Although it’s been two months since the final episode of VH1’s “Sorority Sisters” aired, whispers within the Greek organizations still remains. “Sorority Sisters,” which featured nine Atlanta women who were members of historically black sororities, ended after only a few episodes due to the negative backlash from the public. People from various black Greek organizations made their frustrations known over social media, which eventually spiraled into a petition with over 80,000 signatures. “Sorority Sisters” and the antics pulled by its cast members was not forgivable according to many viewers, even though their actions could easily be compared to other reality shows. Fans of reality TV know that cattiness and arguments are nothing new. So, why make such a big fuss about “Sorority Sisters”? Did the producers decision to name the show “Sorority Sisters” seal the show’s fate? Or was it the uncouth behavior of the cast? These are questions STACKS Magazine wanted answered and who better else to talk to than one of the standouts from the cast, Priyanka Banks. Knowing that she would give us a “real” conversation, we got an opportunity to talk to Priyanka about “Sorority Sisters,” the backlash, and the hypocrisies of Greek life. Also, we discussed her doing more reality TV, her shoe line, and more. Check out video interview up top. Here are a few quick quotes from our interview: ON HER OVERALL THOUGHTS ABOUT “SORORITY SISTERS” AND THE GREEK BACKLASH… It shoud’ve been called “Business Women of Atlanta” because everyone owns their own business except for like two girls. But, that’s the way it [“Sorority Sisters”] was pitched to me. It was never pitched to where it was going to be…Delta this, Delta that. I was surprised that the organizations were listed at that bottom of the screen because that’s not the way the show was pitched to me. If they [VH1] wanted to follow sorority life, that would have went back to college campuses, HBCUs to follow “sorority life.” So, that’s why I didn’t get when people were saying we were representing our organizations. You are in my house. We’re not by a stone. I’m not wearing my letters. I’m not drinking in my letters. So, that’s the thing I didn’t understand about us representing our sorority. ON WHETHER OR NOT SHE IS STILL A MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA… I never received not one letter. Some of the girls in the organization have received Cease & Desist letters. I never received a letter at all. My phone number has been the same since high school and my P.O. Box has been the same since high school. I never received any form of communication. On the internet it says I’m expelled. But, by paper, I’m still in the organization because I haven’t received the letter. ON THE RUMOR THAT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY REMOVED HER NAME FROM THE ARCHIVES AS ONE OF THE FORMER MISS ASU’S… That’s false. My name was never on the website. There’s a couple of queens that are missing from the 1990’s. Of course, mines was missing. But it’s never been on there. People were automatically just being messy and checking the website. Probably checking the Delta website and trying to see what type of punishment we were going to get. We are going to clear that up. My name was never on the website. But, if you go to the archives of coronations, my coronation is still on YouTube, everything. So, everybody knows that I was Miss Alabama State. Nobody can take that from me. My crown, my sash…everything is in the house. I have all my programs. Everything. And the queen from 2010-2012, Angel Moore know I crowned her. So, you can’t take that from me. I’m going to forever be in your archives. ON HER FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE GREEKS… I get where the Greeks come from. Yeah, protect your history. But, everybody’s throwing up founders this, founders that. Our founders are deceased. And you don’t know if they argued. I argue with my line sisters. We won Sorority of the Year every year. I’ve done the step team. I was not a pupil in college. I did everything in college: dance girl, theater, queen. Everything! I’m in two sororities. So, I get the name “Sorority Sisters,” but why not? I’m in two sororities. I’m a sorority girl. We’re not here to tarnish your history. We didn’t even go to any homecomings or anything on the show. So, that’s showing you right there that we’re not trying to follow the sorority hood or frat brand. We’re not trying to follow that. And if anything, my face has been everywhere, not my founders. I can tarnish my name, but not their history. So, that’s just one thing that I don’t agree with. ON GREEKS SAYING “WE DON’T ACT LIKE THAT”… For people to be so naïve and say, “We don’t act like that.” No, yes you do. If they really televise greek life, everybody will be suspended and expelled from their organization. So, that’s the thing with the hypocrites because y’all drink. I was just at homecoming. Y’all curse. Y’all fight each other. Y’all walk around with your butts out. Y’all got whip cream at these parties. That’s not what your founders stood on. But, you are criticizing me because I want to be on a reality show just to better my life. ON “NEW ATLANTA” CO-STAR, AFRICA MIRANDA, AND R&B SINGER K. MICHELLE… It pissed me off when I saw Africa Miranda. She was a college queen at Alabama State. She was on “New Atlanta”. She fought in a bathroom. But, she criticized our show. We didn’t fight at all. She was in any little interview she had talking about how disgusted she is. And when she went back to Alabama State, everybody congratulated her. I’ve never tweeted or Instagrammed an entertainer. My thing is, you’re doing your thing however you got to get it. Everybody had to get a start. K. Michelle…everybody had to get a start. I would never publically bash K. Michelle in spite of what she said about us. Because sorors…a real soror, a real sisterhood, you don’t go on social media and bash your soror. ON HER REASON FOR PLEDGING… People pledge because of legacy. A lot of people pledge because somebody in that organization has left a mark on their life and their like, “OK. I like what they stand for.” For me, nobody in my family is a Delta. When I came to college, somebody that is a Delta left a mark on my life that I will never forget. So, that’s what made me pledge the organization. ON IF MEMBERS WHO WERE EXPELLED SHOULD GET THEIR FEES BACK… They’re not going to get that money back. At the end of the day, our organization is a business. They run by money. They can play all of this community service stuff all they want to. But, they run by money. Every year you have to pay dues and your dues ain’t no $10 or $15, it’s hundreds of dollars. So no, they are not going to give that money back. It’s a lost. You just take a lost. ON IF SHE’S GOING TO DO MORE REALITY TV… If the contract is right, I’m going to be on another show. It will be something new. Different producers; not sure about the network yet. Follow Priyanka Banks on social media @PriyankaBanks ! One Response Misssy Tuesday, March 10, 2015 She’s not a Delta anymore. Just because she didn’t get “no letter” doesn’t mean that she’s still a member. You didn’t give the Sorority written notice that you would use it to make money, so the Sorority doesn’t have to give you notice that you are out. Also, you might want to consider returning to a classroom because you talk like an illiterate person. That’s my challenge to you Priyanka – go learn how to speak English properly.
Misssy Tuesday, March 10, 2015 She’s not a Delta anymore. Just because she didn’t get “no letter” doesn’t mean that she’s still a member. You didn’t give the Sorority written notice that you would use it to make money, so the Sorority doesn’t have to give you notice that you are out. Also, you might want to consider returning to a classroom because you talk like an illiterate person. That’s my challenge to you Priyanka – go learn how to speak English properly.
