Black Sorority Holds the Mother of All Banquets

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the nation’s oldest Greek-letter organization for black women, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in Washington. To mark the occasion the Mattel toy company distributed a new Barbie Doll dressed in a long evening gown reflecting the sorority’s colors.

At the conclusion of the centennial celebration the sorority held a banquet at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The sorority claims that the banquet was the largest sit-down dinner held at any convention in history. More than 17,600 guests were served. Over 300 cooks prepared three tons of beef filet, and more than two tons of mashed potatoes. The 1,200-person wait staff served 1,800 gallons of pink lemonade. Approximately 3.5 miles of linen tablecloths lined the tables.

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