The Divine Nine are a group of historically Black Greek organizations that are committed to public service. They started on college campuses, and have continued into the wider world to enact change.
Transcript
PA-ZONG LEE: Stepping, strolling, chants, and history… These are all key components of the Divine Nine, or the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Five fraternities and four sororities make up the Divine Nine, which are historically Black Greek organizations. In comparison to what you see in mainstream media about Greek life, they hold purpose beyond parties and socializing.
DOMONIQUE CHARLES: Pretty much all of us were founded with the idea and hopes of empowering the Black community. Basically giving a space for us when there was no space for us.
LEE: The first of the Divine Nine was founded in 1906 while the council itself was established in 1930. Their legacy has continued throughout time, and especially off-campus after graduation.
MAME NDIAYE: Our members are extremely brave and are very passionate about creating social change and social justice for members within underrepresented communities and members that have been fighting for the same thing over and over and over for so many years. And which is why when people join the Divine Nine, it’s a lifetime commitment of just serving and helping your community.
LEE: You may even know some notable members of the D9.
NDIAYE: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kamala Harris, Cicely Tyson, Aretha Franklin, Colin Kaepernick, Shaquille O’Neal, the list goes on.
LEE: The Secretary of the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. gave us a deeper look into how rich their history is.
HANIYAH PHILOGENE: This image showcases a number of lines so in the front we see some of our 21 Black Pearls which are our charter members, and then after that, spread out throughout the image, you have members of the chapter from the 90s, the 80s, the early 2000s, the late 2000s.
LEE: Clearly the D9 history runs deep. Behind me here are what they call plots, sitting right outside Carnegie Library on campus. The plots honor their rich history. It’s rare to see these on a PWI, but they are way more common at historically Black colleges and universities.
LEE: Speaking of history and culture, stepping and strolling is a huge part of the D9.
CHARLES: The whole purpose of it is to show unity, no one is to ever break your stroll line, that’s like an absolute no-no, because it’s symbolic. It’s the same way no one could ever break your sisterhood or brotherhood, no one should be breaking your stroll line.
LEE: From stepping to service, the Divine Nine make their mark on and off campus. They are absolute that their legacy will continue. In Syracuse, Pa-Zong Lee, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Divine Nine, or National Pan-Hellenic Council is a group of historically Black Greek fraternities and sororities with a legacy that is beyond parties and socializing.
Despite what you see in mainstream media about college Greek life, the Divine Nine focus on public service, primarily within the Black community. Each organization was founded on both Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as Predominantly White Institutions. The council itself was established in 1930, while each organization was founded within different years, starting in 1906.
Domonique Charles, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., said the council’s purpose is to serve their communities on and off-campus, to uplift, and to pay it forward.
“Pretty much all of us were founded with the idea and hopes of empowering the Black community,” Charles said. “Basically giving a space for us when there was no space for us.”
Mame Ndiaye, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., said membership within the Divine Nine is a lifetime commitment.
“Our members are extremely brave and are very passionate about creating social change and social justice for members within underrepresented communities and members that have been fighting for the same thing over and over and over for so many years,” Ndiaye said. “And which is why when people join the Divine Nine, it’s a lifetime commitment of just serving and helping your community.”
As Ndiaye referenced the commitment to service beyond college, she mentioned some notable members of the Divine Nine. It ranged from civil rights leaders to artists and athletes.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kamala Harris, Cicely Tyson, Aretha Franklin, Colin Kaepernick, Shaquille O’Neal, the list goes on,” Ndiaye said.
What started out on college campuses, grew into something bigger. Each organization has a long history that stems from their numerous members who continue the legacy of their founders. Some college campuses have plaques, trees and benches that honor these organizations and the contributions they provided.
Another key component of the D9 culture is stepping and strolling, which are forms of movement and dancing. It can coincide with chanting sometimes. Charles said when members are strolling in a line, there’s a reason behind it.
“The whole purpose of it is to show unity, no one is to ever break your stroll line, that’s like an absolute no-no, because it’s symbolic,” Charles said. “It’s the same way no one could ever break your sisterhood or brotherhood, no one should be breaking your stroll line.”
From stepping to service, the Divine Nine make their mark on and off campus. As members continue to increase, ever since it’s inception, they are absolute that their legacy will continue.