“Something greater than myself”: Black sororities as exemplars of cultural wealth

Black sororities and fraternities provide critical support networks, leadership development, and community engagement within Black communities. Historically, these organizations advanced civil rights and Black feminist movements, shaped sociopolitical discourse, and cultivated spaces for collective activism and resistance. Despite these contributions, Black Greek-letter organizations remain vulnerable to perceptions of exclusivity, while limited scholarship centers Black women sorority members’ lived experiences. Guided by Black Feminist frameworks, this study examines Black sorority life as a form of cultural wealth within and beyond higher education. Through the perspectives of six Black sorority members, we examine cultural and generational orientations to sorority membership and its influence on enrollment, leadership, and well-being. Constructed through Sisterwork, this paper positions Black sorority life as an enduring source of cultural wealth that resists oppression and intersectional marginalization. Findings underscore Black women sorority members’ contributions to kinship, legacy, social change, community engagement, and Black futures.