Tonight we have a look at african-american greek life what’s known as the divine nine on college campuses there’s a new spotlight on them since the election of vice president harris but so i mean what is the divine nine and how are these black fraternities and sororities different from all the others
Cbs 2’s elise finch a proud sorority member herself explains From the outside looking in black greek life might look like one big party and most people will tell you it is a lot of fun there are four african-american sororities and five fraternities that make up the national panhellenic council together known as the divine nine each has their own colors
Meaningful symbols unique hand gestures and even calls that you’ll hear during social events But black greek life is also a serious matter because these organizations share a commitment to academic achievement and uplifting the black community african-american fraternities and sororities are just as integral of the black community as the black church lawrence c ross is a member of alpha phi alpha fraternity and
Also the author who coined the phrase the divine nine for one of his books they’re working together to kind of to basically go into society and to in some ways prove that one is a first class citizen in contrast to what america is saying to the black community
So who are the members of the divine nine alpha phi alpha fraternity incorporated alpha kappa alpha sorority incorporated capital fraternity incorporated omega sci-fi fraternity incorporated delta sigma theta sorority incorporated phi beta sigma fraternity incorporated zeta phi beta sorority incorporated sigma gamma rho sorority iota phi theta fraternity incorporated
Each of the organizations exists in part to bolster african american college students while they’re on campus academically and socially basically i just love what i saw i loved the sisterhood i loved how they supported each other even if you only had one friend that one true friend
Can get you through anything and that’s what we ought to each other but they’re also devoted to serving their communities and it’s not just a collegiate endeavor mary bentley lamarr is the north atlantic regional director of alpha kappa alpha sorority incorporated many greek organizations are started in college and once your
College years are over you are pretty much finished with your activity with that organization whereas in the divine nine we commit to service sisterhood brotherhood in the case of fraternities for a lifetime both undergraduate and alumni members of all the groups routinely collect and distribute food clothing and other necessities
Voter registration drives and fundraisers to provide scholarships are cornerstones so are leadership and mentoring programs for young people valerie hollingsworth baker is the international president of zeta phi beta sorority incorporated we have so many members who are lawyers and doctors and and aerospace engineers and they’re able to
Steer you in the direction of where you may want to go and when you’re thinking about a career in life most of my teachers were adulted and they always seemed to be you know women who were extremely brilliant well spoken and just about uplifting the community
I was influenced by somebody when i got to college she was my mentor we had the same major the same interests she was just everything i wanted to be and for her to be an sg row i said okay like i want to be a nice hero too for
Some people black greek life is literally a family affair that’s the case for my mother sister niece and me we are all members of alpha kappa alpha sorority incorporated my mother joined 57 years ago i know that it was a lifelong commitment i knew that i would be active
Had no idea how active and wasn’t sure what my children would do or my grandchild would do so i am amazed african-americans still face unique challenges on college campuses and in our communities so the divine nine is as necessary today as it was more than a century ago when
Most of the organizations were founded elise finch cbs 2 news
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