Beyond Black History Month: Making Our Chapter More Inclusive Year-Round
Every February, we celebrate Black History Month by recognizing the contributions of Black leaders, innovators, activists, and artists. But allyship doesn’t start and end with an Instagram story post—it’s something we show through our actions every day.
As a sorority, we pride ourselves on sisterhood, but true sisterhood means making sure every member—no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, or background—feels valued, respected, and heard. So how do we ensure that our chapter is inclusive?
Did you know?
The first Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, was founded at Howard University in 1908. We have an AKA chapter here at Grand Valley. You can check out what they’ve been up to on their Instagram!
Black students weren’t allowed to join historically white sororities and fraternities for decades.
In 1951, Gamma Phi Beta officially removed its “whites-only” clause, but many other sororities didn’t do so until the 1960s or later — including Sigma Kappa.
While Sigma Kappa’s discriminatory clauses were eventually removed in the early 60’s, true inclusivity took much longer to achieve—and it’s still something we work toward today.
Sororities have come a long way, but it’s important to recognize the barriers that Black women faced—and still face—in Greek life. Black History Month is the perfect time to reflect on that history, but allyship can’t stop on February 28. True sisterhood means being intentional about making our chapter more inclusive every day of the year.
Let’s Be Real: Performative Activism Isn’t Enough
It’s easy to repost an infographic, but what really matters is how we show up for each other in everyday interactions.
Things to consider:
Are we actively including all our sisters in conversations, events, and leadership opportunities?
Are we listening when someone brings up an issue, or are we getting defensive?
Are we making diversity and inclusion a priority year-round, not just when a specific event comes around?
Allyship isn’t about just looking the part—it’s about making meaningful changes that create a better experience for everyone.
Microaggressions: Small Comments, Big Impact
Sometimes, what we say without thinking can make someone feel really out of place. Even when unintentional, microaggressions send the message that someone doesn’t fully belong. Let’s be mindful of things like:
Expecting people of color to educate everyone on racial issues.
Saying “you don’t look/sound/act like that” when talking about someone’s race, religion, or background.
Assuming someone’s financial status or upbringing based on their ethnicity.
Treating someone’s cultural traditions as something “strange” or “different.”
No one is perfect, but we all have the ability to learn, adjust, and do better. If someone brings up something that made them uncomfortable, listening and learning is more important than reacting defensively.
Inclusion Starts With Us
Diversity isn’t just about recruitment numbers—it’s about making sure every sister feels comfortable, supported, and valued. Some ways we can actively build a stronger, more inclusive chapter:
Be intentional in recruitment.
Are we unintentionally leaning toward a “type” when selecting new members?
Encourage representation.
It matters. If our leadership positions aren’t reflecting the diversity in our chapter, what can we do to change that?
Create space for real conversations.
Chapters grow stronger when members feel heard and respected. If there’s an issue, let’s talk about it and handle it effectively.
Final Thoughts: Real Sisterhood Means Showing Up for Others, Both in the Chapter and in the World
Being in a sorority is about more than just making friends—it’s about creating a space where every member feels like she belongs. That doesn’t happen by accident—it happens when we are intentional about our words, actions, and how we show up for each other.
This isn’t something that magically goes away when we graduate. We all have something to teach each other. When it’s time for you to leave, you’re going to want to leave with much more than just fun memories and sick merch. Social awareness is necessary now more than ever. We all make mistakes, however, the way we grow from them is what defines us—and that is an active choice that you can make.
Black History Month is a great time to reflect, but real inclusion happens every month. So as a chapter, let’s commit to making our sisterhood truly inclusive—because that’s what real sisterhood looks like.
