Thursday, January 13th my sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrated our Founders Day at the Tavern at JR Cricket on Camp Creek in the ATL, and yesterday the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha had celebrations across the ATL for their Founders Day celebration. Today I am sure the same applies for the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority who celebrate their Founders Day. The ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho and the final black collegiate sorority of the “Divine Nine,” celebrate on November 12th and I will wish them a Happy Founders Day as well. But for now, Happy Founders Day to Deltas, AKAs, and Zetas throughout Metro ATL, or is it?
Facebook is my favorite hot spot, and on Thursday I must have received over 700+ emails with Happy Founders Day wishes, responses from our 1913 Group, and from others who sent me a special greeting. I mean Deltas were hype and excited! One would think we were celebrating our 100th year and in fact it was just out 98th year milestone. I also received several “pop in” greetings on Facebook from several of my AKA friends and some who wanted to “jon” (means to insult or play the dozens. Okay look it up-LOL) or have a sarcastic Founders Day greeting, and it was all good. I think! Do I get mad? No! Should I get mad? No! Am I really mad and don’t realize it? Uh Maybe! Do some sorors get mad at take joning a little too far? Yes! Why? I am sure people on Facebook this week have been like, what in the world is really going on?
For as far as I can remember the Deltas and AKAs seem to have a bigger rivalry amongst themselves more so than with the Zetas and SGRhos. It’s a rivalry that just won’t go away. I read 100’s of posts over the last few days of Deltas, AKAs and even Zetas and the tensions started mounting on Thursday and some even exploded by Saturday. I cannot believe of the things that were said and done by the different sorority members. I admit, I jon AKAs all of the time too, and some will say I take it a little too far, but I can separate joning from making sure I realize there are bigger fish to fry than to just jon AKAs. Just ask my dear AKA friend Joan Gosier of HBCU Kidz. We have never met but will jon each other all of the time but will work together for the betterment of our kids. Our next task is to take on this issue of those trying to remove slavery out of the textbooks, but that is another article. Back to the point I was making. I have had AKAs to walk up to me and say “Bow down to your mother,” (What?) “Without Skee-wee there would be no DST,” “We made you,” “AKA is the original Sorority,” and I could go on and on and on. Now this is just “Simply My Opinion” on what I think are the real issues at the root of this rivalry history.
Let’s start with history. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded on January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University, just as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on that campus, on January 13, 1913. Written history tells us that 22 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and were the majority of that ladies that pledged the fourth year of their existence. These ladies were displeased with the direction the organization taken and they wanted to be more than just a social organization. The AKAs at that time were said to often host tea parties and social events with the members of the first black collegiate Greek organization Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. founded in 1906. Was there anything wrong with that? No! With any situation, I am sure this caused tension amongst two organizations that are on the same campus and now separate. From my perspective, when AKAs say things like “We made you,” etc. etc. etc., Yeah but we left you and started another sorority, so what’s your point? I think this is the number one jon that Deltas get really fired up about, even if it is a true statement, well sort of. Is it the way AKAs say it? I’m not sure. Is that really a bragging point? Humm, but I do know this was the first issue that sparked the rivalry starting back to 1913 and when AKAs bring that up today let the joning begin.
I will also mention that Madree Penn White was a founder and driving force and inspiration behind Delta Sigma Theta Alpha chapter on the campus of Howard University which may also come up in a jon or two from Deltas. The message I sent to my dear AKA friends on Saturday was: “I couldn’t wait to get my PENN, I mean my pen to WHITE down, I mean write down a special message for you to wish you a Happy Founders Day!!!” Now those AKAs who know me would not be offended at all, and for those of you who got mad, well you must not either know me that well or you are mad that I beat ya to the punch! LOL
What made matters worse is that history tells us that the Deltas applied to get their incorporation first, and when the AKAs found out they decided to become incorporated as well. The problem has been told that the AKAs knew someone in the processing office and they asked her to hold up the paperwork so the AKAs could be the first to be incorporated. What? The AKAs received their incorporation on January 29, 1913 and the Alpha Chapter Deltas on February 19, 1913. The Deltas Grand Chapter didn't receive their Inc. until January 30, 1930. Did that really happen or was it a coincidence? I am sure Deltas like me over the years want to know, “Now why did you have to do that?” “Was that necessary?” Humm, but that could be a reason to cause more tension amongst the two organizations over the years, right?
The one similarity that all three black Greek sororities have is the fact that a fraternity is attached somehow. I am certain the connection of A-K-A-(Phi)-A as they fondly quote, was inspired by AKA founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle’s future husband George Lyle, who was a charter member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's Beta chapter at Howard in 1907. Just as an there was an inspiration and support for the founders of Delta Sigma Theta by the members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity founded in 1911. As a matter of fact, the African violet which is the Delta sorority flower was chosen because of a gift given to founder, Edna Brown Coleman who married Omega founder Frank Coleman. Because of this relationship, the unofficial term “Coleman Love” was derived. This has never been verified, but I have always wondered if a few Delta founder(s) dated any members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, founded in 1911 because the Deltas and Kappas have the same colors. Humm. I do know the Delta colors were chosen for a particular reason tho. On some campuses today Deltas and Kappas are closer than with the Omegas. (I personally have that Coleman Love thing going on.) Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded in 1914 and the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta came along on January 16, 1920. They are the only two organizations that officially have a “brother and sister” relationship. I have heard sororities go for the juggler at step shows saying other sororities have the “clap,” “give head,” “are whores” and OMG that is taking it a little too far with this relationship jealousy wouldn’t you say? We all know how some women can be when it comes to men. So there you have it, the third rivalry reason. MEN! Oh and don’t think these fraternity men aren’t a little jealous either.
