Danielle Brooks Inducted as Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta

Award-winning actress and producer Danielle Brooks has been inducted as an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The induction took place during the Sorority’s 57th National Convention, where Brooks was recognized alongside seven other influential women for their outstanding achievements and alignment with Delta’s legacy of Sisterhood, Scholarship, and Service.

A Juilliard-trained performer, Brooks has earned critical acclaim across film, television, and theater. She received an Academy Award nomination for her commanding portrayal of “Sofia” in The Color Purple (2023), a role that also garnered nominations from the Golden Globes, SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTA, and NAACP Image Awards.

Brooks first rose to national prominence as “Taystee” in the hit Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, earning two NAACP Image Award nominations. She later won a Critics Choice Award and received an Emmy nomination for her role as Co-Executive Producer and star of Mahalia, a biopic on gospel legend Mahalia Jackson.

On stage, she earned a Tony Award nomination for The Color Purple and delivered standout performances in The Piano Lesson alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare in the Park.

Brooks is also an advocate for the arts and representation. She co-founded Black Women on Broadway and launched the Annie Edge Scholarship in memory of her godmother. Her volunteer work includes support for the Atlanta Community Food Bank, demonstrating a personal commitment to service that echoes Delta’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust.

“This year’s class of Honorary Members represents a powerhouse group of barrier-breaking women across politics, entertainment, business, sports, and social impact,” said Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. International President Elsie Cooke-Holmes. “Each one a force in her field and a reflection of Delta’s enduring mission.”

Danielle Brooks now stands in sisterhood with fellow 2025 Honorary Members Donna Brazile, Swin Cash, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Toni Townes-Whitley, Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens, and Fawn Weaver.