The 'Divine Nine': Leaders announce push for voter registration as Harris takes over
The momentum of support for Vice President Kamala Harris has continued to grow since President Joe Biden declared he is dropping out of the race for the upcoming election.
Following his announcement, Biden immediately endorsed Harris, who is seeking the Democratic nomination. Many politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have also publicized their support and political action committees have raised millions.
Harris has also received considerable support from women, including members of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Members, who are also in a group coined "Win With Black Women, raised more than $1 million for her campaign during a call on Sunday.
"There were 44,000 women on this call; that just shows you the power that we have, and it made you feel proud to be a part of the movement," Shariah Turner, president of the Rho Theta Omega Chapter of AKA, told WPVI.
The presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, also known as the Divine Nine, released a statement about their push for voter registration. However, the announcement did not include a direct endorsement for Harris.
"We the Council of Presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine 9) have met and agreed to meet this critical moment in history with an unprecedented voter registration, education and mobilization campaign.," the statement said.
"This campaign will activate the thousands of chapters and members in our respective organizations to ensure strong voter turnout in the communities we serve. This nonpartisan, coordinated voter mobilization effort builds our shared legacies of social action and service to our communities. The Divine 9 stands in unity to Get Out The Vote. We are stronger together. #D9StrongerTogether."
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What is the Divine Nine?
Harris is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the oldest Greek-letter African American sorority founded by college women at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908. She joined in the 1980s, according to the Tallahassee Democrat, and has seen continued support throughout her career, including when she was running for vice president.
AKA is a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the umbrella organization for the nine Black Greek sororities and fraternities. The Divine Nine consists of the following organizations:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
"The primary purpose and focus of NPHC member organizations remains community awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural service activities," the organization's website says. They were created in a time of racial tension and violence against Black people in the country.
Most of the organizations were founded at Howard University, except Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., which was established at Cornell University in 1906, Kappa Alpha Psi, Fratnerity Inc. at Indiana University in 1911, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. at Butler University in 1922 and Iota Phi Theta at Morgan State University in 1963.
Harris has expressed her pride in being an AKA ? which now has more than 350,000 initiated members worldwide, including Canada, Japan, Dubi, Germany, and Nigeria. Actresses including Jada Pinkett Smith and Phylicia Rashad, among other notable artists, activists, and celebrities, are also members.
"Throughout your life, you find friends who become family and – like family – they help shape you and your life experiences," Harris said in a statement to USA TODAY in 2019. "For me, that was the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. who became my sisters."
Harris recently delivered a speech at the AKA 71 Boule in Dallas: "For 116 years, the members of our sorority have been on the front lines of the fight to realize the promise of America. This year, let us continue that work. Let us fight for freedom, opportunity, and equality. Let us, as always, fight with optimism, with faith, and hope. And let us see it through, because when we fight, we win."
Harris is slated to speak at the Zeta Phi Beta convention
Harris is expected to speak at Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s biennial convention in Indiana on Wednesday, according to the Indianapolis Star, part of USA TODAY Network.
She will sit down with Zeta Phi Beta International President and CEO Stacie NC Grant, in one her first appearances since Biden stepped aside.
"We are excited to welcome...Harris to our 2024 Grand Boule to discuss what this administration has done to improve the lives of all Americans as well as the investments being made in the historically underserved communities our members serve," Grant said in a statement earlier this month.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris is an AKA, part of the 'Divine Nine.' What is it?