My mother who is also a Delta, has shared with me a many stories from the 50’s as it related to the perception that “light skin” women with the “good hair” were AKAs, and the darker skin women with the “courser hair” being Deltas and the larger women becoming Zetas. I really wish I could show you a photo of my mom (Ernestine Long Moore) and her long time friends Elaine Woods Williamson and Marcia Jackson Donaldson, who are women that I have always admired and looked up. But let me just say this. My mother is “light skin” and has long hair, and on occasion thought to be AKA. (Not!) I would also like to mention that Mrs. Woods has a daughter Gaye who is a Zeta and Mrs. Donaldson has a daughter Cora is an AKA (But now Cora does have some long “good hair”- LOL) and we chat practically every day. The Davenports were my next door neighbors growing up and are AKAs. Cammie Davenport Woodle who is a darker complexion than I has always been like a “big sister” to me and we tease each other all the time. Did that mean anything, not really, just wanted to share and give a shout out to Gaye, Cora and Cammie!! All four of our “moms” were also charter members of the Knoxville chapter of Jack and Jill of America (a mother’s organization created to nurture children into becoming future leaders). So even with being in different organizations, I saw them working together for a purpose and that is what I needed to see and that is what our children need to see as well. You don’t want your kids growing up to dislike and to be disrespectful because someone is different from you. Maybe back in the day some members were selected because of stereotypical features, but if you look at all of the sororities today you will see a vast range of complexions, shapes and sizes. As a matter of fact black Greek sororities although predominately black now have Caucasians, Asians, etc. and for some this too poses some concern and another article topic. The 4th point is basically this “light skin versus dark skin” and although not as much of an issue today, it has been over the years and can be explained through over dramatization in Spike Lee’s film “School Daze” with the “wantabees” and the “jiggaboos.” Is it really just “A serious matter?”
I do believe there is a very thin line when joning and in step shows or stomp fests you see it a lot, but just like cheerleaders, they are jonng too, but basically it’s all in fun and “the game.” I bet the Atlanta Falcon and the Green Bay Packer cheerleaders even had a few interesting cheers last night. There is nothing anyone can do about the AKA members branching off to start a new sorority or the fact that the incorporation papers were held up so AKAs would be first. I sister can’t help that she is light skin with long hair or dark skin with a little nap! It is a tradition and fondness that AKAs cater to Alphas and Deltas cater to Omegas and Kappas and Zetas cater to Sigmas, etc. It’s okay a Delta is married to an Alpha or an AKA is married to an Omega (umph- LOL). At the end of the day, we must all find a way to work together for a common purpose and that is serving our communities, because together the four Divine Nine sororities make up 750,000+ women internationally. THAT IS POWER and results come in strength! We need to find a way to play fair, but work together for change! Do you know what can be done with that type of power!! Let’s start with making sure the communities we serve have the education they need, the shelter they need, the jobs they need, the health care they need, the clothing they need, etc. Jon every now and then, but don’t take it personal! Now today I am not only going to call one of my “sistahs” from another sorority just to say hi!!! What about you?
Happy Founders Day ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in the ATL and internationally who were founded on January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. A few well known AKA’s are: Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Gladys Knight, Mae Jemison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jada Pinkett Smith, Wanda Sykes, Cathy Hughes, Alicia Keys, Bernice King, Be Be Moore Campbell, Phylicia Rashad, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Star Jones, Sharon Pratt Kelly, Althea Gibson, Hazel O’Leary, Iyanla Vanzant, Toni Morrison, Marian Anderson and many more.
Happy Founders Day ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in the ATL and internationally who were founded on January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. A few well known Deltas are: Dorothy Height, Lena Horne, Eunice Johnson, Nikki Giovanni, Ruby Dee, Aretha Franklin, Judith Jamison, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, Natalie Cole, Valerie Jarrett, Cicely Tyson, Shirley Franklin, Alexis Herman, Stephanie Perry Moore, Mary Church Terrell, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Marian Wright Edelman, Mary McLeod Bethune, Betty Shabazz, Myrlie Evers Williams and many more.
Happy Founders Day to the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. in the ATL and internationally who were founded on January 16, 1922 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. A few well known Zetas are: Zora Neale Hurston, Ester Rolle, Sarah Vaughn, Elizabeth Koontz, Lucy Perez, Deborah Wolfe, Jylla Foster, Towanda Braxton, Minnie Ripperton, Dionne Warwick, Tonea Harris Stewart and many more.
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