Two prominent Black sororities, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., have issued public responses to former President Donald J. Trump for his recent remarks criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for speaking at their conventions and characterizing them as a “sorority party.”

On September 11, the morning after Trump had mentioned the “sorority party” during his presidential debate with Harris, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. responded to Mr. Trump’s comments, which were made in reference to their International Grand Boule held in July in Indianapolis. In a statement, the sorority described the event as a “biennial national convention” that serves as a formal business meeting to outline the organization’s programmatic goals and celebrate past achievements.

“Unlike Former President Donald Trump’s statement that the event was a ‘sorority party,’ our International Grand Boule is our sorority’s biennial national convention,” the statement read. “As one of the country’s leading women’s service organizations founded by five Black women, our national convention is key to continuing a legacy of success that proudly began on January 16, 1920 and has positively impacted the lives of over 5 million Americans across the United States.”

Zeta Phi Beta further criticized Mr. Trump’s remarks as “disheartening” and “disrespectful” to the sorority and other historically Black Greek letter organizations, collectively known as the Divine Nine. The statement noted that these organizations have been at the forefront of social action and advocacy efforts benefiting Black Americans, women, and other marginalized groups.

“Former President Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine the credibility of the importance of our national convention is not only disheartening, but also disrespectful to us and the other historically Black Greek Letter Organizations that make up the Divine Nine,” the statement continued. “Collectively, our organizations have been on the forefront of historic social action and change that have helped Black Americans, women, and other disenfranchised communities gain access to the same civil rights that were once legally denied our communities.”

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. issued its own statement last month on August 22, responding to what it described as Mr. Trump’s “unfortunate” remarks. The sorority, which held its 60th Biennial Boule in Houston where Harris addressed attendees, emphasized its contributions to community service and the significant economic and philanthropic impact of its gathering, which generated $10 million in economic activity and more than $550,000 in direct support to the Houston area.

“This event was not a party or ‘unimportant’ as referenced by former President Donald Trump, but an opportunity to highlight our organization’s achievements and reaffirm our commitment to service,” the statement said. “The primary purpose and focus of Divine Nine organizations is to remain committed to community awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural service activities.”

Founded in 1922 at Butler University in Indianapolis, Sigma Gamma Rho has grown into a global organization with over 100,000 members and 500 chapters. The sorority emphasized that its Boule was an opportunity to advance discussions on critical issues such as education, women’s rights, maternal health, mental health, and voting rights.

Both sororities have underscored their commitment to continuing their advocacy and service work despite Mr. Trump’s comments, which they view as an attempt to undermine the legitimacy and seriousness of their missions.

The responses come amid a broader effort by historically Black Greek organizations to mobilize voters and advocate for social justice, a role that has been particularly visible in recent years. Zeta Phi Beta noted that the organization has joined forces with other Divine Nine organizations in a nationwide non-partisan voter mobilization effort.

“Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. continues to work hard toward social, health, and economic justice in the communities around the world we serve,” the sorority stated. “We will not let the hard work and legacy of our members be framed as a ‘sorority party.’”

Both Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho, along with the other seven organizations that comprise the Divine Nine, have long histories of advancing civil rights, social action, and community service, efforts that their leaders say will continue unabated.

In the spin room following the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Philadelphia on Tuesday, theGrio caught up with high-profile Democratic and Republican officials about where they feel the election stands after the prime-time showdown. 

U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., a close friend of Harris and campaign surrogate, told theGrio that while it was clear Trump “lost” the debate, she was bothered by the fact that he did not call Harris by her name, instead opting to call her “she and her.”

“If he can’t respect the person who is the vice president of the United States, he can’t respect the person who is standing right next to him enough to call her by name … Why would the American people … trust him to be the commander in chief?” said Butler. 

During the debate, some American voters got a chance to better know Harris, who is Black and South Asian. The vice president notably did not address her race or gender but did share her personal story of being raised by a single mom who bought their first home when she was a teenager. 

Senator Butler acknowledged that some voters are “Kamala curious” after Harris quickly emerged as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. A recent New York Times poll found that 28% of Americans want to learn more about America’s potential first female president.

Harris also laid out some of her economic policy proposals, including child tax credits, federal funding for first-time homebuyers and tax deductions for small businesses. By contrast, Trump pivoted from the economy to discussing immigration, claiming migrants are taking jobs from Black people.

Harris retorted that Goldman Sachs and the Wharton School of Business back her economic plan. Contrastingly, she pointed out that experts say Trump’s plan would “invite a recession.” 

