We dive deep into the service and sisterhood of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated.
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00:00 It's the brotherhood and sisterhood for essence.
00:02 So this month we're celebrating the Divine 9 organizations.
00:06 Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi,
00:10 Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta,
00:14 Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta.
00:18 We're showing love to our staff that are Divine 9 members.
00:21 Z Phi!
00:22 I like this jacket. It's nice and sparkly.
00:24 So let's get into it with the finer women of Zeta Phi Beta.
00:29 What's going on, everybody?
00:30 My name's Sherri Nicole.
00:31 I'm the Branded Video Content Producer here at Essence.
00:34 I'm a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated.
00:38 10-12-08 is how we say it.
00:40 Otherwise known as Fall of 2008 when I became a Zeta.
00:44 I feel like Zeta Phi Beta chose me,
00:50 but definitely in a time where I needed to be chosen.
00:53 I was a student athlete in college.
00:55 And when you play athletics for,
00:59 or were you an athlete, I should say, for so long,
01:01 you tend to have friends in a community of just athletes.
01:05 And so by my junior year in college,
01:08 I wanted to explore what life is like outside of sports.
01:12 So how can I connect with people that aren't athletes?
01:15 How can I open my world up to different points of view
01:17 and perspectives and ways of life?
01:19 And so on the campus of Northern Illinois University,
01:22 I just fell in love with watching the women
01:25 of the Eta Delta chapter at my school.
01:28 And I was so impressed with how they carried themselves.
01:31 I was so impressed with how personable they were,
01:33 how down to earth they were,
01:35 always doing service in the community.
01:36 And I said, "I think that works for me."
01:39 Like, I feel like this is an organization
01:41 where I could be myself,
01:42 but also learn a lot about myself and other people.
01:44 And so ultimately Zeta chose me.
01:47 I'm so grateful it changed my life.
01:50 You know what's funny?
01:51 This may sound a little cliche, but it's not.
01:56 I was the first student athlete
01:59 to become a member of a Greek letter organization
02:03 on my campus in 20 years.
02:05 And so while I was in preseason training,
02:08 I was also pledging to become a Zeta.
02:11 And just mind you, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated
02:13 is a non-hazing organization.
02:15 Don't try me.
02:17 So having to go to practice,
02:19 you know, two, three times a day,
02:21 and then, you know, working on trying to become a Zeta,
02:25 managing my class schedule, it was a lot.
02:27 So honestly, the proudest moment
02:29 is being able to say that I finished.
02:33 I think, especially now more so than ever,
02:36 we as black people in particular need to galvanize
02:38 in a way that lends itself to us being collectively on par,
02:43 on every level.
02:45 When it comes to education, when it comes to finances,
02:48 when it comes to politics,
02:50 when it comes to social norms or lack thereof.
02:53 And I think, you know, NPHC is very, very key
02:57 because it promotes unity.
02:59 I don't care what Greek letter organization
03:00 you're a part of,
03:01 when you're a part of that organization,
03:02 you automatically understand
03:04 not only the need for unity, but the power in it.
03:06 And so, you know, you have these organizations
03:09 on various campuses across the country
03:10 and even across the world that understand that construct.
03:14 And with that being said, there's collectivity
03:17 in how you come together for certain causes.
03:21 And I think in a world now
03:23 where we're so divided yet connected,
03:25 we live in this paradox right now in the world
03:27 because of social media and things like that,
03:29 we have this false sense of connection.
03:31 But I think these are our organizations
03:33 show you the true divinity of connectivity
03:36 and what it can do.
03:37 And so I really, you know, it's hard to imagine
03:41 a world where, you know, the divine nine don't exist.
03:45 And I know you said eight out of the nine
03:47 where we're not pushing the ball forward,
03:49 where we're not functioning as leaders
03:51 on our campuses and communities.
03:53 We are a much needed entity.
03:54 And I think even as we move now into an election year,
03:58 our voices are gonna be very important.
04:00 People are looking to us,
04:02 young people in particular on college campuses
04:03 are looking to us to not only lead, but to also educate.
04:07 Me and my line sisters do remain in contact
04:09 with each other.
04:10 I think fast feed is one of the best things
04:12 that man could have ever invented.
04:14 You know, I am the only one that actually lives
04:17 out of state.
04:18 The rest of them still reside in the Chicago area.
04:20 And so one of my line sisters recently had a child
04:25 and just being able to share those particular moments.
04:28 Another one of my line sisters,
04:29 we did a few, you know, television projects together.
04:32 And so it's been really great to just see
04:34 how everybody's evolved, how everybody's growing.
04:38 A famous person I am honored to share in sisterhood with,
04:43 I have a few.
04:44 Number one, Dionne Warwick, who doesn't love her?
04:48 I actually had the opportunity to meet her,
04:51 spend a little time with her.
04:52 I booked her for a talk show I used to produce for.
04:55 And it was an absolute honor.
04:58 I mean, when you get to stand alongside somebody
05:00 that's a legend like her and to know that, you know,
05:03 you share the shield, I mean, it's a beautiful thing.
05:07 Also got a shout out, you know,
05:08 my really good friends, Selena Johnson, R&B singer,
05:12 talk show host, she's also a Zeta.
05:13 And then also Dr. Selesha Thompson and Dr. Selet Dubois.
05:18 So we're all together here.
05:19 Me, Selena, Selesha and Seleta are all here in Atlanta.
05:23 We've spent a lot of time together.
05:25 And again, they're all, you know, extremely accomplished.
05:28 And so I'm really honored to be able to share this,
05:30 this year with them.
05:31 And also my really, really good friend who came
05:33 from my chapter as well.
05:34 My sister, Rashida, she's a label live.
05:37 She starred on Amazon series.
05:40 I don't know if you've caught it, but you should.
05:41 If you haven't, it's called "Jury Duty."
05:42 It's incredible.
05:44 And just watching her growth and to know like
05:46 from where we started now seeing her attend the Emmy parties
05:49 and in all the awards season events
05:51 and seeing all the things that she's doing in front of
05:53 and behind the camera, it's just unbelievable.
05:56 I think the common misconception that people have
05:58 about the Divine Nine is that we're cult-like, you know?
06:03 But I think there's stereotypes that surround, you know,
06:07 NPHC that I don't think are very fair.
06:11 I think a lot of people don't understand the familial way
06:14 and in how we move and all the work that we do
06:17 in the community and in the service projects
06:19 and just the camaraderie and the opportunities
06:22 that all of us have had to grow
06:23 because we're a part of our organizations.
06:25 I wish people would understand that more.
06:27 Even when I crossed, you know, some people were like,
06:29 "Oh my God."
06:31 You know, you start to have conversations with people
06:33 that are a little bit more religious
06:35 and they have, you know, viewpoints
06:36 on Black Greek organizations as well.
06:39 And so I just, I wish people saw,
06:42 like truly saw the camaraderie, the friendship,
06:46 the brotherhood or the sisterhood that exists.
06:48 (upbeat music)