The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities Review

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(More customer reviews)I gifted myself with a copy of The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities by Lawrence C. Ross, Jr.It is a must have book that all Black Greeks and African Americans in general should display on their bookshelves!
The author is a 15 year member of Alpha Phi Alpha, married to a soror of Delta Sigma Theta and is a journalist who has written for many newpapers.He realized that the history of our organizations is an important part of the history of our people in this country in this century and should be told.The time and effort that he put into compiling the information in the book must have been mammoth.
The book is divided into sections profiling each sorority and fraternity.Each section contains a historical overview, interviews with an undergraduate and a graduate chapter, profiles and lists of prominent members, messages from the national president/basileus/polemarch and pictures dating back to the early years.This is followed by a section entitled Achievers Talk which consists of interviews with members such as Spencer Christian, Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant, Cynthia Horner, John H. Johnson, Julian Malveaux, Shaquille O'Neal, Tavis Smiley, Faye Wattleton, just to name a few.They each speak about what membership means to them and impart an important message that they feel fraters and sorors should hear. The author follows this section with information from the National Pan Hellenic Council and procedures for those who are seeking membership.
Our organizations could not have done a better public relations job.There are no secrets revealed, just great accomplishments. The recurring theme is our achievements as organizations and those of individual members.We all know about the projects that our own sorority/fraternity have championed and are proud.When you look at the collective activities, our contributions to our people and communities have been and continue to be monumental. It's only appropriate that this book was written at this time when we are in the process of changing centuries and approaching the anniversaries of 100 years of existance.
This is something I think we all need to support and applaud.
LTB

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