The SPHINX | Spring February 1956 | Volume 42 | Number 1 195604201 by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

ON TO BUFFALO AND ITHACA!

VOLUME XLII

FEBRUARY, 1956

NUMBER 1

THE HOUSE OF ALPHA GOODWILL is the monarch of ihis house. Men, unacquainted, enter, shake hands, exchange greetings tand depart friends. Cordiality exists among all who abide within. HERE IS the eminent expression of friendship. Character and temperament change under its dominant power. Lives once touched within become tuned ami are thereafter amiable, kindly, fraternal. The musician is inspired to play noble sentiments and the chemist is helped to convert ungenerous personalities into individuals of great worth. Ignoble impulses are destroyed and, in her stead, are born exalted principles which make for common brotherhood whose impulses resound in all communities and princely men are thereby recognized. EDUCATION, health, music, laughter, encouragement, sympathy—all of these are species of interest given on self-invested capital. Tired moments find it a delightful retreat; hours of sorrow, a shrine of understanding. At all times it is faithful to the creed of companionship. TO A FEW, this is a castle of dreams—ambitious, hopeful, successful dreams. To many, it is a poetic palace where human feelings is rhymed to celestial motives. To the great majority, it is a treasury of good fellowship. THE SCHOOL of friendship; the college of brotherly love; the university for the better making of the man,

This Is Alpha Phi Alpha! —By Sydney P. Brown, Xi Lambda

50th Anniversary Goal: 10,000 Fiinancial Brothers

Some of the pages in this issue are damaged The best copy available was scanned

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, Inc. GENERAL OFFICERS G e n e r a l President: FRANK L. STANLEY, SR., Box 1558, Louisville Defender, Louisville 1, Ky. W e s t e r n Vice-President: SAMUEL P. DeBOSE, 2671 L a c u e s t a Drive, Hollywood 46, Calii. S o u t h w e s t Vice-President: J. S. CHANDLER, l l l ' / i South Second Street, M u s k o g e e , O k l a . M i d w e s t e r n Vice-President: C. ANDERSON DAVIS, 200 Jones Street, Blueiield, W e s t Virginia E a s t e r n Vice-President: J. RUPERT PICOTT, C l a y Street at Fourth, Richmond 19. Virginia. Southern Vice-President: LEWIS O. SWINGLER, 546 Beale A v e n u e , M e m p h i s , T e n n e s s e e . G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y : JAMES E. HUGER, 4432 South P a r k w a y , C h i c a g o 15, Illinois. G e n e r a l T r e a s u r e r : MEREDITH G. FERGUSON, 925 Eleventh A v e n u e , North, N a s h v i l l e 8, Tenn. Editor-in-Chief, THE SPHINX: W . BARTON BEATTY, JR., Box 352, P h o e b u s , Virginia. Director of E d u c a t i o n a l Activities: WILLIAM H. HALE, Clark College, Atlanta, G e o r g i a . G e n e r a l Counsel: BILLY JONES, 342A East B r o a d w a y , East St. Louis, Illinois. Historian: CHARLES H. WESLEY, C e n t r a l State College, Wilberforce, Ohio. C h a i r m a n , Audit Committee: W. D. HAWKINS, JR.. Fisk University, N a s h v i l l e . T e n n e s s e e . C h a i r m a n , Budget Committee: KERMIT J. HALL, 5000 W o o d l a n d A v e n u e , P h i l a d e l p h i a 43, P a . ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENTS EASTERN—Frank DeCosta, Jr., Cook Hall, H o w a r d University, W a s h i n g t o n , D. C. • WESTERN— J a m e s Johnson, 2532 Regent Street, Berkeley, California • SOUTHERN—Clarence E. Branch, Jr., East Dorm, T e n n e s s e e A. a n d I. University. N a s h v i l l e 8, T e n n e s s e e • MIDWESTERN— William A. Lester, Jr., 6918 S. Michigan, C h i c a g o 37, Illinois • SOUTHWESTERN—H. Rudolph Sims, Box 9414, S o u t h e r n University, Baton Rouge, L o u i s i a n a . JEWELS H e n r y A. Callis, 2306 E. Street, N. E. W a s h ington. D. C ; G e o r g e B. Kelley, 1 - 1 1 3 t h Street, Troy. N. Y.; N a t h a n i e l A. M u r r a y , 2151 W e s t 21st Street, Los A n g e l e s 18, Calii. OMEGA: C h a r l e s H. C h a p m a n . Robert H. O g l e . Vertner W. T a n d y , E u g e n e Kinckle Jones. CHAIRMEN. STANDING COMMITTEES 50th ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION—Russell N. Service. 585 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, N. Y SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATION—Dr. Wil liam H. H a l e , Clark College, Atlanta, Ga. BUDGET—Kermit J. Hall, 5000 W o o d l a n d A v e nue, Philadelphia, Pa. AUDITING—W. D. H a w k i n s , Fisk University Nashville, Tenn. PUBLIC POLICY—Dr. C h a r l e s H. W e s l e y , C e n tral State College, Wilberforce, Ohio. GENERAL SECRETARY—Walter H. Williams Sr., Box 1549, Jackson, Miss. RECOMMENDATIONS—Dr. Lloyd H. Williams Sr.. 119 N. G r e e n w o o d , Tulsa, O k l a . ELECTIONS—Henry Luke Dickason, Morris town College, Morristown, Tenn. ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS—Tolly Harris, 326 North G r e e n w o o d , Tulsa, O k l a . STANDARDS AND EXTENSION—W. A l e x a n d e r Smith, 2537 M a d i s o n Street, G a r y . Ind H O U S I N G — O s c a r C. Brown, 4649 S. C o t t a g e G r o v e Ave., C h i c a g o , 111.

ALPHAS 1956 THREE POINT PROGRAM 1. 10,000 Financial Brothers by August 1, 1956. 2. 2,500 Brothers, with families in Buffalo, August 7. 3. Register and Vole.

4. 5. 6.

9. 10.

12. 13. 14.

Sphinx

15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Advertising APRIL

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20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

Pictures, Other Copy

26. 27.

MAY 1

FUN EDITOR O. Wilscn W i n t e r s EDITORIAL ASSISTANT—Mi'.ton S. I. W r i g h t . ASSISTANTS—Hugh M. GIoster, T h o m a s W . Young. W . W e s l e y Whetstone. J. S a u n d e r s Redding. F r a n k L. Stanley, Robert F. Custis. STAFF EDITORS—Samuel P. DeBose. J. S. C h a n d l e r . I. Rupert Picott, Lewis O. Swingler. C. A n d e r s o n D a v i s . John Hope Franklin, Alonzo G. Moron. R a m o n Scruggs, Theodore Tatum, S t e p h e n J. Wright, C h a r l e s V. Willie. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS—Archibald J. C a r e y . J. M. Ellison, Felton G. Clark. Miles G r a h a m . Rayiord Logan, Bellord L a w s o n . W a y m a n W a r d . Rufus A t w o o d . C h a r l e s F. L a n e , John Simm o n s . Robert J. A n t h o n y . O s c a r C. Brown, William H. H a l e .

501. OMICRON LAMBDA BETA—Livy T. Wilson (P), 410 E. Church Street, Champaign. 111.

UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTERS

11.

The 50th Anniversary

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS James E. Huger, Leroy lefferies Kermit Hall

INTERMEDIATE CHAPTERS Mil). OMICRON LAMBDA ALPHA — Walter Doyle. Jr.. Box 32. Howard University. Washington 1, D. C.

May Issue

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF W . Barton Beaf.y. Jr.

CHAPTER DIRECTORY

Deadline Date

SPHINX STAFF

28. 29.

ALPHA—Edwin W. Johnson (P), 206 Linden Avenue, Ithaca, New York. BETA—Samuel L. Banks. 271 Slowe Hall, 1919 3rd Street, Washington, D. C. GAMMA—Claude L. Franklin, Jr.. Virginia Union University, Richmond 20. Va. DELTA—Allen R. Prosser. 1609 E. 9th S:reet, Austin, Tex. EPSILON—Aloysius F. Jones (PI. 1015 Catherine St.. Ann Arbor, Mich. ZETA—Hamilton D. Smith (S). 17 Ball Road, North Haven, Conn. ETA—Leonard Dawson (S). 938 St. Nicholas Ave.. New York 32. N. Y. THETA—William A. Lester, Jr., 6918 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. 111. IOTA—Norris Long—1161 Avenue A, N.. Atlanta. Ga. KAPPA—Edward Sullivan, 68 East 11th St., Columbus 10, Ohio. MU—Arthur C. Hill (S). 650 Carroll Ave., St. Paul 4. Minn. NU—Lewis Downing (P), Box 222, Lincoln Univ.. Lincoln Univ., Penn. XI—Robert L. Pruitt (P). Wilb:rforce University. Wilberforce. Ohio. OMICRON—Robert P. Smith (P), 3046 Centre Ave.. Pittsburgh 19. Pa. PI—William Appling. 3014 East 83rd St., Cleveland 4, Ohio. RHO—Turner C. Johnson, 1218 North 59th St.. Philadelphia 19, Pa, SIGMA—Leon L. Haley (CS), 76 Copeland St.. Roxbury. Mass. TAU—Warren I. Smith. Jr.. 1301 W. Clark St.. Urbana. III. UPSILON—Churby C. Clowers (S), 1101 Mississippi St.. Lawrence, Kans. PHI—Sylvester Davis (P), Ohio University, Athens. Ohio. CHI—T. Wendell Williams, 1222 Jefferson St.. Nashville, Tenn. PSI—James McCall (S), 136 Hartter St., Philadelphia 19. Pa. ALPHA ALPHA—John R. Queen (S), 732 Hearne Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio. ALPHA BETA—Mason Davis (P). Talladega College. Talladega, Ala. ALPHA GAMMA — (Inactive) Providence. R. I. ALPHA DELTA—Alvis Andrews (S), 2116 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles 18, Calif. ALPHA EPSILON—Bobby Cooper <P), 1104 30th St., Oakland. Calif. ALPHA ZETA—Malcolm Murphy, W. Va. State College. Institute. W. Va. ALPHA ETA—Arthur L. Visor (S), 2615 Pendleton Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

