AKA — Birmingham City Hall shined green and pink honoring Vice President Kamala Harris and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Last night, on the evening of the Presidential Inauguration, Birmingham’s City Hall shone green and pink in honor of our nation’s first female and Black/South Asian Vice President Kamala Harris and her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), Incorporated.

Birmingham regularly shines lights on city hall to commemorate events and causes. For example, this past fall, the building was lit up with pink lights for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Green and pink are AKA’s colors.

“I am very excited to have a sorority sister who has broken this glass ceiling and attained the office of Vice President,” said Birmingham City Councilor Wardine Alexander who is a member of AKA.

According to Leah Wiggins, President of the local AKA chapter in Birmingham there are four graduate chapters, comprised of AKA women who have finished college and continue their community service and sisterhood. There are about 1000 members region-wide. The sorority is on the campuses of Miles College, UAB and Samford University.

“The women of AKA are entrepreneurs and educators. They are also serving on the frontline in healthcare,” added Wiggins

AKA - Terri Sewell — Alabama Representative Terri Sewell on Vice President Kamala Harris’s right. Pictured – AKA members of congress. Photo via Terri Sewell’s Facebook page

Along with Councilor Alexander, other prominent members include local US Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Birmingham City Attorney Nicole King.

Role Models

The city hall light show topped off a monumental day for both Alexander and Wiggins.

“It was a wonderful day full of hope for our country,” added Wiggins.

Alexander concluded, “With Vice President Harris being the first, now little girls all over the world can see what she has done, especially women of color. It is very exciting for me. Seeing all this, I hope we can all move forward as a country – together.”

Red, White and Blue

bridge lights — Rainbow bridges on I-59/20 near UpTown. Photo via Matthew Niblett for Bham Now

If you enjoyed seeing Birmingham City Hall shine green and pink, check it out January 21-23 will it will light up with red, white and blue lights to welcome the Biden Administration.

It is a pretty cool sight. For more lights, check out the display downtown under 1-59/20.