Kamala Harris’ ‘secret weapon’? What to know about AKA, the Divine Nine and their chapters in Tennessee

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.