30. ALPHA THETA—(Inactive). Iowa City, la. 3 ^ ALPHA IOTA—Glen C. Harris (P), 2717 Lafayette St., Denver 5, Colo. 32. ALPHA KAPPA—(Inactive) Springfield, Mass. 33 ALPHA MU—Charles M. Smith (S), 2142 Dewey Ave., Evanston, 111. NU—(Inactive) Des Moines, la. 34. ALPHA ALPHA XI—Cleophus W. Miller, 531 26th 35. Ave.. Seattle 22, Wash. 36. ALPHA OMICRON—Felix Bagby, Johnson C. Smith Univ., Charlotte 8. N. C. 37. ALPHA PI—Melvin E. Talbott (P), 522 E. Kentucky, Louisville. Ky. 38. ALPHA RHO—W. T. Barnes, Jr.. Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga. 39. ALPHA SIGMA—Lem Davis, Jr. (P), Wiley College. Marshall, Tex. 40. ALPHA TAU—E. Bruce Tate (S). 80 W. Center St., Akron 8, Ohio. 41. ALPHA UPSILON—Billy Patton. 5744 Iroquois, Detroit 13. Mich. 42. ALPHA PHI—Cornelius Henderson, Clark College. Atlanta, Ga. 43, ALPHA CHI—Richard Thornell, Box 453, Fisk University, Nashville. Tenn. 44. ALPHA PSI—George W. Enslow (S). Lincoln University. Jefferson City. Mo. 45. BETA ALPHA—John Collins, Morgan State College. Baltimore 12. Md. 46. BETA BETA—Maurice L. Russell (S). 1971 S St.. Lincoln. Neb. 47. BETA GAMMA—James L. Hall (S). Box 2105. Va. State College. Petersburg. Va. 48. BETA DELTA—Cleveland Smith, Box 248. State College. Orangeburg. S. C. 49. BETA EPSILON—Gilbert Caldwell (P), A. and T. College, Greensboro. N. C. 50, BETA ZETA—Albert A. Greenlee (P), State Teachers College. Elizabeth. N. C. 51. BETA ETA—Douglas Kellv (S), 318 East Oak St., Carbondale, 111. 52. BETA THETA—Sylvester Rudder (P), Bluefield State College. Bluefield, W. Va. 53. BETA IOTA—Lawrence Hauser (P), Teachers College. Winston-Salem. N. C. 54. BETA KAPPA—Edward Sanders (S), P. O. Box 151, Langston U., Langston, Okla. 55. BETA MU—William M. Clark, Kentucky State College, Frankfort, Ky. 56. BETA NU—Samuel Washington (S). Fla. A. and M. University, Tallahassee, Fla. 57. BETA XI—William J. Hawkins, 344 W. Person Ave., Memphis. Tenn. 58. BETA OMICRON—Virgil V. McGee, Tenn. A. and I. State Univ., Nashville, Tenn. 59. BETA PI—Claude W. Malone, Box 26, Lane College, Jackson. Tenn. (Continued on Inside Back Cover)

Official

Organ

VOLUME XLII

Alpha

Phi

Alpha

Fraternity,

Incorporated

FEBRUARY, 1956

NUMBER

EDITORIAL;

41st Cjenerai

(convention

in VK.etroSpect

BROTHER ROBERT T. CUSTIS, Guest Editor J l HREE major characteristics stamped the 41st General Convention activities as, "Best Ever." What activities were "Best Ever"? This question assumes singling out certain events for mention, but does not imply any inferior quality of others. The contrary is true. Imposed limitations compel selection based on those matters likely to remain indelibly impressed in the memories of all who were present in Chicago, Illinois, December 27-30, 1955. Careful, long time cooperative, coordinated planning marked convention activities. The "Brochure'' (printed on the best bond paper for easy reading) was well planned. It grouped and listed time, place and location of all business and social events; excellent pictures of Alpha's General officers, Chicago Chapter Officials and biographical sketches of distinguished Chicago Alpha Brothers. Registration arrangements were executed quickly, by courteous, friendly personnel, with a minimum of fuss and confusion. Registration facilities were adjacent to and, within a few seconds reach of the convention hall, located on the third floor of Convention Headquarters in the forty story, world's largest hotel, The Morrison, in Chicago's main business district known as the "Loop." Ample committee rooms were easily reached by walking upstairs to the fourth floor. Meals, and refreshments were available in several different and easily reached places in and outside the Morrison Hotel Convention Headquarters. Here, living accommodations were excellent. Others who chose not to stay at the Morrison were housed quickly in other "Loop" and southside hotels, private dwellings and in homes of friends. Business sessions were conducted on a very high plane. They started and terminated on schedule. Scheduled business items were completed within allotted times. Deliberations were serious, but punctuated with appropriate humor and joviality. Constructive criticism was solicited, offered, courteously received, resolved or allowed to run its course. A friendly spirit of genuine brotherhood pervaded all business sessions. All sessions ended with singing of the Alpha hymn and prayer. Social affairs were supereminent. They were distinguished by grandeur, splendor, rare viands, beverages, and fine music. Feminine pulchritude clothed in beautiful gowns enhanced each affair. This was especially true of "Cocktails and Conversation" given at the J. H. Johnson Publishing Company establishment, sponsored by Brother J. H. Johnson. String music, straw hats for men, leis for women accented the Hawaiian motif with plenty to eat and drink. It topped all other similar (Continued on Page 9) FEBRUARY, 1956

tents Cconlen 41st General Convention in Retrospect By Brother Robert T. Custis President Stanley Reports on "State of Fraternity" T h e Challenge of the Hour By Dr. Theodore Mason Howard Alphas T u r n Back Pages of History Observations of the 41st General Convention as Viewed by an Undergraduate By Brother Mason Davis Convention Address By Brother 5. S. Booker, Past General President Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 50th Anniversary Convention Alpha Phi Alpha National Headquarters Building By Brother A. Maceo Smith, Past General President Dedication of National Headquarters From T h e General Secretary's Desk Defensive and Offensive Struggles in Our Democracy Toward Goal of Total Integration By Brother C. W. Anderson. Jr. Fraternity Fun By Dr. O. Wilson Winters Buffalo Wives Set Stage to Welcome Vacationing Wives and Families The General President Speaks It's Almost Tomorrow By Brother John H. Johnson Did You Ever Have a Wish Come T r u e By Jewel Brother C. B. Kelley T h e Alpha Phi Alpha Memorial Service Education and Full Integration By Brother N. Wyatt, Jr. Graduate and Undergraduate Chapters Join Forces New Chapter Is Off to a Good Start Judkins and Our Community By Cornelius R. Richardson In Cooperation With United Nations By Brother Aaron BrownDEADLINE: NEXT

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APRIL 1. 1956 Publication Office: 522 East Bute Street, Norfolk 10. Va. Address all news matter to Editor-in-Chief: W. BARTON BEATTY, JR. Box 352, Phoebus, Va. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $2.00 PER YEAR Published four times a year, in February, May, October, and December. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at Norfolk, Virginia, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in Sec. 1102, Act of October 3, 1917. Individual chapters will be billed for cost of engraving pictures submitted and used.

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f-^redident

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C H I C A G O , 111.—It is a distinct privilege for me to come before you today to make a report of o u r efforts, observations and recommendations d u r i n g this forty-ninth year of our Fraternity's existence. Immediately after o u r excellent convention in Miami, the impact of this high office struck me full force, as I became more increasingly aware of the faith, hope and responsibilities placed in me. My one consolation was found in the knowledge that in Alpha, no Brother is ever h o n o r e d for what he receives; here, h o n o r is the reward lor the service he gives. It was readily a p p a r e n t that as inheritors of o u r Fraternity's rich past, the trustees of its present a n d architects of its future, A l p h a stood o n the threshold of a new era—a new day in a world destined to the inevitability of change. O u r immediate challenge, therefore, was how well we could step over this threshold into greater areas of service in justification of o u r existence. T h u s , we were faced with the dual responsibility of completing o u r first half century a n d at the same time, planning for the advent of o u r next. N o prior administration has ever been l a n d with such grave a n d stupendous responsibilities. I n this tremendous u n d e r t a k i n g , I have been blessed with a very able corps of fellow officers—in my opinion, the best you have given any General President. Able, aggressive, experienced, highly cooperative a n d with a sacred devotion to Alpha, these Brothers m o u l d e d themselves into a team of h a r m o n y a n d action. Likewise, Alphas everywhere have exhibited a noble spirit and rich kindness in helping me to perform my assigned task, l o r all of this, I am profoundly grateful. Therefore, if we have brought any achievement to Alpha, give the credit to my fellow officers and the brothers in the ranks. I have been encouraged again a n d again by the splendid local a n d regional programs that are reflecting great credit on our Fraternity. Unfortunately, Omega Chapter claimed many brothers d u r i n g the year, notably a m o n g w h o m were one of o u r youngest a n d most serviceable officers, the late Mid-Western VicePresident, [ulius C. J u d k i n s , a n d the PAGE 2

rseporfo on

S^tate of ^srt iterniti

creator of those inspiring words of o u r h y m n , the late A b r a h a m L. Simpson. Less than forty-eight hours before b r o t h e r Simpson's death, he visited with me and advised that he was p l a n n i n g to attend this convention. T o p a r a p h r a s e that inspiring 10th century poem of John D o n n e which was resurrected by Hemingway in his famous novel, "For W h o m the Bell Tolls": " N o m a n is an island in himself; h e is p a r t of the m a i n l a n d . If a clod be washed away, (Alpha) is less. Any (Brothel's) death diminishes me, Never send to know for w h o m the bell tolls; It tolls for thee." T r u l y , we live in a n d t h r o u g h every Brother's life a n d we live a n d die t h r o u g h every Brother's death. By convention action at Miami, you charged this administration with: 1. T h e publishing, distributing a n d the widest a n d most effective use of the Miami Manifesto—our suggested

