The “first and finest” Greek sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, was founded January 15th, 1908 on the campus of Howard University by 9 female students. With over 170,000 members in Undergrad and Grad chapters nationwide, there are some members in particular that we have grown to know and love. The following are celebrity women who are members of this illustrious sorority.
Source: biography.com
Phylicia Rashad
An initiate of the Alpha chapter of AKA at Howard University, Phylicia Rashad stole our hearts as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” for eight years on NBC. She has parlayed her career to include stage/Broadway plays, feature films and TV movies; she stars in the newest production of Steel Magnolias on Lifetime this coming Fall, along with her daughter, Condola Rashad. I bet her sorors couldn’t be more proud of her!
Source: bet.com
Loretta Devine
Houston, Texas native, Loretta Devine was initiated into the Epsilon Lambda chapter of AKA at the University of Houston. Known to both the stage, big and small screens during her 30+ year career, I’m sure is an inspiring notion to her fellow sisters. She certainly embodies perseverance and longevity. You can see her in season two of the highly-rated Lifetime show, “The Client List” coming in 2013.
Yvette Denise Bowser
The executive producer of hit shows like “Half and Half” and “Living Single” is also an AKA. Initiated into the Xi Beta Chapter at Stanford University, she was destined to be a huge success. She not only worked on Holly Robinson Peete’s show, “Hanging With Mr. Cooper” as a producer, but she also worked with her again on “For Your Love.” An intelligent, sophisticated and dedicated woman is also what Alpha Kappa Alpha represents and she does give that energy to all of her work.
Vanessa Bell Calloway
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Vanessa Bell Calloway was initiated into the Delta Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha while receiving her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree at Ohio University. After her “Coming To America” role, she has been very successful working on the small screen with “All My Children,” TNT’s “Hawthorne” and the BET talk show, Oh Drama! in the early 2000s. Her recent projects coming in 2012: a role in “The Last Fall,” directed by Matthew Cherry and starring Lance Gross and “The Under Shepherd” featuring Isaiah Washington
Wanda Sykes
Totally unexpected! Who would have thought that actress and comedienne Wanda Sykes was a member of the Gamma Theta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Hampton University? She was initiated while earning her B.S. degree and has since become a well-known movie star, talk-show hostess and activist for LGBT issues. Not bad for a woman from Portsmouth, Virginia!
ReShonda Tate Billingsley
The University of Texas at Austin’s Delta Xi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha didn’t know they had a future NAACP Image Award winner among them. Journalist and author ReShonda Tate Billingsley has written 25 books (the most recent one being released this summer, 2012), has a literary talk radio show on KTSU 90.9 FM and is a former Houston and Oklahoma City reporter/news anchor. The gown’s shade is befitting her, isn’t it? 🙂
Star Jones
This is huge: Author, former TV host, attorney Star Jones, Esq. was once the Second Supreme Anti-Basileus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was initiated in Undergrad to be a member of the Lambda Zeta chapter at American University in Washington, D.C., where she also served on the Student Government as the National Vice-President of Undergraduate Affairs for the AKA chapter. Be on the look-out for her book, Satan’s Sisters to become a TV movie produced by her, Wendy Williams and Suzanne De Passe, another fellow Sorority member.
Althea Gibson
Serena and Venus Williams have a remarkable role model in Althea Gibson, especially after Serena’s win at this year’s London Olympics. Althea’s Florida A&M University’s Beta Alpha chapter of AKA have a lot to be happy about, too. She was the FIRST African-American tennis player to win BOTH Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and broke the barrier for more players of color to be accepted. Sadly, she passed away nine years ago from effects of cancer.
Roxie Roker
Just like her Soror Phylicia Rashad, Roxie Roker was also initiated into the Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on Howard University’s campus. Mostly known for her character Helen Willis on the highly popular sitcom The Jeffersons, she can’t be forgotten as being the mother of Lenny Kravitz and cousin to Al Roker. Her degree in Drama has paid off due to her long-standing career, but ultimately, she passed on in 1995.
Dr. Donda West
Virginia Union Universitiy’s AKA chapter has Dr. Donda West in their history books as a member of the Alpha Eta chapter. We all know she was Kanye West’s mother, but did you also know that she was an author and educator? She was the Chairwoman of the English Department at Chicago State University prior to her passing in 2006.
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