You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the Jan. 24, 2011, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.
Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., commemorated the organization’s founders through song, dance, history lessons and a love of sisterhood during a “Recapturing the Dream” luncheon Saturday.
More than 200 members from across the state congregated in the James Union Building to celebrate their 103rd year as the nation’s first and oldest African-American women’s sorority.
The luncheon focused on remembering the group’s founders who equally contributed to Alpha Kappa Alpha’s goal of making every community better, said Justine Pitchum, a member for more than 50 years.
“I can’t say that any one of them contributed more than the other,” Pitchum said. “They have all been outstanding.”
Eight members read a narrative of each founder’s life and contributions to the sorority, and official representatives of the sorority spoke about what the organization meant to them.
“Alpha Kappa Alpha means supreme service to mankind,” said Brenda McKinney, president of the Pi Nu Omega Chapter. “I wouldn’t go any other way.”
The sorority has more than 260,000 members in graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, Germany, Korea and on the continent of Africa, according to the organization’s website.
President Sidney McPhee’s wife, Elizabeth McPhee, is also a member of the Murfreesboro chapter and helped organize the event. She compared her fellow sisters to blades of grass.
“We can be small in stature, but mighty at the root,” McPhee said. “You just can’t destroy us, and you just can’t keep us down.”
In addition to hearing speeches, the attendees celebrated with singing, including several praise songs such as “The Lord’s Prayer” and “How Great is Our God,” and through dance. As members in brightly colored dresses and large hats danced to “I Know the Lord Almighty,” the audience enthusiastically clapped and sang along with performers.
The performances inspired McPhee to announce that she will be brushing up on her dancing and singing skills for next year’s celebration.
“I can’t sing, but I’m here to tell you next time, I’m going to start practicing today,” McPhee said. “So next Founder’s Day, I’ll be out there singing. I can’t dance, but you better believe, I’m going to start practicing. I want to be one of the ladies with the hats on, and I’m going to start dancing.”
McPhee summed up the celebration in three words. “This was wonderful,” McPhee said.
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