I am so happy to be celebrating my 41st DELTAVERSARY
APRIL 18, 1983!
YAAAAY ME - SO PROUD TO BE DST!
AND YAAAY TO MY LINE SISTERS IN THE PASADENA ALUMNAE CHAPTER
Talk about a dream and a wish come true! My
being part of DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY was one of my fondest dreams -
but one that I thought was out of my reach.
When I attended Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, it was just making its transition from an all male University to Co-ed - primarily because of financial considerations.
Needless to say, Black then there were no
sororities on the campus - of course there were the Fine Black Men of
the Divine Nine: OMEGA, KAPPA, ALPHA and SIGMA. And three of my
classmates: Carol Black, Sandra McGruder (deceased) and Maxine Stewart
(deceased) commuted from Lincoln's Campus in Pennsylvania to Delaware
State Campus to pledge DELTA and bring the chapter onto Lincoln's
Campus. And it was Chartered in 1969 - Two years after I had
graduated.
So I was living under one of those unfulfilled wishes that I thought I'd never realize.
But GOD knew my heart's desire and put me on a
community development panel with the then president of Pasadena's
Alumnae Chapter. I was an elected official at the time - Town Council
Representative of Altadena, CA. Just a week prior the the panel, one of
my staff had taken a personal day. She was my right hand staffer.
Imagine my surprise (and dismay) when she came back to work emblazoned
in Pink and Green! YIKES! I remember being somewhat shocked - and
expressed my surprise that she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. When
she told me she had pledged through graduate chapter - something I was
not familiar with at the time, I immediately set out to find out whether
there was a Graduate Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. None in my circle
knew. But God had my back and set me right next to the President of the
Pasadena Alumnae Chapter. After the panel had disbanded, I
immediately let her know that I was interested in Pledging Graduate
Chapter. She indicated they were not having a line for some time, but
would contact me when they had set a date.
Two months later she called me for and
interview! I was totally over the moon! My husband knew how much I
loved the Sorors and painted our kitchen Red. My daughters, who were 16
and 4 at the time, were fascinated. My son, who was 11 was
respectfully curious - it didn't hit him until he entered college the
real significance of the Divine Nine.
I CELEBRATE EVERY DAY THAT I'M A DELTA and
Celebrate all the amazing things my Sorors accomplish on a regular
basis. I am, of course, proud of all those who are members of the
Divine Nine, and our undying dedication to our chapters and our people.
But as a member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter, I am HAPPY TO BE
DST!
Love and Blessings to all my Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
I recently posted a very happy announcement about the upcoming Homage to the Honorable Soror Shirley Chisholm, first Black woman elected to Congress:A32 foot tall statue being planned for Prospect Park,
Brooklyn, NY, with the great reveal scheduled for 2025.
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is being honored with a Statue in Prospect Park, Bklyn, NY - (photo) Caribbean Life
How awesomely exciting! This has made headlines nationally and locally - so many accolades in regard to her many accomplishments, that I'm sharing links to several articles that give more information on the process, planning and participants in making this magnificent project come together.
As I write this, I can see in my mind's eye my late husband's Aunt Elma Brathwaite, who was a neighbor to Shirley Chisholm. I can also see several people who were part of the community and her supporters who always quoted her mantra: "Unbossed & Unbought!"
The first Black woman to
be elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm was born November 30, 1924 in Brooklyn. She represented the New York's 12th congressional
district, which included her hometown of Bed-Stuy. In 1972, she became
the first woman to pursue the Democratic presidential nomination.
At the time that I briefly met her at a neighborhood birthday party in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, I was totally on another level of awareness - and was sadly unaware of the magnitude of the personage I was rubbing elbows with. I had been out of the country for a while, and had missed out on a great many of the changes that had taken place - politically and otherwise. Most of the celebrants, who were originally from Barbados, were older than I was. No one referred to her as "Congresswoman. " We were all dancing to calypso music, singing lyrics from The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, etc. Having a ball! But I do remember how she was smiling that bright beautiful smile of hers; and congenial manner - we were having a great time. Lou and I were just becoming a couple - so I was on my P's and Q's when in the company of his mother and the other "elders" of the community.
