Whether you're just starting your Greek journey or have been involved in Greek life for a year or two, you've probably heard of the Divine 9. What you might not know is what the Divine 9 is, including the history and legacy of the group. If you're curious about the Divine 9 or just love learning new fraternity and sorority facts, Greek Gear is here to help with the legacy behind the Divine 9 Greeks.

What Is the Divine 9?

The Divine 9 is a council consisting of nine historically African American sororities and fraternities. Formally known as the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), the Divine 9 essentially works to bring different sororities and fraternities together under a common cause. The NPHC was officially founded at Howard University on May 10, 1930, though the group's beginnings date back farther than that.

The Divine 9 Greek organization began with Alpha Phi Alpha. The fraternity was founded in 1906 on the campus of Cornell University. The group began as an effort to help combat the isolation that Black students felt on a predominantly white Ivy League university. Using their collective resources, the students fought Jim Crow Laws, mobilized large-scale voter efforts and motivated Black youth to stay in school.

Similar efforts continued into the 1960s, when NPHC member organizations were key supporters of the civil rights movement and related organizations like the NAACP, the Congress of Racial Equality and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. There are over 1.5 million members in fraternities and sororities represented by the NPHC, which remains active to this day.

Which Groups Are Part of the Divine 9?

The Divine 9 consists of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities. The nine groups that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council are:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha
• Alpha Phi Alpha
• Kappa Alpha Psi
• Omega Psi Phi
• Delta Sigma Theta
• Zeta Phi Beta
• Phi Beta Sigma
• Iota Phi Theta
• Sigma Gamma Rho

What Are the Goals of the Divine 9?

The goal of the National Pan-Hellenic Council is to promote member unity and to address mutual interests of the member groups. There are also various organizations that member groups are encouraged to support, like Habitat for Humanity, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation and more, getting extra exposure, fundraising efforts and volunteers for these specific groups. Members are also encouraged to continue their public service work after graduation. The ultimate goal of the Divine 9 Greeks is to promote African American educational progress, political and cultural equality.

This is just a brief overview of the history and legacy of the Divine 9. If you're interested in learning more or becoming part of the organization, refer to the list above and start researching the different groups to find one that operates on your campus and resonates with you. Joining a sorority or fraternity is a great way to connect with like-minded people, and joining a historically Black fraternity or sorority is a great way to further promote racial equality and causes that are important to you.