National Pan-Hellenic Council was founded on Howard University in 1930, and is comprised of nine Greeks - five fraternities and four sororities - that are often referred to as the "Divine Nine" or BGLOS (Black Greek Lettered Organizations).
1930 was a time when racial discrimination was dominant in America. It should also be noted that 8 of the Divine Nine came about well before 1930, minus one – Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
This, in itself, shows that these predominantly African-American fraternities and sororities were coming up and taking root into society, regardless of the discrimination that was taking place.
There was even a road block on racism, and these fraternities and sororities refused to let these laws be the defining factor of where they would go in life. They overcame it.
Note: Many civil rights activist that we hear about, along with many more that we may not have heard about, came right through these fraternities and sororities
The NPHC was made to promote African-Americans and to bring together the Greeks that were up and rising in a world that was segregated and determined to put them down. It was a way by which they could work together and operate together under one roof, focusing on programs and initiatives designed at targeting there communities and promoting each other.
Now the purpose of the NPHC that was stated in their mission statement: Unanimity of Thought and Action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.
Founding members of the NPHC were not all of the Nine Greeks. Some of them came later. Despite the way they are ordered in history, the founding Greeks were: Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta.
They all came before 1930 when the NPHC was founded. Later came the others Alpha Phi Alpha (1931), Phi Beta Sigma (1931), Sigma Gamma Rho (1937), and Iota Phi Theta (1997).
NOTE: Neither these Greeks, nor the council, discriminates against anyone based on race or religion.
D9 Greeks are:
[NAME - FOUNDING DATE, FOUNDING UNIVERSITY - NICKNAME - BROTHER/SISTER]
1. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Founded 1906, Cornell University – the ice cold brothers - Kappa Alpha Sorority
2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority - Founded 1908, Howard University – the pretty girls - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
1930 was a time when racial discrimination was dominant in America. It should also be noted that 8 of the Divine Nine came about well before 1930, minus one – Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
This, in itself, shows that these predominantly African-American fraternities and sororities were coming up and taking root into society, regardless of the discrimination that was taking place.
There was even a road block on racism, and these fraternities and sororities refused to let these laws be the defining factor of where they would go in life. They overcame it.
Note: Many civil rights activist that we hear about, along with many more that we may not have heard about, came right through these fraternities and sororities
The NPHC was made to promote African-Americans and to bring together the Greeks that were up and rising in a world that was segregated and determined to put them down. It was a way by which they could work together and operate together under one roof, focusing on programs and initiatives designed at targeting there communities and promoting each other.
Now the purpose of the NPHC that was stated in their mission statement: Unanimity of Thought and Action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.
Founding members of the NPHC were not all of the Nine Greeks. Some of them came later. Despite the way they are ordered in history, the founding Greeks were: Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta.
They all came before 1930 when the NPHC was founded. Later came the others Alpha Phi Alpha (1931), Phi Beta Sigma (1931), Sigma Gamma Rho (1937), and Iota Phi Theta (1997).
NOTE: Neither these Greeks, nor the council, discriminates against anyone based on race or religion.
D9 Greeks are:
[NAME - FOUNDING DATE, FOUNDING UNIVERSITY - NICKNAME - BROTHER/SISTER]
1. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Founded 1906, Cornell University – the ice cold brothers - Kappa Alpha Sorority
2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority - Founded 1908, Howard University – the pretty girls - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
3. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity - Founded 1911, Indiana University – the pretty boys - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
4. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity - Founded 1911, Howard University – the nasty dogs - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
5. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Founded 1913, Howard University – the Devastating Divas - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
6. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1914, Howard University - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
7. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority - Founded 1920, Howard University – the finer women - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
8. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority - Founded 1922, Butler University – the poodles - Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
9. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity - Founded 1963, Morgan State University (They are the odd ones out because they have no sister chapter.
However, they were allowed to have their own the Iota sweethearts. They are the only ones with this privilege.)
NOTE:
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity & Zeta Phi Beta Sorority are the only 2 of the Divine 9 to be Constitutionally linked.
4. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity - Founded 1911, Howard University – the nasty dogs - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
5. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Founded 1913, Howard University – the Devastating Divas - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
6. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1914, Howard University - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
7. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority - Founded 1920, Howard University – the finer women - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
8. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority - Founded 1922, Butler University – the poodles - Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
9. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity - Founded 1963, Morgan State University (They are the odd ones out because they have no sister chapter.
However, they were allowed to have their own the Iota sweethearts. They are the only ones with this privilege.)
NOTE:
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity & Zeta Phi Beta Sorority are the only 2 of the Divine 9 to be Constitutionally linked.