Mona Scott-Young, keep your ratchetness to yourself.
Recently, the mastermind behind the Love and Hip Hop franchise came up with the bright idea of launching a reality show that follows black Greek letter sororities for a show called Sorority Sisters. The show would follow members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. After organizations of the Divine 9 got a glimpse of the trailer, a member of fellow Black Greek Letter Organization Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. named Reynoir Lewis took to MoveOn.org to start a petition to stop the program from airing.
When you reach the page for the petition, Lewis’ post reads: “Stop the spread of ignorance and stereotyping of our beloved Black Greek letter organizations. Our founders amongst EVERY organization worked extremely hard to allow us to unite and flourish not only on college campuses, but as a people well beyond our college days, and Mona Scott-Young now threatens to demolish those aims and goals we all abide by.”
As a member of Zeta Phi Beta, I agree. Each organization in the Divine 9 has principles which fall under the common themes of sisterhood, brotherhood, scholarship and service. With the help of shows created by Scott-Young, enough negative images of women have been put out into the atmosphere. What women in sororities represent does not align with the values portrayed on Scott-Young’s programs. For example, sorority members participate in community service, work hard towards degrees in higher education, love and protect their sorors and exemplify class and integrity. On the Love and Hip Hop series, you can see women throw fists and bottles at each other over petty he say-she say fodder, participate in adulterous affairs and gossip about everyone else’s business but their own.
I won’t lie—I wholeheartedly enjoyed the This is Hot 97 reality show that she served as executive producer for. The series followed the on-air personalities of New York City radio station Hot 97 and behind the scenes personnel. For once, she put the ratchet to the side and brought funny, refreshing television into our homes. However, that show was unscripted but improvised and not 100 percent reality. Sorority Sisters will be, which means these women will be put in situations that may cause their anger to get the best of them to make for entertaining TV. Hopefully my sister Greeks held their composure in certain situations but hey, they are people, too.
Since Scott-Young makes big bank off of basically exploiting people’s pain, the Divine 9 does not need her type of business. We represent positivity and growth and unless you are going to showcase that, you can’t sit with us.—Tanay Hudson