BROTHER CHARLES F. LANE Brother Lane served a s general chairman of the Forty-First General Convention held in Chicago, and did a great job. So all Alphas s a y thanks to Brother and Mrs. Charles F. Lane.

course of action in this all-important desegregation period. 2. T h e completion of the furnishings an remodeling of o u r N a t i o n a l H e a d q u a r t e r s , a n d the p l a n n i n g of its dedication. 3. T h e administration of a sound financial operation. 4. Effecting a m o r e resultful reclamation program. 5. Assigning more Brothers with special talents to o u r respective committees. 6. T h e greater recognition of Alpha nationally a n d internationally t h r o u g h forceful representation in public affairs. 7. T h e acceleration a n d extension of o u r militant social action program to the end t h a t we make the most frontal attack possible on second class citizenship a n d all of its devastating a n d demoralizing ills. 8. T h e n a m i n g of an observer to the U n i t e d Nations. 9. T o p r o g r a m a n d direct the 41st General Convention. 10. T o perfect plans for o u r 50th Anniversary Celebration. In addition, A l p h a Phi A l p h a became the first Fraternity to make a substantial deposit in the "Freeze F u n d . " the I ti-State Bank of Memphis, Tennessee, for the aid of economic pressure victims. T h r o u g h the leadership of an extremely alert top level committee, we engendered a most effective public relations program. W e have sought to p r o m o t e a closer relationship with u n d e r g r a d u a t e s , the lifeblood of o u r Fraternity, which must be revitalized if we are to grow. At this convention, you will be given reports that will show the serious problems we face in enlarging a n d extending our u n d e r g r a d u a t e chapters. O u r birth rate is far too low for a growing, thriving Fraternity. In my official capacity, I have travelled some 30,000 miles a n d made twenty-eight individual chapter visitations, in addition to a t t e n d i n g five regionals. More t h a n half of my meetings were with u n d e r g r a d u a t e chapters. T h e i r needs are so vast that even if all of my time were concentrated on u n d e r g r a d u a t e s , it would not be enough. Unquestionably, the most sweeping necessary changes incumbent upon us are those on the undergrauate level, if we are to attract, pledge, initiate, a n d hold new (Continued on Page 39) THE

SPHINX

The Challenge Of The Hour By D R . T H E O D O R E M A S O N H O W A R D of Mound Bayou, Miss. Delivered at the Chicago Convention on the Occasion of His Acceptance of the Alpha Phi Alpha Medal of H o n o r for 1955.

PROGRAM 41st General Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated PUBLIC MEETING December 28th â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 8:00 P. M. Trianon Ballroom Organ Preiude Presiding Invocation Musical Selection Welcome

Response

Att'y Charles F. Lane. Chairman Convention Committee Rev. Morris H. Tynes The City of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley Pan-Hellenic Council Miss Ida King Midwestern Region Rev. Archibald J. Carey Mr. Frank L. Stanley. Sr. General President

Musical Selection Introduction of Guest Speaker Att'y Henry J. Richardson Guest Speaker Dr. Theodore R. Mason Howard Presentation of the Alpha Medal of Honor Mr. Tolly W. Harris Medley of Greek Hymns Announcements Mr. David L. Daniel Benediction Rev. A. Wayman Ward

C H I C A G O , 111.-Mr. President. Officers. Members and Friends of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: T h e honor which you have conferred u p o n me in making me the recipient of your 1955 Alpha Nfedal of H o n o r , is the most electrifying experience of my life. I feel that there is n o t h i n g I have d o n e to merit the great h o n o r which you have conferred u p o n me. As a country doctor in Mississippi, I have just tried to do my duty as an American citizen. It is with very deep sincerity, h u m ble devotion, profound gratitude a n d a rededication of my life to the cause of God and American democracy that I accept the Alpha Medal of H o n o r for 1955. As I journeyed from my h o m e in :\Fississippi, USA, the very last outpost of American democracy, I wondered w h a t I m i g h t say to this distinguished g r o u p of American citizens to arouse you to d o u b l e your determination a n d efforts in fighting for complete freedom, liberty a n d democracy for all American citizens, regardless of race, creed or color. Regardless of the other theories of government which are present in our world today, those of us w h o are gathered here tonight know that o u r theory of American democracy is the greatest philosophy of government that has been given to m a n since the dawn of creation. W e , w h o accept the simple truths of F E B R U A R Y , 1956

our American democracy, profess faith in the intrinsic dignity of all h u m a n i ty without stopping to think w h e t h e r it is white h u m a n i t y , black h u m a n i t y , Jewish h u m a n i t y , Catholic h u m a n i t y , Latin h u m a n i t y or Oriental h u m a n ity; we profess faith in the reasonableness, the integrity a n d the sense of moral and spiritual responsibilities in ihe h u m a n personality. O u r basic concept of American democracy takes on the plain principles of faith in the equality of man, in the right of all men to a free, a full a n d a b u n d a n t life, socially, politically, economically and spiritually. O u r American concept ol democracy, also, declares that every man must have the freedom ol o p p o r t u n i t y to release the potentialities for greatness and lor good that

are i m p l a n t e d within m a n , so that a form of wealth is created in artistic, scientific, cultural and economic contributions which is possible of distrib u t i o n to all m e n in more a b u n d a n t a n d richer living. Mr. Justice Holmes made this statement several years ago, " T h e life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience. T h e felt necessities of the time. T h e prevalent moral and political theories, intuitions of public policy, avowed or unconscious, even the prejudices which judges share with their fellow men, have had a good deal more to do than the syllogism in determining the rules by which men should be governed". I he historic edict ol the Supreme C o u r t of the USA in May 1954 de-

DR. THEODORE R. MASON HOWARD TRIUMPHS Dr. Howard, Alpha's public meeting guest speaker and recipient of Alpha's 1955 Man of the Year A w a r d during the forty-first Grand Convention held recently in Chicago, w a s heard b y 3,000 persons that jammed the s p a c i o u s Trianon Ballroom. This scene s h o w s Dr. Howard, at left, being congratulated by. left to right: Brother, Rev. A. W a y m a n Ward, fraternity chaplain and Brother Meredith G. Ferguson, general treasurer of Alpha Phi Alpha.

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claring segregation in the public schools of America a serious violation of our American concept of democracy, along with more recent decisions dealing with recreational facilities and Interstate Commerce have been met with mingled emotions throughout our nation. In the deep South these edicts have been met with open hostility. In my Mississippi these edicts have been met with open violence and the worse economic pressure in the history of our nation. Tin sociologists and historians who write about this period of American History through which we are passing will be compelled to make a note on the change in race relations in the South which carries a date line of May 17 th 1954. They most certainly will have to note that in the deep South starting with May 17th 1954 that those of us who lived in the deep South and still had faith in the American concept of democracy have had to believe that the darkest hours are just before dawn or that 'it's got to get a lot worse before it can get better.' America's exhibit No. 1, is Mississippi, USA, from May 17th 1954 through December 1955. Notwithstanding, the fact that Mississippi has had a separate but equal school law on her statute books since the Constitutional convention of 1890, every Governor and Legislative Assembly forgot all about this law until they felt the sharp lash of the edict of the Supreme Court on May 17th 1954. The Gover-

nor and the Mississippi State Legislature were in such a dilemma that they called upon the Negro leaders of the state to help them find a way to circumvent the U. S. Supreme Court decision. When the one hundred Negro leaders assembled in Jackson, Mississippi on July 30th 1955 for the meeting with the Governor and high state officials, your speaker had this to say to Governor Hugh White of Mississippi, "The Negroes who have come here today have not come to help work out any trick or plan to circumvent the decision of the Supreme Court outlawing segregation in the public school. Today, you wish to bargain with us. You will give us schools if we will give you our freedom. We will not today or ever enter into any agreement to circumvent the U. S. Supreme Court's decision." The Governor nor anyone in authority in Mississippi has said up until this very hour that ten years, one hundred years or one thousand years from now they will comply with the Supreme Courts decision on segregation. They are still saying that we will never comply. Senator James O. Eastland of Mississippi has recently called upon the Mississippi State Legislature which meets in January to nullify by proper legislative enactments all decisions of the U. S. Supreme Court dealing with segregation. So far as I am concerned, the Federal Government in 1956, is going to find itself faced with the same problem

TWO JEWELS ATTEND CHICAGO CONVENTION Jewel Brothers George B. Kelley oi Troy, N. Y. and Nathaniel H. Murray of Los Angeles, California, were active participants in. the 41st General Convention. Jewel Murray was one oi the Convention speakers. Jewel Brother Henry A. Callis of Washington, D. C. was not present. These three plus four other Jewels now deceased, founded Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on the campus of Cornell University in 1906 . . . We return to that site August 11, 1956 to rededicate our lives to the principles of our renown fraternity.

