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From The National President:
“Iota Women Of Vision
Committed To Action And Global Connection In The Twenty-First
Century”
 My
dear Sorors,
This period in history, 2008, is replete with
awesome challenges. It is a period for women to stand up and be
seen, to be counted, and to galvanize to ensure that the world knows
that we are the consciousness of the nation. In unity, we, as
leaders, are empowered to exercise our abilities to prove that “the
strength of the nation is based on the consciousness of women”. It
is pretext for us to challenge the innumerable inequities that exist
throughout the universe for African Americans.
We are uniquely positioned at this moment in history to not only
adamantly voice our frustration at the ills in our society but to
act to effect change. In the year 2008, we are still faced with the
continuing pervasive struggle for justice and equality for African
Americans, particularly the African American woman. We must break
the “glass ceiling”, a barrier that exists so fervently that it
prevents an entire race of people from achieving a gainful place in
the history of which they have played an indubitable, prolific role.
It is an infection and it is an undeniably profitable American
pastime.
There is the culture of disrespect. We must act to combat the
blatant demeaning and denigrating of the African American woman in
all phases of communication through whatever means necessary and
legal. We cannot continue to be on the receiving end of such a
“monster” perpetuated by both gender and race. We must make major
decisions now to effect change, and only through commitment and
action can change occur.
Of equal magnitude are the disparities in health care, employment,
education, economics, corporate management, etc. that must be
challenged and changed. Let us, through fortified unity, maximize
our efforts to target our energies as investments where these
large-scale disinvestments exist. Through organizational and
collaborative networking, we are obligated to coalesce and develop
agendas that will significantly impact the status quo in this, the
Twenty-First Century. The challenges are ours.
Sisterly with love,
Doris
Doris Browning Austin,
Ph.D.
20th National President
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
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