Root columnist opines her thoughts on African-American soroities

Opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer.

 

Black sororities are a cisgender, straight women’s club. There, I said it! And as a straight, cisgender Afro-Caribbean woman, I noticed how my privilege shielded me from certain challenges as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

I say this about my organization and others when I say it’s time to revisit what it means to be a National Pan-Hellenic Council, or NPHC, woman. And by that, I mean it’s time to stop clutching our pearls about lifestyles we don’t “accept” or “understand,” and admit that we have created a culture that is the antithesis of liberating black people. And I’m not the only one who sees that.

As organizations rooted in Christianity, sororities follow certain traditions that underscore heteronormative and feminine ideas about women that make it difficult to fit the mold. For 35-year-old Rachel Crouch, this made it difficult to “pass” or simply be an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Continued here