Long and similar to other stories, but it's mine
 

:DI love this topic!! Mostly because I never get enough of telling this story (and if anyone that knows me personally esp. my line sisters is reading just skip on through this – you already know). I only talk about it so much because I truly LOVE Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and all that she has meant to my life since the first day I became aware of her.

When I was about 8 years old we were visiting relatives in my mother’s hometown in Alabama. One of my older cousins was home for the summer visiting from college (U of A Huntsville). I went into her room (I was always glued to her hip b/c I admired her so much) and it was a sea of pink and green. On one of her walls (literally the size of the wall) was the poem “And God Said” (my favorite AKA poem because I strive to epitomize the words therein). I asked her what “all of this stuff” was. She laughed at me and enthusiastically told me a bit about the history of our illustrious sisterhood. I remember this b/c I was (am) a dork and a huge history buff so I latched on to January 15, 1908, the names of our founders etc. Anyway my cousin, who I later learned was a charter member of her school’s chapter, told me to watch the women in my life and sort of gravitate towards those that possess the characteristics, morals and high standards that she knew women in my family possess (as a general rule in life, not just in seeking to be a member of an org. – less drama) b/c that’s what she had done and 95% of those women were members of AKA.

I remembered that growing up. My favorite math teacher in elementary school (Mrs. Miller) is a soror. My 9th grade English teacher – Mrs. Brantley Jackson (a woman who selected me to be her mentee {might not be a word} and cultivated my growing passion for literature and writing) was an AKA. My 11th and 12th grade English teachers – two of the classiest, strongest, most eloquent women I have ever met (and graciously allowed me to be their teachers’ pet) were women of Alllpha Kappa Alllpha Sorority Inc. One of these women, Lisa Phillips, pulled me to the side before graduation and told me two things: do your research and make a wise, well informed decision AND let my actions speak for me (discretion, discretion, discretion).

I learned a valuable lesson in college though. My journey into this sisterhood was not an easy one (details of which don’t need to be discussed here). Due to issues at my university as well as things going on in my personal life (including the deaths of 4 people that were near and dear to me within a year and a half period) I never had the opportunity to become a member during undergrad. But, as my name suggests, I kept my eyes on my goal. I supported community service projects with and without AKA (Greek and non-Greek). Post-graduation I moved across the country and had NO connections to local members but I made myself KNOWN due to my dedication to community service and high scholastic, moral and ethical standards (you never know who is watching you and where). I didn’t have to tell anyone that this is what I stand for. I live my life this way and it is more than evident. And it paid off. Not when and how I thought it would but in a good way nonetheless. June 3, 2007 I became a member of an organization that for at least 20 years I had HOPED I could be so fortunate to call my own.

SKEEE WEEEE!

SKEE-WEE Soror.

I told my story over in the recruitment stories thread, but one of the things that I did not mention there was that as I did my research, I, like you, found out that many of the women that I already greatly admired were members of our sisterhood. My grandmother and several of my most influential college professor, not to mention the sorors that were on my campus.

Soror, your story gave me a little thrill. SKEE-WEE!:D

Why Did I Join Alpha Kappa Alpha
 

I love this topic too!

Some of the most elegant and impressive women I have had the pleasure and honor of claiming as mentors are Alpha Kappa Alpha women including my cousins (who were my first influence).

There is an indescribable majesty that these Alpha Kappa Alpha women possessed that I was determined to emulate. I am also extremely impressed and proud of our founders' vision of claiming femininity for Black women (in the selection of the colors, flower, pearls, etc.) during a time in American history when we were just a few years removed from slavery.

We are often subjected to stereotypes of being too girly and superficial as a consequence. But when we look how Black womanhood is being attacked in the media and music industry today, I am reminded of our founders who were the architects of the Black Sorority movement in America and; their foresight to leave us the great legacy in continuing to claim and reclaim our femininity as Black women.

Someone hand me a tissue...

So few people recognize the significance of that act, Soror. ;):D

Thanks soror! I get a little thrill every time I think of this journey myself!

SKEEEEEEEEE WEEEEEEEEE!

Here ya go, Soror... that's so true!

Thanks AKA Sorors!
 

Thanks for the hanky (dab, dab)...

Soror, I just read your story in the recruitment forum!!! Loved it. Very well written.

Thanks Soror!

After being referred over here from a current thread, I realize that I hadn't told my story.

I am one of those first generation college students so of course I was the first to have the opportunity to become Greek. I had no knowledge of NPHC before attending the Black Student Union sponsored pre-Freshman weekend in the spring before I matriculated. On that weekend, all of the AA orgs (this was a PWI) laid out the red carpet for us.

Of course, the NPHC orgs were front and center. While my assigned 'mentor' was a Delta from my home town, I felt totally comfortable with her 'crew'. I did get a chance to meet others (1 other sorority and 2 fraternities) but I kept gravitating back to the Red Zone. I was so hyped that I devoured everything I could about Delta that summer. The history of the org just blew me away. I, too, found out that many prominent women I admired were Deltas, including the sitting school district superintendent and the first black female judge on the city superior court.

When I got back to campus, many of the cool peeps I had met the previous spring had graduated and most of the members of the new Fall line were from other campuses in the citywide chapter. However, by spring, I had expressed interest but I was nervous because my then roommate also wanted to be a Delta and I knew it would be awkward if one of us was accepted and the other was not. We turned out to be linesisters!

Many of my cousins followed my footsteps to college but only one decided to become Greek; she pledged Zeta. But I still keep hope alive!

Great story!

Bringing this back up because I enjoyed reading my fellow D9'ers stories. :)

ttt