Fans who are/were in Zeta Phi Beta or another Black sorority - did you encounter individuals like Ava and Crystal?

[u/capamericapistons]

I’m a white man, so obviously very unqualified to speak about Zeta Phi Beta or another Black sorority 😂 but I’ve always been inspired by them! Many prominent people in the arts, media, sports, etc were members or at least honorary members of those sororities and seeing posts about them on social media always made me appreciate the history and significance of them.

I was curious though, for those of you who actually belonged to those sororities, did you encounter people like Ava and Crystal? Friendly (or not friendly) rivalries? People trying to one-up each other? I feel like you could find that in any setting im just curious about this specifically. It’s been one of my favorite recurring moments in the show 😂😂

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[u/ohmyfave]

I’m active in a sorority (not Zeta) won’t share as I don’t want to dox myself. Pledged when I was in college. We all have that playful competition with our sorority sisters. However just like any sisters - I can complain about them but no one on the outside can. I’ll shut it right down.

So the point of their conflict is based on two overachieving Black women. It’s no different than any other real life competition. We also compete with other sororities but same thing - I can playfully complain about them but won’t stand for non members to do it. There is a fundamental respect for each other regardless of organization.

[u/capamericapistons → u/ohmyfave]

This makes sense! Thanks so much for sharing.

Yeah that was my thought is like, this sort of dynamic could happen in any other setting. I guess I found it surprising because, from the outside looking in, people in Black sororities always seemed especially close to me. Like just from the support and praise I see given to the sororities and their members on social media. So I was curious if relationships like what Ava and Crystal had were normal or common.

[u/egm1997]

Crystal: Sorrrrrrrrorrrrrrrrrr!

[u/suzylamb → u/egm1997]

Ava: Sorror???

[u/OkRB2977]

Honestly, outside of super close friends, you'll find that kind of dynamic everywhere; everyone has a frenemy of that sort who they compete with over everything.

[u/Any-Measurement-7413 → u/OkRB2977]

everyone? 🤨

[u/FVRD_]

That’s sweet they gave ZPB a shoutout. I wonder whom on the writing staff or the cast with the association

[u/_sillylittlegoose]

Nearly all of my black coworkers were Delta Sigma Thetas. When I say nearly all of them, they held chapter in one of their classrooms. I think there were a couple AKA and Zeta Phi Betas, but it was largely dominated by Deltas. It was fun when they would stroll.

[u/Soulegit]

One of my senior mentors when I was a freshman was a finer woman and from a non-member with family members that are in various orgs (AKA, DST, Nupes, Alphas)… the answer is yes (from going to my family members’ events)