When it comes to the resumes of Divine Nine members, the list is impressive. Civil rights activists, literary icons, scientists, political leaders, and now, for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a Democratic presidential nominee. When AKA line sisters Rae’Vin Johnson and Madison Sims joined the Gamma Mu chapter in 2021, they felt as though they had become a part of Black history. With Vice President Kamala Harris just a month away from possibly shattering more racial and gender-related glass ceilings and becoming the first woman and person of Black and South Asian descent to hold the title of President of the United States, they shared that same sense of pride.
“When she accepted that nomination, I was like, wow, we are in an even bigger capacity of Black history now because of her. I’m even more proud because of it,” Johnson said. “I’m just excited, happy, and grateful that I’m associated with such a history-making organization.”
Members of that history-making organization stood in the crowd at the Democratic National Convention in August, wearing white pearls around their necks, holding salmon pink and apple green pompoms, and campaigning for their soror as she accepted the nomination. This is just one of the many ways the D9 has supported the vice president since her time in office, and Black Greek organizations nationwide are looking to strengthen that commitment by mobilizing and rallying for Harris.
The D9 has been an influential—and significantly untapped—voting bloc in elections. D9 chapters across the country regularly hold voter registration drives to promote civic and political engagement within the community. In July, the D9 Council of Presidents announced a massive coordinated voter mobilization campaign for the 2024 presidential election. Sims, who is involved with the AKA graduate chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said she plans to participate in any voter registration drives the chapter hosts in the coming months. Johnson, a general AKA member, plans to find ways to encourage the youth in her community to vote.
“Everybody who is eligible and able to register to vote will hear my voice,” Johnson stated.
It’s an energy they admitted wasn’t fully present in the early months of the Democratic campaign. Johnson recalled the hopelessness she felt during the 2016 elections—at a time when she couldn’t vote—and compared it to her feelings in the months leading up to President Joe Biden’s announcement that he was endorsing Harris as president. This announcement felt like a rejuvenation of the campaign, the line sisters said.
“I knew that I was recharged. My family was recharged. I think Black and brown people and women were recharged. Seeing somebody who was significantly younger and more in tune with what’s going on with us gave me a sense of hope,” Sims said. “It was monumental when she was elected as vice president, and I think that added a lot of fuel to our fire. It gave us a lot of incentive to continue to vote and to keep showing up in these capacities, and we’re going to do it even more so in November.
“It shows the ability of a Black woman and the Greek community in general. I think we are overlooked, and we really have the ability to make a difference when we come together.”
The mission for AKA is “service to all mankind,” which reflects their commitment to uplifting communities. Sims and Johnson said that when they think of Harris as the future president and her policy stances, she embodies the message that has carried the sorority for 116 years. One of those stances that has resonated with them is her support for legislation protecting abortion access. As young women, they consider the protection of reproductive rights their biggest policy concern and believe in Harris’ pledge to restore reproductive freedom.
“We call ourselves the first and the finest. And when you think about our motto, ‘service to all mankind,’ we do just that. We’ve seen that through her work as a district attorney, as an attorney general, and in the Senate. Considering the service being provided for these underrepresented communities and thinking about a potential leader of the nation, I’m sure the majority of us AKAs want someone who sees all people, someone who has the interests of the disenfranchised at heart. Those are qualities of an Alpha woman. It’s not just about people who look like you or come from the same economic background as you, but about service to all mankind,” Sims said.
“I’m not just saying it because she’s a soror. I’m not just saying it because she’s a Black woman, but genuinely because of the way she looks out for every person. She fights for everyone.”
Opinions shared do not represent the views of the entire Alpha Kappa Alpha organization.
BIO: Laura Nwogu is an award-winning reporter based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently the general assignment reporter for The Atlanta Voice where she highlights the city’s Black stories and culture.