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with reference to Mississippi that it found itself faced with in 1860â&#x20AC;&#x201D;complete rebellion against Federal authority. A whole people are being subjected to unbelievable Legislative Enactments, terror, violence, murder and frightful economic pressure in the State of Mississippi. The Mississippi State Legislature has enacted two Constitutional Amendments since May 17th 1954, which are aimed at the Negroes of Mississippi. One of these amendments provides for the Public School system to be abolished in any school district where Negroes attempt to integrate. The second amendment imposes a rigid reading and writing test upon the Negro who attempts to qualify to vote in Mississippi. Today, 92 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. we have fewer than 19,000 qualified Negro votes out of a total Negro population of 986,000, and today, Negroes can only vote in 22 of the 82 counties in Mississippi. In the August 2nd Democratic primary the Negro's vote was thrown out in most of these 22 counties where Negroes were formerly permitted to vote and yet, Mississippi's Congressional representation is based upon the total population. The frightful methods of intimidation and the dastardly boldness of the wholesale disfranchisement of the Negro citizens in Mississippi and the total disregard for the 14th and 15th amendments of our Federal Constitution is the blackest spot on our American democracy today and stands as the greatest road-block to democratic thinking, as well as offering the paramount challenge to our American way of life. The White Citizen Council was organized in July 1954, after the May 17th 1954 decision. It is an organization of white males dedicated to the proposition of maintaining segregation at any and all cost in Mississippi. This organization has within its membership the poor and middle class, but the leaders in the organization are the wealthy planters and bankers, who are directing this economic squeeze against the Negroes of Mississippi. The Legal Redress Committee of the White Citizen Council reported to the organization a few week's ago that based upon the May 31st decision of the Supreme Court, they would be able to keep integration out of the Mississippi school system for at least ten years and that about the end of this period the Federal Government will in all probability act drastically upon the voting rights of the Negro in Mississippi, as well as the factors of integration. The

Mississippi

White

Citizen

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Council has decided that (luring this so called "Grace Period," they inusi apply the "economic squeeze" so affectively u p o n the Negro that 500,000 of Mississippi's 986,000 Negroes will be forced to leave the state within the next ten years. T h e thinking b e h i n d this terrifying action is that today we have eighteen counties in the Mississippi Delta where Negroes still o u t n u m b e r the white population approximately 2Vz to 1. T h e s e 18 counties make u p the major part of two Congressional districts a n d they know that if this p o p u l a t i o n ratio remains, with the spirit a n d organization of this new Mississippi Negro, that if we can get o u r hands on the unrestricted ballot, there w o u l d be some political changes m a d e in Mississippi. So today, they are a t t e m p t i n g to starve o u t the Negro people in the 18 Mississippi Delta Counties by this cruel un-American Economic Squeeze intended to dry u p all the sources of food, livelihood a n d are a t t e m p t i n g to reduce the Negro p o p u l a t i o n to a state of homeless, hungry, helpless wanderers. H u n d r e d s of Negroes have been fired from their jobs; their credit r a t i n g taken, credit at banks, businesses and other lending agencies denied. Long term loans on homes, businesses and latins are made payable with n o possible chance of extension. Gins refused to gin cotton grown by Negro l a n d owners all because the Negro refused to remove his name from the registration book. Very few Negro sharecroppers in the Mississippi Delta were permitted to receive any money out of their 1955 cotton crop, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g the iact t h a t we made the biggest cotton crop in the Mississippi Delta in o u r history. O u r so called Judicial system in Mississippi is w i t h o u t parallel in the annals of out American Judicial system. T h e Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme C o u r t was a p p o i n t e d by Governor H u g h W h i t e in the summ e r of 1954, to serve as C h a i r m a n of the Committee which was appointed to find ways a n d means of maintaining segregation in the schools of Mississippi. Judge T o m "Black Monday" Brady of Brookhaven, Mississippi is an active Circuit J u d g e presiding over courts where Negroes are tried. O n May 7th 1955, my friend, Rev. George W. Lee was brutally murdered, half of his face was blown away,— his crime,—he refused to take his n a m e off the voters registration list. His killers are known to Mississippi's law enforcement officers b u t to this h o u r no one has been b r o u g h t to justice —not even an arrest. O n August 13th 1955, they shot F E B R U A R Y , 1956

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER Brother Myles Paige congratulates Brother Frank Stanley on his re-election as General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity during the Chicago 1955 General Convention. Brother Sianley declined the nomination for a third term.

down my friend L a M a r r Smith in cold blood on the Court House Lawn at Brookhaven, Mississippi. His crime was w a n t i n g to vote. His killer is well known to every one, not a single arrest has been made. O n August 28th the little Chicago Negro boy E m m i t t T i l l , 14 years of age, was k i d n a p p e d a n d badly disfigu r e d a n d lynched while visiting his uncle Rev. Mose W r i g h t at Money, Mississippi. I worked on this case from the beginning. I tried in vain to get Federal intervention even before his disfigured water-logged body was found in the m u d d y Tallehatctiie River. W e p u t three eye witnesses on the stand, w h o fingered Bryant a n d

Milan. I sat t h r o u g h the farcical trial in the little dingy C o u r t House at Sumner, Mississippi. I saw the two k n o w n killers set free to walk the streets to m u r d e r other Negroes. Every white man a n d w o m a n in the State of Mississippi knows that the body which was taken out of the m u d d y T a l l e h a t c h i e River on Wednesday, August 31st 1955 was the body of E m m i t t T i l l . T h e r e is n o real d o u b t in anyone's m i n d about this. T h e verdict which was given was the verdict of one million two hund r e d a n d thirty t h o u s a n d mentally ill white people in Mississippi, w h o were anxious for the world outside PAGE 5

of Mississippi to know that n o am o i m t of outside pressure can make them change their ways of dealing with the Negro in Mississippi. On Friday night, N o v e m b e r 25th 1955, my close personal friend, Gus Courts, age 65, was shot t h r o u g h the front window of his store, while he was standing at the counter of his h u m b l e grocery store. His crime was he had lived in Mississippi 65 years a n d h a d never voted a n d he became a m a r k e d m a n because he dared to register to vote. H e narrowly escaped death bul will never be able to r e t u r n to his home at Belonzi, Mississippi. Another victim of the open season on Negroes in Mississippi was Clinton Melton of Glendora, Mississippi who was shot down in cold blood by a close friend of J. W. Milan of T i l l lynching fame. T h e m a n w h o shot part of Clinton Melton's head off was driving Milan's car when he killed Melton a n d was arrested in J. W . Milan's home. Melton's only crime was being b o r n black in Mississippi, USA, where there are laws protecting the Opossum, the Coon, the R a b b i t a n d the Deer, b u t o p e n season o n Negroes 12 m o n t h s out of a year. Saturday m o r n i n g December 24th, the body of the principal of the Negro school at Merigold, Miss., 2lA miles from M o u n d Bayou, Miss., was found in L o n g Lake near T u t w i l l e r , Miss. W h i l e o u r investigations are n o t complete we believe that he is a n o t h e r victim of Mississippi terror. The Mississippi W h i t e Citizen Council which is spreading to Alabama, Georgia a n d South Carolina has taken over the State G o v e r n m e n t of Mississippi a n d is responsible for creating an atmosphere in which this terrorism, violence a n d m u r d e r can r u n r a m p a n t . U. S. Senator James O. Eastland, one of the f o u n d i n g Fathers a n d chief advisors of W h i t e Citizen Council said in a speech in Mississippi in 1954, " t h e r e is n o t a jury of 12 white m e n to be found in Mississippi w h o w o u l d bring in a judgment against a n o t h e r white m a n for any act which h e might c o m m i t while trying to preserve the precious heritage of segregation." In a recent speech at Jackson, Mississippi before a state wide meeting of of the W h i t e Citizen Council, Senator James O. Eastland called on his hearers to "overthrow the monstrous crime committed by the U. S. Supreme C o u r t o u t l a w i n g segregation in the public schools." T h e s e words which Senator Eastland has spoken against the Supreme law of the l a n d a n d against the Constitution of the USA are just as dangerous as those spoken by the top Communists in this n a t i o n a n d Eastland must be dealt with just PAGE

like we deal with the C o m m u n i s t . His right to sit in the U . S. Senate must Be challenged. H o w can o u r N a t i o n a l Government go to Geneva a n d before other international bodies a n d talk a b o u t free elections in Germany or any other place in the world so long as we have a Mississippi. H o w can we talk a b o u t conditions b e h i n d the iron curtain or any other place on earth as long as our Federal Gove r n m e n t stands a n d lets t h e m lynch a 14 year old child in Mississippi a n d let the lynchers go free. I believe that o u r F. B. I. is the greatest crime detection force on earth but I can not u n d e r s t a n d how a great skyliner can explode in mid-air spreading its wreckage over several miles of the Western slopes a n d o u r F. B. 1. agents are so skilled that they can gather u p bits of the wreckage a n d tell the exact cause of the wreckage of the plane a n d go o n to arrest the criminal who b u n d l e d u p the 25 sticks of d y n a m i t e a n d placed them in the luggage. But they are never smart enough to find a white m a n w h o kills a Negro lor any cause in Mississippi. You will, doubtless, be interested to k n o w a b o u t three bills which the Mississippi Legislature will be asked to pass in J a n u a r y 1956. First, a bill m a k i n g it a crime p u n i s h a b l e by imp r i s o n m e n t a n d heavy fine for speaking o u t against segregation in Mississippi. Second, a bill m a k i n g it a crime p u n i s h a b l e by i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d heavy fine for agitation to b r i n g suit to enforce the Supreme Court's decision. T h i r d , a bill giving police officers in Mississippi the power to arrest members of the F. B. I. for interferring with white citizens in the state of Mississippi for any cause. O u r j o b in a state like Mississippi is doubly h a r d because the t a p roots of racial prejudice sink deep into the souls of the people a n d the feed roots of ignorance keep the t a p roots of prejudice alive. Mississippi is the n u m b e r 1 state in illiteracy a n d the 48th in economics a n d this is the big reason for Mississippi being the No. 1—Hell-hole of America. But, you say to me, "Dr. H o w a r d t h a t is the South and her problem." My answer is that it is not a Southern p r o b l e m , it is an American p r o b l e m a n d it must be solved by the American people. I am t r o u b l e d over the way my people are being treated by the white people of Mississippi b u t I am, also, greatly concerned a b o u t what the white m a n is doing to himself by committing these non-democratic a n d non-Christian deeds. H e n r y Steele C o m m o g e n quotes W i n s t o n Churchill at a m o m e n t o u s crisis in history as asking, " W h a t k i n d

