I

f you don't know the England family, you should.

John England Jr. is a member of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and former justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. He now serves as a Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge.

His sons are noteworthy, too. John England III is the first black federal magistrate in North Alabama, and Chris England is a Tuscaloosa lawyer and a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, whose district includes part of UA.

The Englands are – and this is no stretch – one of the most respected families in Alabama. I didn't say black families.

Families.

But it is still not good enough.

That's right. Not even in the midst of all our 50th anniversary back-patting, neck deep in all the congratulatory commemorations of just how far we've come.

They are still – you might as well just say it -- not white enough.

Chris England's daughter – step-daughter, really, but daughter in the heart - went out for sorority rush at the University of Alabama this year and, despite beauty and brains, a gaudy grade point average, a glistening pedigree and support from white fellow students, was denied, pretty clearly, because she is black.

If she can't break that barrier, who can?

The Englands are not eager to talk about it. They don't really want the young lady's name spread across the state, because she did not go into this to become a martyr or a symbol. I'll honor that.

But they are clearly concerned.

Chris England said the family has spoken with the president and other administrators at Alabama and "we expect some action to be taken in hopes that others don't have to go through this."

Judge England – the UA trustee – said "Whether it is a white fraternity or sorority or an African-American fraternity or sorority, none of them should be admitting or denying on the basis of race.

"Not at the University of Alabama."

[ UPDATE: University of Alabama on sorority discrimination allegations: 'Time to do the right thing' ]

Both have repeatedly said they want to wait for all the facts before pointing fingers.

But facts are becoming clear.

It was the Crimson White, the student newspaper at UA, that broke it open. This week it published a stunning report under the headline "The Final Barrier: 50 years later, segregation still exists," that quite simply gutted the whites-only nature of UA's Greek elite.

The CW quoted members of prominent white sororities describing how this smart, pretty woman – it did not name her or identify her family -- was denied entrance into sororities even though she had "perfect scores from the people in chapter" and everything a sorority would typically want and more.

More, as in ... pigment.

It said students in several sororities wanted this girl and – this was the most troubling thing of all – that she was blocked by alumni advisers. One of those advisers, according to this story, was Chi Omega rush adviser Emily Jamison, who also happens to work at the University as – get this -- director of president's and chancellor's events.

Heavens to Betsy.

It ought to reach out and grab Alabama right in the here and now. Right here, that is, in this feel-good moment Birmingham is calling "Empowerment Week."

To be honest I am thrilled it all came tumbling out now. Because it shows the work that is not done. And it shows us who, today, is doing the work.

It is young white sorority girls – Republicans and Democrats together – who stood up to say this is wrong.

It is young reporters Abbey Crain and Matt Ford at the CW who did their homework and due diligence. It is Editor-in-Chief Mazie Bryant – herself a member of Chi Omega – who stepped aside long enough to allow journalism to proceed without influence or interference.

These young people – a third the age of all the decision-makers and status quo protectors -- did more in weeks to change the nature of an ugly and exclusive Greek system than presidents and trustees, chancellors and politicians have done in decades.

These young people have shown Alabama it has to change. It is time.

John Archibald's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Birmingham News and on AL.com. Email him at jarchibald@al.com.