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1/
She's a Delta.
Grady wards, 2016
On my rounds one day, I was with a med student talking to these two women about their seriously ill father. They were worried, tired, and understandably nervous. They asked a lot of questions.
A whole lot.
Damn, they were scared.
She's a Delta.
Grady wards, 2016
On my rounds one day, I was with a med student talking to these two women about their seriously ill father. They were worried, tired, and understandably nervous. They asked a lot of questions.
A whole lot.
Damn, they were scared.
2/
Then, in the middle of an explanation, I was making hand gestures and one sister interrupted me suddenly.
Her: "Wait. Can I see your hand?"
She slowly turned over my right hand, gasped and then looked over at her sister.
Her: *whispering to sister* "You see that?"
Then, in the middle of an explanation, I was making hand gestures and one sister interrupted me suddenly.
Her: "Wait. Can I see your hand?"
She slowly turned over my right hand, gasped and then looked over at her sister.
Her: *whispering to sister* "You see that?"
3/
The other sister closed her eyes. Then she smiled and then nodded slowly.
Sister: "You're our soror."
She shook her head and released a big relieved sigh.
Then we embraced in a tight three-way Delta hug as tears rolled down their cheeks.
Damn, it was beautiful.
The other sister closed her eyes. Then she smiled and then nodded slowly.
Sister: "You're our soror."
She shook her head and released a big relieved sigh.
Then we embraced in a tight three-way Delta hug as tears rolled down their cheeks.
Damn, it was beautiful.
4/
My student was so confused. I gently explained that we shared the same sorority, Delta Sigma Theta ( @dstinc1913)
Student: *beaming* "That's soooo neat!"
Sister: "No, baby. . .." *patting her eyes with tissues* "This is more than that. She's a Delta."
Student: *listening*
My student was so confused. I gently explained that we shared the same sorority, Delta Sigma Theta ( @dstinc1913)
Student: *beaming* "That's soooo neat!"
Sister: "No, baby. . .." *patting her eyes with tissues* "This is more than that. She's a Delta."
Student: *listening*
5/
Sister: "See, we just found out that we got a doctor in our family seeing about our daddy. Right here in Grady.”
She began to weep.
Sister: “And when you been as worried as we been? That's not just neat, baby. That’s a godsend."
And you know what?
She was right.
Sister: "See, we just found out that we got a doctor in our family seeing about our daddy. Right here in Grady.”
She began to weep.
Sister: “And when you been as worried as we been? That's not just neat, baby. That’s a godsend."
And you know what?
She was right.
6/
Sigh.
So. . . . here's the thing. @dstinc1913 is a historically Black public service sorority that was founded on this day in 1913. A unique feature of historically Black sororities and fraternities is that much of the work and commitment extends beyond college.
Yup.
Sigh.
So. . . . here's the thing. @dstinc1913 is a historically Black public service sorority that was founded on this day in 1913. A unique feature of historically Black sororities and fraternities is that much of the work and commitment extends beyond college.
Yup.
7/
In fact, a large number of members get initiated AFTER they graduate from college.
Yup.
So it's not unusual to see full grown, grey-haired women and me still proudly wearing their sorority and fraternity paraphernalia.
Kind of like me wearing that ring.
In fact, a large number of members get initiated AFTER they graduate from college.
Yup.
So it's not unusual to see full grown, grey-haired women and me still proudly wearing their sorority and fraternity paraphernalia.
Kind of like me wearing that ring.
7/
Specifically, @dstinc1913 has an enduring history of social activism and servant leadership since its inception 108 yrs ago.
In fact, our first public activity was the Women's Suffrage March in March 1913. And let's just say that not too many folks were excited to see them.
Specifically, @dstinc1913 has an enduring history of social activism and servant leadership since its inception 108 yrs ago.
In fact, our first public activity was the Women's Suffrage March in March 1913. And let's just say that not too many folks were excited to see them.
8/
Beyond this, courageous women like Fannie Lou Hamer, Shirley Chisholm, and more would follow.