Former third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, told theGrio while in the spin room that Trump is the better candidate for the economy.

“President Trump is the first president in 40 years that has raised the real wages for the American worker,” Kennedy told theGrio when asked about his father, former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Sr.’s shared desire with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to combat poverty before they were both assassinated.

However, Democrats in the spin room declared Kamala Harris the clear winner of the debate.

Even former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy seemed to intimate as much when asked about the debate. He told theGrio, “I think [Trump] did good for the conditions that were served up.”

After the one-hour and 45-minute debate, Donald Trump surprised reporters with an appearance. The presidential hopeful apparently wanted to spin the narrative that he lost the debate.

A swarm of reporters encircled the 78-year-old former president and lobbed questions as he answered, walking around the large circle. Trump told reporters it was his “best debate” to date.

TheGrio asked Trump, “What do you think about the Black voters? What do you think they saw [tonight]?” The former president responded, “I love the Black voters, and I love them. They love me too.”

Not long after, a reporter asked if the president thought he would lose the Haitian vote after he and his vice presidential running mate, JD Vance, claimed Haitian immigrants were eating dogs in Springfield, Ohio. 

“I mean, I really don’t know. All I do is say the truth. And I lose votes or gain votes, I really don’t care,” said Trump.

During the debate with President Trump, brought up the issue of his false and debunked claims of Haitian migrants eating dogs and cats in Springfield. ABC News debate moderator fact-checked Trump, pointing out that the city manager reported thatc claim is not true.

Another question followed from Dr. Yusef Salaam, a Harlem, New York city councilman, as well as a member of the Exonerated Five. The group of four Black and one Latino boys at the time were wrongly imprisoned for the assault of a Central Park jogger. Trump took out a full page ad, calling for the death penalty. After years of imprisonment, the five men were released and found innocent due to DNA evidence. Trump has refused to apologize.

On Tuesday night, Salaam attempted to confront Trump. 

“Mr. President I am a member of the Exonerated Five, Dr. Yusef Salaam,” said the city council member. Trump then replied, “Oh, are you with me?” Salaam replied flatly, “No!”

Salaam recounted the moment, saying Trump “put his hand up and walked away.” Before the debate, he told theGrio that being a Harris surrogate was a full-circle moment for him.

Salaam said his vote against Trump is personal, but it’s also about choosing “the best candidate” – which he believes is Harris – and preserving America’s democracy.

Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit, was also in the spin room. The former Democrat is a surrogate for Trump, who as president commuted his 28-year sentence in 2021 after Kilpatrick served seven years in prison for corruption and racketeering while in office.

Kilpatrick said supporting Trump in the 2024 election is personal for him to support Trump and that politics is personal for everyone. However, he acknowledged for that for Yusef and the other four members of the of the Exonerated Five, it’s also personal for them. 

“But as the same brothers’ experience … I experienced being in solitary confinement for 225 days, being treated like a dog, being selectively and manipulatively, and I mean, just horribly prosecuted in a system that’s unjust,” Kilpatrick told theGrio. “And then you have somebody [Trump] that comes and gets you.” 

He continued, “You also have a personal notion that this person cares about what’s going on, and then championing the First Step Act and getting more than almost 40,000 people out of prison. It wasn’t just Kwame Kilpatrick. 

Throughout the election cycle, polling has indicated that Trump has seen a small but noticeable increase in support among Black male voters. 

Kilpatrick said that in Michigan, Trump’s Black male support is about 9%, which he said is up from seven percent. He added, “It goes up when you have issues that matter to real people.”

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a staunch Trump supporter, told theGrio, “Personally, I do believe the numbers [Black male voters for Trump] are increasing.” 

In response to Donalds, Salaam said, “I think that people have been hoodwinked and bamboozled and run a muck just like our good leader Malcom X said.”

The impassioned Harlem city councilman emphasized, “We need to make sure that we understand the truth about things … as we rely on word of mouth.” 

Salaam implored Black voters to do their “research” and remain committed to “reading” the truth.

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HBO has officially greenlit a new comedy series created by, starring, and executive produced by Rachel Sennott. Following her breakout role in the critically acclaimed film Shiva Baby and her success as a co-writer and star of the summer hit Bottoms, Sennott has garnered significant attention for her unique comedic voice and talent.

The pilot for the series was executive produced by Emma Barrie, known for HBO’s Barry, Aida Rodgers, also from Barry, and Lorene Scafaria, who directed the pilot and is recognized for her work on Succession. Their combined expertise has shaped the pilot into what HBO describes as a compelling new addition to their comedy lineup.

Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President of HBO and Max Comedy Programming, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “Rachel is as hilarious as she is charming. With Lorene and Emma, she has captured the comedy and the beauty that happens when friendships collide with our best-laid plans. We’re thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with this talented team and this exquisite cast.”

Sennott also shared her excitement about the project: “I’m so grateful to Amy and HBO for the opportunity to make this show and the wonderful team that has been a part of creating it. And I’m going to come up with a title soon I promise!”

The series explores the dynamics of a codependent friend group reuniting after time apart, dealing with how ambition, new relationships, and personal growth have changed them. The cast includes Odessa A’zion (Sitting in Bars with Cake, Grand Army), Jordan Firstman (Rotting in the Sun, Dave), Miles Robbins (Blockers, Old Dads), and True Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem).

The pilot episode, crafted under the guidance of Sennott, Barrie, Rodgers, and Scafaria, sets the stage for what promises to be a standout addition to HBO’s roster of innovative comedies.

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It was announced today that Chris Rey, JD the International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has been elected President of the NPHC Council of Presidents and Dr. Stacie NC Grant the International President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has been elected its Vice Chairwoman.

“Congratulations to our International President and CEO, Dr. Stacie NC Grant and Hon. Bro. Chris V. Rey, J.D., on their election to the respective positions of Vice Chairwoman and Chairman of the NPHC Council of Presidents!” Zeta Phi Beta captioned a post with the following graphic. “We celebrate this outstanding achievement with our brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated and continue to Elevate the Bond!”

Phi Beta Sigma also shared the graphic to social media with the following caption. “Congratulations to Hon. Bro. Chris V. Rey, J.D., on his election as the Chairman and Dr. Stacie NC Grant on her role as Vice Chairwoman of the NPHC Council of Presidents. Phi Beta Sigma celebrates this outstanding achievement alongside our esteemed sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Our united Blue and White bond inspires leadership and collaboration across the globe.”

We at Watch The Yard would like to congratulate both leaders on their new positions and are excited to see the work that they do at the helm of the NPHC Council of Presidents.

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio

Black people are never “amazing” and are rarely “awesome.” 

While they might feel fantastic, Black elders — especially in the South — seldom admit it. Even at their emotional and physical finest, they are often reluctant to jinx their current state of equanimity. So, when asked how they are doing, they often respond with a locale-dependent, technicolor expression that describes a status somewhere between “I can’t complain” (I’m doing rather well, thank you) and “I can’t call it” (things aren’t so bad). At best, they are “aight.”

In Georgia, someone who’s having a perfectly reasonable day is “just making it do what it do.” If a New Yorker’s current state of being is sufficiently adequate, they might tell you they are “just maintainin’.” Aside from: “The white man ain’t killed me yet,” there is a popular colloquialism that is commonly used among Black South Carolinians (and probably other Southerners; I haven’t seen the flash polling data so I can’t call it) that perfectly describes Kamala Harris’ presidential debate performance: 

“Just holdin’ it in the road.”

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 According to the Washington Post, “Harris dominated Trump.” The pundits at Politico concluded that “Harris won the debate — and it wasn’t close.” My colleague Toure said, “Kamala wiped the floor with him.” Even political novices are hailing Harris’ debate performance as a mollywhopping that hasn’t been witnessed since a Montgomery, Ala., riverboat tourist turned a folding chair into Thor’s hammer. 

She was fine. 

To be fair, those who contend that Harris beat Trump like he stole something (an election, perhaps) are not wrong. For most of the debate, he was angry, flailing and flustered; she was composed and on message. Trump vomited vile, racist, absurd conspiracy theories like Joe Rogan had a baby with Marjorie Taylor Greene while Harris stuck to her talking points. She was smart, articulate and, more importantly, presidential. Conversely, there is only one way to encapsulate the dotardly juvenile belligerent incompetence that defined Harris’ outmatched opponent’s behavior: 

Donald Trump was Donald Trump. 

To paraphrase the late great orator Dennis Green, “They were who we thought they were.” Harris is a professional politician who currently holds the second-highest-ranking job in American government. For the entirety of the two decades that Harris has served in elected office, no one has credibly accused her of being unqualified or unprepared. She figuratively stepped into the ring with Trump and delivered a technical knockout, but her debate performance was not “awesome” or “amazing”; it was Kamala Harris-like. She performed like a prosecutor or a senator or a politician who has never lost a race in her entire career. She looked like a president of the United States debating an entitled, inept, racist, hyperbolic liar who makes up for his political ineptitude by being racist and lying a lot.

