Alpha Kappa Alpha: The Ultimate Guide

Posted by Onassis Krown on April 16, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® (AKA) stands as a beacon of sisterhood, scholarship, and service—a legacy of excellence that has spanned over a century. Founded in an era when African American women faced systemic racial and gender exclusion, AKA emerged as not just a sisterhood but a movement: a collective of college-trained women committed to uplifting their communities and shaping the future.

This guide will take you on a journey through the founding, evolution, values, and global impact of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, highlighting why it remains one of the most respected and influential organizations in the world today.

A Legacy of Firsts: The Founding of AKA

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. It was the first Greek-lettered sorority established by African American women. This distinction alone marks AKA as a pioneer, paving the way for generations of women to follow in leadership, advocacy, and scholarship.

The original founding group consisted of nine visionary women, led by the formidable Ethel Hedgemon Lyle. These women were not just students—they were trailblazers in a society that denied them access to many of the privileges and rights afforded to others.

The sorority was incorporated on January 29, 1913, to ensure perpetuity and a formal legal structure that would help it expand and solidify its impact beyond Howard University.

Founders: The Original Nine & The Sophomores

The Original Nine Founders are:

Ethel Hedgemon Lyle
Beulah Elizabeth Burke
Lillie Burke
Margaret Flagg Holmes
Marjorie Hill
Lucy Diggs Slowe
Marie Woolfolk Taylor
Anna Easter Brown
Lavinia Norman

In 1910, seven sophomore women were invited to join and help shape the sorority’s direction, including Nellie Quander, who would later lead the incorporation effort. These women became known as the “Sophomores” and played an essential role in defining the sorority’s early programs and ideals.

Core Values & Mission

AKA’s mission can be summed up in the following key pillars:

Sisterhood: Fostering lifelong bonds between women committed to excellence.
Scholarship: Promoting academic achievement and lifelong learning.
Service to All Mankind: Making a tangible difference in the lives of those in underserved communities through active engagement.

Their official motto is “By Culture and By Merit,” and the sorority’s colors are Salmon Pink and Apple Green. The organization’s symbol is the Ivy Leaf, representing strength and endurance.

Organizational Structure

Alpha Kappa Alpha is a nonprofit, international service organization that currently boasts over 1,061 chapters and more than 355,000 members worldwide. Membership spans the U.S., the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by an International President. Chapters are organized by geographical regions and include both undergraduate chapters (located at colleges and universities) and graduate chapters (comprised of alumnae members).

The current international program theme (2022–2026), under International President and CEO Danette Anthony Reed, is:

“Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood.”

Signature Programs and Initiatives

AKA’s commitment to service is expressed through structured programming that addresses critical social and economic issues. Some hallmark initiatives include:

1. HBCU for Life: A Call to Action

A major fundraising and awareness campaign to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which have long served as pillars of African American higher education.

2. Women's Healthcare and Wellness

Initiatives promoting awareness and access to healthcare resources for women, especially in marginalized communities. This includes mental health, breast cancer awareness, and heart disease prevention.

3. Building Your Economic Legacy

Programs that foster financial literacy, home ownership, entrepreneurship, and generational wealth in the Black community.

4. The Arts!

Support for the Black arts through showcasing historical and contemporary African American creatives in literature, music, visual arts, and performance.

5. Global Impact

Programs addressing humanitarian needs around the world, including partnerships with organizations like Soles4Souls, Pillowcase Project, and efforts to support refugees and women’s development in Africa and the Caribbean.

Membership: More Than a Sisterhood

Becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha is not just about wearing pink and green—it’s about committing to a lifelong mission of service, excellence, and uplift.

Undergraduate Membership

Prospective members must:

Be enrolled full-time at a four-year accredited college or university.
Have completed at least one semester/quarter.
Maintain a minimum GPA (often 2.5–3.0 depending on chapter standards).
Demonstrate leadership, service, and strong character.

Graduate Membership

Requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
Membership intake is conducted through graduate chapters.
Candidates should show a history of academic excellence, leadership, and community service.

Membership is by invitation only. It is considered a distinct honor and is respected within and beyond the African American community.

