Ole Miss has five of the “Divine Nine” organizations — historically Black National Greek Letter sororities and fraternities, which help Black students to be “educated and uplifted.”
The University of Mississippi has five of the nine historically Black National Greek Letter sororities and fraternities known as the “Divine Nine”: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council was founded on May 10, 1930, at Howard University in Washington, DC.
“NPHC promotes the well-being of its affiliate fraternities and sororities, facilitates the establishment and development of local councils and provides leadership training for its members,” Caitlyn Horton, NPHC president and member of Delta Sigma Theta, said.
The Divine Nine were established to create a space for the Black community during a time of racial inequality, according to Horton.
“The Divine Nine organizations were established during a time when Black people in the world felt as if they had no place for themselves. These organizations were established with unique core values, constitutions, bylaws and one common goal in mind,” Horton said. “All of these organizations wanted to create a safe space for the Black community to be educated and uplifted during trying times when racial inequality didn’t give this opportunity anywhere else.”