Still, Harris’ performance was not flawless. She adeptly dodged questions she didn’t want to answer. When asked about race, she only offered boilerplate answers. She glossed over her position on funding a genocide in Palestine. She didn’t dismantle Trump’s idiotic economic argument that foreign governments pay tariffs, not American consumers. She ultimately acted like a professional politician.

Considering her ill-informed opponent, it is likely that Kamala Harris understood she didn’t have to focus on policy or counter Trump’s ever-shifting, sometimes nonsensical political positions. Anyone who has studied Donald Trump’s political career knows that he’s not quite the “stable genius” he cosplays to ear bandage-wearing rallygoers in wraparound shades. Just as a Ferrari owner doesn’t have to worry about losing a race to an Uber driver in a Nissan Altima, voters understand that Trump’s entire political approach is like a kindergartner playing bumper cars in a state fair parking lot. She knew the only way she could lose was if she crashed her car. 

Ultimately, Harris’ resounding victory probably didn’t change the minds of most voters. Neither logic, policy or the ability to form complete sentences are likely to move MAGA voters who believe that Haitian immigrants with jobs and access to grocery stores are hunting cats to slow-cook in their Walmart crockpots. And since Harris and Trump have been candidates on the national political landscape office for nearly a decade (Trump as president and Harris for the U.S. Senate), even the mythical undecided voters weren’t waiting to see who won a two-hour rhetorical fencing match to choose a side in the most important presidential race in modern history. 

This was not a political debate. It was a television show. 

And yes, Kamala Harris’ debate performance was still important. Unlike Donald Trump, Kamala Harris does not have the privilege of gliding through life while radiating incompetence, ignorance and public incoherence. To emerge victorious in November, she has to do what presidential candidates are supposed to do. She has to be articulate and calm and factually correct when she appears at debates that don’t matter. She has to give intelligible answers during sit-down interviews with mainstream media outlets. Harris can’t raise her voice or interrupt white people or spin around like a coked-up Tasmanian devil when she is challenged. Because she is Black, a woman and a presidential candidate, she has to be reasonable and rational and presidential every second of every day, including last night’s debate. 

Fortunately, Kamala Harris actually is all those things.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter that Harris’ opponent is a feeble-minded, scatterbrained, wannabe dictator who is the living, breathing embodiment of not presidential. Despite Trump being dragged like a Black kid showing out at a grocery store, it is still almost guaranteed that most of the white people who witnessed the nationally televised spanking will still vote for the spoiled, tantrum-throwing crybaby. Make it make sense. 

For most non-white people in America, excellence is a requirement, but it does not automatically translate to success. Being awesome does not guarantee victory. Still, if you are Black in America, you can’t complain; you can only maintain. Ultimately, last night, Kamala Harris did what all Black people do. So, while I understand why people rated her debate performance as “excellent” and “awesome,” I also know how America is doing.

And some of us are just holding it in the road. 

Michael Harriot is an economist, cultural critic and championship-level Spades player. His New York Times bestseller Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America is available everywhere books are sold.

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BET announced today that its highly acclaimed series,” Tyler Perry’s Sistas”, will return for its eighth season on Wednesday, October 16 at 9 PM ET/PT.

In the season premiere, “Dead Man Walking”, Andi and her tight-knit circle of friends grapple with the aftermath of a devastating event. As secrets are revealed and tensions rise, the group must navigate the complexities of their relationships and confront the consequences of their actions.

Created, executive produced, directed, and written by Tyler Perry, “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” has consistently been a ratings powerhouse, earning the distinction of being the #1 series on ALL TV for Black Adults 18-49 for two consecutive years. The show’s popularity extends to other key Black demographics, making it a dominant force in cable television.

BET’s strategic partnership with Tyler Perry Studios has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful shows, including “Sistas,” “The Oval,” “All The Queen’s Men,” and “Zatima.” These series have collectively established BET as a leading destination for Black viewers seeking compelling and authentic storytelling.

As the eighth season unfolds, viewers can expect to be captivated by the intricate plotlines, complex characters, and emotional depth that have made “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” a fan favorite. The series’ ability to blend humor, drama, and social commentary has resonated with audiences of all ages.

Don’t miss the premiere of “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” Season 8 on Wednesday, October 16 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her.

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Gleeful Democrats are praising Vice President Kamala Harris after Tuesday’s presidential debate as they and voters polled shortly afterward overwhelmingly said she bested former President Donald Trump.

The Democratic presidential nominee took Trump to task on his racist history, embrace of white violence and hate, and “weak” record as president.