Symbols, Traditions, and Culture

Colors: Salmon Pink and Apple Green

Represent femininity, vitality, and growth.

Symbol: Ivy Leaf

Chosen for its tenacity and ability to grow under the harshest conditions—much like the resilience of Black women in America.

Flower: Pink Tea Rose

Symbolizing grace, refinement, and inner strength.

Call: “Skee-Wee”

The unique call of AKA members; it is a high-pitched sound used as a greeting or expression of joy among sorors.

Step and Stroll Culture

AKA is renowned for its participation in stepping and strolling, rich traditions that draw on African roots, performance art, and cultural pride.

Famous Members and Notable Alumnae

Alpha Kappa Alpha is home to a veritable who’s who of accomplished Black women across all industries. Notable members include:

Kamala Harris – Vice President of the United States (Howard University)
Coretta Scott King – Civil rights icon and widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Phyllicia Rashad – Actress and Dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts
Maya Angelou – Author, poet, and civil rights activist (Honorary Member)
Ava DuVernay – Film director and activist
Toni Morrison – Nobel Prize-winning author (Honorary Member)
Cathy Hughes – Founder of Urban One, Inc.
Gladys Knight – Singer and humanitarian

These women represent just a fraction of the sorority’s vast network of influential and groundbreaking leaders.

AKA's Global Reach and Modern Influence

In the 21st century, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® has expanded its digital, global, and social influence in significant ways:

International Service Days mobilize thousands of members across continents to serve on the same day in diverse ways.
Virtual Programming during the COVID-19 pandemic kept service and sisterhood alive.
Environmental Sustainability campaigns have engaged members in tree planting, cleanups, and advocacy.
The sorority maintains a strong presence on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where it amplifies social causes, celebrates achievements, and inspires action.

The Role of AKA in the Divine Nine (NPHC)

AKA is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), a collective of nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations, affectionately known as the “Divine Nine.”

The other members are:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

These organizations collaborate on initiatives but also maintain their distinct cultures, values, and legacies. AKA, as the first Black sorority, holds a unique place within this prestigious circle.

Lifelong Commitment

One of the most beautiful aspects of AKA is that sisterhood does not end after college. Graduate chapters offer ongoing opportunities for service, leadership, mentorship, and friendship. Members often speak of “holding the light high” well into their elder years, passing down wisdom and values to younger generations.

AKA also emphasizes the importance of supporting younger sisters through mentorship programs, scholarship funds, and intergenerational bonds that strengthen the sorority’s future.

Criticisms and Cultural Challenges

Like any long-standing organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha has not been without its challenges. Over the years, the sorority—along with other Greek organizations—has faced:

Allegations of hazing (which the sorority officially prohibits).
Questions about elitism or exclusivity.
Tensions between the public image and private realities of membership.

However, AKA has continuously evolved, addressing these issues through transparency, modernization, and ongoing dialogue within the sisterhood and the broader community. Its unwavering commitment to service continues to be the heart of its legacy.

Why AKA Still Matters Today

In a world that is rapidly changing—fueled by social unrest, economic disparity, and cultural shifts—Alpha Kappa Alpha remains a stronghold of Black excellence. It’s not just a sorority; it’s a movement, a culture, and a collective promise to build better communities and stronger futures.

Through every Ivy Beyond the Wall, through every scholarship granted, and through every young girl who dreams of one day wearing Salmon Pink and Apple Green, AKA lives on.

Final Words: A Sisterhood of Significance

Whether you’re a curious student, a proud member, or an admirer from afar, one thing is certain—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is more than an organization. It is a living legacy of service, scholarship, sisterhood, and significance.

To be an AKA is to rise. To be an AKA is to serve. To be an AKA is to soar.

Lateef Warnick is the founder of Onassis Krown. He currently serves as a Senior Healthcare Consultant in the Jacksonville FL area and is a Certified Life Coach, Marriage Counselor, Keynote Speaker and Author of "Know Thyself," "The Golden Egg" and "Wear Your Krown." He is also a former Naval Officer, Licensed Financial Advisor, Insurance Agent, Realtor, Serial Entrepreneur and musical artist A.L.I.A.S.

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