of people d o they think we are?"— and that is just the critical question that I want to ask this distinguished assembly here tonight. " W h a t kind of people do they think we are?" Go with me if you please, any Sunday m o r n i n g to the churches in the hamlets, villages, towns a n d cities of the n a t i o n . H e r e we find a cross section of American m e n a n d women, w h o in addition to their profession of Christian faith have suffered three wars in this generation to preserve democratic ideas—among which is the principle that all m e n are created free and equal, a n d are endowed with certain inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—these men a n d women sit in their segregated churches worshipping in a feeling of virtue, the God w h o commands that m a n love his brother, while denying church m e m b e r s h i p as a positive policy because they c a n n o t conceive of a personal level of association with fellowmen who arc not of the same race or color or treed. N o wonder Rev. M. A. T h o m a s of India, speaking in Dayton, O h i o the other day before the Foreign Mission Division of the N a t i o n a l Council of Churches said, "Every act of u n b r o t h erliness a n d injustice by citizens of o u r country speaks more loudly abroad than do the sermons of Mis sionaries." Will Herberg, the great Jewish T h e ologian said at Princeton University the other day that "Religion in the U n i t e d States has become a sociological r a t h e r t h a n a theological phenome n o n a n d that the actual standards by which Americans live have little relation to the religion they honestly profess." Go with m e any week day or morning into the offices of o u r nation where jobs are denied to Catholics, to Jews, to Negroes, to L a t i n Americans a n d to Orientals, a n d there we find many professed Christians, many patriotic Americans formulating these policies which promote these rejections. O u r Southland is frequently referred to as the 'Bible Country', yet the most un-Christ-like deeds are committed there. W e must conclude today that we have let the religion of Jesus Christ in America, especially in the South, degenerate into an American theological dilemma. Religiousness w i t h o u t religion. Eleven o'clock on Sunday m o r n i n g remains the most segregated h o u r in America. If Jesus, the Christ, would r e t u r n in person to organize religion in America today, he would have to take u n t o himself a scourge a n d re-enact his visit to the T e m p l e more t h a n 2,000 years ago, THE

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when he drove o u t the money changers. T h e s e violations of our American profession of faith in o u r democracy a n d our religion can not help b u t reIk 'it themselves in o u r national a n d foreign policy. I wish to challenge the great Negro church of America to a new crusade. For ninety-two years now in the South, the average Negro preacher has kept his people's minds on the long white robes, the golden slippers a n d the mansions in the skies a n d the diet of milk a n d honey. T h e psychological effect of this t \ | >c of preaching has been t h a t the Negro is content to spend his time here living in a cabin, poorly clothed and poorly fed, satisfied with any a n d all types of treatment, ever looking forward to the golden slippers, the long white robe, the milk a n d honey a n d the mansions in the skies. W h i l e the Kingdom of Heaven must be m a d e as realistic as possible today, the Negro minister must tell his people that there is something for h i m to do while he is waiting for his wing measurements for his journey to the mansions in the sky. T h e Negro must be taught that the same Bible which outlines the diet a n d wearing apparel of the Kingdom of Heaven, also states, that the " E a r t h (of which the South is a part) is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." T h a t the gold a n d silver is the Lord's a n d the cattle u p o n a thousand hills belong to the Lord. W e Negroes profess to have more religion than anybody else. W e certainly do more preaching, praying, m o a n i n g a n d groaning than any other people, yet, the average Negro Christian has less faith t h a n anybody. I cannot believe that the great G o d of the universe cares any more for a soul wrapped in a white skin than he does for a soul w r a p p e d in a black skin. I know as a student of medical science that in the anatomical structure a n d the physiological function of the body which God has given the h u m a n race, m a d e after his own image, the only basic difference is in the p i g m e n t i n g of the skin a n d the texture of the hair. T h e Negro Christian as a Heaven b o u n d Pilgrim must realize that he can't live o n earth a n d board in Heaven, therefore, the Negro preacher must talk to us more a b o u t a balanced diet which includes T - b o n e steaks, while we are waiting for the incompatible diet of milk a n d honey, he must talk to us more a b o u t the fabrics of cotton, wool, nylon, rayon, velvet, furs a n d leather while we are p r e p a r i n g for o u r golden slippers which are going to be mighty uncomfortable a n d the long white robes. H e must talk to us more about F E B R U A R Y . 1956

ways a n d means of acquiring good, the benefit of forsight, control a n d roomy, comfortable homes of o u r own direction of cerebral function. D u r i n g two h u n d r e d a n d fifty years right here in the South while we are getting ready for the mansions of slavery a n d ninety-two years of in the sky. If the Negro is to survive physical freedom, the American Nein this industrial age, thrift, industry, gro, especially the Negro in the South, a n d business efficiency must become has responded to the white fear stimuan integral part of the Negro's reli- li so long a n d so frequently that an gion. inferiority complex has been developFollow me, if you please into a ed in the average Negro a n d I am brief biological philosophy of social sorry to say t h a t some Negro educathinking. T h e h u m a n brain, which tors a n d some leaders in America arc is the organ of thought, may be divid- fearful to express themselves when aped into the cerebral hemisphere o n proached o n the m a t t e r of equality one h a n d a n d the sub-cortical nuclei of the h u m a n races. T h o s e of us w h o have spent o u r on the other. T h e cerebral hemisphere is correlated with thinking. lives in the South, even Negro edura Something that Negroes are going to tors a n d professional people, have behave to do more. T h e cerebral hemis- come immersed in o u r Southern culphere produces a n d transmits cultural ture, yes, it is everywhere a b o u t us accretions so that succeeding genera- a n d in us. T h e influence of this tions can take u p t h r o u g h the genes Southern culture u p o n the Negro is which make u p the chromosomes evidenced by the a t t i t u d e of the averwhere previous generations left off. age Negro school teacher on the deciT h e sub-cortical nuclei is absorbed sion of the Supreme C o u r t of the with emotions and immediate re- U n i t e d States of America, outlawing sponses to environment stimuli. Ne- segregation in the public schools of groes are prone to use their sub-corti- America. cal nuclei more than they use their T h e educated Negro of the South cerebral hemisphere. O n e of the most for the most p a r t has accepted the aggravating, perplexing problems that results of Southern culture with all lace the Negro leader today, who really the evils of segregation a n d discrimhas the cultural background to really ination at its worst w i t h o u t too much u n d e r s t a n d o u r problem is to e m b a r k question a n d the average a m o n g us u p o n a p r o g r a m that will b r i n g a b o u t soon assume a familiarity which leads the coordination of cerebral a n d sub- us to believe t h a t it is the only correct cortical functioning to the e n d that way. T h e y come to have the affirmathe basal animal tendencies shall have (Continued on Page 40)

BROTHERS SALUTE PUBLIC SPEAKER Public speaker. Dr. Mason Howard, center, being greeted by Brother Young of Louisville, Ky.. Brother McGee of Dayton. Ohio. Brother Lucas. Brother W. Barton Beatty. editor ol the SPHINX and Brother W. Wayman Ward. Jr. of Chicago. 111.

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Alphas T u r n Back Pages of History in Fiftieth Anniversary Pilgrimage to Cornell I T H A C A , N. V . - N e a r l y 1000 Al)ha men, with their wives a n d famiies arc expected to e n t r a i n for that beautiful ride through the Finger Lakes region of Central New York Stale to "Far Above Cayuga's W a t e r s " tliis August to Ithaca, N. Y. with Jewel Brothers, Callis, Kelley, ;m<l Murray leading the way in t u r n i n g back the pages of history to again relive tin- days ol 1905-6 when the idea for this first National Greek Letter Organization among Negro college men had its birth. T h e y will recall vividly the first meetings of the Social Stud) C l u b as they ride down North Albany Street, a n d later rem e m b e r the organizational meeting of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on December 1, 1906 in the home of Mrs. Vrchie Singleton as they pass East State Street, her former residence, in Ithaca, New York. For it was here that eight male students, registered in various u n d e r g r a d u a t e schools of Cornell University, first discussed the many problems that confronted Negro students in a large university, cut off as they were from many opportunities open to other students, limited l>\ personal resources, a n d faced with the many problems of social, economic, a n d vocational proscription that were common patterns of American life in this era. It was here that

See What We Mean! Bro. W. Barton Beany, Jr. No. 352 Phoebus, Va. Dear Brother: I am writing this letter in regard to my SPHINX. It is being continually sent to Brother R. D. Jones, No. 297, Langston, Oklahoma. I want my SPHINX sent to me at my address. Send my SPHINX to, J. R. SWAIN, 716 E. SPRINGER, GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA. I am requesting this because my SPHINX is always a month or more late. And I never receive most of them. Fraternally yours, BROTHER J. R. SWAIN Ed. Note â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Brother Secretary send addresses of all Brothers.

