U.S. Rep.Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) honored the women of the Divine Nine during a speech on International Women’s Day.

“On #InternationalWomensDay I spoke on the floor to honor the women of the Divine Nine,” Kelly wrote in a March 8 Twitter post. “Historically Black sororities have shaped the lives of so many Black women, including my own, and have literally changed the course of history.”

Sororities and fraternities, also known as social Greek organizations, originated in the early 19th century on U.S. college campuses as a way to foster a sense of community and provide unique opportunities for students, according to Yes Prep. However, these groups were often exclusive, and Black students were unwelcome. 

In response, a small number of Black students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) formed their own sororities and fraternities in the early 20th century, Yes Prep reports. Collectively known as the National Pan-Hellenic Council or the “Divine Nine,” these organizations shared a goal of educating and uplifting the Black community from racial injustice while also having unique values at the same time.

The Divine Nine sororities and fraternities include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (1906) at Cornell University, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (1908) at Howard University, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (1920) at Howard University, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (1922) at Butler University, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity (1963) at Morgan State University, according to Yes Prep.

Many prominent women and men throughout history have been members of these sororities including author, anthropologist, and filmmaker Zora Neale Hurston; Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Dionne Warwick; and Kamala Harris, the country's first African-American Vice President.

“I rise today to celebrate the women of the Divine Nine, the historically black sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council,” Kelly said during her speech. 

“In honor of International Women’s Day, I’m proud to honor the organizations that have produced some of our nation's best and brightest leaders. For over 100 years, these organizations have fostered and empowered generations of black women to become leaders in government, business, academia, and so much more," she said. "I'm not exaggerating when I say these historically black sororities have shaped the course of history.”