In 1972, on the campus of Tennessee State University, I became a member of the Divine Nine. I was the first in my family to pledge a sorority or fraternity. My niece, nephew, and two daughters followed in my footsteps. My son in love also pledged a fraternity when he was in college.
I pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. I was nineteen years old and from a poor family. I didn’t know anything about sororities or fraternities but after researching them, I was interested in an organization that was committed to fighting for racial, social, and economic parity. I grew up during the civil rights era and marched in the streets of Memphis for justice and equality. In high school, one of the largest and longest protests in Memphis centered on education. The protests were called Black Monday. Parents agreed to take their children out of school during five Mondays in the fall of 1969. We marched in support of 15 demands the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) submitted to the school board. I was a junior in high school and participated in the boycott.
Local activist, Maxine Smith, was one of two organizers of the protest. Each school had a designated student leader to train us on non-violent protests. Based on news reports, almost 67,000 students missed school. Black leaders advocated for seats on the all-white school board. They also demanded the promotion of black educators. The boycotts resulted in the school board appointing two black advisors, a black assistant superintendent, and a black coordinator to a central office position. Two years later, Smith later became the first black American elected to the school board. There was strength when everyone was focused on common goals.
I learned that many of the civil rights activists were members of the Divine Nine. Smith was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. I decided to read more and found out the turn of the century was abusive and oppressive for black Americans. Legal segregation, called Jim Crow laws, was enforced throughout the South and visible in the North. The majority of black students were not admitted to historically white colleges and universities. Those who were admitted were segregated and isolated from the general student population. This resulted in a poor retention rate. Black students began finding organizations to provide support on college campuses.
The success of support organizations evolved into the creation of fraternities and sororities. The first fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, was initially founded at Cornell University by seven students in 1906. They based their ideals on manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all. These students decided to expand to other campuses. In 1907, the second chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha was founded at Howard University. Howard was the preeminent black university in the country and the founders found it necessary to introduce fraternity life to the student body.
According to the National Pan-Hellenic Council website, the Divine Nine “evolved during a period when African Americans were being denied essential rights and privileges afforded to others.” The Divine Nine organizations represent the collective purposes of scholarship, service and power of community. Racial isolation at predominately white college institutions and social barriers created a need for black Americans to align themselves with other individuals sharing common goals and ideals.
The Divine Nine is formally known as the National Pan-Hellenic Council. This council consists of nine historically black sororities and fraternities.
Following Alpha Phi Alpha — the first Black Greek-lettered fraternity, which was founded at Cornell University in 1906 — eight other organizations followed. Five were founded at Howard University, including Alpha Kappa Alpha (1908), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. (1911), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (1913), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. (1914) and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. (1920).
Two were founded in Indianapolis: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (1911) at Indiana University and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. (1922) at Butler University. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. was founded at Morgan State College, now Morgan State University in 1963.
The Divine Nine has goals for its members. Ultimately, the goal is to promote member unity and address mutual interest issues to those a part of these chapters. The National Pan-Hellenic Council also has national programs that member organizations are encouraged to support.
Unlike most other sororities and fraternities, the Divine Nine maintains graduate chapters. Therefore, you can continue the public service work that you start during your undergraduate years. When joining the Divine Nine, you’ll also find strong cooperation between graduate and undergraduate chapters meant to build community. Ultimately, the vision is to continue to promote African American educational progress, political unity, and cultural uplift.
In the book, The Divine Nine, author Lawrence C. Ross, Jr. wrote, “America’s black fraternities and sororities are a unique and vital part of 20th century Africa American history. From pioneering work in the suffragette movement to extraordinary strides during the Civil Rights era to life-changing inner-city mentoring programs, members of these organizations share a proud tradition of brotherhood, sisterhood, and service.”
I have been a member of the Divine Nine for over 50 years. I will continue to engage in activities that provide opportunities for the betterment of humankind. We have a responsibility to provide leadership in education reform, social and political action, mental and physical health, and economic development.
Francie Mae. July 29, 2023.
References
Kebede, Laura Faith. “Black Monday in Memphis.” December 20, 2019. Accessed July 29, 2023.
Ross, Lawrence C. Jr. Published 2000. The Divine Nine. New York, NY. Kensington Publishing.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council Website. Assessed July 28, 2023.