an idea was germinated, took root, and grew into an organization with m e a n i n g and purpose that was to become Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Brother Dr. G. Alex Galvin, one of the most p r o m i n e n t citizens of Ithaca, a n d C h a i r m a n of the Cornell Pilgrimage, will stand o u t as a symbol of progress over the past fifty years as h e leads the " A l p h a C a r a v a n " t h r o u g h the beautiful Cornell Cam-

pus to the Statler C l u b where the Anniversary Luncheon will be held. Brother Galvin, who. with Mrs. Galvin and their daughter J a n e , has been a resident of Ithaca for the past twenty years, is well known to all the citizens of Ithaca, as recently elected member of the Ithaca Board of Education, C h a i r m a n of the Medical Board of the General Hospital Staff; member of many civic committees, and organizations too n u m e r o u s to m e n t i o n : and one of the o u t s t a n d i n g physicians of the community. Many such Alpha m e n of today will gather at Cornell to pay tribute to the seven Alpha pioneers of a half century ago. C h a i r m a n Galvin a n d his committee have given s t u b attention to details of the Pilgrimage, that Alpha men and their families will lout; remember this experience as one of the high points in the week-long celebration. Plans are still u n d e r way to take advantage of all the possibilities for fellowship which will present themselves on the chartered Lehigh Valley "Alpha Special" which will leave the Lehigh Valley Siation in Bullalo at S a. m., Saturday morning. August 11, and make its record trip through the rolling hills of central New York to the site of Cornell University. Special

Brothers Directing 50th Anniversary

BROTHER RUSSELL N. SERVICE Secretary. Rho Lambda Chapter. General Chairman. Fiftieth Anniversary Committee. PAGE 8

BROTHER G. ALEX GALVIN Chairman, Cornell Pilgrimage Committee

Convention

BROTHER S. CALVIN JOHNSON President of the Buffalo Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha THE

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W h o will ever forget the superbuses will meet the train at the Ithaca station and transport the convention d u p e r Banquet a n d Closed Formal? The Banquet of 1010 male and Itpilgrimage t h r o u g h the town, past male guests was by Ear the largest in points of historical interest to Alpha the annals of Alpha Phi Alpha. It men and so familiar to the founders of our fraternityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;through the Cornell was held in the Morrison Hotel's Campus, to the Siatler Club, operated Constitution R o o m followed by the by the u n d e r g r a d u a t e School of Hotel Closed Dance in the G r a n d Ballroom Administration. Here in the spacious on the same floor. Souvenirs clinched memories of this and luxurious dining loom, witli Cornell University officials in attendance, affair. T h e women received an encased gold pen a n d pencil set; the the Fraternity will officially establish the Alpha Phi Alpha Cornell Memori- men black metal strong boxes imprinted with gold lettering. All memal Foundation with an ultimate value ol more than $25,000 for the purpose ories will be relived whenever one unlocks this box. of assisting worthy students to attend Finally, w h o will fail to recall such the University. With this gesture, the first of all college fraternities significant firsts as: serving Negro men. will pay lilting tribute to the vision, u n d e r s t a n d i n g . and fortitude of the founders of their fraternity. An outstanding speaker ol national note has been extended an invitation to address the luncheon, but speech making will be limited to those lew persons whose participation will be pertinent to the theme-, purpose, and dignity of the occasion. T h e r e will also be time and provisions made for a guided tour of the beautiful Cornell Campus, which in itself is a natural wonderland in the m o n t h of August. T h e "Pilgrim T r a i n " will leave Ithaca about .'5 p. m. in the afternoon for the two-and-a-half h o u r r u n back to Buffalo and the d o s i n g features ol the Anniversary celebration. Cost of the pilgrimage, including transportation and luncheon, will not exceed $9.00 and will be included in the $20.00 registration lee. A like amount must be assessed lot each additional person w h o plans to attend to cover the actual cost of transportation a n d luncheon. Because of the unusual nature of this phase of the celebration, early registration is essential, particularly if delegates plan to include their wives a n d families in this phase- of the program. â&#x20AC;˘

Refinements to " O p e r a t i o n Cornell" are c o n t i n u i n g to assure smoothness ol operation, m a x i m u m comfort, and a most memorable and enjoyable experience for all concerned. â&#x20AC;˘

41st Convention (Continued from Page 1) affairs and will be an everlasting memory. T h e lavish million-dollar "Fashion Show" was a n o t h e r unforgettable affair. It was held in the beautiful T e r r a c e R o o m of the Morrison Hotel for visiting wives a n d sweethearts. Beautiful a n d shapely live models tipped about in fabulous attire of expensive furs, dresses, hats, shoes a n d accessories. F E B R U A R Y , 1956

T h r e e successive informal d a m e s Acquisition a n d dedication of Alpha Phi Alpha's National Headquarters building Financial contribution to aid Mississippi "sufferers" and Alpha's National Headquarters Alpha Wives and Sweethearts invited to participate in the Banquet Report on results of financial membership voting for General President No revisions of the National Constitution in contrast to 194"), 19.54 overhauling. 801 Registered Delegates.

Observations of the 41st General Convention As Viewed By An Undergraduate FORMAL BANQUET 1 onstinasUT Brother Sidney A. Jones. Jr. Invocation Brother A. wayman Ward Undergraduate Observations Brother Mason Davis Musical Selection Brother Nelson Woodley Introduction of Guest Speaker Brother Sydney Pj Brown Guest Speaker Brother John H. Johnson Presentation of Awards Brother Tolly W. Harris Introduction and Installation of New General Officers Brother Charles H. Wesley Remarks The General President Alpha Hymn — Adjournment

By B R O . M A S O N DAVIS C H I C A G O , I l l . - T h e Fraternalism

Convention Schedule 1956 August 7-11 — Buffalo, New York 1957 August — Los Angeles, California 1958 December — Richmond, Virginia* 1959 December — Cincinnati, Ohio 1960 December — Atlantic City,

ganization of society, but our task has been to d e m a n d a n d obtain the strict and full enforcement of the Constitution of the U n i t e d States. T h i s is no more than was stated by our most dynamic and illustrious Brother Dr. William Edward Burghardt Dubois, when he was asked what the magazine, the Crisis, dem a n d e d of the United States. The Undergraduate Brother is contrived with, not only the immediate problem which confronts his respective chapter, but with problems which have long range prospective. Problems of Housing, Growth of the Fraternity, Maintenance of Position of the Fraternity, Initiation, Leadership and Procedure are realized by the Underg r a d u a t e Brothers. T h e s e are pertinent to us as they pertain not only to the General organization, b u t even more specifically to the u n d e r g r a d u a t e Brothers; lor here lies the potential of the Fraternity, not only for the ensuing years, b u t the U n d e r g r a d u a t e Brother a n d C h a p t e r are charged with the responsibility lor laying the foundation lor the future Brothers who are not yet conceived a n d n u r t u r e d in the organization of the Fraterniiv and must provide the growth of the future, greater and more incomparable Alpha of which we, as Undergraduates, stand now to supply its leader ship. Yet, Brothers, bear in mind, that leadership does not necessarily as a m a t t e r of tradition stand as a requisite of graduate Brothers. I am not proposing that the leadership afforded by G r a d u a t e Brothers is not of greatest competance, b u t I do state that actual, a n d real potential leadership lies presently in the existing g r o u p of U n d e r g r a d u a t e Brothers. T h i s convention has pointed out most vividly t h a t there is a need for more Housing, particularly on the Undergraduate level. T h i s has been a point of consideration a n d action for a n u m b e r of years, b u t this convention has painted a more illuminating picture of the need for a more closch knit B r o t h e r h o o d a m o n g the Undergraduate as is afforded by H o u s i n g a n d realized in the strengthening and growth of the B r o t h e r h o o d of Alpha. T h e records of A l p h a afford factual data of the massive growth and achievements of the Fraternity from its founding in 1906 down to 1956. But the records can never show the tremendous record of the Fraternity which would be existent had Under-

THE

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graduate H o u s i n g been afforded in each of these years. T h i s is one of the main problems faced by the Undergraduate Brother and by the graduate brother. W e realize that Housing is of necessity and pertinence, yei we must keep in m i n d the many complex problems which are encountered in the quest lor wide spread housing. Another of the big problems facing Undergraduate Brothers which must be dealt with in the same serious and precise m a n n e r allocated for the primary problem of scholarships, is that of leadership. Of this point Brothers, I would warn you not to concentrate and < hannel your thoughts of leadership selfishly along the lines of leadership for Alpha only. O u r leadership must be thought of, practical, and directed toward t h a t of a lull and integrated society of the world, for Alpha is for the society of the world. Could this be any more illustrated than it already has been in Brother T h u r g o o d Marshall's Eight lor justice in the fiery rampages ol hell in Mississippi as he worked in accord with the T i l l a n d other cases, by Brother A r t h u r Show in Alabama as he seeks to destroy the Legislative bowler of the Black Belt Combination Plantation owner-Senator, and by Brother Belford Lawson and Jawn Landifer as they lifted the black curtains which engulfed the Dining Cars (this was done through the Henderson vs the Southern Railway). It would be selfish and an oversight n o t to mention the fights to open the previous lily white schools of the South. U n d e r g r a d u a t e Brothers realize the need for the competent leadership which each of us is preparing lor. T h i s leadership must stand for the betterment and growth, not only for Alpha Phi Alpha, b u t for all m a n k i n d . Its partial final results will be manifested for all men a n d their life. Potential leadership, as well as Housing, Growth, Maintenance a n d G r a d u a t e â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Undergraduate relation is the inherent and demanded job of each of us as Undergraduate Brothers. T h i s is a job which has to be done a n d will be done, for as Alpha men, we d e m a n d it of ourselves. For many u n d e r g r a d u a t e Brothers, the 41st General Convention is not the first attended, b u t for many others, litis stands as the first of many more to look forward to. I feel that I ant I tee to say that this Chicago Convention which has been so effectively a n d efficiently organized a n d r u n is a great achievement of Brother Charles Lane of X I L a m b d a a n d Brother Malcolm Lee of T h e t a Chapter and their worthy staffs and Com F E B R U A R Y , 1956

