Lecture Notes: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated

Introduction

• Lecturer: Mrs. Hutchins, 8th grade science teacher.
• Celebration: 101st birthday on January 16th, 2021.
• Mrs. Hutchins has been a member for 21 years, pledged at Zeta University of Louisiana in 1999.

History of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

• Founding Details
  • Founded at Howard University, an HBCU.
  • Established on January 16, 1920.
  • Founders: Arizona Cleaver Stemmons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, and Fannie Petty Watts.
• Core Values and Purpose
  • High academic standards, community service, and sisterhood.
  • Aimed to uplift black communities, particularly in segregated areas.
  • Founded with the principles of genuine sisterhood against the elitist nature of early Greek life.

Symbols and Association

• Colors and Symbols
  • Colors: Royal blue and pure white.
  • Symbols: The dove and the cat.
  • Unique identifier: Making a Z shape when they stroll.
• Fraternity Association
  • Constitutionally bound to the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated.

Sorority Achievements

• Milestones
  • 1923: First sorority to establish a chapter below the Mason-Dixon line.
  • 1947: First to establish auxiliary groups for youth and non-members.
  • 1948: Chartered a chapter in Monrovia, Liberia, first in Africa.
  • 1949: First sorority to have a centralized headquarters.

Leadership and Legacy

• Notable Members
  • Prominent figures like Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn Brooks, Sarah Vaughan, Minnie Riperton, Dionne Warwick, and Sheryl Underwood.
• Cultural Impact
  • Many unsung heroes contributed significantly to the community and the sorority.

Personal Reflection

• Reasons for Joining
  • Mrs. Hutchins emphasized sisterly love, service, scholarship, and finer womanhood.
  • Expressed excitement about passing on the legacy to the next generation.

Conclusion

• Encouragement and inspiration to potential new members.