100 Years and Counting January 14, 2008

January 15 is an important date for me. First it’s the birthday of Martin L. King, Jr. (I’m talk more about Dr. King in a later post) and second, it’s the date that nine young ladies founded Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

Hundred years ago, the first Greek-letter organization established by African American college-trained women was established on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.  Led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, the Sorority grew and kept in balance two important themes: the importance of the individual and the strength of an organization of women of ability and courage.  

Since 1908, thousands of young woman have joined the legacy of sisterhood and service. Some of the sorority’s most notable members, include:

Marian Anderson, Opera star; concert artist

Maya Angelou, Poet; author; filmmaker

ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Author

Bebe Moore Campbell, Author

Coretta Scott King, Concert artist; activist

Gladys Knight, Grammy Award-winning singer; actress

Rosa Parks, Mother of the civil rights movement

Ntozake Shange, Playwright; author

and ME 

As Alpha Kappa Alpha embarks on this historic milestone, the organization has planned several events culminating with the Centennial Boule which will be held in July 2008.  The Boule will be held in the sorority’s birthplace—Washington, D.C.—and more than 20,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha will tell their communities, the nation and the world the story of nine women who started a movement, which changed the course of history. 

(Click here to learn about this wonderful organization)