*This election season has put a spotlight on a part of the Black culture that has been in the shadows for quite a while.
From 1987-1993, A Different World was a show that would feature HBCUs and Black Greek organizations on those campuses. Other than that, the movie School Daze, by Spike Lee is 1988, which centered around a fictitious HBCU, gave light to Black Greek life. 9 organizations included in the D9, also knows at the Divine9 or NPHC have been labeled as secret societies and been viewed as the elite in Black culture.
While much of the country is still being awakened to the terms HBCU and Divine9, many of its members continue to excel, innovate, and set the standard for greatness. The irony lies in the fact that most people that have worked closely with these professionals, do not know that these individuals are members of these Black Greek organizations. They are all around us, in every field, in every aspect of American greatness.
Here are just a few of the D9 members that are making moves right now and contributing to our society in the most incredible ways.
- Kamala Harris
- Organization – Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Title: Unites State Senator from California, Vice Presidential Candidate
- Accomplishment – Kamala is the first African American Woman nominated to a major party ticket.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms
- Organization – Delta Sigma Theta
- Title: Mayor of Atlanta
- Accomplishment – Keisha is the only Atlanta Mayor to have served in all three branches of government serving as a judge and city councilmember.
- Bryanta “Bre” Maxwell
- Organization – Zeta Phi Beta
- Title: Political Directors for Jamie Harrison for U.S. Senate
- Accomplishment – Bre has taken this “underdog” campaign and locked it in a virtual tie against Lindsey Graham to flip this senate seat. She co-founded Taking Root, has served on the Democratic National Committee Youth Council, and previously worked for Congressman James E. Clyburn.
- Ray McKenzie
- Organization – Kappa Alpha Psi
- Title: International Founder & CEO, ai
- Accomplishment – Ray launched his 2nd technology company, StartingPoint, during Covid that will help companies deal with the new normal of doing business from a distance, post-Covid. The new normal just got easier for small businesses.
- D.L. Hughley
- Organization – Omega Psi Phi
- Title: Actor | Political Commentator | Radio Host | Author Stand-up Comedian
- Accomplishment – The original host of ComicView, a member of The Original Kings of Comedy, a TV Star, radio star, and best-selling author is a master of bringing truth to power.
- Roland Martin
- Organization – Alpha Phi Alpha
- Title: Journalist & Political Commentary
- Accomplishment – Roland’s daily digital show, Unfiltered, is bringing the most powerful, honest, and important voices together for unfiltered conversation to keep us better informed on the issues that affect us most.
- Ryan Ehsan
- Organization – Phi Beta Sigma
- Title: Founder & President of Code3, Men’s Skincare Line
- Accomplishment – Ryan’s experience as a law enforcement professional gave him the vision for a unique men’s skincare line that is great for civil servants that spend a large portion of their time outside. During the height of Covid, they formulated and made widely available an advanced sanitizer. This is the true meaning of serve and protect.
- Jason Wright
- Organization – Alpha Phi Alpha
- Title: President, Washington Football Team
- Accomplishment – Jason is the first African American to serve in this role in the NFL.
- Martin Jarmond
- Organization – Kappa Alpha Psi
- Title: UCLA Athletic Director
- Accomplishment – Martin is the youngest athletic director in the power five conference and the first African American to serve in this role at UCLA.
If you are college educated, in pursuit of a college degree or curious about what it would take to join a Black Greek organization, do the research. Visit the websites of each organization. Connect with your local chapter. Find and ask another member of the organization the questions that peak your curiosity. And believe it or not, there are non-Black members in these organizations. It’s all about goals, aspirations, community service, and achievement.
source:
TonyaMcKenie
Sand & Shores
[email protected]
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