Celebrating Black History Month with 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'

In celebration of Black History Month, Rev. Debora Jackson, Dean of The Business School at WPI, recently joined women from Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Zeta Phi Beta—historically Black sororities—in an inspiring video to sing 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.'

How the Project Came to Be

Inspired by the 'virtual choirs' she was seeing during the pandemic, the idea for this collaborative video came from Jacqueline Jones, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA). Jacqueline reached out Shaynah Barnes-Munro, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with the idea of recording a video with women from the historically Black sororities singing a song with an uplifting focus. Jacqueline’s sister, Gwendolyn Nauls, also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., suggested 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.' Having determined the song, women from the National Pan-Hellenic Council (also called Divine 9) sororal organizations were contacted to sing, including Dean Jackson. Mixing and editing of the 16 individual videos was carried out by Winston MacFarland.

The result is a joyous, divine, collaborative effort—and a celebration of the unity promoted during Black History Month. We hope you enjoy it!