Black fraternities and sororities have locally participated in the Black Lives Matter movement.
By Megan Reed
Divine Nine organizations have taken leading roles in every political and social movement in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Over the course of the Black Lives Matter movement, Divine Nine organizations have participated in and organized protests throughout South Los Angeles and Inglewood.
The Divine Nine organizations comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is a collaborative of historically Black fraternities and sororities. Members include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc..
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity members Nason Buchanan and Marquis Diamond co-hosted the Stand in Solidarity Against Racial Injustice rally at the Forum in Inglewood. Members from all Divine Nine organizations participated in the event.
“If you break down how many of the Civil Rights leaders are a part of the Divine Nine, and how undergraduate and graduate Greek-life experiences develop leaders on a national level with all of the organizations focused on community service, it was only right that the Divine Nine showed up to stand in solidarity against racial injustice during the civil unrest of 2020,” Buchanan said.
On that same day another Divine Nine rally was held in Leimert Park Village, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Beta Psi Lambda Chapter (Los Angeles) held a rally at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority also participated in that protest.
At the Center of Hope LA’s “All In” protest and rally, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity marched up and down the streets of Inglewood alongside community members.
“None of us can afford to be quiet when there is so much on the line,” Buchanan said. “Now that we have some leverage, our voices will be heard to create the same changes that the Divine Nine founding members were fighting for over a century ago.”
Divine Nine members have also been a major part of this movement outside of their organizations. Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
