In Dallas, the legacy of historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine continues to shape student life at Paul Quinn College. Founded in the early 1900s to create community and opportunity for Black students, the nine organizations have long played a role on historically Black college and university campuses nationwide. At Paul Quinn College, students and alumni say that impact remains visible today. Across HBCUs, the Divine Nine are known for their stepping, probates and public performances. But students at Paul Quinn say the deeper value lies in mentorship and connection. Rashid Strode came to Paul Quinn from California and said he found guidance from members of Kappa Alpha Psi. “Honestly, in the least crazy way possible, it felt like Superman putting on his cape, right? Just the attention, the support… it really felt like stepping out into a different version of myself,” Strode said. Strode said many of the positive role models he encountered in Dallas were members of the fraternity. “I’m not originally from here. A lot of the positive role models that I’ve run into out here so far just so happened to be Kappa men… especially on the business side, I felt like… I would have a better opportunity of running into different connections through the brotherhood of my fraternity,” he said. Junior Kendall Baxter said her path into Alpha Kappa Alpha also began with mentorship. “So I was motivated to pursue membership through my mentors. I had a really good, strong relationship with some members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and they pushed me to attend college, to do community service, and I just wanted to follow in their footsteps,” Baxter said. Baxter, a first-generation college student and first-generation Greek member, said joining carried both pride and responsibility. “I’m a first-generation college student, first-generation Greek. So to me, this is really paving the way for my younger siblings, generations,” she said. Alumni say the public celebrations are only one part of the experience. Darien Wilson pledged at Paul Quinn in 1997. He said perceptions often focus on social events rather than long-term impact. “I think they think initially that it’s about a party. However, it turns into mentorship. It turns into achievement. How are you going to be a leader in the community? How are you going to reach back?” Wilson said. Wilson said what begins with undergraduate visibility evolves into lifelong responsibility, including business and community leadership. “That turns into, again, marketing and communication. That turns into the business side of what we do today, from Wilson Investment Properties to Texas Summit AU Basketball to Witherspoon Law Firm to True Kitchens and Cocktails by Kevin Kelly,” he said. Paul Quinn President Michael Sorrell said Black Greek life can also establish credibility on campus. “Being at a historically black college and university, your fraternal relationship often helps you establish credibility… because what it says to them is at some point in time you walk the path that they walk,” Sorrell said. Sorrell said he pledged at a predominantly white institution but viewed fraternity membership as a way to stay connected to his community. “So when I pledged… it was at a predominantly white institution, and it was a way of creating connectivity to my community…” he said. He said the organizations remain relevant amid current social challenges. “What was then is starting to reoccur now,” Sorrell said. “Now, we’re having a boomerang effect. So you see lots of young brothers and sisters struggling with the realities of racism.” Sorrell said the focus now is on strengthening institutions and the spaces where those bonds are formed. Paul Quinn has received a donation to build its first fraternity house. “You cannot tell me that it is not possible. It is absolutely possible — the fact that we’re going to have that because listen, 20 years ago, people didn’t think the school would continue to exist. So not only are we existing, we are thriving,” he said. ...read more read less