What you should know about Kamala Harris’ Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and famous alumni
Sisterhood celebrates unveiling of historic monument in Cornwall
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sing the Alpha Kappa Alpha anthem following the unveiling of the historic Harriet J. Terry marker in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Terry was born in Cornwall on February 4, 1885. Among her many accomplishments is the founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Howard University in 1908.
Kelly Marsh, for the Times Herald-Record
After President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for the 2024 presidential nomination on Sunday, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate.
Harris already enjoys the support of the president, many Democratic delegates and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Here’s what you should know:
Kamala Harris is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority
Harris’ ties to the organization are extremely extensive.
She joined the organization in the 1980s while a student at Howard University. The Howard University campus was the original birthplace of the sorority, founded in 1908. Alpha Kappa Alpha, or AKA, is the oldest Greek-letter organization founded by college-educated African-American women, according to the sorority’s website, and is part of the “Divine Nine,” historically black fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
AKA has more than 360,000 initiated members and has 30 locations in Ohio.
Kamala Harris’ AKA sisters have long rallied around her, with the New York Times once calling her their “secret weapon.”
Harris continues to support Alpha Kappa Alpha and vice versa
According to CNN, Harris delivered a keynote address earlier this month at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. biennial convention in Dallas, urging black voters to take action this election season.
AKA contributed more than $200,000 to the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, with individual members donating exactly $19.08 to honor the sorority’s founding year.
Financial support for Harris has continued to grow since Biden withdrew from the presidential race. In just a few hours on Sunday, the organization Win With Black Women, a coalition of black leaders, raised more than $1 million in support of Harris.
The fundraising continued as ActBlue raised nearly $50 million in donations just hours after Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign. The nonprofit fundraising platform said in a tweet, “This was the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle.”
Who are famous AKA members besides Kamala Harris?
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is home to several famous sisters. Notable AKA alumni include:
- Maya AngelouPoet and civil rights activist
- Coretta Scott KingAuthor, activist and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Rosa ParksHuman rights activist
- Ella FitzgeraldJazz singer
- Alicia KeysGrammy-winning singer and songwriter
- Phylicia RashadEmmy-nominated actress
- Jada Pinkett SmithActress and talk show host
- Wanda SykesActress and comedian
Where can I find an AKA location in Ohio?
There are 30 chapters across the state, including four in Cleveland, three in Cincinnati, two in Columbus and two in Akron.
The organization has a total of 1,074 branches. Membership is by invitation only.
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