International president of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Barbara McKinzie is under the hot seat, facing numerous allegations of spending thousands of dollars of the sorority's money on herself.
In the suit, Alpha Kappa Alpha members said that McKinzie bought designer clothing, lingerie, and jewelry with the sorority's credit card. The lawsuit also accuses the board of directors signing off on spending funds for McKinzie without the approval by the group's membership. McKinzie denies these allegations, calling them "malicious, and a false perception of her character"
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members, also referred to as AKA's take pride in being the first Black sorority founded on Howard University's campus in Washington, DC in 1908. This sorority has paved the way for other existing Black sororities and fraternities that make up the "divine nine". Having a leader, who is faced with these charges by her own members and sisters, have concluded that Alpha Kappa Alpha is facing a sad day.
One hundred years of sisterhood, ethics, and service, is what Alpha Kappa Alpha is supposed to represent. The week long centennial celebration took place just last summer, what a triumphant and legendary occasion, but look at the reputation the group is gaining now...
This is shocking news to all members, prospective members and even the general public since AKA's are portrayed as holding themselves in such high esteem. This case is news many groups can learn a lesson from..When you make a commitment, it is important that you adhere to the rules and most of all, being true to yourself so that you are able to be truthfully dedicated to your sisterhood or brotherhood.
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I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and you are right this news is most shoking an unpleasant. There are always 2 (or more) sides of the story case will be discussed before a court of law so things will be vetted there. However I am bothered by the overall lack of balance in how this story is being covered and presented to the public. As a blog I am not holding you (or any other blogger) accountable for this - but I am taking note of it. So far, all of the blog (and media) response to this has leaned in support of the plaintiffs. I'm not taking sides - because both sides are my sorors, but some there are some red flags to the reported complaints.
ReplyDelete1. A million dollars for a wax statue sounds ludacris. The response from Barbara McKenzie says that the sorority spent $45K for 2 statues - one of her and one of the 1st international president of the sorority to go on display in a Baltimore Museum.
2. The sorority's rules and by-laws are based on a democractic and checks-and-balances systems. No one person could have access to those resources without the knowledge and consent of the remaining leadership or a general body vote.
3. Only eight individuals are suring the sorority of over 260K members. It's a bit deceiving for stories to imply the 'membership' or a mjority or substantial percentage of the 'members' are suing the leadership.
4. Though the records of the sorority can be accessed, I'm curious how these 8 litigants deciphered the descrepencies and no one else did - such as individual chapter presidents and other members, especially with so many professionals (lawyers, educators, corporate & gov't leaders, academic, etc) among our ranks.
5. Why wasn't this issue handled in house? Our organization certainly allows for internal vetting and auditing. Even assuming that they were silenced from within (such things can happen in any organizations), at the very least there should have been a buzz, helping them gain support of more than 8 plaintiffs. And why haven't they been able to attract more people to their cause.
Just things to think about and consider discussing in the name of balance.