GITY D F

ITHAGA

TOMPKINS OPflCB

TME

COUNTY

NEW YORK MAYOR

J u l y 2 5 , 1956

To the Officers and Members Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Dear Friends: As Mayor of this City I would like to offer you congratulations on your Fiftieth Anniversary and also on your decision to visit Ithaca where your organization was founded. We are pleased that this City was selected as part of this anniversary celebration. We have many educational buildings located here that will interest all members of your fraternity. I am sure that all will enjoy the scenery of the Finger Lakes region and the State Parks located near here. Your organization of college men has contributed much to American life and culture over the past fifty years. I join with the rest of the City in wishing you a very pleasant stay while in Ithaca. Sincerely yours,

f Mayor of

Ithaca

JR:mac

mittees. T h i s work cannot be too highly praised. W e must not fail to speak of the usual competence of our u n t i r i n g rock of stamina and efficiency, the General Secretary of Alpha, Brother James Huger. This convention has occurred at the awakening of one of the most glorious a n d electrifying eras of m a n k i n d a n d each of us should be grateful to be living a n d a Brother in A l p h a P h i Alpha at such a time. Chicago has served as the biological factor which is now emerging the adolescence -of the Jewel Brothers, Brothers Dickason. Brooker, Wesley, C a n n o n , a n d which

was given added impetus into man hood by Brothers Lawson and Smith has now been guided into the prime life of m a n h o o d and will celebrate its birthday in Buffalo as the result ol the dynamic leadership of our beloved General President, Brother Frank L. Stanley. â&#x20AC;˘ In Demand "I'll have to have a raise, sir", said the bookkeeper. "There are three companies after me." "What three?" demanded his boss. "Light, telephone and water," was the reply. PAGE

Convention

Address of Past General Prexy EDITOR'S N'OII:

Brother Booker now

pastor of II church in Youngstown, Ohio. was introduced by Brother Roscoe (*.'. Giles, who recently joined the Chicago Medical College as the first Negro in be, so honored. The May issue will carry <i special feature on Brothet Giles and his contribution in the field <if medicine. B R O T H E R S. S. B O O K E R Past General President C H I C A G O , 111.-] am very pleased to be here this afternoon. I deem it a great honor to be invited lure- on this memorable occasion a n d it is with a sense ol dee]) gratitude 1 come. I .Tin pleased to have here Brother (.iles. the one w h o wrote the first ritual, one of the six delegates to that first convention in Washington in 1906. A convention that opened l>\ n a d i n g the 20th chapter of St. Matthew and somehow that scripture saturated our souls, for in it we found tin genu that brought life to us. O u r minds lingered over the 27th a n d 28th verses, which read as follows: " A n d who M i n e r will be chief a m o n g you, lit him be your servant." "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered u n t o but to minister a n d to

give his life a ransome for many." These words stayed with us, they were repeated at the b a n q u e t in that little restaurant and, believe it or not. I am of the opinion that the words from this scripture gave birth to the slogan "First of all, servants of all. we shall transcend all." Alpha Phi Alpha over the years a n d decades has made a marvelous record both in regard to the n u m b e r ol c h a p ters founded a n d the n u m b e r of men initiated. T h e progress was slow a n d the first fifteen or twenty years were filled with problems a n d perplexities. However, il was d u r i n g these years that the brothers caught the spirit of that lowly Nazarene w h o said "I come not to be ministered u n t o b u t to minister." I am truly amazed when I think of that little club of college men at Cornell, when I think of that first convention with six delegates, representing three ol the four chapters that met in Washington in 1906 . . . W h e n I think of the many obstacles that h a d to be overcome . . . a n d when I check the records today a n d find more than 24.H chapters a n d more than 10,000 Alpha men enrolled . . . located in every state of the u n i o n a n d in all

FASHION SHOW IS A BIG HIT The Chicago Alpha Wives Auxiliary really put on a swell luncheon and style show lor the visiting wives during the Forty-first General Convention in the Terrace Casino Room at the Morrison Hotel. PAGE

parts ol the world . . . when I note again a n d find Alpha is interracial, national and international, I am ready to take off my hat a n d proclaim â&#x20AC;&#x201D;"What h a t h G o d wrought?" T h i s d i d not h a p p e n just because it is Alpha . . . it h a p p e n e d because brothers in those early days lost themselves in sacrifice a n d service. T h e "go to high school a n d go to college" drive was the dynamic stroke that set in m o t i o n an educational wave that had tremendous repercussions. T h o u sands of boys a n d girls were found in college as a result of this u n i t e d push by all the brothers in every chapter. Another, reaction to this educational appeal was t h e new interest manifested by brothers w h o busied themselves in setting u p new chapters a n d in preaching A N E W t h e gospel of Alpha P h i Alpha not for a day but for life. T h i s was indeed a new day and the beginning of the greatest growth in the history of the Fraterni ty. For the first time t h e leaders passed the word a r o u n d that a secretary is needed, some o n e to carry on the work, keep records a n d promote the program. T h a t day came a n d a secretary was employed a n d the building of the Fraternity began. All h o n o r to o u r wise leaders w h o dared to e x p a n d . . . dared to grow, dared to purchase chapter houses a n d dared to cry for a national home. Brothers prayed, p l a n n e d a n d worked for a home. T h e i r prayers have been answered, the h o m e has been secured a n d another milestone has been reached in the growth of Alpha. Permit m e therefore to challenge your thinking, a n d without u n d u e crystal gazing, tell you that 1 see a new a n d greater dav dawning. As we appraise the strength a n d spirit, we are ready for the climb to greater h u m a n understanding. Dr. W m . D u r a n t , the famous philosopher. was asked by one of his students " W h a t has t h e study of philosophy revealed to you as a reason for living?" W i t h o u t hesitation the good Doctor replied, " T h e purpose of living is to climb m o u n t a i n s . " His student asked againâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;"What is the good of that!" T h e doctor replied " W h e n you have climbed one m o u n t a i n , you will see a n o t h e r m o u n t a i n further o n to climb." W h e n you lose the desire to know what lies beyond the next mountain, "Life is no longer worth living." Somehow, my brothers, that k i n d of spirit will create a n d THE

SPHINX

stimulate new life in every brother of Alpha. The period in which we live is made more dangerous by man's shocking illiteracy in human relations, for the most crucial question facing our times is whether we can overcome color prejudice, intolerance and injustice and win the struggle before it is too late. Man in his genius, has performed miracles in science and industry. Man has learned how to harness nature, how to control the relations among the elements and to direct them as he sees fit, but he has never yet learned how to live harmoniously with his fellowman. That is the urgent need today. A recognition of a bond of kinship among people, the realization of the brotherhood of man, irrespective of differences in race, in culture or in ideology. I do not share the pessimism of many who feel that since we have discovered the means of mass destruction that the end of civilization is at hand. Man is ready for the climb into the realm of ideas and ideals. The man of action may control today, but the man of ideas controls the future. Is it not high time that we revivify the ideals of that good man born 2000 years ago in a manger? The time is here for us Alpha Men to rephrase in dynamic form for our day the vision of free men in a free society, so it will remain a living spirit and an inspiring dream for men of generations to conic. Brothers, we must revitalize the spirit of Alpha Phi Alpha and we must re-assert again and again its ideals of manhood. Alpha Phi Alpha must be a living reality in America, if it is to survive as a symbolizing light lor the rest of the Greeks and inspire all men to noble deeds. If we immortalize our founders it is incumbent upon us to apply our minds and our hands to the problems of this day in your town, we are to invite others to share and we must lend our co-operation to others as we seek to improve dark skinned peoples here and across the world. We cannot nor can other so-called intellectuals, bask in the glory of self aggrandisement, glorifying ourselves under the guise of building a better world, while hundreds and thousands of our kind rove through the darkness of night seeking the way, trying to find the light. We must rise to the occasion and proceed to immortalize the spirit of its founding. We must have an unquestioned sincerity â&#x20AC;&#x201D;and a daring tenacity. We are not in a race for the limelight but we seek an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the spirit of our founders. The barriers are falling. May 17, FEBRUARY, 1956

1954 will become a memorable date in the history of America, and the beginning of a new era in the life of all Americans. The hows and whens must be worked out and we must lend a hand. Yes . . . Alpha men have majored in this field of human understanding and we must continue the work of E. K. Jones, Dubois, Hayes, Evans, McGee, Jerrick, Marshall Page and Powell and many others on all fronts. Every brother must be concerned . . . stand guard, ready to serve and to save every human being caught in the throws of racial bigotry. The challenge of implementing these matters is at our doors. It is a challenge of leadership and it is an opportunity of service. Shall we

meet it head on . . . Shall we marshall our strength in every region, in every chapter and in every brother? Shall we pad our rolls with officers in name? We fight not a limited battle to end injustice and discrimination for a few people of color, in any one country, but we must strive and fight for the American ideal itself, for the freedom light that leads all men of the earth toward the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. Standing here this afternoon in the very heart of America and the heart of Alphadom . . . Standing here on the threshold of 50 years of struggle and achievement . . . Here with the light of 20 centuries flooding our (Continued on Page 38)

CLEVELAND ALPHA WIVES BUY LIFE MEMBERSHIP Mrs. Beverly Davis, president of the Cleveland Alpha Wives Auxiliary, presents Dr. James E. Levy, president of the Cleveland Branch of the N.A.A.C.P.. with a check to cover the cost of a Life Membership. Mrs. Davis is the charming wife of Brother Sanford Davis, a practicing physician and member of Delta Alpha Lambda. Cleveland. Dr. Levy is a dentist and a member of the Cleveland Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi.

