[23313] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] African American Support Group
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Rashid Darden)
Thu Dec 19 23:31:17 2002
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:23:17 EDT
Reply-To: Rashid Darden <buffalosoldier@servicegreek.com>
From: Rashid Darden <buffalosoldier@servicegreek.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
If you don't feel the need for support, then good for you; let freedom ring.
There are those Brothers who might be the ONLY African American in their
pledge class or even chapter who have to deal with situations in which
they need to rely on individuals who have been there already.
How would you feel if members of your chapter INISTED upon touching your
hair? If you wore an Afro-centric garment to a formal, and everyone
asked you where you were REALLY from? If alumni of your chapter just HAD
to discuss race relations with you? What if someone made an insensitive,
if not outright racist comment ina room full of Brothers, and no one
even knew it was wrong except for you?
It happens.
This forum is to help African American brothers break down those barriers
within their chapters, and sometimes sections and regions. This is not
to divide us as Brothers, but to let Brothers with similar issues know
that they have a place to go to in which to discuss issues pertinent to
them, and get sound advice.
Where can African American Brothers go to complain about the NPHC on
their campus ALWAYS nosing into "who they are" and "what they are about?"
Where can African American Brothers get encouragement and support for say
a Kwanzaa celebration at Nationals (oh well, maybe next time) or tips on
how to recruit more people of color into the chapter?
They can visit us.
The reason for this forum is the same reason that Black Student Alliances
popped up at white college campuses. Sometimes we need support that even
the most noble visionaries in APO cannot provide.
If one doesn't need it, then that's excellent. But please don't
criticize its existence, because it is needed. We don't have any
separatist agenda. In fact, all we have discussed is encouraging
Brothers to go to nationals, discussing legislation, etc, etc.
LFS
Rashid Darden
