Tennessee
Kamala Harris’ ‘secret weapon’? What to know about AKA, the Divine Nine and their chapters in Tennessee
Kamala Harris: A look into the VP’s background
Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Harris after dropping out of the 2024 election. Here’s a look into her background.
With President Joe Biden now out of the 2024 Presidential Election, the spotlight is now on Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris’ campaign has seen a wave of support pour in since Biden announced he would not seek re-election on Sunday. From celebrities like Beyoncé to Mark Hamill to Demi Lovato to George Clooney, many are showing their outright support for the expected Democratic nominee. Along with celebrities, members of historically Black fraternities and sororities, known as the Divine Nine, are showing support through donations and campaigns for Harris.
Here is what to know about the prestigious organization.
Support for Kamala Harris from Black fraternities and sororities
While Harris’ success so far in campaign fund raising cannot entirely be attributed to Black fraternity and sorority members, they contributed in a major way. Over 44,000 people joined a Sunday video call hosted by a group called Win With Black Women, which lasted well past midnight and, according to the organizers, netted more than $1.5 million for the Harris campaign.
Harris joined AKA in the 1980s when she attended Howard and their mutual support has continued ever since. Harris’ AKA sisters have long rallied around her, once referred to by the New York Times as her “secret weapon.”
According to the sorority’s website, it boasts more than 360,000 college-educated women in chapters located in 12 countries. AKA contributed more than $200,000 to the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, with members individually donating exactly $19.08 to honor the year the sorority was founded.
What is the Divine Nine?
The “Divine Nine” is a nickname for the National Pan-Hellenic Council coined by Lawrence Ross, Alpha Phi Alpha member and author, in his book “The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities.”
The council was founded at Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., in 1930 by Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta from “a need for mutual support,” Ross said.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha: founded in 1908 at Howard University
- Alpha Phi Alpha: founded in 1906 at Cornell University
- Delta Sigma Theta: founded in 1913 at Howard University
- Iota Phi Theta: founded in 1963 at Morgan State College, now Morgan State University
- Kappa Alpha Psi: founded in 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington
- Omega Psi Phi: founded in 1911 at Howard University
- Phi Beta Sigma: founded in 1914 at Howard University
- Sigma Gamma Rho: 1922 at Butler University
- Zeta Phi Beta: 1920 at Howard University
Founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded in 1908 at Howard University as the first Black sorority. It was founded by Ethel Hedgemon Lyle and eight other women. Since its founding, it has grown to now have 1,074 chapters in the United States and in 11 other countries.
Who are famous Alpha Kappa Alpha members?
Along with Harris, there are a number of other women who have joined the organization and made a name for themselves within the 116 years it’s been around. Other members include:
- Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist
- Coretta Scott King, author, activist and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Rosa Parks, civil rights activist
- Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer
- Ava DuVerney, Emmy-award filmmaker
- Alicia Keys, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter
- Phylicia Rashad, Emmy nominated actress
- Jada Pinkett Smith, actress and talk show host
- Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian
What schools in Tennessee have Divine Nine chapters?
When looking at major universities in Tennessee, a number of them have multiple chapters from the Divine Nine. There are 55 four year colleges and universities in Tennessee. This list focuses on universities and HBCUs in Tennessee that have sororities and fraternities from the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Universities with National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters in Tennessee include:
LeMoyne-Owen College and the University of Memphis are the only two schools that have a chapter from each of the Divine Nine. Austin Peay State University, Fisk University, Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University all have eight.
How many Divine Nine chapters are there in Tennessee?
When looking at major universities and HBCUs, there are 109 total chapters in the Volunteer State.
Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Beta Phi all have 14 chapters across the state. Alpha Kappa Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi both have 13 chapters. Sigma Gamma Rho has 10 chapters, and Iota Psi Theta is the smallest with only three chapters among major universities in Tennessee.
How many HBCUs are in Tennessee?
There are seven HBCUs in Tennessee. Alabama leads the country with 14 followed by North Carolina with 10 and Georgia with 9.
- American Baptist College
- Fisk University
- Knoxville College
- Lane College
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Meharry Medical College
- Tennessee State University
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Tennessee
Tennessee Football Hosted SEC Cornerback Commit on Official Visit This Weekend | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee football is continuing to make pushes for top targets on its board despite prospects’ commitment status. On Saturday, the Vols flipped Alabama commit Kenneth Simon II to join the 2027 class. On Sunday, Dayon Cooper decommitted from Florida State after his official visit to see the Vols.
UT has its eyes set on another currently committed target, as well. Mississippi State commit Brandon Allen Jr. just completed his official visit to Knoxville this past weekend, according to his Instagram story.
Allen ranks as a three-star recruit, according to 247 Composite. He is the No. 627 recruit in the nation, No. 65 cornerback and No. 76 player from the state of Georgia. He plays for Westlake High School in Atlanta. That’s the same school that current UT receiver Travis Smith Jr. played for.
