February 2021. The new vice-president makes the front page of Vogue Magazine. In front of an apple green backdrop draped in pink silk, Kamala Harris poses in slim jeans converse. The casual style of the outfit is nuanced by a necklace of ochre pearls that adorns her neck. The layman simply sees a polished staging, typical of the covers of the famous fashion title. The informed one detects the political message.
And for good reason, the choice of colors and accessories is nothing other than a nod to theAlpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), an association supporting African-American women. Born in 1908 on the benches of Howard University – the alma mater of Kamala Harris – the association is part of a network of nine African-American sisterhood movements called “Divine Nine” and counts among its members prominent figures in the fight for civil rights. Like Martin Luther King Jr., or Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for president in 1972.
Following in the footsteps of her aunt Christine Simmons, a student at Howard in the mid-20th century, Kamala Harris, then a political science student, joined the association in the late 1980s and never left. “You make a commitment to stay involved for the rest of your life […] “It is a commitment that goes far beyond university life,” he explained to our colleagues at Wall Street Journal Glenda Glover, former international president ofAlpha Kappa Alpha.
“A family” for life for Kamala Harris
Also, on July 10, Kamala Harris attended the annual gathering of Divine Nine. In front of an audience of several hundred people, the one who is still only a candidate for the vice-presidency of the United States speaks: “To my sisters in the line, the 38 jewels of iridescent splendor: you have played an incredible role in my journey.” An almost prophetic moment as the tone has the air of a rally. Ten days later, Joe Biden withdraws from the race for the White House. The former San Francisco prosecutor thus becomes the first member of the Divine Nine to be propelled to the rank of official candidate of the Democratic Party for the American presidential election.
A consecration for the association created in a context of strong racial discrimination, where African-American students were forbidden from joining white fraternities and sororities. In the columns of Wall Street Journalthe president of the National Panhellenic Council, a group that coordinates the nine associations that make up the Divine Nine, says she is very proud of the woman she calls “a sister”. “It is a path that many women have been waiting for and enthusiastically support,” says Donna Jones Anderson.
A social elevator
More than a century after its formation, the network is considered the most powerful sisterhood movement in the United States. More than 60% of current members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus are affiliated with sisterhood organizations. Divine Nine. And three of the four African-American women who have led Fortune 500 companies – the top 500 U.S. companies by revenue – belong to one of nine black sororities.
To our colleagues at Wall Street JournalChris Rey, international president of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, explains: “A lot of the African-American community is economically disadvantaged, so we have a responsibility to go back and help more people.” For example, half of Phi Beta Sigma members earn more than $100,000 a year, and 10 percent earn more than $200,000 a year.
A donation collection machine
But the skills of these networks are not limited to finding high-ranking positions for their members. Although partisan, the Divine Nine also play a role in electoral polls. By helping their members launch campaigns, for example. Or by collecting money through huge donation campaigns. Also, several of them have chosen to form super PACs (For Political action commits).
This is particularly the case of Kamala Harris’ sisterhood, Alpha Kappa Alpha. In 2020, the AKA reportedly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through individual donations of $19.08. A direct reference to the year the AKA was founded. At the same time, the association had organized the famous “Stroll to the Polls” campaign. An initiative that consisted of filming themselves dancing and walking to the polls in order to encourage African-American voters to go to the polls.
Among other symposia launched by the brotherhoods of Divine Nine Also included are the Brown and Gold Public Affairs PAC, formed by members of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity, the Alpha Political Action Committee, the Krimson PAC, the Omega Network for Action and the SIGMA Political Action Committee 1914. This summer, all reiterated their commitment to fundraising with one goal in mind: making Kamala Harris the first “sister” to join the White House.