Image: sisterhood image via sixdeucemagz
Sisterhood is more than just a bond, and it’s deeper than friendship. Family isn’t always blood, as it’s built on by the foundation of love, respect, and most importantly, trust. As the 56th Founder’s Day arrives, I want to shed some light on my sisterhood, Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship Incorporated, as well as how it’s impacted me and my perspective on what sisterhood means.
On April 4, 1969, a year after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, 12 strong, beautiful and intellectually fierce Black women created a sisterhood focused on dedicating their energy and time to providing for the community and uplifting women in need of growth. These 12 women are: Jeneatte Butler, Anita Chase Watson, Beverley Dorne-Steele, Finesa Dunovant Walker, Jane Harris Madison, Marilyn Reid-Hill, Patricia Story Edwards, Rosiland Marshall Tandy, Ellen Tomlinson Carter, Brenda Travers Satterfield, Lorraine Watkins Phillips and Talma Woods Brayboy. Swing Phi Swing stands for “Sisters With Interests Never Gone”, “Promoting Higher Intelligence,” and “Supporting Women In Need of Growth.” Daring to be different, this organization challenges the norms of what sisterhood means as it goes beyond just a Greek organization, with the organization having over 10,000 active members and over 30 active chapters throughout the nation today.
Before joining this organization, I thought that I could only find sisterhood through joining Greek Life. I had never seen an organization like Swing before, but after stumbling onto the website through their scholarship, I decided to explore a little bit deeper. I spent a lot of time in middle school and beyond that being different, having friends in different circles rather than being put into one particular box. It was why, though I did find common ground with some of my friends, I still felt somewhat out of place in school. Seeing that I could be different and expressive, as well as knowing that there was an organization that challenged tradition similar to myself, I reached out one day, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I met so many wonderful sisters, along with meeting some of my line brothers in Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, and it’s been a surreal experience. Being still a new member of this organization and crossing in the spring of 2024, I’m so thrilled to be able to have such an amazing lifelong sisterhood and continue to serve the community with them.
Sisterhood, to me now, is uplifting, supporting, loving, caring and overall just being able to bring the best in each other as women. It’s more than letters, it’s more than a number, it’s more than your para. It means even if we are miles apart, we are still going to check up on one another. I learned that though you can find sisterhood anywhere, the one that’s best for you will find you, whether that’s through Greek Life, Fellowships, or other organizations. Swing Phi Swing might be a different kind of sisterhood, but it’s one of the best sisterhoods I could ever ask for.
For more information, visit the website at swingphiswing.org
Jasmine Stewart is a Senior Finance Major with a Minor in Business Analytics