More From RTI: Five-Star Recruiting Target Took Official Visit to Tennessee Football This Weeekend
Tennessee isn’t the only team trying to flip Allen, though. According to 247, along with the Vols and Mississippi State, Allen is also taking official visits to South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech. Ironically, UT will face all of those teams, except the Hokies and MSU, next season on its 2026 schedule, with each being played on the road.
Tennessee is a bit late to join the recruitment of Allen, but it could make a big enough impact to reel him in. UT offered him on May 7 of this year. This came from new cornerbacks coach, Derek Jones, who was hired to join the staff of newly hired Vols defensive coordinator Jim Knowles this offseason.
Tennessee currently holds 15 commitments in the 2027 class and sits outside the top 25 nationally in both 247 and Rivals rankings. However, with official visits continuing to be held, the Vols are putting themself in a position to bolster the group and climb the rankings.
Tennessee
Indiana man found after going missing in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An Indiana man who traveled to Tennessee for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has been found after he was reported missing for over 48 hours.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department previously issued a statement asking for the public’s assistance in locating 28-year-old Trevor Lines.
Lines reportedly left a short-term rental on Douglas Avenue, where he was staying with friends early Thursday and never returned.
Lines’ friends told law enforcement that they left around 5 a.m. to search for someone’s phone, when they returned within an hour, Lines and his vehicle were gone. His phone and medication were left inside the residence.
His 2016 Lexus with a Purdue University plate was picked up by license plate readers east of Nashville in Mt. Juliet around 7:30 a.m. on Friday and later at 4:30 p.m. in Goodlettsville, which is north of Nashville. Although Nashville does not use LPRs.
Lines had reportedly been visiting Tennessee for the Bonnaroo festival in Coffee County. Nashville police have alerted the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Coffee County authorities to be on the lookout for Lines.
Lines’ older brother, Kyle Smith, told FOX59/CBS4’s sister station, WKRN, he’s worried. Lines is reportedly from the northern part of Indiana, so he’s unfamiliar with Middle Tennessee.
“We’re hoping that maybe he ended up in a local hospital somewhere… The doubts are definitely creeping in, and it feels more and more likely that something bad has happened,” Smith said.
However, shortly before 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, the MNPD announced Lines was discovered in his car outside the Goodlettsville Skate Center, adding that he’s being reunited with his family.
No additional details have been made available at this time regarding the circumstances surrounding Lines’ disappearance or his discovery.
Tennessee
Tennessee Football Lands Four-Star Offensive Line Commitment Q’Mari Hudson | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee Football continued its big recruiting day on Saturday with a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Q’Mari “Big Q” Hudson. The class of 2027 prospect is Tennessee’s second commitment of the day after flipping legacy linebacker Kenneth Simon II away from Alabama in the morning.
Tennessee beat out Virginia and Virginia Tech, Hudson’s two in-state programs, for the commitment over the weekend. Hudson was in Knoxville for an official visit last weekend and all seemingly went well enough for him to bump his commitment date up from July and make his pledge to the Vols.
Following his trip to Knoxville, Hudson landed a prediction from Rivals insider Chad Simmons. The four-star prospect also made one of his visit pictures his profile picture on Instagram, leading to speculation that today’s announcement would favor the Vols.
Rivals‘ Rankings have Hudson tabbed as the No. 281 prospect in the class, the No. 22 offensive tackle in the cycle, and the No. 7 player from the state of Virginia. He currently plays for Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, VA.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football QB Commit Named a Top Performer at Elite 7-on-7 Tournament
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound prospect is a beast in the trenches. While he is being recruited as an offensive lineman at Tennessee, Hudson has played on both sides of the line at Western Branch. His highlight tape shows off the versatile athleticism and power to be a force on both sides of the ball at his current level.
Hudson is now Tennessee’s 15th commitment in the cycle after landing Simon earlier in the day. He’s Tennessee’s second offensive lineman in the class after landing four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo as an early building block for the class last November.
Tennessee began the day ranked No. 33 in Rivals’ team rankings. After two four-star commitments, though, the Vols have bounced up to No. 27 on the list.
The Vols’ class consists of four-star WR Kesean Bowman, four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II, four-star offensive tackle Q’Mari Hudson, four-star OT Princeton Uwaifo, four-star TE Malik Howard, four-star DL Kadin Fife, three-star CB Dylan Haley, three-star S Jaden Butler, three-star LB J.P. Peace, three-star CB Slim Leavell, three-star QB Derrick Baker, three-star CB Carter Jamison, three-star LS Sam McKeown, JUCO defensive lineman Christian Mays, and kicker Ford Fehling.
Here’s a look at some of Big Q’s highlights in the trenches:
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