The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has released its documentary film, TWENTY PEARLS, which chronicles the organization’s story. Narrated by Phylicia Rashād, TWENTY PEARLS journeys through the sorority’s 113-year-history.
In 1908, only 40 years after the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, nine Black college women enrolled at Howard University, where they organized a sisterhood. Today, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has grown to more than 300,000 members internationally, greatly impacting American history.
Through narration, interviews and archival assets, TWENTY PEARLS shows how Alpha Kappa Alpha played a role in the Harlem Renaissance, World War II, NASA, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The film also discusses the connection between Alpha Kappa Alpha and the election of the first woman, African American and Asian American Vice President of the United States of America.
Some of the high-profile interviewees featured in this documentary include Alpha Kappa Alpha International President and CEO Glenda Glover, Vice President Kamala Harris, Miss Universe Ireland 2019, Fionnghuala O’Reilly, Lonnie Bunch and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
“Telling our own story is essential to preserving our history and uplifting the culture,” said Glover. “Alpha Kappa Alpha’s remarkable 113-year journey is punctuated by stories of history makers, ceiling breakers, public servants and ordinary women who have changed the course of American history. Through this beautifully written and narrated odyssey, this film highlights, in undeniable ways, the vision, courage, tenacity, determination and power of Black women while dispelling any age-old questions about the relevance of HBCUs and the Divine 9.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908 and is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college-educated women. The organization is dedicated to elevating the stature of African Americans, particularly girls and women. The sorority has more than 300,000 members in more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate chapters in the United States and internationally.
TWENTY PEARLS premiered on Friday, March 26. The documentary will be distributed across North America through On Demand. Check your cable guide for availability. To learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, visit www.aka1908.com.
