The Links Explained

The Links, Incorporated
Established:-->
Founders:
  • Sarah Strickland Scott
  • Margaret Roselle Hawkins
Founding Location:Philadelphia
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Type:Social and service organization
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Focus:-->
Headquarters:Washington, D.C.
Product:-->
Method:-->
Field:-->
Membership:16,000
Membership Year:2022
Languages:-->
Owners:-->
Publication:-->
Parent Organisation:-->
Former Name:-->

The Links is an American, invitation-only, social and service organization of prominent black women in the United States. Founded in 1946, it is the largest nationwide organization of black women in the United States. Members include Kamala Harris, Marian Wright Edelman, and the late Betty Shabazz.

As of 2021, there were 16,000 members in nearly 300 chapters. The organization was founded in Philadelphia, but since 2022, it is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

History

The Links, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation,[1] was founded in 1946 in Philadelphia by seven prominent black women.[2] [3] Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins[4] recruited Frances Atkinson, Katie Green, Marion Minton, Lillian Stanford, Myrtle Manigault Stratton, Lillian Wall and Dorothy Wright. All of the women were members of prominent black professional families of Philadelphia; six were the wives of physicians and the seventh the wife of a bank president. All had bachelor's or master's degrees from elite universities, and had been active in other elite black social organizations. These organisations included Jack and Jill and Alpha Kappa Alpha as well as other prominent organizations like the N.A.A.C.P., the League of Women Voters, and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company. Most were members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The group's name was suggested by Wall as a symbol of enduring friendship.[5]

Other cities soon created chapters. By 1949 there were ten chapters. By 1952 there were fifty-six. In 2008 there were approximately 12,000 members in 273 chapters in 42 states[6] Greater Detroit had four chapters in 2021.[7]

Over the decades, the group transformed itself from "a group of women married to influential men, to a group of women who became influential themselves", according to one member. The evolution caused "clear conflict between the old guard and the new guard", according to another.

Organization

As of 2021, there were 16,000 members in 292 chapters. In, 1999 each chapter membership was limited to no more than 55 women. The headquarters has been located in Washington, D.C., since at least 1985.[8]

Leadership

As of 2024, the organization has had eighteen national presidents.[9]

Exclusivity

Women interested in joining any of the local chapters must be nominated by a current member; if a chapter has 55 members, no more may be accepted until one leaves. Admission is "extremely competitive", according to Lawrence Otis Graham, author of Our Kind of People (1999). One member of a Washington, D.C. chapter describes having spent "twelve years of strategizing, party-giving, and brownnosing to get into this group." Most women do not get into Links until they are in their 40s or older, and most remain members until they die.

Links has been criticized for its exclusivity; one member noted that while a woman could be nominated by any other member, for practical intents those admitted are "usually those who know at least half of the chapter's membership". Social, professional or economic prominence within a city's black population also may help get a candidate admitted, as members with such backgrounds help add to the chapter's prestige.

Work

The organization requires each member to accumulate many volunteer hours. The organization raises funds for a variety of charities and causes such as the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The national core focuses include education, health, youth services, art, domestic legislation and international welfare.

Chapters typically also hold multiple social events for a city's black elites, such as debutante cotillions, fashion shows, gala fund-raisers, balls, luncheons and formal parties.

Importance

According to Graham, The Links is the "most elite organization" for prominent American black women, and is both the largest and the most influential. Membership in the organization, he writes, signals to other prominent blacks that "your social background, lifestyle, physical appearance, and family's academic and professional accomplishments passed muster".

Los Angeles PBS station KCET called The Links "the most prominent" of the black women's clubs.[10] Rolling Stone called it "one of the most influential and prestigious".[11]

John Lewis called The Links a “distinguished organization of outstanding community service and influence”.

