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Delta Sigma Theta Prepares Young Women to Be “Pearls of Perfection”

Published

11 years ago

May 8, 2014

One by one, nearly a dozen 16- and 17-year-old girls stood at the podium to declare how wonderful their mothers are and to express how their Moms have helped them blossom into smart, powerful young ladies.

“I simply love my Mom’s courage,” said Klarc Abrams, a 16-year-old junior at St. Mary’s High School in Berkeley before she introduced her mother Gina. “I know with this courage that she’s instilled that I can do anything.”

As the young ladies spoke, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“It is important that you look at your mothers’ strength,” said Darrylyn Z. Swift, president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.’s Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter told the teens during a Mother-Daughter Tea event on May 4. “Your mothers have lived the lives that you’re trying to live. Learn from their pearls of wisdom.”

Swift’s reference to pearls was intentional because the 12 girls are being polished, poised and prepared to become “Pearls of Perfection” through their participation in the sorority’s debutante program.

Nearly 100 women and young ladies in floral attire with hats, and some sporting pastel gloves, attended the Mother-Daughter Tea at the Crowne Plaza in Concord.

It was the first public speaking event for the young ladies as part of their multi-faceted training program on the road to becoming refined young ladies. The girls represent a cross-section of the Bay Area.

They are all high school juniors. Some are athletic, some are shy, others are the life of the party. Some travel from as far as Stockton and Vacaville to participate in the monthly workshops and events.

“We realize that these young ladies are the future – future leaders, doctors, lawyers and presidents. And we’re living up to our mission as members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to both give back to the community and to support the growth and development of these young ladies,” said Swift.

“We also get to touch the lives of young men because we include the 12 debutantes’ escorts in various workshops and events. This is a beautiful learning experience for both our young women and young men. “

The Pearls of Perfection program began in with the goal of giving a chance to young ladies to engage in etiquette and social graces workshops with an additional emphasis on college readiness, Swift said. The program is not all work, the young ladies travel together, they have fun together and they are already forming lifetime bonds.

The yearlong program includes workshops on etiquette, life skills enhancement, college preparation and community involvement. The debutantes have also toured several University of California campuses. They will also participate in a talent and fashion show in September, a Father-Daughter social, and a community service project in December.

The program culminates with a huge Debutante Cotillion in January 2015. Then the program begins again for the 2015-16 season with a new set of debutantes – three of whom are already participating this year as “Ladies in Waiting.”

“We want to continue the program every year so that we can reach as many young people as possible,” Swift said.

For more information about the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter’s Debutante and Program and Cotillion and how to apply and participate please “like” the Facebook page – Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter Debutante Program or check the website at www.ccacdebutante.com.

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

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5 days ago

November 12, 2024

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Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

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1 week ago

November 9, 2024

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.