White friends, especially white women who did not have an undergraduate sorority experience:
In the coming months you’ll likely see a great deal of content about VP Harris’ sorority affiliation and the support from its members. We 🩷 it. Some info & tips for us: 🧵
Madame VP’s affiliation is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Use the full name whenever possible. AKA is the appropriate abbreviation if needed. It was founded in 1908 at Howard University.. 1/
AKA is one of 9 Black Greek letter organizations unified under the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). There are 4 women’s orgs and 5 men’s, the collective often called the Divine Nine. 2/
AKA symbols include ivy and pearls and the colors pink and green. The symbols, gestures, and other insignia of the org are *not ours* to post/wear/etc. Do not use these to represent your support. 3/
Like their Divine Nine counterparts, AKA has hand signs and dance elements seen in step routines and party strolls that are uniquely theirs. You may likely see them in photos and videos. Again, *not ours*. 4/
These are *not* TikTok dances for everyone to learn, not photo poses to be appropriated. Hype them, share them, support the art. Do. Not. Do. Them. And, if you’re lucky enough to be at an event where a Black Greek party stroll breaks out… 5/
Back up, and cheer. Don’t try to join in. This is not a conga line at your cousin’s wedding reception. And, if you need to cross the room, you do not walk through the middle of a party stroll line to get there. Go around. /6
Members of the org do not use the term “sisters” that you may hear white sorority women use. They will call one another “soror.” This is not a synonym for sibling or friend. Don’t try to use it in place of sister or bestie. Members only, among themselves. /7
In greeting or to acknowledge one another in groups, you may hear their call: skee-weee. Sometime just like that, sometimes in a call/response, always high pitched. I know it’s in a popular song but still: No. We’re not gonna have well-meaning white folks trying /8
To use that at rallies to cheer. Or anywhere. Again, not for us. Black Greek culture is wonderful, and the culture is not transferable.
End TED Talk. Thank you for your time. 9/9
Well, this took on a life of its own! Thank you for all the kind words, the clarifications, and the elaborations. I have learned so 👏🏻 many 👏🏻 things 👏🏻😳. I tried to keep up with the engagement, but know I didn’t succeed so if I missed your reply, I am sorry!
Post script: Black Greek letter organizations have chapters at a myriad colleges and universities of all shapes and sizes across the country, both predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
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