First Black Woman to Integrate OU's Greek System Weighs in on SAE Racism

Nia Hill, the first Black woman to integrate OU’s Greek system, is weighing in on the racial chant sung by fellow Sooners.


In 1989, she rushed at OU along with a few of her high school friends, but dropped out before invitations were handed out.

It was the next year when she pledged Kappa Alpha Theta and made Sooner history.

“I was in the public eye. Literally everyday there were stories and conversations about me,” Hill said.

She faced racism throughout college, but had her sisters to stick up for her.

“I’m proud that I did. I still am close with a lot of my sorority sisters and built lifetime relationships,” Hill said.

She thought more than 20 years later things would be different, but heartbreak when she saw the video of SAE members participating in a racist chant.

“Just saddened, obviously it was personally hurtful,” Hill said. “When this kind of thing is shown, and you’re like wait a minute I’ve gone around the world bragging about the University of Oklahoma and I don’t want that to be the reflection that people sort of take from it.”

That is why she is not responding with anger, but asking for change.

Nia says the root of the problem is ignorance, and she feels if people knew their history, they would be more accepting.

“While this is a tragedy I would really like to make this an opportunity because otherwise, you know, it’s just pain,” Hill said.



Kimberly Foster is the founder and editor of For Harriet. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster

college Greek life OU racism