Notable members

Members include philanthropists, college presidents, politicians, activists, judges, doctors, bankers, lawyers, executives, educators, and the wives of well-known public figures.[12] Notable members include:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Griffin. Anne-Marea. February 17, 2022. Black History Month and the Power of Remembrance. 2022-02-23. UNICEF USA. en.
  2. Book: Graham, Lawrence Otis. Our kind of people. 2014. HarperCollins e-Books. 978-0-06-187081-1. [Place of publication not identified]. 877899803.
  3. Web site: The Links, Incorporated American organization Britannica. February 7, 2022. Britannica.com. en.
  4. Web site: November 9, 2021. The Links, Incorporated Celebrates 75 Years Of Excellence. BET.
  5. Book: Organizing Black America : an encyclopedia of African American associations . 2001 . Garland . Nina Mjagkij . 0-8153-2309-3 . New York . 308 . 44720533.
  6. http://www.linksinc.org/about.shtml About the Links, Inc.
  7. Web site: Talley. Scott. June 26, 2021. The Links, Inc., 'committed to service in the community' in Detroit. February 7, 2022. Detroit Free Press. en.
  8. Web site: Farr. Stephanie. November 7, 2021. Smith Memorial Playground gets $25,000 donation from The Links, Inc., a service organization founded in Philly. February 9, 2022. Philadelphia Inquirer. en.
  9. Web site: admin . Leadership . 2024-07-18 . Links . en-US.
  10. Web site: Bythewood-Porter. Taylor. July 22, 2021. The Links, Incorporated: How African American Debutantes Shaped a New Vision of Black Womanhood. February 7, 2022. KCET. en.
  11. McFadden. Syreeta. July 1, 2021. Meet the Women Bringing Weed to the Deep South. February 7, 2022. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  12. News: August 22, 2020. America's black upper class and Black Lives Matter. The Economist. July 21, 2021.
  13. Web site: Hannah Atkins Obituary (2010) - Oklahoman . Legacy.com . 2021-01-20.
  14. Web site: April 20, 2019. Civil Rights Icon John Lewis Lauds The Links, Incorporated and Issues Voting Rights Call to Action. February 9, 2022. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. en.
  15. Web site: 2018-01-03 . Keisha Lance Bottoms sworn in as Atlanta mayor . 2022-02-15 . WTXL . en.
  16. Web site: Houston Chapter of The Links Chapter Members .
  17. Web site: Pitts. Myron B.. Myron B. Pitts: Sen. Kamala Harris, VP-elect, shines light on The Links. February 7, 2022. The Fayetteville Observer. en-US.
  18. Web site: Collection: Papers of Mary Gibson Hundley, 1910-1985 . 2022-02-25 . hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu.
  19. News: 1960-07-07. Many Lavish Social Events Highlight Links' Twelfth National Assembly. 7. California Eagle. 2022-02-11. Newspapers.com.
  20. Web site: 2021-05-10 . Meharry Medical College Ventures Names Dr. Veronica Mallett President and CEO . 2023-08-22 . www.nashvillemedicalnews.com . en.
  21. Web site: Annette R. March-Grier's Worldwide Profile. www.worldwidebranding.com. 2020-04-20.
  22. https://www.parthenonlinks.org/officers-members "Charter Members"
  23. News: Protecting Public Safety with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw. en-US. Washington Post. February 7, 2022. 0190-8286.
  24. Web site: Robinson, Jo Ann Gibson Encyclopedia.com. February 9, 2022. www.encyclopedia.com.
  25. Web site: About Angela Rye . 2022-02-15 . diversity.gatech.edu.
  26. Web site: Public Policy. 2022-01-21. Tami Sawyer. en.
  27. Book: Moore, Gina Ruffin . Cincinnati . 2007 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-0-7385-5144-9 . en.
  28. Web site: Yvonne Walker Taylor, Educator born. 2022-02-13. African American Registry. en.
  29. Web site: 1996. The Links, Incorporated, 30th National Assembly, July 1996: Celebrating 50 Years, 1946–1996. February 9, 2022. Thirtieth National Assembly of Links, Inc., 1996, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. English.
  30. Web site: Chapter History. February 9, 2022. Central New Jersey (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. en-US.