All month long we have been celebrating Black History Month and this morning it’s all about the divine nine the historic black fraternities and sororities and those are just some of our own ABC family members that you see who are part of the Divine that is quite
A crew right here and we have reforms coming up by students from Howard University they’re going to show us the unity step it’s a Hallmark of the divine nine but first DeMarco Morgan who’s a Kappa from Jackson state shares more on history okay for more than a century Black Creek
Letter organizations have been a rooted source of Pride on college campuses a power echo in our chance and felt in our steps founded at a time when racism and discrimination plagued higher education the four sororities and five fraternities that make up the National panhellenic Council also dubbed the
Divine nine unite under a collective purpose scholarship service and the power of community they understood that their individual you know education was not enough they had to actually work as a group to lift up people the Divine kind of encompasses that whole ethos when we set our mind to
Something oh we’re gonna get that something done and from the corner office to the box office the football field to the hill divine nine members have been doing just that all while standing on the front lines of change and the corridors of power we are in different areas of the business we
Understand if we come together collectively we have an obligation to serve the community and most importantly um start black people um and so we understand that when black people wins America wins my own journey to Kappa started back in 2000 on the campus of Jackson State University there I was
Uplifted and taught the true meaning of achievement in every field of human endeavor these lifelong commitments are a reflection of the day-to-day work these organizations carry out throughout college campuses and communities worldwide America And our thanks to DeMarco and if you notice I’m wearing pink and green this morning because these are the colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated the sorority my dear Mom pledged at Howard University and I was blessed to recently become an honorary AKA and that’s Mama there on the campus at hu
There she is and we are joined Now by students from your mom’s alma mater the divine nine the University’s Divine thank you all so much for being here for for sharing with us the steps you will I want to start asking you Naya uh you’re the divine nine such a presence on
Campuses what has it been like to be a part of sorority how big is that a part of your college experience yes so Sisterhood has obviously been something that I’ve gained but I’ve also loved being able to serve in the capacity with things like this I really love the Arts
And being able to give back to the community in ways that I was able to receive things from a young age and to be able to receive mentorship from my big sisters that’s something that I really value in this life and being in my sword isn’t it great to have that
Immediate family yeah I just love that experience can I get a skiwi it’s like looking at my mama my dad and my dad was a cute dog at Howard University as are you and it is about this every generation and the tradition and and you’re a legacy too what does
That mean to you it means everything to me so you know my family’s Legacy and this fraternity started with my dad on the campus of North Carolina a t in 1989. uh this past spring I was initiated at Howard University uh as well as my brother he was actually
Initiated in uh on Hampton’s campus this past spring as well so long before we were all members of Omega sci-fi for trying to Incorporated those two guys were my best friends you know what I mean so uh now that we’re all members of the greatest Fraternity in the world uh
Our bond has somehow gotten even stronger so uh simply put means everything to me and it’s something that I’ll cover that for the rest of my life truly a family affair yeah you cherish that tell folks what they’re about to see so you all to witness a Unity step usually we all
In our specific organization step with our brothers and our sisters but today we like to come together and showcase the divine nine and we’re all going to do a step together but also showcase our individual style from our organizations as well in that wonderful that’s awesome
Okay I mean it’s standing room only here in the studio right now because we’ve all been waiting all morning long for this Unity step and you’re about to see just how powerful it is right all right bring them bring it let’s do it sit e d h c uh oh nope oh I love my Jeep I I I I [Applause] okay okay yes yes [Applause] oh my God and the face you all have the face I’m thank y’all thank you so much because you all have a unique step but you came together the unity of the divine nine look just like my mom
And daddy used to do that too he even had the brand all right unbelievable it is and we and we want to thank everybody from Howard University everyone who participated all month long on our Black History Month coverage and we want to take a look can we look at
The Merle one more time here in our studio it’s been there all month long and we’re happy to share that a portion of the paintings proceeds will go towards charity and you can find out more about the artist Georgie nakima on her Instagram at Garden of Germany a garden of uh Journey
You got it we got it guys thank you all so very much thank you it’s been a true pleasure well hey there GMA fans Robin Roberts here thanks for checking out our YouTube channel lots of great stuff here so go on click the Subscribe button right over
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