History
HISTORY OF SISTERS SIPPIN’ TEA
Sisters Sippin’ Tea is the brainchild of two former Amistad book club members, Karen Brown and Wilhelmenia Williams. The book club met at an African-American bookstore located in Third Ward Houston. When the group disbanded, we missed the monthly discussion and connection with Sistahs in this relaxed, candlelit, cozy atmosphere. In February 1992, former book club members and newly invited guests met, established guidelines and decided on the name Sisters Sippin’ Tea.
Sisters Sippin’ Tea had it’s beginnings in Houston. Soon there were chapters established in Dallas, Texas City and Long Island, NY. Membership included dynamic, bold, vocal, strongly opinionated women who agreed to disagree and still respect each other in the morning!
Sisters Sippin’ Tea has evolved from three to over twenty chapters representing Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Virginia, Washington D.C., New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Delaware and Cairo, Egypt. Each year we look forward to a fun-filled weekend, meeting new members, establishing and renewing old friendships. The chapter updates are interesting and enlightening. Each chapter has the autonomy to function independently. Some have opted to expand their function to include volunteerism and promotion of literacy.
In our eighteenth year of existence, we continue to grow, generating enthusiasm and excitement. This literary journey has been invigorating and as soothing as a cup of herbal tea. We continue to support and promote African-American authors, for it is their gift of story-telling that has remained the catalyst for Sisters Sippin’ Tea.
