for talking about how much I love my little or perfecting a door-stack is right around the day that I win the lottery and join the USA women's basketball team in the Olympics.
3. Everyone thinks you're white-washed.
I've always been looked at as an Oreo: black on the outside, white on the inside. Growing up, I went to schools where most of the students didn't look like me, and I always had white friends. I also chose to attend a PWI (predominantly white institution) over an HBCU (historically black college or university). The PWI vs HBCU debate is constantly stirring because some people fail to realize that there are other factors that determine where you go to college outside of race. My college friends look a lot like my friends growing up: mostly white and a few black. But why does that have to mean that I'm trying to be something I'm not?
The organization I belong to has nothing to do with how I think of myself. Nothing will ever take away from the pride I have in being an African-American woman. I don't think I'm white and I don't want to be. I don't "act" white because a race cannot be condensed down into specific character traits. I'm an AOII and I wouldn't have found the same joy or the same life experiences being anything else. My sisters don't all act like me, think the way that I do, or look like me, but they will always be my sisters. Yes, I am a black woman. Yes, I'm in a predominantly white sorority. But I am so much more than just "the black girl."
