A Reflection on Legacy

On Sunday, May 8th  we celebrated the beauty that is Black motherhood all across the globe! We honored not only the mothers in our village, but all of the Black women who are the nurturers of our community. As new initiates join the Sorority this spring, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what building a legacy truly means.

A legacy is most often defined as something that is left behind for future generations, whether that be a monetary gift, a plot of land, or a philosophy. Leaving behind a legacy is something that is of immense importance to us human beings, because fundamentally, we all crave to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Similarly, this quest for purpose and belonging is what often motivates people to join the wonderful sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

It was our founder’s desire to blaze a new trail and build a community that inspired them to create an organization built on the principles of sisterhood, scholarship, and service. However, it’s important to note that legacy isn’t only what you leave behind. Legacy building also involves carrying out a series of actions to achieve a goal. Your legacy is the series of choices you make daily, it’s how you live your life. As Deltas, we continue the legacy of our 22 founders by living a life dedicated to excellence!

Legacy building is especially important for the African American family, as we have historically had limited access to ownership and all other resources that are essential to community wealth building. It wasn’t until the passing of the Fair Housing Act on April 11,1968, just 7 days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, that discrimination regarding the selling, renting, or financing of housing was outlawed. Women have only been allowed to have their own personal banking accounts since the 1960s, and it wasn’t until the passing of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that it became illegal to deny a woman a credit card on the basis of gender.

Today, as we reflect on the meaning of legacy, we are thankful for not only our founders, but also the founders of the other Divine 9 organizations. These organizations allow us to come together as a community and build a legacy that our family can be proud of, and for that we are forever grateful.

Divas, how are you building a legacy for your loved ones? Let’s fellowship in the comments!