Hi i’m wendy rieger reporting from my apartment in chevy chase on this afternoon kamala harris made history last night when she accepted her party’s nomination for vice president and in her acceptance speech she talked about historical black colleges and the black sororities and and fraternities known as the divine
Nine news four’s megan fitzgerald looks at the rich history and the impact of these organizations to understand the significance of historic moments like this one is to understand part of what helped kamala harris rise harris is a proud member of alpha kappa alpha sorority incorporated one of nine black sororities and
Fraternities known as the divine nine many of these organizations were founded in the early 1900s we were founded when the country was in great despair following reconstruction and the whole disenfranchisement of african americans in this nation everett b ward is the general president of alpha phi alpha fraternity incorporated
The first and oldest black greek fraternity in the nation he says each organization is different but they’re all part of a larger family and their mission is the same service to all college men and women recognized that they had an obligation a dual obligation both for their intellectual development but also
For a strong commitment to leadership and public service these nine organizations over the years fought tirelessly in the civil rights movement mobilizing and organizing for equal rights and the right to vote and encouraging and supporting members to run for public office during the women’s suffrage movement members of alpha kappa alpha and delta
Sigma theta would endure discrimination but marched with white suffragists anyway its first public act i mean the first act of any african-american women’s organization as an organization with march with the separatists it is something we have always done and always been engaged in beverly smith is the national president for delta
Sigma theta sorority incorporated she says while none of the organizations are partisan many of the more than two million members of the divine nine felt a sense of pride when kamala harris recognized their shared history family is my beloved alpha kappa alpha our divine nine and my hbcu brothers and sisters
She was affirming a 100 year history of nine organizations that have been committed to leadership scholarship and service that’s unprecedented for generations the nation has seen the work of the divine nine and wednesday night we not only watched history but their founders wildest dream megan fitzgerald news 4.
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