From a black woman who is not affiliated with a sorority

I love me some DST no matter who did what.
Proud to be a Delta Mom.

Nice work Sorors! ; )

It’s unfortunate that a nice article on AKA’s achievements is undermined by foolishness. In any event, Lisa and Andrea handled it very nicely; with class. Congratulations on 100 years of Service To All Mankind!

Karen

Those comments weren’t even called for so knock the chips off your shoulders anonymous and Delta Sigma Theta; strong, wrong and out of order. I am curious as to the doubt of AKA’s membership and more importantly why you are worrying about it?

In addition to what my Soror said, I want to mention, Julia Lathrop who I became familiar with while in college; taking “Womens History” class. Lathrop was a staunch advocate for social reform as well as a staunch advocate during the Suffrage Movement; particularly Chicago. Lathrop and Jane Addams were very good friends. AKA also had ties with Julia Lathrop who is an AKA. The Suffrage Movement is a very intriguing era more so the relations between the White Women Suffragists and the Black Women Suffragists.

So, while DST profoundly left their mark on the Suffrage Movement and in particular at the 1913 Suffrage parade in Washington, DC they did not do it alone. Regardless, this point shouldn’t have had to be made but when non AKA’s start spouting off what AKA did or did not do, it has to be addressed.

Regards,
Team Soror Nellie Quander

Anonymous & Delta Sigma Theta:

I am not sure why the negative tone in your responses or for that matter a response at all seeing as though neither of you are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. but it is apparent that accolades to AKA seem to rub you both the wrong way. In any event, this is an editorial simply highlighting AKA’s achievements since inception in 1908 in which your comments are inappropriate and unnecessary for several reasons.

First, neither of you are AKA’s.

Second, I find it interesting that you scold the blogger for not having accurate information when you two are the ones who are misinformed. Therefore, I suggest you heed your own advice.

Third, Alpha Kappa Alpha membership stands at over 200,000 with 975 chapters worldwide.

Fourth, AKA members were very involved in the Suffrage Movement and contrary to what you believe, did participate in the 1913 Suffrage March in Washington, DC. Jane Addams who marched in both the DC and Chicago parades was an AKA; AKA’s first Honorary Soror in 1913. During the Suffrage era, not only did AKA’s have ties to Jane Addams but to Jeanette Rankin (briefly mentioned in AKA: In the Eye of the Beholder and Alpha Kappa Alpha: Through the Years), Addie Waites Hunton (becomes Honorary in 1933) and Charlotte Hawkins Brown (becomes an AKA in 1927). However, AKA’s presence at the 1913 march was not to the stature of DST and not under the umbrella of AKA; AKA never claimed that it was.

Unfortunately, in most cases the names of Black women that did participate in the parade were not recorded. Only certain Black women achieved that level of prominence such as Ida Wells and Mary Church because of how involved they were. The courage that DST showed at the parade was outstanding and something that I will forever be “in awe” of but DST members were not the only ones marching in the back. On the contrary, many African American Suffrage Clubs from various states such as Chicago and New York were there but again it was never thoroughly documented for several reasons; one being the tension between the Black Women Suffragists and the White Women Suffragists. Alpha Kappa Alpha has never made that claim nor is it claimed in this editorial. AKA history books mention that Soror’s not only participated in the Marches but in the Suffrage Movement as a whole.

Fifth, the Mary Church comment about her being “dismayed with AKA’s social agenda” is irrelevant to AKA. I don’t know what agenda you or Ms. Church is or was referring to but AKA is celebrating 100 years of service so our “agenda” is intact, forever evolving and making positive impacts in the community so don’t worry about it. The Service To All Mankind has always been the focus even when others wanted to change it and while our programs evolve to meet the current needs of the community, the spirit, focus and integrity never changes. Thus, out of respect for the legacy of Mary Church, who I believe became an Honorary Delta; I will leave it at that.

Lastly, as for your article references, again irrelevant seeing as though no one was disputing and or commenting on DST. DST’s participation in the 1913 Suffrage parade has never been denied by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. or anyone else. So in the future, please don’t speak on behalf of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as I am sure you would be perturbed if a non Delta spoke on behalf of DST with inaccurate information to boot.

Sincerely,

Lisa (A proud and active member of the 1st and Finest)