At the moment marks a monumental day in historical past — 112 years in the past, 22 fearless girls got here along with a imaginative and prescient to alter the world. It was 1913, and in the USA, Black individuals had been nonetheless going through the cruel actuality of second-class citizenship. With President Woodrow Wilson on the helm, the nation was navigating a brand new wave of progressive beliefs, however for a lot of, progress was nonetheless only a distant dream.
Whereas the Division of Labor was being established and a few Black males had been discovering their approach into political positions, girls — particularly Black girls — had been nonetheless preventing for fundamental rights. The suffrage motion was gaining momentum, notably amongst White girls, however Black girls had been decided to make their voices heard as nicely. Amongst them had been a bunch of younger girls attending Howard College, who weren’t solely enthusiastic about their schooling but additionally deeply involved in regards to the welfare of their communities.
Regardless of going through scrutiny from their very own sorority, these brave girls determined to forge a brand new path. They envisioned a company devoted to public service and empowerment, and thus, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was born on Jan. 13, 1913.
Our Founders took quick motion, taking part within the Ladies’s Suffrage March in Washington, D.C., as proud college students of Howard College, on March 3, 1913. This highly effective second marked the start of our legacy. The 22 Founders of Delta Sigma Theta are:
– Osceola Macarthy Adams
– Marguerite Younger Alexander
– Winona Cargile Alexander
– Ethel Cuff Black
– Bertha Pitts Campbell
– Zephyr Chisom Carter
– Mary Edna Brown Coleman
– Jessie McGuire Dent
– Frederica Chase Dodd
– Myra Davis Hemmings
– Olive Claire Jones
– Jimmie Bugg Middleton
– Pauline Oberdorfer Minor
– Vashti Turley Murphy
– Naomi Sewell Richardson
– Mamie Reddy Rose
– Eliza Pearl Shippen
– Florence Letcher Toms
– Ethel Carr Watson
– Wertie Blackwell Weaver
– Madree Penn White
– Edith Motte Younger
From that historic day to now, Delta Sigma Theta has profoundly impacted the Black neighborhood by way of our 5 Programmatic Thrusts: Financial Improvement, Worldwide Consciousness & Involvement, Instructional Improvement, Bodily & Psychological Well being, and Political Consciousness & Involvement. We’re proud to be the most important African American Greek-letter sorority, with greater than 350,000 members who’re making waves throughout numerous sectors of life.
Our sisterhood boasts a powerful roster of well-known members, together with:
– Sadie T.M. Alexander, the primary girl to earn a Ph.D. and founding father of the Nationwide Bar Affiliation
– Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
– Actress Angela Bassett
– Olympian Wilma Rudolph
– Poet Nikki Giovanni
– Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam
– Singer/Actress Andra Day
– Civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune
– Former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
– Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
– Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta
– Singer Okay. Michelle
– Former WNBA participant Candace Wiggins
– U.S. Supreme Courtroom Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
At the moment, we stand proud underneath the management of our twenty eighth Nationwide President, Elsie Prepare dinner Holmes, who’s guiding over 1,000 worldwide chapters into this new millennium with the inspiring cost: “Ahead with Fortitude: Collectively, we R.I.S.E. (Resilient, Impactful, Steadfast, Empowered).” As we collect to have fun the founding of our beloved sisterhood, we draw energy from our management and reaffirm our dedication to the mission that our Founders set forth.
Congratulations to the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on 112 years of unwavering dedication to public service and making a significant distinction in our communities. Right here’s to persevering with our legacy, standing ten toes down, and uplifting one another as we forge forward!
