What to know about Kamala Harris' sorority: Louisiana chapters and famous alumnae
After dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Harris has shored up support from the president, Democratic delegates and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which Harris once referred to as her "secret weapon."
Here's what to know about Harris' sorority.
What are Kamala Harris' ties to Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority?
Harris was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1986 as a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The oldest Black Greek-letter organization for women was founded on the university's campus Jan. 15, 1908, by 16 students. It is part of the "Divine Nine" historically Black fraternities and sororities from the National Panhellenic Council.
During her keynote address at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.'s biennial convention in Dallas on July 10, Harris said her introduction to the organization was through an aunt, Christine Simmons — a 1950 initiate at Howard and a former chapter president in Oakland, Calif.
AKA has a large membership base of more than 360,000 initiated members and maintains a strong presence in Louisiana with 42 chapters.
Harris' sorority sisters have been steadfast in their support, raising more than $200,000 for the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign. As a nod to the year the sorority was founded, individual members donated $19.08 each.
Following Biden's withdrawal, financial support continued to flow toward Harris, as Win with Black Women, a collective of Black women leaders, successfully raised more than $1 million for her campaign on Sunday.
Who are famous AKA members in addition to Kamala Harris?
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is home to several famous sisters. Notable AKA alumni include:
- Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize-winning author
- Maya Angelou, poet and activist
- Coretta Scott King, activist and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Phylicia Rashad, Emmy-nominated and Tony Award-winning actress
- Wanda Sykes, comedienne and actress
- Mae Jemison, first Black female astronaut in space
- Alicia Keys, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter
- Brandy Norwood, Grammy Award-winning singer and actress
Where can I find an AKA chapter in Louisiana?
There are 42 chapters in the state, including 24 graduate chapters and 18 undergraduate.
In total, the organization has 1,074 chapters. Membership is by invitation only.
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