The Divine Nine – national Black Greek-letter organizations in the National Pan-Hellenic Council – were established by students to provide community, racial uplift and spaces dedicated to service during a time when racial segregation barred Black students from taking part in Greek life.
The associations continue to hold the values a century later, today focusing just as heavily on community service and civic action, as is the case for Evanston’s local Divine Nine chapters.
Downtown Evanston partnered with the Evanston Divine Nine for the Downtown Summer Sounds concert at Fountain Square on July 25. For most of the 12 weeks of the concert series, Downtown Evanston collaborated with a different local nonprofit each week. Live music, vendors and community organizations were present, and on that Thursday the nine historically Black local chapters “leading in service and scholarship within the North Shore community” each had a table to inform attendees about the groups.
Historical significance
The fraternities and sororities, known formally as The National Pan-Hellenic Council, include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
Most of the organizations were formed over 100 years ago, the oldest being Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, established in 1906 at Cornell University, also the sole organization of the group founded at an Ivy League school. Seven young Black men looking to form a brotherhood created the group, including influential activist and historian W.E.B. Du Bois. Eventually the fraternity created a second chapter at Howard University, a historically Black university. The fraternity offered tutoring, financial aid and other opportunities catering to Black youth.
Alpha Kappa Alpha followed suit, established in 1908 at Howard University by Black college women. The sorority advocated for women’s suffrage, engaged with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, aided migrants during the Great Migration and funded student opportunities.
With the formation of these first two organizations, students worked to create more, primarily at Howard University. The establishment of the groups was not always easy, with students having to lobby the faculty of their institutions, which was the case for Omega Psi Phi, which took more than 10 years to officially incorporate.
The Divine Nine provided opportunities for Black students during a time when they were not encouraged to pursue education, and retention for Black students – particularly at predominantly white institutions – was low.
Community involvement
The local chapters had the opportunity at Summer Sounds to unite and remind the community that they exist and have plenty to offer with mentoring and programming, according to Alpha Phi Alpha member Terrance Stevenson, who attended the Summer Sounds concert and described it as “super fun.”
Stevenson added that since the organizations are nationwide, they have been able to show the country their legacy of service over generations. For him, the organizations mean a lot because they inspire solidarity.
“It’s an opportunity to network and bond with other gentlemen with like values. We highly value community service and service to all mankind,” Stevenson said.
Scholarships and book bags
The alumni chapter of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which he joined in 2018, gives seven annual $2,000 scholarships and engages in community service such as book bag giveaways and working to help people who are food-insecure. The chapter, originally chartered in Evanston, has put together a petition to establish a chapter in Evanston that will be submitted by the end of August, it’s hoped, Stevenson said.
Other services provided by the organizations include civic engagement, such as resources for voter literacy. Vice President Kamala Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and sorority representatives in attendance wore “Vote!” T-shirts and reminded residents to vote.Delta Sigma Theta Evanston chapter members showed the same encouragement, wearing “#votebecause” shirts.
Providing more resources like voter registration drives and door-to-door talks with residents is something chapters, particularly Omega Pi Zeta (Zeta Phi Beta’s Evanston chapter), are looking to do this voter season since there are fewer COVID restrictions than previously, said chapter historian Akilah Jones, who joined the sorority at the end of 2023. She said the chapter is a business-oriented sisterhood.
“Just to let people know not only about the national topics that potentially will be on the ballot, but also local things that are going to impact and affect the Evanston community,” Jones said. “Trying to understand who the candidates are going to be on the ballot, that are in this community, and getting that information out there. If they’re having any town halls, encouraging people to go to those events.”
The community involvement of chapters is primarily providing resources for those pursuing an education. The organizations collaborate with local schools at events and other programming. Northwestern University, for one, has seven chapters out of the nine organizations.
Social chair of Kappa Alpha Psi’s Evanston alumni chapter Stevie Thompson said his chapter collaborated with middle- and high-school students, mainly through the leadership development and mentorship program Kappa League. The program provides educational readiness for economically disadvantaged and underserved male students to schools including Evanston Township High School.
“We did a college signing event in May and we held it at ETHS. We had about two or three of our Kappa Leaguers graduate and were able to give them a sash and a plaque for them to bring to college and celebrate them,” Thompson said.
Continued significance
Jones said each chapter has its own values and principles, but at the core of each is sisterhood and brotherhood, along with highlighting the importance of scholarship.
Stevenson said that although a lot has changed legally and socially since the establishment of the organizations, those spaces are still important.
“The significance for them today is very similar,” he said. “The racial climate in this country is very challenging. These organizations provide a safe space for individuals to gather, to fellowship, to build community, but also, again, to organize and address the ills that face our community.”
