First Surviving African American Sextuplets Graduate High School, Choose Different Colleges

(University of Alabama/Getty Images)

The Harris siblings of Birmingham, Alabama, the first known surviving set of African American sextuplets, have graduated high school.

The sisters—Kalynne and Kiera—and four brothers—Kaleb, Kobe, Kieran, and Kyle—made national headlines when they were born to their parents, Chris and Diamond Harris, in the summer of 2002. Eighteen years on, the six siblings are celebrating a brand-new milestone: they have graduated from Center Point High School in Birmingham and are headed off to college.

On May 11, 2020, proud father Chris shared a photo of his six teens, decked out in their high school graduation caps and gowns, on Facebook. The photo amassed hundreds of congratulatory comments and well-wishes for the successful siblings.

“If I’m crying it’s tears of joy, because I’m happy,” Diamond told WBRC. “And I’m telling you, this milestone, it’s emotional but it’s also been...” Chris began, before Diamond chipped-in, “Hormonal!”

(University of Alabama/Getty Images)

Chris, a teacher, and Diamond, a nurse, welcomed their sextuplets into the world on July 8, 2002. According to the Daily Mail, the couple had been married over two years but were struggling to conceive. Following the advice of their doctor, Diamond, who has an older son named Dewayne, took fertility drugs but was forewarned that the chances of conceiving again were slim.

However, Diamond soon fell pregnant with what was believed to be twins. A sonogram shocked the parents with confirmation of five babies instead of two, but the babies’ imminent arrival heralded a grand total of six: two girls and four boys.

After Diamond developed a blood clot on her lung, the mom-to-be gave birth by cesarean section at 26 weeks of pregnancy for the sake of the babies’ best chance at survival. Each of the six siblings weighed between 1 pound 3 ounces (approx. 539 g) and 1 pound 12 ounces (approx. 794 g), and the first few days were critical.

All six babies proved to be fighters. After three months in the NICU, the six siblings returned home with their parents and became national celebrities.

Diamond revealed to the news media that the Harris family soon got used to spending US$1,100 per week on groceries, running 20 loads of laundry every week, and taking out the trash a grand total of five times a day.

Soon, however, Chris and Diamond decided to eschew their family’s celebrity status for the sake of the children. “They kinda faded out of the limelight because we chose to raise them in that old-fashioned Southern tradition,” Diamond told Fox News, “just to make them feel like everyone else.”

Eighteen years on, however, the six teens are back under the spotlight of their own volition, as college beckons.

According to WBRC, Diamond is already making plans for her teenagers’ soon-to-be-vacated bedrooms after they leave home for their first college semester. The siblings admitted they would miss their mother’s signature taco salad and “mac ‘n cheese” and their father’s barbecue ribs.

Kobe and Kalynne will be attending Alabama State, Kaleb and Kieran will be attending Alabama A&M, and Kiera will head to Lawson State. Kyle plans to study life skills at another high school in Center Point.