Radical Loyalty: When Christian Women Leave Black Sororities for Christ
- Jessy Diandra
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
About 20 years ago, French-speaking audiences were introduced—often with fascination—to the world of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through the lens of American cinema, social media, and pop culture. Iconic films like Drumline, Stomp the Yard, Spike Lee's School Daze, and Beyoncé's documentary-concert Homecoming gave a vibrant glimpse into Black student life in the U.S., notably highlighting one proud tradition: fraternities and sororities.
These organizations, collectively referred to as the Divine Nine (D9), are far more than social clubs. They’re historic institutions and cultural cornerstones in the African American community. Founded during the era of segregation, they created spaces for Black students to thrive, offering networks for support, leadership, and community service. For many, being accepted into one of these sororities is a life milestone.
Hence why, for generations, students have fought to join ranks with members like Oprah Winfrey (honorary Delta Sigma Theta), former Vice President Kamala Harris (Alpha Kappa Alpha), and singer Fantasia Taylor (Sigma Gamma Rho).
Being part of a sorority is synonymous with pride, identity, and tradition. Membership is for life.
Yet, behind this admiration, a new phenomenon has emerged: Christian women who, after a spiritual awakening or conversion, are choosing to publicly renounce their sorority affiliation. Is it overzealousness or righteous discernment? Beyond the controversy, I wanted to explore the tension between cultural heritage and Christian faith through the lens of Scripture.
A Legacy of Resistance and Empowerment
Black fraternities and sororities were born at the dawn of the 20th century, in a racially segregated America. Excluded from white institutions, Black students built their own spheres of influence, drawing inspiration from Greco-Roman models but reshaping them to reflect their cultural reality.
The very first, Alpha Phi Alpha, was founded in 1906. It was followed by sororities such as Alpha Kappa Alpha (1908), Delta Sigma Theta (1913), Zeta Phi Beta (1920), and Sigma Gamma Rho (1922). These, together with five fraternities, would later form the Divine Nine under the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Their mission? Academic excellence, civic engagement, leadership development, and the upliftment of Black communities. These organizations have played key roles in the Civil Rights Movement, anti-poverty campaigns, and the formation of leaders across various sectors.
The intake process often includes a mix of applications, learning, symbolic rituals, and initiation. While some traditions have modernized, their symbolic and ritualistic dimensions remain.
For many Black women, joining a sorority means entering a legacy, anchoring themselves in a powerful, protective, and elite network. But what happens when this allegiance clashes with our faith in Jesus Christ?
Where the Conflict Begins
In recent years, many Christian women within these sororities have begun to express deep spiritual discomfort—not with the values of service or sisterhood, but with certain spiritual elements embedded in the rituals and symbols:
Oaths of allegiance to Greek letters and ideals
Songs attributing love, peace, and happiness to the organization
Prayers addressed to unnamed "eternal spirits"
Initiations invoking Greco-Roman deities
Hazing-style processes involving emotional, spiritual, and physical humiliation
A culture of secrecy that clashes with the biblical call to truth and light
These elements resemble idolatry or spiritual syncretism (the mixing of incompatible religious practices), which Christianity explicitly warns against.
As Jesus says in John 14:6:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
And in 2 Corinthians 6:14–17:
"What fellowship can light have with darkness?... Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord."
And most importantly, the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37–38:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
When confronted with this spiritual contradiction, it’s understandable that some women would experience an internal struggle.
Because the Bible makes it clear: we cannot serve two masters. Divided loyalty is not compatible with genuine Christian faith.
The Breaking Point — Stories of Renunciation
The first major voice to publicly address this issue was Zora Sanders, a former member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. In a 2021 YouTube testimony, Bible in hand, she explained why she renounced her sorority after a long season of fasting and prayer. She described receiving a clear revelation: remaining in the organization was incompatible with her walk with Christ.
Her video, calm and well-researched, became a spark. For many, it gave language to a spiritual discomfort they had long felt.
“This wasn’t about rejecting Black culture or my sisters. It was a response to a specific call from the Holy Spirit.”
She outlined several key issues:
Symbols of Greek deities embedded in the organization
Songs attributing attributes of God to the sorority
The tension between total allegiance to Christ and the vows taken during initiation
Britney Janine, a Zeta Phi Beta member since 2006, was more gradual in her journey. She didn’t join because of legacy or tradition, but because of a friend she admired. However, her sorority experience turned into one marked by exclusion, pressure, and disappointment.
“It wasn’t the colors or the letters. It was the people.”
Over time, she felt a growing detachment, and eventually a spiritual conviction:
“We sang: ‘All my love, my peace, and my happiness, I give it to Zeta.’ That’s idolatry.”
Britney chose to return all her paraphernalia with an official renunciation letter:
“I wanted God to know where I stood. I put Christ over culture.”
In a detailed video, Authentically Bri shares her own experience of hazing and spiritual confusion:
“Hell Nights” and “Hell Houses” during intake
The “Prayer to Minerva,” a Greco-Roman goddess
Emotional and spiritual manipulation masked as tradition
She speaks of the trauma and spiritual conviction that ultimately led her to renounce her affiliation.
LaLa Jenkins, another former member, released a bold video claiming that Alpha Kappa Alpha rituals are not just symbolic—but occult in nature. She accuses the organization of being spiritually dangerous and incompatible with Christianity, calling believers to remain faithful to Christ alone.
Anike, a rapper and content creator, also released a testimony, citing the presence of spiritual syncretism—where Christian verses are blended with non-Christian practices, like invoking “eternal spirits” or using Greek deities. She references John 14:6 as her foundation:
“Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.”
Conclusion: My Perspective
After deep research, I’ve noticed a few undeniable truths:
Every woman who left did so based on strong biblical conviction.
None of the rituals mentioned are fabricated—they’re publicly documented. Some led to several students losing their lives during the intake process.
Their main criticism isn’t the choice to leave, but the boldness to expose these practices.
For these reasons, I don’t see radicalism. I see faithfulness. These women stood up publicly to challenge long-established institutions, some of which include powerful and influential members. They chose loyalty to Jesus Christ over lifelong allegiances. Their decision brought them backlash and rejection.
It reminds me of Matthew 16:24–25:
“If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”
You can’t follow Christ and Minerva, or Dionysus, or Zeus. The only altar we bow before is the Cross. These women not only understood this—they aligned their lives accordingly.
And yes, their choice may seem radical. But Jesus Himself repeatedly called His followers to reject compromise boldly.
As He says in Matthew 5:29:
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out... It’s better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
That verse, though tough to hear, perfectly fits their choice. They’re not rejecting their sisters or their history—they’re choosing to keep only what honors God. And isn’t that the call of every believer? To walk away from anything—no matter how socially defining—that becomes a barrier to our life in Christ.
They aren’t condemning. They’re obeying. They aren’t attacking. They’re testifying.
And in a world where faith is often watered down to avoid offense, their stand may be radical—but it’s radically for Christ.
What About You?
Have you ever had to choose between your faith and a cultural, familial, or social loyalty?
What do you think of these women who left everything—not out of rejection, but out of spiritual conviction?
The conversation is open. Let’s talk about it.
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