UNC Pembroke Zeta Phi Beta Hymn [The University of North Carolina at Pembroke]
Crystal Bass, Apr 18, 2018
April 2018 Crossover
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a four part pancocojams series that showcases YouTube videos of members of a particular historically Black Greek letter sororities singing their national hymns or other group songs. The lyrics to these songs aren't included in these posts.
Each of the posts in this pancocojams series showcase two videos of a national hymn or some other song that is sung by members of one historically Black Greek letter sorority that is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the umbrella organization that is composed of those four historically Black Greek letter sororities and five historically Black Greek letter fraternities.
These four sororities are presented in chronological order based on their founding dates with the oldest sorority given first.
This post presents information about Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and showcases two YouTube videos of members of that sorority singing their national hymn or another song..
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/02/historically-black-greek-letter_25.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and showcases two YouTube videos of members of that sorority singing their national hymn or another song.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/02/historically-black-greek-letter_26.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and showcases two YouTube videos of members of that sorority singing their national hymn or another song.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/02/historically-black-greek-letter_54.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and showcases two YouTube videos of members of that sorority singing their national hymn or another song.
The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and thanks to all past and present members of that sorority. Thanks to all of those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who composed these songs and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (THE DIVINE 9)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council
"The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative umbrella council composed of historically African American fraternities and sororities, commonly called the Divine Nine, and also referred to as Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs).[1] The NPHC was formed as a permanent organization on May 10, 1930, on the campus of Howard University, in Washington, D.C., with Matthew W. Bullock as the active Chairman and B. Beatrix Scott as Vice-Chairman. NPHC was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1937.[2]
[…]
History
The National Pan-Hellenic Council was established during the Jim Crow era when Greek letter collegiate organizations founded by white Americans did not want to be affiliated with Greek letter collegiate organizations founded by African Americans.[3]
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUR SORORITIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL
From AI Overview (results given on February 15, 2026)
Date joined NPHC
The four historically Black sororities in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine Nine) were founded between 1908 and 1922, with key incorporations following shortly after their founding to establish legal, perpetual status. They are Alpha Kappa Alpha (1908/1913), Delta Sigma Theta (1913/1930), Zeta Phi Beta (1920/1923), and Sigma Gamma Rho (1922/1929).
Here are the details for each sorority
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA): Founded Jan. 15, 1908, at Howard University. It was incorporated on Jan. 29, 1913, to ensure perpetuity.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST): Founded Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University. It was incorporated in 1930.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ZPhiB): Founded Jan. 16, 1920, at Howard University. It was incorporated in 1923.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (SGRho): Founded Nov. 12, 1922, at Butler University. It was incorporated in 1929
These organizations were created to foster sisterhood, scholarship, and service, specifically providing support networks for Black women during times of segregation and exclusion from mainstream organizations."
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INFORMATION ABOUT ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeta_Phi_Beta
"Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΖΦΒ) is a historically African
American sorority. Since its founding, Zeta Phi Beta has historically focused
on addressing social causes.[2]
Zeta Phi Beta is a non-profit 501(c)(7) organization that is divided into eight intercontinental regions and 800+ Chapters located in the US, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.[3] In 1948, Zeta Phi Beta became the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (in Monrovia, Liberia). Zeta Phi Beta is the third-largest predominantly African-American sorority.[2][4]
History
In the spring of 1919, during a stroll on the campus of
Howard University, Charles Robert Samuel Taylor, member of Phi Beta Sigma
fraternity, told Arizona Cleaver his idea for a new sisterhood; a sister
organization to his fraternity. Cleaver presented this idea to Pearl Anna Neal,
Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, and a new sisterhood was
formed.[5]
Cleaver secured permission from the Howard University administration to establish a campus sorority. On January 16, 1920, the sorority's first official meeting was held. The five students chose the name Zeta Phi Beta. Phi Beta was taken from Phi Beta Sigma to "seal and signify the relationship between the two organizations"
[...]
Symbols
Zeta Phi Beta's founding principles or pillars are
Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. Its motto is "A
community-conscious, action-oriented organization". Its colors are royal
blue and white. Its symbol is the dove. Its flower is a white rose. Its
publication is The Archon."...
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
There are a number of YouTube videos of a member or members of historically Black Greek letter sororities singing their national hymn/s or other songs that members of a particular historically Black Greek letter sorority consider to be their songs.
In this pancocojams series I'm particularly interested in group renditions of these songs and whether the members of these sororities hold hands while they sing, or wrap their arms behind the back of people standing on either side, or link their arms with the person standing on either side (in the same manner that is commonly used for songs such like as the Civil Rights song "We Shall Over Come" and the song "Aud Lang Syne" that is sung on New Years Eve or during certain other special occasions).
Based on my direct experiences and based on from watching YouTube videos, It appears that for any one of these three gestures a group of people can sing while standing still or they can sing while rhythmically swaying from side to side.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/11/videos-of-kkpsi-fratenrity-three.html for a related 2017 pancocojams post entitled "Videos Of Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternities & KKPsi (Music Fraternity/Sorority) Linking Arms While Singing Their Organization's Hymns"
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Zeta Phi Beta Hymn At Scholarship Program
1concordiaselma, Mar 21, 2012
Gamma Eta Zeta Chapter sing the sorority hymn at Scholarship
Program
-snip-
From https://www.facebook.com/LexiTelevision/videos/the-zeta-phi-beta-sorority-inc-hymns-lyrics-were-penned-by-soror-anita-turpeau-i/1621755828460907/
"The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. hymn’s lyrics were penned
by Soror Anita Turpeau in 1924, and the music was composed by Soror Audrey B.
Robinson in 1953. Soror @iammariah.official with me on BG vocals. 💙🤍🕊️"
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This concludes Part III of this four part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
I believe that historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority chants and songs are part of African American culture. As such. examples of these chants and songs should be collected, documented, and studied.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in adherence with the guidelines of historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities, these songs and chants should only be performed by people who are associated with the specific organizations where these chants and songs come from.
I've only found two videos thus far of historically Black Greek letter sororities linking arms and they were both Sigma Gamma Rhos. (Part IV of this pancocojams series)
ReplyDeleteThis is in contrast to the number of YouTube examples of historically Black Greek letter fraternities linking arms when they sing their national hymn.
If you're a member of a historically Black Greek letter sorority, do you link arms when you sing your sorority's hymn? Or if you've seen a historically Black Greek letter sorority sing their hymn, did they link arms?
Also, is it the custom for PWI sororities or PWI fraternities, and any other Greek letter organizations link arms when they sing?