The Inspiring Story of the Divine Nine – Carswellfamilyfoundation

Just imagine going on a 500 mile trip to see your family and having to pack a bucket, toilet paper, a gallon of water and a shovel because you won’t be able to stop along the way to use a public restroom. .

Imagine not being able to walk into a store to try on a pair of shoes or a hat on display because they would demand you buy them if you touched them.

Imagine being unable to enter an establishment through the front entrance and instead being forced to enter through the back service door. And just imagine, your daily life is dictated by a culture of segregation and designed to be an outsider.

This discrimination, ingrained in our society, has encouraged black students at predominantly white institutions of higher education and historically black colleges and universities to form their own black fraternities and sororities. They created these brotherhoods and sisterhoods to empower and uplift their communities so they would have the tools to fight white supremacy.

Founded in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was our nation’s first Black Greek fraternity. From 1906 to 1963, nine black fraternities and sororities were founded in our country. These nine black fraternities and sororities came together to form a collective that commonly called the Divine Nine.

In 1988, 12-year-old me was captivated by a Spike Lee film that he directed and starred in. School Daze. The film is set on the fictional campus of Mission College, a historically black college where fraternities and sororities clash with other students during homecoming weekend.

The film is a commentary on the struggles and triumphs of the black community and celebrates the spirit of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as fraternities and sororities. The film discusses themes of community, activism, cultural pride and class. This movie opened my eyes to the Divine Nine. I never suspected the power and influence of the Divine Nine on higher education and our communities as a whole.

Now, as a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a chapter of Beta Sigma Lambda first located in Hartford in 1940, I have personally experienced the power of brotherhood that fraternity membership brings. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Connecting with other men who value fairness and excellence in all aspects of their lives has encouraged and motivated me to continue pursuing my goals and aspirations. The brotherhood we share brings mutual support as we live out our callings in our community.

Kevin L. Booker Jr.

The network we have with each other as fraternity brothers extends beyond ourselves and to other members of other fraternities and sororities of the Divine Nine. Through our many programs and outreach to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. takes action to ensure a more just and equitable world for others, achieving equality in education, housing, voting rights, economics and many other areas. .

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was founded in 1906 at Cornell University. His fellow Divine Nine are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., founded in 1908 at Howard University, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., founded at 1911 at Howard University. , Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., founded 1913 at Howard University, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., founded 1914 at Howard University, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., founded 1920 at Howard University, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. , Inc., founded in 1922 at Butler University in Indiana, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1963 at Morgan State University.

All nine organizations have chapters spanning the country and the world. Total exists almost four million members all over the world.

Many prominent historical figures in the United States are or were members of the Divine Nine. These members have had a major impact on business, sports, entertainment, science, humanities, arts and politics and have shaped the landscape of this country. They include the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jordan, Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Zora Neale Hurston, Corrine Brown and Calvin Murphy.

Many of our state and local elected officials here in Connecticut are also members of the Divine Nine. The Divine Nine does not exclude anyone because of their race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or other labels. Welcome everyone. As a result of discrimination and hatred for who they were, founding members of fraternities and sororities founded their brothers and sisters on the philosophy that everyone should be treated fairly.

Not every community welcomes Divine Nine sororities and fraternities. Some states have attempted to ban historically black fraternities and sororities and have taken other actions to limit the teaching of the diverse history that exists in our country.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis passed a bill called the End Woke Act, HB 999, on May 15, 2023 (Florida House Bill 999, 2023). The bill prohibits funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, critical race theory teaching, majors and minors that include race and gender studies, and changes faculty hiring decisions to gubernatorial appointees.

While HB 999 does not explicitly ban historically black fraternities and sororities, the law’s bans create a hostile environment for such organizations at colleges and universities. Likewise, other states in our country insist on similar actions and censorship. Divine Nine members have come together to support their members and surrounding communities in combating negative actions that only seek to harm and diminish the experiences and history of our country.

With the next election just around the corner, as a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. determined to cast my vote for honesty, unity and progress. As a member of the Divine Nine, I am proud of the legacy I carry with me, which is deeply rooted in the movement to advance civil rights and inclusion for all people. Thus, this way of thinking influences my decision about what type of leader I think would be best suited to be the next President of the United States of America.