https://www.facebook.com/isabella.albertdwarikasingh.1/videos/121997749565258/
my RAW vlog about Phi Kappa Zeta
Hello everyone! This is my RAW vlog about Phi Kappa Zeta. I pledged the sorority in 2016 during my last semester at Gallaudet University for about four months. I didn’t want to deal or participate with PKZ right after I graduated in 2016 but, I contributed to it anyway. I was silent about it for a few years but now is the time for me to share with you about PKZ.
I’d like to thank Maggie Kopp for doing a transcript and caption for me. I apologize for the light due to the sunset in the video.
TRANSCRIPT -
Hello, my name is Isabella Albert, *sign name*. I identify as a Black Deaf woman. My pronouns are she, her, hers. *deep sigh* You know, right now, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is elevating right now and everyone started to open up, share stories, discuss. I just joined FB last week, am overwhelmed but yes, I’m trying to take everything in. All your stories are heart-wrenching. Powerful, and I understand. This oppression is finished. Enough is enough. After some thinking, I feel it’s time for me to open up about my experience with racism at phi kappa zeta.
I’m a pkz alumni, not a proud sister. The reason I joined? I wanted to do something new, something different, challenging, you know? I asked some BIPOC sisters/alumni what they thought of the sorority. They gave me a thumbs up. Told me it’s a rich & positive experience and I should join. I said fine, but they didn’t share the negative parts. So it seemed a good idea to me. You know, get out of my comfort zone. I applied, got accepted, and pledged in 2016…during my last semester of Gallaudet University. Just a little cute four-month period. I entered, and my world turned upside down. Wow. It wasn’t what I imagined at all. You know, the learning process always has pros and cons, but racism exists in pkz, like all other greek organizations. It’s in their history, culture, deep into the roots.
Yes, I experienced racism. Implicit bias & unconscious bias, constantly, here and there. It really had a huge impact on my mental health. Let me give one example—this might be triggering. Okay, one example during the pledge program. A BIPOC pledge broke down into tears because they felt like nobody really did anything to console that person. I immediately checked in, supporting them to make sure they’re okay. But the other day, a white pledge broke down crying and everyone rushed to them, giving moral support and attention. Even pkz sisters checked in and gave good tips for their situation. I was appalled, yeah. When I look at that situation—one person was an international student, one person was from a Deaf family, from Maryland School for the Deaf. Fair? No. That whole picture is a perfect analogy for pkz sisterhood. Yup, that’s what it looks like.
There’s so many stories, it’s heavy. Pros and cons, well, based on my observations after the pledge program, sisters of color feel marginalized, really like they’re disappearing in pkz. I saw this as wrong and racist. I already shared and told others my concerns repeatedly. You said oh fine, listened, and talked, but action wasn’t there. I got fed up, I’m not going to waste my energy on that shit. I don’t want to be a part of that elite organization, I was done.
Honestly, pkz has 128 years of oppression and harm in many different ways. Doing the opposite of pkz’s “mission” of supporting all women, including non-binary and gender queer people. But they failed to do this for BIPOC sisters. It’s like they’re finally trying to get our attention now, “let’s fix this!” No, it’s too late. To fight racism, stop trying to fix the people, just fix the system that enables racism.Really, if we fix the system for Black people, we automatically fix it for everyone else.
Honestly, I have a hard time understanding why some people have that idea of resisting Gallaudet University shutting down all greek organizations. Honestly! Wanna address racism? Let’s start with greek organizations, because the greek world reflects white control. It’s a broken system that divides students at Gallaudet University. It harms everyone regardless of their status. It puts the community at risk, really. I believe that students on campus would feel safe & welcome without greek organizations. Period.
Know that greek organizations still reinforce the idea of legacy & generational favoritism in your recruiting. Same family, same race…of white people. You’re from a Deaf family, you’re in. From a well-known Deaf school, you’re in.
It’s no secret, just look at the big picture. From the top positions in our community, who’s up there? Who are the leaders, who are in high positions, who are at the frontline of organizations? They’re all white. That’s clear. The message underneath…is that whiteness is considered valuable. The networks, the connections, the eye-winking, all that shit. Where does that come from? The answer is right there.
I hope that greek organizations will address issues that have been ignored for so long. Swept under the rug, building up a pile that’s incredibly filthy. There needs to be accountability, and accept the shut down. Replace with a new program, new concept. What’s wrong with that? It always starts small, really whatever happens will have a domino effect.
My heart is heavy for all pkz sisters of color who tried to get it right, and those who quit for good. White sisters, do the work. Thanks for watching and listening.
