black women
Singer Brandy becomes an honorary AKA
By Nigel Boys
Thirty-five-year old Rhythm and Blues artist and actress, Brandy Rayana Norwood, is following in her mother’s footsteps after she was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as an honorary member, during their 66th Boule ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Brandy’s mother, Sonja Norwood, who was initiated into the Beta Psi chapter of the organization at Southern University, went along with her daughter to the event which celebrated the chapter’s 106th year of sisterhood.
After the induction ceremony, Brandy took to Instagram and posted a picture of herself and her mother with the following caption:
“Today was a very special day. I became an honorary member of #AlphaKappAlpha! I made this very special lady proud. @sonjanorwood – My moms legacy as an #AKA continues. Love to all of my #Sorors #sisterhood #ethics #strength #class #leadership #intellect #power #LOVE.”
Brandy now joins fellow R&B songstress Alicia Keys, who is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and 90s R&B singer Montell Jordan, who is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Along with Brandy, Senator Z.C. Allyson Maynard Gibson and writer, producer, director and distributor of independent films, Ava DuVernay, were also given honorary memberships into the sisterhood.
Brandy was born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in a musical family in Carson, California, where she enrolled in performing arts schools and provided the backing vocals for various teenage groups.
She is also the older sister of the 33-year-old, singer, songwriter, song producer and actor, William Ray Norwood Jr., more commonly known by his stage name “Ray J,” the former boyfriend of Kim Kardashian.
The 90s singer, who is probably best known for her hits “I Wanna Be Down,” and “The Boy is Mine,” took some time out of the spotlight when she was involved in a car accident in 2006, which led to the death of a woman. However, she came right back into the limelight with her album “Two Eleven” in 2012.
