Twenty Pearls is an emotion-filled film that embodies the voices of Black women and a robust history of sisterhood. Director Deborah Riley Draper digs deep into the history of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the primary African-American sorority, and the impact this organization has had on society in its 114 years of existence. The film highlights the creation and meaning of AKA’s colours and hymns, and uncovers the general meaning of their motto “To be supreme in service to all mankind.”

“I desired to capture it in essentially the most delicate way possible, but tell the trajectory from nine women to 325,000 women in only 114 years and all the things in American history that were shifted and transformed due to presence of this sisterhood.” Draper said at a screening of Twenty Pearls throughout the inaugural film festival held during this 12 months’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture. “Innovation is a component of who we’re and I wanted to indicate that.”

Forged members Figo Reilly and Dr. Yolanda Page also shared their personal experiences being a component of the documentary and the way useful this story is for each current and prospective sorority members to grasp the legacy behind the organization.

“I actually have seen this film five times and I actually have had tears in my eyes each time,” said Reilly. “It really boils all the way down to the legacy and the impact because we’re the legacy, we’re the impact.”

“I believe this film is a tremendous representation of our sorority, but in addition the HBCU experience.” said Dr. Page. “It will give students the experience of leadership and connecting with other students which is able to help them grow and blossom.”

The presence of Twenty Pearls throughout the annual fest instilled a palpable sense of pride in ESSENCE Film Festival attendees who showed as much as the screening wearing various mixtures of the organization’s traditional pink and green colours. Viewers were also inspired by the courage of the ladies featured within the film and the various barriers they broke for generations of Black ladies and men to return.