Rhodes College has officially unveiled its new National Pan-Hellenic Council Plaza, paying tribute to the nine historically Black sororities and fraternities, collectively known as the Divine Nine. The dedication ceremony took place Saturday, March 23, amid the institution's SpringFest and Black Students and Alumni Family Reunion. This comes as a response to a student group's request in 2022, seeking to honor these organizations that have long stood against racial discrimination and for academic and social excellence. Rhodes College President Jennifer Collins expressed her enthusiasm, noting, "It recognizes and celebrates the impact and importance of historically Black sororities and fraternities," as reported by Diverse Education.
Located strategically south of the Bryan Campus Life Center, the plaza comes to symbolize more than a mere physical space. It stands as a testament to the struggles and achievements of Black students who, during the early 1900s, had to navigate the hostile waters of predominantly white institutions to justly claim their right to education and fellowship. Central to the plaza are plaques dedicated to each of the Divine Nine organizations, detailing their national founding dates, colors, coat of arms, and mottos, confirmed by Rhodes College's official news release.
The formation of these fraternities and sororities began in an era when African Americans were outright denied certain privileges and faced substantial injustice. The National Pan-Hellenic Council, formed in the early 1930s, became an umbrella for these organizations, directing efforts to foster civic involvement, scholarship, and leadership. This collective has since been instrumental in shaping a more equitable society and nurturing a sense of belonging among its members.
Asya Bray, a Rhodes College senior and a member of the Divine Nine's Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., served as the planning and design chair for the plaza. "Today, we are the navigators of this historical legacy," Bray said. "The NPHC Plaza was a dream to foster connections between NPHC and the rest of the Rhodes campus, to be a space for a group of organizations who want to leave their mark, and to educate future members and admirers," she explained in an interview cited by FOX13 Memphis. The plaza's creation underscores a lasting commitment to celebrating a cultural heritage that has indelibly contributed to the college's history and to the broader narrative of the African American experience.