These women would inspire me. Draw me into their #missiondriven light and serve as my mentors through their lived examples.
Yup.
I tear up just thinking about it.
Beyond this, courageous women like Fannie Lou Hamer, Shirley Chisholm, and more would follow.
These women would inspire me. Draw me into their #missiondriven light and serve as my mentors through their lived examples.
Yup.
I tear up just thinking about it.
9/
And so.
Today, on our Founders Day, I did the thing that Deltas do.
Serve.
Lead.
Love.
First, I did residency interviews. And yep, I proudly wore my @dstinc1913 gear. I even got a shoutout from an applicant who attended @HowardUniv where we were founded.
Yup.
And so.
Today, on our Founders Day, I did the thing that Deltas do.
Serve.
Lead.
Love.
First, I did residency interviews. And yep, I proudly wore my @dstinc1913 gear. I even got a shoutout from an applicant who attended @HowardUniv where we were founded.
Yup.
10/
Logged into interviews from @HealthyDeKalb where I'd be serving immediately after along with several other @dstinc1913 physicians.
Yay.
We vaccinated over 500 seniors in the community. The majority of whom looked like us.
Damn, it was awesome.
Logged into interviews from @HealthyDeKalb where I'd be serving immediately after along with several other @dstinc1913 physicians.
Yay.
We vaccinated over 500 seniors in the community. The majority of whom looked like us.
Damn, it was awesome.
11/
Even better? I got to do this with my @MeharryMedical classmate-- @MSMEDU and @GradyHealth leader @YWimberlyMD (who organized us--just like she always did in med school.)
Ha.
Which reminds me. I get to work with some amazing @dstinc1913 women.
(You probably do, too.)
Even better? I got to do this with my @MeharryMedical classmate-- @MSMEDU and @GradyHealth leader @YWimberlyMD (who organized us--just like she always did in med school.)
Ha.
Which reminds me. I get to work with some amazing @dstinc1913 women.
(You probably do, too.)
12/
Like:
My mentor, section chief, and @EmoryDOMRyse Vice Chair @BusseyJada
Our @EmoryDeptofMed Primary Care PD @drstacyhiggins
And so, so many more.
And us all being @dstinc1913 members is not a neat coincidence. It speaks to a shared mission.
Make sense?
Like:
My mentor, section chief, and @EmoryDOMRyse Vice Chair @BusseyJada
Our @EmoryDeptofMed Primary Care PD @drstacyhiggins
And so, so many more.
And us all being @dstinc1913 members is not a neat coincidence. It speaks to a shared mission.
Make sense?
13/
I think Mary McLeod Bethune put it best:
"The Delta girl is one who has been given the opportunity of education and broad development. . . .
. . .with a purpose which directs her activities and all that she may control toward lifting somebody else."
Yeah. That.
I think Mary McLeod Bethune put it best:
"The Delta girl is one who has been given the opportunity of education and broad development. . . .
. . .with a purpose which directs her activities and all that she may control toward lifting somebody else."
Yeah. That.
12/
And though I don't share the same sorority as @KamalaHarris and her @akasorority1908 sisters, I do think it's important to understand the deep meaning and legacy of historically Black sororities and fraternities.
I celebrate them all.
And though I don't share the same sorority as @KamalaHarris and her @akasorority1908 sisters, I do think it's important to understand the deep meaning and legacy of historically Black sororities and fraternities.
I celebrate them all.
13/
But on this day? I must be partial to celebrating @dstinc1913 the most.
No. That ring wasn't a neat college coincidence. It tells a story of shared mission.
It says, "She's a Delta."
And trust me--that says a lot.
#ForwardWithFortitude #DST108 #DSTFoundersDay
But on this day? I must be partial to celebrating @dstinc1913 the most.
No. That ring wasn't a neat college coincidence. It tells a story of shared mission.
It says, "She's a Delta."
And trust me--that says a lot.
#ForwardWithFortitude #DST108 #DSTFoundersDay