It's interesting to me, though, how close I came to touching greatness in this wonderful woman! We literally ran in concentric circles!! She attended Brooklyn College; and years later, in 1971, I was counselor to Black students at Brooklyn College under the SEEK Program. As a journalist, I started covering the Congressional Black Caucus in 1985 - sadly 1983 was her last year in office, so I missed the opportunity of seeing her in action. I covered the 100th birthday anniversary of Lou's Grandmother, Evadne Brathwaite - Ms. Chisholm's former next door neighbor - she gave her greetings and kind of vanished afterwards. So I did not have an opportunity to speak with her. A few years, Ms Brathwaite died at age 104. She attended the service, but did not stay for the repast. So we were frequently running in concentric circles.
Many may not be aware that Congresswoman Chisholm, as the first Black female elected to Congress, was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in 1971, as well as the National Women's Political Caucus. The CBC is now in its 52nd year, is the voice of reason representing the interests, needs and lives of Black constituents throughout the US.
Of course, the big one for me is when I learned we're both Sorors - members of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, but I did not pledge until 1983 in Pasadena, California's Alumnae Chapter. She had become a Soror while attending Brooklyn College (CUNY) 30+ years prior to me. Shirley Chisholm inspired so many of my peers - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, NY City Councilwoman Una Clarke, NYS Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan - and legions of others, to run for office and become servants of the people. And I, myself, held elected office in California as Altadena Town Council Representative.
CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
The spirit of this tiny woman is still motivating and inspiring us today! As mentioned earlier, I'm sharing some links throughout this post about the upcoming installation of the monument being constructed in her honor. I also invite you to learn about Shirley Chisholm State Park(see below)
The
homage being planned for the first Black Woman to run for president was
originally spearheaded in 2018 by Former NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray. "The statue has been a long time coming. In 2018, city officials announced plans to honor Chisholm as part of the She Built NYC program, an initiative
that seeks to build more monuments honoring women in New York City.
After soliciting proposals from interested artists, the city settled on a
design by Amanda Williams and Olalekan B. Jeyifous." - Smithsonian
The
original 2020 reveal is now set for 2025, after having been postponed
during the Covid 19 epidemic. A rendering of the 32-foot-tall monument
shows Chisholm rising from the
concrete at her waist. The congresswoman is depicted in green (?)* stenciled
metal and outlined in gold. A golden image of the Capitol building
bisects her silhouette, symbolizing “how she disrupted the perception of
who has the right to occupy such institutions,” wrote the artists in a presentation describing the work.
Of
course, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., are looking with
great anticipation to the historic installation of their Dynamic Soror
and trailblazer.
*(I don't know if the artists overlooked the fact that Shirley Chisholm was a Delta and our colors are Crimson and Creme - IJS).
Shirley
Chisholm State Park is a 407-acre state park in southeastern Brooklyn,
New York City. It is bound by Belt Parkway and Spring Creek Park to the
north and Jamaica Bay to the south, situated atop the former
Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue Landfills. The first sections of
the park opened in 2019.Wikipedia
Address:J4WG+5M, 1750 Granville Payne Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11239
It's so wonderful to have some of s/heroes receiving the honor and accolades they so richly deserve. And it's imperative that we do our part and patronize and support them by learning all we can about them, sharing it with our children, our peers, making it part of their education, and incorporating them in our references and conversations. There are those who would like to obliterate our accomplishments and contributions to this world - it is entirely up to us to carry their spirit and names forward.
Today is a special day in history - November 17, 1911 was the founding of theOMEGA PSI PHIFraternity on the Campus of Howard University in Washington, DC.
I am giving a personal shout out to my QUE PSI PHI Brothers wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you're doing or whatever you've done!
SOROR DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS HOST BEV SMITH AND CELEBRATES THE 108TH ANNIVERSARY OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY
Attention all Sorors - the second half hour of the show will be dedicated to Delta Sigma Theta
Sorors are invited to call in on the show from 10:30AM and give a shout out to other Sorors
Talk about why you're happy to be DST Call in on 202.588.0893
First guest, former radio talk show hostess, Bev Smith, was the only nationally syndicated Black female radio talk show - featuring presidents, activists, elected officials, entertainers, kings, comedians, educators and
death row inmates, winning more than 300 awards. She was considered one of the 50 "top talkers" in the country. There was nothing she would not broach. However she's been absent from the airwaves for nearly to years, leaving a mighty big hole in the AM radio markets. Faye Williams will catch up with her life since leaving the airwaves.
