Alpha Kappa Alpha Unsung Sorors of the Civil Rights Movement

Introduction

Alpha Kappa Alpha
Contributions to the Civil Rights Timeline

As the nation reaches the 50th anniversary of the modern Civil Rights movement, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, has developed an exhibit to document and celebrate the civil rights heritage of our sorority and its individual sorors. Their stories, together with vintage and contemporary photographs, publications, memorabilia, and audio-visual materials have been collected by the members of the International Archives Committee to be presented in this online exhibit and within the Unsung Sorors of the Civil Rights Movement museum exhibit at Boule 2012.
Welcome

International President

International Archives Chairman
1908 - 1953

The Pioneering Prelude: 1908 – 1953

The exhibit opens with a section that acknowledges the outstanding civil rights contributions of our earliest sorors. Through most of the southern United States, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century and becoming the entrenched law of the land by the early years of the 20th century, segregation by race was the legal system. That is, by law, blacks and whites were separated in all public facilities. Blacks could not eat in restaurants, stay in hotels or motels, swim in public beaches or pools, or attend the same schools or churches if any of these facilities or institutions were used by white people. The sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha recognized that they were on a battlefield.

1954 - 1959

Erasing the Color Bar: 1954 – 1959

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During this span of time, racial segregation is being enforced as the law of the land. African-Americans are not permitted to vote, to serve on juries, to enjoy mainstream public accommodations like restaurants, movie theaters, concert halls, hotels, public toilets, and swimming pools. But, our visionary sorors are active participants in the struggle to eliminate the persistence of this racism. The “separate but equal” laws are attacked and erased, beginning with Brown v. Board of Education. It is time to recognize and honor this legacy.

1960 - 1965

Battles for Equality: 1960 – 1965

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Throughout this period, steps are being taken to dismantle Jim Crow laws and to implement equal opportunity laws for women and racial minorities. The sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha continually acknowledged the power of literacy and education in overcoming racism, inequality and poverty. Sorors in Civil Rights organizations, e.g. NAACP, SCLC, CORE, SNCC lead Freedom Riders, sit-ins, boycotts, voter registration drives, and march on Washington.