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If you haven't heard by now (and shame on you if you didn't know; please hand over your black card), the Nobel Prize winning, incomparable Ms. Toni Morrison passed away on August 5, 2019. Toni Morrison is the author of several classics, such as The Bluest Eye and Beloved. She was a literary genius in my opinion and has inspired so many people, myself included. Thank you for your contribution, Auntie Toni. Please kiss Auntie Maya for us. Your presence will be greatly missed.
Toni Morrison once said, "A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves-a special kind of double." This is one of her many quotes that speaks volumes to me. Let me be clear: I grew up with three wonderful older brothers and no biological sisters. My cousin and I were raised as sisters, and I am forever grateful for that, but it wasn't until the spring of 1999 on the campus of Hampton University (HU) that I really learned the true meaning of sisterhood.
My sophomore year at HU, I pledged the Gamma Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. I, along with 74 other young ladies, was selected to be a part of the Spring 1999 line, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Was it easy? Of course not. Was it worth it? Absolutely!
Now, I know when some people think about sororities, a few things come to mind: hazing, partying, stepping and strolling, to name a few. Believe me, I have heard them all! I often hear a mixture of positive and negative views when I engage in conversation about sororities and fraternities, particularly with non-greeks, and some of the foolishness that is portrayed on television and in movies doesn't help. Well, let me dispel a couple of myths. First, don't get me wrong, my line sisters (i.e. the women who pledged with me) enjoy a good step show and stroll fest during a party, and there is certainly nothing wrong with having a good time. But that is such a small fraction of what being a member of my sorority entails. 20 years later, I can honestly say that these women are living, breathing examples of sisterhood, scholarship, and service. These ladies are doctors, lawyers, dentists, educators, public health professionals, community leaders, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses, business owners/CEOs and overall boss chicks. Proud doesn't begin to describe me.
Yes, you read it correctly, it has been 20 years since we crossed those burning sands together, and to commemorate this very special anniversary, the first thing my sisters and I decided to do was conduct community service activities where we reside. For example, in Atlanta, we helped to packed 185 boxes of medical supplies that were shipped to Cameroon, Cambodia, Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and the Philippines. Up north in New Jersey, my sorors led a team that helped a fundraising walk raise over $230,000. The funds will be invested in intensive research, advocacy, care and support for those who are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Next door, in New York, the ladies donated personal care items and organized beautiful tote bags for a shelter that houses women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. And in Qatar (yeah, we're international), my sisters partnered with other sorority members to raise funds to grant children their holiday wishes.
Next up was a quick vacation. In the spirit of sisterhood, the ladies and I set out to redefine the triangle. That's right, we headed to Bermuda in June to spread a little Black girl magic across the island. And of course, while we were there, we partnered with Keep Bermuda Beautiful to conduct a community service activity that included developing marketing campaigns to promote awareness around pressing environmental health issues. After all, we are Deltas.
When we returned to our respective homes and began to plan our next event, we reflected on the our trip and the journey we have been on as sisters for the last 20 years. As a result, we launched the hashtag, #SisterhoodIs, in effort to inspire other women to post what sisterhood means to them on various social media platforms. For me and my sorors, the definition of sisterhood is too long to type and too deep to describe with just words. When I look at my line sisters, I see myself and I see my opposite, which creates the perfect balance, a special kind of double. We encourage and empower each other to be strong, brave, resilient and confident, and to use our God-given gifts and talents to make a positive impact in this world. That's what sisterhood means to us. What does it mean to you?
