Black History Month, a month full of culture, delicious food, dance, and music. With Black History Month coming to an end, California State University Stockdale Room put on The Divine 9 Mixer & Expression Night with Campus Programming on February 28, 2024. This was an event you would not want to overlook filled with culture, live music, dance, games, and fun.

This event began with a room filled with students ready to learn about the Divine 9 and what the groups represent, and why you should join or start a chapter at California State University, Bakersfield.  

The event began with games from table to table. They had games from spades to dominos. The room was getting hot from all the competitions between the students, staff, fraternities and sororities. This event showed a glimpse of what Black Culture is really about, full of love and the determination for Black excellence and Black education. 

As the event continued the Divine 9  introduced themselves and what their organizations represent. 

1906 Alpha Phi Alpha was the first intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity established for African Americans; aimed to service their communities and supply a voice and a brotherhood for Black men on campus. 

1908 Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first  intercollegiate Greek-lettered sorority established for African Americans; mission to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards in Black women. 

1911 Kappa Alpha Psi was the second intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity established for African Americans; aimed to commit to serve and create transformational change across the globe. 

1911 Omega Psi Phi was the third  intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity established for African Americans and aimed to support students through higher education and brotherhood the organization’s motto is friendship is essential to the soul. 

1913 Delta Sigma Theta was the second intercollegiate Greek-lettered sorority established for African Americans; mission is to serve the community through public service, political awareness and involvement, and provide a sisterhood for students going through school and life.  

1914 Phi Beta Sigma was the third intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity established for African Americans. It promoted fellowship, brotherhood, equal rights, and to serve the community. 

1920 Zeta Phi Beta was the third intercollegiate Greek-lettered sorority established for African Americans; aimed to provide worldwide wellness and extraordinary leadership and legacy, and was built on the idea of having scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood. 

1922 Sigma Gamma Rho was the fourth intercollegiate Greek-lettered sorority established for African Americans; promotes and serves as a home for women looking for a space to share ideas, thoughts and worries. It aims to serve its community through sisterhood, scholarship, and service.  

1963 Iota Phi Theta was the ninth intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity established for African Americans; it aims to make meaningful contributions to society in general with a particular emphasis in the African American community and to have a brothership between men. 

After the introductions from the organizations they met with some of the students and educated more about their fraternities and sororities the food was brought out and consisted of chicken and waffles and the drinks were an array of water and sodas from Coke to Sprite.  

To end the night the event held the stage for people to express themselves in any form or way they wanted. A student went up and did a wonderful dance and others did spoken word. 

Black History Month is a celebration of Black culture and excellence and what it represents from music, dance, education, and food. This event showed a glimpse of what Black culture and Black history is really about: love, appreciation, respect, and the determination for Black excellence and education.