Alright now yall former Ivies, don't make Big Sis Vivacious come out now!
Our lovely Soror Nellie Quander, of the storied Quander family of DC, was an incorporator,
not a founder.
As for the
founder(s) I am most like, I've always found myself drawn to Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, because she was "the originator of the idea," and a charter member of more than just the Alpha chapter. My path to AKA was sort of a singular journey in that no one in my family supported Greek orgs., my school didn't allow Greek organizations and I had to literally dig up interest on my campus from other women and petition the local graduate chapter to consider us for membership. This made me cling to the idea of Soror Ethel as a pioneer whose focus laid the foundation of something spectacular.
My journey into AKA has always felt like a pioneering one too, because after my line sister and I were initiated, we set about chartering a chapter. Though we didn't end up with a charter, we ended up with several collegiate sorors whom we helped make (and who are still my GIRLS to this day, by and large); leadership skills learned from drafting bylaws and creating programs; diplomacy skills from working with our Regional Director, graduate chapter, other undergraduates and our universities; event planning skills from producing the first step shows known to our school/surrounding area; and the strengthening of my "let me be the first to do it" nature.
It's funny, but I never had much exposure to black Greeks coming up, but once read an article about AKA when I was about 12-years-old that talked about this pioneering group of women were the first to start the sorority movement for black women at a time when their kind was being raped, beaten and oppressed. Hell, many of the black men on Howard's campus resented the presence of women, according to my research. That one article was all I needed to convince me that I would one day be one of those "trailblazing" women. And here I am!
I've also always loved Anna Easter Brown, because she was born on Easter Sunday. Other early pioneers I admire are Sorors Lorraine Richardson Green and Nellie Quander. As a history buff, I REALLY admire Soror Majorie Parker. But most of all, I love and admire those good old-fashioned sorors who brought me in "the right way", with reverence, love and devotion, especially Soror Gloria
E. Bond (yes, she emphasized that E.).
Sorry for the book.
[This message has been edited by Discogoddess (edited January 24, 2001).]