“Donald Trump was being embarrassed in ways that nobody has ever embarrassed him before,” said Mandela Barnes, senior fellow at People For the American Way. 

Harris, who often looked directly at Trump and seemingly smiled in pity, clearly got under the Republican presidential nominee’s skin. 

“Part of it was him just tripping over his own shoelaces and her just watching it happen, I think, had an even greater impact than ridiculing and mocking him for it,” said Barnes, a former Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin.

During the 90-minute debate, Trump was asked by ABC moderator David Muir about his remarks at NABJ in July that Vice President Harris happened to “turn Black.”

Trump stumbled throughout his response, initially saying, “I don’t care what she is … I couldn’t care less. Whatever she wants to be is OK with me, but those were your words.” But then he added, “I mean, all I can say is, I read where she was not Black, that she put out, and I’ll say that. And then I read that she was Black.”

In response, Harris chastised Trump as a “tragedy” and someone who has “consistently over the course of his career, attempted to use race to divide the American people.”

The vice president then went through a series of examples of Trump’s racist record, including refusing to rent his properties to Black families, buying a newspaper ad calling for the death penalty for a group of innocent Black and Latino boys known as the Central Park Five and pushing the racist conspiracy that Barack Obama, America’s first Black president, was not born in the United States.

“I think the American people want better than that. Want better than this … We don’t want a leader who is constantly trying to have Americans point their fingers at each other,” said Harris. 

She continued, “Regardless of people’s color or the language their grandmother speaks, we all have the same dreams and aspirations and want a president who invests in those — not in hate and division.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told theGrio that Harris’ debate performance was “remarkable.”

Given the small but significant number of Black male voters who say they are considering casting their ballots for Donald Trump, Clyburn said it was “very important” for Vice President Harris to take him to task on his racism.

“I’m really puzzled as to why so many African-American men, to know that history, …  could just ignore all of that,” said the longtime congressman and known presidential kingmaker.

“Omarosa [Manigault Newman], who worked for him on his [White House] staff, he looked in the TV camera and referred to her as a dog,” Clyburn recalled. “Come on! How can you vote for somebody who would say that about a Black woman?”

Harris also chastised Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol after refusing to concede his loss in the 2020 election against Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The mostly white mob (some armed and wearing tactical gear) physically attacked law enforcement and broke into the Capitol building, resulting in deaths.  

The vice president connected Trump’s role in Jan. 6 to the 2017 violence in Charlottesville following a rally of white supremacists who chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” She also recalled Trump telling the Proud Boys, a white militia group, to “stand back and stand by” after refusing to condemn them.

“We’re not going back. It’s time to turn the page,” said Harris.

Clyburn said plainly of Trump, “This guy is a reincarnation of Adolf Hitler,” adding, “This guy is racist. He’s antisemitic, and nobody can look at the facts and come to any other conclusion.”

Barnes said Harris connecting the dots between Jan. 6 and Charlottesville was skillful and necessary. 

“The visuals are certainly seared into people’s minds,” he explained. “Connecting those visuals to a person who has helped incite that sort of violence, reminding people what it looks like, what it feels like, and what it can devolve into, helps, I think, make the case.”

Barnes added, “It was very lawyerly, the way she handled it.”

“Kamala Harris was detailed, precise, and thoughtful throughout this all-important debate. She took it seriously,” said Brandon Weathersby, presidential campaigns communications director at American Bridge 21st Century, a pro-Democrat research firm.  

He continued, “Donald Trump lost his mind on national television, and we all watched it happen. And this is the same guy that American Bridge has been watching in his rallies for the past two years since he launched his 2024 campaign. We’re not surprised it was this bad.”

Harris campaign co-chair and former U.S. Congressman Cedric Richmond told theGrio that Trump is “thin-skinned” and “stuck in the past.” 

“People got a chance tonight to see his character, his lack of values, and they got a chance to contrast it with hers. And I think it was a good night,” said Richmond. 

Clyburn similarly told theGrio of Harris, “What she did needed to be done.” He said Harris, as a Black and Asian woman, had to overcome the misogynistic perception that a woman in America can’t lead.

“I never knew why this was the case, but historically people have always referred to women as the weaker sex. That [Tuesday night] was a burden that she had to overcome,” said Clyburn. 

But after Tuesday night, he said, “The American people will decide that it’s time for us to have the first female president of the United States.”

Richmond said Harris showed American voters that “she’s ready to be commander in chief tomorrow.” 

“I think that that was just a great demonstration of … presidential vision, presidential temperament and the character and the upbringing to focus on the American people.”

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