Kamala Harris made history as the first female vice president in American history at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States. Millions of people watched Harris being sworn in by the first Latina Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Not only is Harris making history as the first female vice president, but the first Black, Caribbean, Indian, American woman. She is the first woman to lay her hand on the Bible and recite the oath of office for the nation’s second highest executive role.
Notably, Harris graduated from Howard University in 1986, a historically Black college. She is also the first member of a Black sorority to be the vice president of the U.S. Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA).
Black Greek life organizations nationwide volunteered to garner support for Harris. Organizations took the initiative to register individuals to vote, from phone banking to knocking door-to-door, urging and nagging individuals to send their ballots in.
On the off chance that you haven’t seen the well-known video highlighting Black Sorors wearing their sororities’ colors, complemented with heels, pearls and t-shirts branded “Stroll to the Polls,” here it is.
Being apart of an organization like AKA and the Divine Nine Network allowed Harris to meet people who looked like her and shared similar experiences.
“Having my AKA sisters behind me, seeing them at events across the country, is a reminder to me as I run for president, because I know if I’m not on the stage, there’s a certain voice that will not be present on that stage, a voice that must be heard,” said Harris.
Harris’ sorority is one of the nine college established Black sororities and fraternities that make up the Divine Nine. Established at Howard in 1908, AKA has developed into a global administration association with roughly 300,000 individuals and 1,000 chapters around the world.
Celebrating this event meant that individuals from AKA proclaimed Jan. 20 as Sorority Kamala D. Harris Day and encouraged members to celebrate this moment with the hashtag, #KamalaHarrisDay. On the side of Harris being confirmed as vice president, individuals across the globe donned pearls and the sorority’s salmon pink and apple green tones.
“Such a proud moment to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. It’s truly a siginificance to see a fellow soror living up to a new light and new season of American presidency. Our sisters, nieces, and granddaugthers will forever be motivated to live out our ancestors’ wildest dreams and work hard for what we strive in life. It is such an honor to recognize that Kamala Harris is one of us, she represents us, and we will forever live our story through her,” said a prestige member of Alpha Kappa Alpha who wished to remain anonymous.
It’s a new day in America. A day that AKA sorority members will be bragging about forever!
