“Kappa Delta sisters represent many backgrounds, races and cultures and yet we acknowledge that our membership is predominantly white with many members who benefit from white privilege. To our black sisters and to all of our sisters of color, most of us cannot begin to understand how you are feeling, but we see you, we value you, and we stand with you. Our sisterhood is stronger because of you, and we cannot stay silent about the injustices and discrimination you face because of the color of your skin.”- Kappa Delta Sorority
Over the past week, we’ve watched as thousands of people join together to peacefully protest the murder of George Floyd and many other Black Americans at the hands of police officers. In particular, we’ve watched and participated in some of these protests in our own city of Birmingham, AL whose own history within the Civil Rights Movement was both monumental and tragic. Our own neighborhood and downtown area was a large part of the Civil Rights Movement and often the history of this is addressed on campus, but not to the extent that it should be.
This week and as we move into the next phase of our own education, we remember the legacy of one of our own sisters who stood up for what was right at a time when our very own institution did not. Martha “Marti” Turnipseed, a member of the Alpha Upsilon chapter, made a 3-mile journey starting at our campus to the downtown Woolworth counter where she and 7 other students demonstrated in a sit-in. “Nobody pressured her. Nobody dared her to do it. Her decision was hers to make.” Due to her involvement in the protest, she was arrested by Birmingham police but was returned to campus without being charged. Birmingham-Southern ultimately forced her to withdraw from her classes and she transferred to Millsaps College in Jackson, MS for her junior year. In 1964 she was allowed to attend classes at BSC once again and complete her degree while working with students at Millsaps to integrate BSC and recruit black students from Miles College to transfer to our campus. She was regarded by many as a fearless leader who sought to fight for human rights and discouraged against the injustices black people still face from our education, economic, and political systems. But the work she and many others did in Birmingham and across the South is far from over.
We’re proud to say Birmingham-Southern College and its Panhellenic community are making strides to start important discussions as a campus and as a Greek community. Panhellenic is introducing a new position to the executive board “VP of Community and Diversity” which will focus on education, community, and campus relations. On top of this, they have created a committee to bring issues to Panhellenic and to further education about topics and issues within our own campus community. Lastly, they’re donating to our local community and community service projects in an effort to start communication about the work they’re doing to stop injustices in Birmingham and our state. It’s a step in the right direction and we’re hoping our empathetic and engaged community of young women will step up and use this period to educate themselves further and that their education will translate into action.
We’ve got a long road ahead of us and many discussions that might be uncomfortable to have as a chapter and members of the Birmingham community-but we’re committed to having them. As we work to put in place systems in our own chapter that allows for discussion and education about issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement we ask that you join us in our education and activism. Just like our sister Marti, we are working to become better allies to the black community on our campus and in our community so that we can better love and serve them. We want the words of our chapter and our Kappa Delta values to be backed up by our actions. The mission statement of Birmingham-Southern states that “The College fosters intellectual and personal development through excellence in teaching and scholarship and by challenging students to engage their community and the greater world, to examine diverse perspectives, and to live with integrity.”
Be aware of the injustices that have occurred and continue to occur, Forward Ever and always in our community and yours.
AOT,
Alpha Upsilon
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