VISUAL JOURNALISM PROJECT

 Greek life has always had a relevant presence on American campuses. Even our own campus isn't devoid of such organizations, ranging from Kappa Alpha Psi to Sigma Sigma Sigma. The reputation of fraternities and sororities alike tends to precede them, with a variety of stereotypes, cliches, and misconceptions circulating much of American pop culture.

However, I am the son of two parents who were involved in Greek life as college students, and are still active in their respective chapters to this day. Of course, the expectation of me joining a frat was discussed often in my household. And while I ultimately decided against joining one, I still wanted to pay homage to the grains of Greek life I was exposed to by discussing one of my parents' chapters.

Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) is an American sorority first established in 1908 at Howard University by founder Ethel Hedgemon. It is a historically Black sorority-- making up one of nine historically Black Greek life organizations in the U.S. With over 90K members, AKA sustains its organization through the use of chapters, which act as streamlined sects rather than being one, monolithic conglomerate.

(Alpha Kappa Alpha's crest)

Texarkana has its own AKA chapter-- the Kappa Xi Omega chapter. Ever since its creation in 1975, the chapter has been actively involved in Texarkana's community. Provision of scholarships, walkathon/marathon fundraisers, and the co-organization of Texarkana's Black History Parade are only three of the many, many events the chapter has done this year. And there are still more to come, if their FaceBook page is anything to go by.

I had the privilege of interviewing Nicole Bailey, a semi-recent inductee into the Kappa Xi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Hosted over Zoom, I asked questions not only relating to Kappa Xi Omega and its work in TXK, but also questions a student interested in joining a Greek organization might have.

The interview can be seen here:

- C. Thomas Bailey