Commentary: On their honor

By Kristen Michele’ Laws

Muchin College Prep

While many girls hang out with their friends on Saturdays, some girls are in a Girl Scouts meeting learning how to be loyal and fair; however, when you take a look around, what do you see? You don’t see a dark girl in the room. Girl Scouts is supposed to be for every nationality. Girl Scouts is supposed to be worldwide, but how worldwide can Girl Scouts be if young black girls are not involved? Are they really uninterested? Or is no one reaching out to try to get them interested?

I asked Julie Somogyi, director, integrated marketing and communications at Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, why black girls are not in Girl Scouts, and her reply was: “That’s not accurate.” Somogyi sent some statistics that said out of 86,665 girls of all ages, in both Indiana and Chicago, only 23 percent are black; however, only 10,017 girls of all ages are Girl Scouts in the Chicago area and of those 10,017 only 28 percent are black.

“The challenge is more of timing, not black interest,” said Bridget Vaughn, a Scout leader from the South Side of Chicago. Vaughn knows that of the 25 girls in her troop, most of them play sports and have other responsibilities. She also thinks that the lack of knowledge about Girl Scouts in Chicago is why girls, especially black girls, are not into Scouts. “If your peers aren’t interested, [in all ] likelihood, you won’t be interested,” said Vaughn.

I talked to some girls who aren’t in Scouts. When I asked the girls how they spent their Saturdays, some girls said they were involved in sports and clubs. However, most girls don’t do anything except for shopping or hanging out with their friends. “I would be involved if it didn’t take up so much time,” said Raven Mason, 15, from the West Pullman neighborhood who attends CICS: Ralph Ellison High School.

Who would ever figure that helping out someone is suddenly a waste of time? Is it because that’s not what this generation is used to, or is it because our community is not exposed to such things?

Regine Wynne, 14, from the Ashburn neighborhood and who attends Argo Community High School, has been a Girl Scout in Chicago for 10 years. She says that involvement in the Girl Scouts “looks good on a college application, gives you basic life lessons and gives you something productive to do.” She also says: “Girl Scouts cannot make or break you. It just gets a young lady ready for the road ahead.”

Girl Scouts go on many fun and eye-opening trips: the food depository, Ronald McDonald House, houses for abused moms, numerous camps, water parks, shelters and many more trips. The girls learn how to be independent, money smart, loyal, respectful and other qualities that will help you in life.

All the girls know that diversity is a key part to being a successful woman. You can learn about many cultures, and that is why black girls need to be in the Girl Scouts. The black community needs to have a part in Girl Scouts and this is the start.

Yes, I am a black girl. Yes, I do Girl Scouts. Sometimes it disturbs me because I don’t know why black girls are not into Girl Scouts. I know what girls do on Saturdays, and I know how those actions affect their lives. Only 2½ hours of their Saturdays would be occupied. Girl Scouts can change lives of many young girls. Girl Scouts cannot destroy your life. In fact, it can change your life.