Overview

The Divine 9: Fraternities and Sororities

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is an organization made up of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities, and is often referred to as the “Divine 9.” Many of the Divine 9 members were founded during the early 20th century were established mostly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Many of these institutions began as civic action groups in response to the pressing society demands at that time. They were seen as embodiments of the students’ initiative to contribute to the academic and political development of their school. Most schools supported the founding of such organizations, because of the contributions they made to the school and the student body.

Many of the Divine 9 sororities and fraternities have been able to withstand the test of time, expanding with hundreds of chapters all around the country. Their presence and influence can be felt in all aspects of college life, especially during freshmen orientation week, founding anniversaries, homecoming, and other major events.