00:00Hello. What's going on, Essence? Hello, hello. I'm Revae Ruff. I'm an entertainment editor
00:19here at Essence, and I am so excited to talk to the next lady coming to the stage right
00:23now. Now, how many AKAs do we have in the building? All right. Y'all loud and proud. I love it.
00:31All right. Well, coming to the stage next is Deborah Riley Draper, writer and director of
00:3620 Pearls, which is an amazing documentary chronicling the story of Alpha Kappa Alpha
00:40sorority. Let's take a look at the trailer right now. In 1908, nine young ladies, some of them
00:51were still teenagers. Started Alpha Kappa Alpha. It would create a network for black women
00:57of like minds who thought of this. In 1908, can you imagine that? Alpha Kappa Alpha has done
01:06some impressive work across the years, from the Mississippi Health Project to the councils.
01:11It's not just a sorority in pink and green colors.
01:15I'm a fourth generation, AKA. I just think about the history. It's just the R-9.
01:22It's a reminder that the legacy lives and lives for the generations to follow. It speaks
01:38for itself. It speaks for itself.
01:45All right. We have Deborah Riley Draper coming to the stage. Make some noise for her.
01:51Ski-wee!
01:57Ski-wee!
02:00Thank you so much for being here, Deborah. How are you feeling today?
02:03I'm feeling great, and I see all of my beautiful sorors out there, so I'm super excited about
02:08it.
02:10Awesome. Now, let's talk a little bit about this documentary. Now, Alpha Kappa Alpha has
02:14been around for over 100 years of service and sisterhood. What made you think it was important
02:20to tell this story now, this way?
02:22It is critically important that we tell our own stories. As African American women, we
02:28must center ourselves in books, history books, films, and every part of media we can, because
02:35we have to build an environment where we are always centered and amplified, and our stories
02:40are told. For 114 years, Alpha Kappa Alpha has been a part of American history, so it's important
02:47that we know that, and that we all share that, and we celebrate that as black women, because
02:51the film is about all black women, whether they're not in a sorority or not.
02:55Absolutely, and we appreciate that so much. Now, can you tell me a little bit about the
02:59process that took this from idea to documentary?
03:03It was really crazy, because we decided to do this film during the pandemic, and we had to
03:09write a 40-page COVID protocol so that we could actually shoot and protect our cast and our
03:15crew, and really be able to go to the archives, many of which were closed, and retrieve 114 years
03:22worth of archival material and history and research, and contextualize that, not just for AKA history,
03:29but again, for world history.
03:32Thank you so much for that. Now, what was the most rewarding part about seeing this film come
03:36to life in this way?
03:38The most rewarding part was I learned a lot, not only about our sorority, but about history,
03:44and how black women have really been a major part of the major movements and moments of
03:49this country, and it's overlooked. So, understanding our role as creators to fight black erasure
03:56was really enlightening for me, and understanding the importance of ensuring we really shine
04:01a light on what we do.
04:03Amazing. Now, what's something that people who don't know, say, for instance, you're not
04:07a sorority member. People who don't know this history, what are they going to learn from
04:11this film about your sorority?
04:13What people will learn about this sorority and all sororities and fraternities is that
04:19this is about black culture. This is a part of our culture. It's integral to the way we've
04:25shaped civil rights, the way we've shaped public policy, the way we've shaped medicine, and all
04:31of the aspects of our country as we, together as a country, together as black people, fight
04:36to ensure we have a place. These institutions, as well as hundreds of other institutions like
04:41Essence, continue to ensure that we're seen, heard, and amplified.
04:46Thank you so much. Well, Zebra, it's been a pleasure to speak with you today. Do you have
04:51any last words to tell people about your film and the process of making it?
04:55Well, you know, I think it's super fun for all of the Alpha Kappa Alpha women in the audience
05:00right now. Show yourself some love first, Kiwi.
05:03I think it's a big thank you to the founders of the sorority, a big thank you to black women
05:12who may or may not have been in the sorority but gave birth to women who were, men who married,
05:18women that are, and that we together remember whether we are Greek or not Greek, our fight is
05:24the same and we must unify together and continue to do that and support one another always.
05:29Awesome. Thank you so much, Debra. My pleasure. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you all for being
05:35such a great audience today. Can we hear the AKs make some noise one more time? Love it. Thank you all. Have a good one.
05:54All right.
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