NPHC: Unifying Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)— historically African American fraternities and sororities, also known as the Divine Nine— filled Sandlot Uptown in Northwest D.C. for the fifth-annual Black Greek Festival on Saturday, July 12, an event celebrating Black beauty, culture, boldness, resilience and unity.  

The day-long festival honored the power behind and throughout the Divine Nine and included live DJs, Black-owned food trucks and vendors, games, and giveaways. 

As a student at Bowie State University and member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.’s Mu Chapter, Joshua O., who preferred not use his last name, told The Informer, he was excited to take part in this unified gathering of Black excellence for a number of reasons.  

“I came here [to the festival] to spend time with my brothers, enjoy the Black Greek culture and have a good time,” he said.

In its fifth year and Sandlot Uptown debut, Kwame Agyemang, a Black Greek Festival team member, was excited about this year’s festival turnout. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we received at this year’s Black Greek Festival,” he told The Informer. “To all members of the Divine Nine who showed up and showed out—we see you and we thank you for all the continued support. Your energy and unity truly made this event unforgettable.”

Following the purpose of historically African American Greek-letter organizations— to bolster education and uplift Black communities— Agyemang expressed his gratitude for people across the Divine Nine coming together, despite a divided time in the nation. The gathering was not just a party, but a space to empower all those present to keep working toward an equitable and united country and world. 

“We want to thank… the broader D.C. community for coming together to celebrate culture, legacy, and Black excellence,” Agyemang said. “It was more than a festival — it was a family reunion, a vibe, and a testament to the power of community.”

History, Power of the Divine Nine: ‘It Opened My Horizons‘

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, founded on May 10, 1930 at Howard University, includes nine historically African American Greek-letter organizations working toward bettering Black communities through educational, economic, and cultural service activities.

The council consists of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (founded in 1906), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (founded in 1908), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (founded in 1911), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (founded in 1911), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (founded in 1913), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (founded in 1914), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (founded in 1920), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (founded in 1922), and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity (founded in 1963). 

They were created in response to the racial segregation and disenfranchisement that denied Black students entry into predominantly white sororities and fraternities. Black students, whether studying at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) or predominantly white institutions, came together to create these organizations, forging ties all across the country. 

Chidera Benedicts, who also attends Bowie State University as a member of Iota Phi Theta’s Mu Chapter, felt that Greek life was a major opportunity to get involved on campus. 

“Its made [my college experience] more interesting and more enjoyable. You’re doing a whole lot of things that not a lot of college students get to do,” Benedict told The Informer. “You get to meet a lot of people, connect with different chapters and organizations, and overall it just gives you more of a professional aspect while in undergrad.”

His fraternity brother, Mike A., who only wanted to print his first name, echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the wealth of opportunities that become available as a member of the Divine Nine.

“It’s like an enhancement of [the college] experience because [there’s] a lot of opportunities that you may not have seen without it,” he said. “It opened my horizons to [many things] that I hadn’t necessarily seen before.”

As a student at American University,  Savannah-Rae Snyder, first felt disconnected from others as she navigated life at a predominantly white institution (PWI).

“When I first got to college at my PWI I was angry [at] the lack of awareness, tone deafness, and passive activism of my peers,” said Snyder, a member of  Delta Sigma Theta Nu Alpha Chapter. “I was raised by pro-Black parents that taught me to take everything in the world as a political point. I went through the stages of grief over African American’s status in the world, told only through a lens of being conquered.”

Thanks to Nu Alpha Chapter, chartered on April 22, 1976, Snyder was able to find a group that had what she had been searching for. 

“I was provided a rich history, heritage, and the glory of struggle and success. Not only did my 22 founders charge me with the good fight, they gave me line sisters as allies and lifelong friends,” Snyder told The Informer. “It made my college career one of determination that was constant.”

Historically Black fraternities and sororities were originally established on the principles of educational excellence, racial upliftment, community service, civic action and kinship. 

Today, current members work to uphold those values and emphasize their importance to the next generations of fraternity brothers and sorority sisters. 

For Joshua O, being part of Iota Phi Theta has encouraged him to become more active in the community and gain leadership experience. 

“l’ve been able to do more and be part of the community, culture, [and be] in leadership positions,” he told The Informer. “Going out here, changing the community, bringing [people] together, unites not only Black culture, but us as people.”

Monet Mabrey, a 2024 graduate from Coppin State University and member of Zeta Phi Beta’s Nu Gamma chapter, said being part of a Divine Nine organization not only helped her on campus, but is critical to the woman she is today.

“Becoming a finer woman of Coppin State University, really helped me get out of my comfort zone,” she emphasized. “[It] has also helped me get my ‘big girl’ job thanks to my professor knowing [my supervisor] that’s in another Divine Nine sorority. It’s just amazing, you never know what opportunities are out there.”

Having experienced the benefits of participating in a Black Greek-letter organization firsthand, Mabrey offered advice for those interested in becoming part of the Divine Nine.

“Always remember; scholarships come first,” she explained. “Also, get a GPA that’s five points higher than the one that you need to join the organization that you really want to be a part of.” 

While there is a lot of fun and camaraderie that is associated with the Divine Nine, Joshua  O. said those interested in being a member should learn all they can about the work done in each organization, warning of believing false stereotypes of Black Greek culture. 

“I only recommend [joining] if you’re hardworking, you have goals, and you want to achieve them with other people around you,” he told The Informer  “Understand that Greek life is not about partying, it’s more about structure, building, [and being] better than yesterday.”