Then, at 10:30AM there will be an homage to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc's 108th Anniversary - founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 dynamic Black women on the campus of Howard University. As they celebrate this auspicious occasion, Deltas around the world are invited to call in to Dr. EFaye Williams, who herself is a dynamic Delta, along with Gloria DULAN-Wilson, invites Sorors to take a minute to talk give a Happy 108th Anniversary Shout to their Sorors on her show at 10:30AM 202.588.089.
So set your time for 10:30 Eastern and log on to
www.wpfwfm.org 89.3 FM
Wake Up&Stay Woke was created by
Dr. EFaye Williams in honor of the late, great comedic/activist/author Dick Gregory.
Dr. E. Faye Williams, MPA, DPA, D.Min, D.Th, Esq. President/CEO, National Congress of Black Women, Inc.
1250 4th Street, SW, Suite WG-1, Washington, DC 20024
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson Hello All: The virtual Democratic National Convention is now behind us, and the clown show of the Repuglycons is ramping up. There are those among us who do not understand the seriousness of our actions over the next 70 days and counting - We have to consolidate our efforts and make sure we do not go through another 4 years of lunacy. There are many ancestors who came before us and fought valiantly for our right to vote. There were some places where Black people had the right to vote - off and on - such as Philadelphia. But for the most part, the national posture was to deny us the right to vote, the right to an education, the right to financial equity in a country that we worked our butts off to build. The Voting Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson (aka LBJ) in the 60s. For the first time Black people voted nationally. However, most people are totally unaware of all it took to bring that day about. Black people have been involved in the fight for the right to vote since the 19th Century. In fact, we actually had the right to vote after the Emancipation. Apparently we were winning too much, and bringing in too many people who were getting the job done - so the racist caucasoids rescinded the right to vote, and replaced it with Jim Crow and KKK. Undaunted, a stalwart group of young Black women marched in the first parade by the Suffragettes in 1913 - they were the Sorors of the newly founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., from Howard University. They are also accompanied by the great Ida B Wells Barnett, who had become a member. From that auspicious date through the first signing in 1965, through today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has been committed to making sure all not only had their right to vote, but also exercised their responsibilities to vote as well. The bill that allowed white women to vote was passed a century ago. Our right to vote is 55 years old - and it's under assault. Our ancestors are watching over us to see what we do and how we do it. For those who are not aware of the significance of Black women in this movement, are in luck:
Ron Daniels will be focusing on the role of Black Women in the much storied Suffrage Movement.
You can listen live by clicking on www.wbai.org- today, August 24, at 3:00PM
It's going to be lively, informative, and constructive.
Black Women in the Suffrage Movement and the Founding of a Black Political Party
— August 24th Vantage Point
Institute of the Black World 21st Century: Black Women in the Suffrage Movement and the Founding of a Black Political Party — August 24th Vantage Point
August 24th Edition of Vantage Point
Listen Live 3PM – 4PM
Monday’s Topics
The Untold Story of Black Women in the Suffrage Movement
Reflections on the Founding of a Black Political Party
w/ Guests
Dr. E. Faye Williams
National President/CEO, National Congress of Black Women, Washington, D.C.
Gwendolyn Z. Simmons, Ph.D.
Prof. Emerita, African American Religions & Islamic Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
The Professor on the Soap Box
w/ Host
Dr. Ron Daniels aka “The Professor”
East Elmhurst, NY
Visitibw21.org/vp-radioanytime to listen to previous editions of Vantage Point Radio with host Dr. Ron Daniels AKA “The Professor”.
Have you read “Still On this Journey, The Vision and Mission of Dr. Ron Daniels”?
Still On this Journey The Vision and Mission of Dr. Ron Daniels
Visit ibw21.org and purchase your copy today! A percentage of the proceeds will go to support the work of the Institute of the Institute of Black World 21st Century.
We need your support
Dr. Ron Daniels and the Board of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century need your support to make IBW’s critical projects, programs and initiatives self- sufficient, and to enhance IBW’s vital role as a Resource Center promoting collaboration for Black Empowerment in the U.S. and the Pan African world.