PAGE 13

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity-5 Oth Anniversary Convention

> O

TUES., AUG. 7

WED., AUG. 8

THURS., AUG. 9

FRI., AUG. 10

SAT., AUG. 11

Registration Hotel Statler

Open Period

Committee Meetings

Convention Business Session Committee Reports — etc.

Leave 8 A.M.

Opportunity to see Niagara Frontier

Convention Business Session Committee Reports — etc.

Lehigh Valley Station Cornell Pilgrimage Arrive 10:30 A.M.

Open Alpha Golf Tournament 1 to 5 P. M.

Opening Session Business Anniversary Program #1

Convention Session Anniversary Program #3

Convention Session Anniversary Program #5

Convention Session Anniversary Program #6

Leave 3 P.M. Arrive Buffalo 5:30

8 P.M. to 10 P.M.

Registration—YMCA Meeting of: Executive Council; Anniversary Committee Hotel Statler

Convention Session with Alpha Wives and Sweethearts Anniversary Program #2

"Musical Alphacade 1906 — 1956" Memorial Auditorium Program #4

Social Hour Chapter Reunions

Public Anniversary Program Kleinhans Music Hall Anniversary Prog. #7

Anniversary Banquet with Alpha Wives and Sweethearts Statler Ball Room (Closed — Formal)

10 P.M. U N T I L •

Tour Niagara Falls Canadian View Illumination 8 : 3 0 — 11:30

9 : 3 0 — 12 Omega Hospitality Hour

Anniversary Dance Kleinhans Music Hall (Closed — Formal) Host: Rho Lambda Delta Epsilon

"Dancing Under the Stars" Grover Cleveland Country Club 10 P. M. Until

MON., AUG. 6 Registration, Housing 9 A.M. YMCA—585 Michigan Meeting of Executive to Council and An12 Noon niversary Committee Hotel Statler Registration—YMCA 2 P.M. to 5 P.M.

12:30 — 3 A. M. Alpha Lake Cruise

CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS Hotel Statler, Buffalo, New York

PRE-CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS 585 Michigan Ave., YMCA, Buffalo, New York Alpha National Office 4432 So. Parkway Chicago, III. X

PROGRAM O U T L I N E

August 7 to 11, 1956 — Buffalo, New York

Pan Hellenic Dance

Luncheon at 12 Statler Club, Cornell University

Closed Farewell Party Statler Ball Room

Special Alpha Show — Glen Casino 1 P. M. to 3 P. M. TO THE BROTHERS IN ALPHA EVERYWHERE . . . and to their Wives, Sweethearts and families, we extend a warm and urgent invitation to begin planning NOW to attend your 50th Anniversary Celebration, which will be centered in Buffalo and Ithaca, New York, August 7-11, 1956. Here, on this page, you will find the program outlined of the week long celebration which represents—in part— the work of your 50th Anniversary Committee and their co-hosts, Rho Lambda and Delta Epsilon Chapters. Every effort is being made to develop a program that will move along quickly and smoothly, from one high point to another, providing for you a memorable experience worthy of the significant occasion for which it was planned. For this reason, we feel, it is deserving of your fullest support and participation and therefore earnestly request your cooperation in placing your own registration Early—as well as that of your wife and family. Please return your registration forms as soon as received in order that you might be assured of the most comfortable accommodations. Your spontaneous response will be a source of inspiration to your committee and strengthen assurances that this promises to be a "Birthday Party" for Alpha Phi Alpha that will not only reflect the glory of the past, but point the way to even greater heights in service to mankind in the promising, challenging future.

Address of

Dedication:

Alpha Phi Alpha National Headquarters Building l'.R(). A. MACEO SMITH Past General President CHICAGO, 111.-We have met here in solemn ceremony today to celebrate the acquisition of a National Home, and to dedicate this shrine to the use and enjoyment of the total brotherhood and to posterity. In approaching this task, I feel very humble indeed, and therefore wish to share the spotlight of this festival with many of ilie unsung brothers who have done so much to make this occasion possible. I wish to pay a special tribute to Brother Oscar Brown and the Brothers of Theta and Xi Lambda < hapters. Also, to the General Officers of my administration, and to others who will be signally honored today when the perpetual plaques are presented and installed. Naturally, I am proud to be associated with these great Brothers in bringing to successful fruition this noble dream. As we look at this beautiful structure, and inspect these hallowed premises, I am reminded of the story of how the great Niagara Falls impressed four men of different nationalities when they viewed it for the first time. The American Indian adopted the Falls as a god, and worshipped it as the father of all the tribes; the Chinese bowed in humble submission, and called upon his deceased ancestors to pay fealty to this great waterfall; the Frenchman saw it as a thing of beauty, and wanted to paint it for eternity; the American looked at it as a great wonder—he hesitated and then, in a moment, exclaimed, "My, look at all the horsepower going to waste!" I submit my brothers, this home represents great potential energy which must be harnessed, to increase Alpha's service, not only to the brotherhood, but to all mankind. This majestic edifice stands as a mighty oasis in the parched desert of Alpha fellowship, providing fresh running water to quench the thirsts of countless brothers needing regeneration of soul and body, to revive the "Good ole Alpha Spirit"; also, it stands as an illuminating beacon directing each of us to the true requisites of building a firm foundation, first. At this season of the year, it is second nature for all Christendom to be moved by tender and reverent thoughts of the Christ Child, of home, and all of its warmth, of the family and its fellowship, bringing good tidings of great joy, "Peace on earth to FEBRUARY, 1956

men of good will." It is, therefore, most fitting that we meet here, at this lime, to dedicate our National Home, —with all the symbolism the occasion merits. Go back with me if you please to another Christmas Day some 3 -years ago, A.D. 1952. My wife, Brother Win. McKinney and I were traveling en route to the Cleveland Convention. It was a cold, bleak, dreary snowy day. There we sat in the observation car of a fast moving railway train. No other passengers occupied the car and, seemingly, few others had business that would take them away from home on Christmas Day. While passing the time away, we engaged in many discussions, including, displaced persons, family and home life. As

All Alpha Says Thanks!

Johnson Publishing Company welcomes you to Chicago with

CovoreWafa"'' J

)

THE HOME OF

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this entourage passed through town and hamlet—the smoke from home and fireside chimneys ga\e evidenct of warm family fellowships therein. Jingle Bells and the chatter of children at way-side stations lifted our spirits—and the lights on the distant hillsides served to lighten our hearts. Nevertheless, we harbored regrets that we, too, were not at home with our own. We felt emphatically the tragic nostalgia for home at Christmas-tinu . We thought of displaced persons, resulting from several wars, roaming the world, aimlessly, and often without hope. It was then that I began to realize that our National Fraternity although 47 years of age was also a displaced entity. Our National fraternity was a wanderer—it, too, had no place to call home. This scriptural reference from Luke came to mind, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." The irony of this situation was that here sat the General President of a great Fraternity, traveling away from home on Christmas day, to conthu i the convention of the nation's first and foremost organization—which organization was homeless and wandering. It was at that very moment that the idea and spirit of a National Home for our Fraternity was born. Quoting again from St. Luke 2nd Chapter, 7th verse, "And she brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger . . ." Suffice it to say, the manger here was a desolate pullman car, and necessity for continued national existence, was the motivation. We meet here today to celebrate the efficacy of that noble dream. Lord Byron has well said, that "organizations, like individuals, are truly great, only when they learn to feed, clothe and house themselves." The home is the hub of our civilization and culture. Out of its portals go the church, the school and the great institutions of our land. It is within this spirit that we dedicate our National Home today.

TIME 8 TO 10 P.M.

1820 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE Your hosts will be

0totket anJLyVl'tt.joHH.eyH-.foHH.sOH,

Among the chief attributes of a home are: love—brotherhood—fraternity and freedom. When we speak of "Home, Sweet, Home", God Bless our Home," "I will arise and go home to my father," "There is no place like home", we symbolize the eternal blessings that flow from love, serenity, peace and fraternity. Patience, longsuffering, charity, and selflessness, all flow from the inner streams of the home, and stretch forth a helping hand to lift and bless all mankind. Correlatively, love is the firm foundation of this house—Brotherhood its sturdy walls—and Freedom, its roof, PAGE 15

EASTERN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE Members of the Host Committee for the 1956 Eastern Regional Convention to be held in Newark, N. J.. April 27-29. are completing plans for the convention. Left to right, seated: Brothers Hubert E. Crawford. Hugh R. Hill, co-chairman; I. Thomas Flagg, Jr.. president; Paul L. Cooper, co-chairman; Jerry L. Martin, R.R.T. . . . Standing: Brothers W. Neal Brown. Donald White, Phillip Hoggard. Robert A. Johnson. Ernest Stevenson, B. E. Goodall and James Eastman . . . Not shown are Bro hers James E. Abrams, Bertram C. Bland. Oliver Brown, J. C. Carr, Fred L. Davis. Harry Hazelwood. John Lathen, Wilbur Parker, Arthur Williams and George Younger.

protecting the entire fraternity family against the erosion of c o n t i n u i n g winter winds. O n e of our former General Presidents, Belford Lawson, once described o u r Fraternity as, "A sanctuary of scholars, a rendezvous for gentlemen." Now, along with that idea is the spirit of brotherhood. T h a t notion grows out of the concept of the family. W e are now a nationally housed brotherhood, providing for scholarly a n d gentle kinsmen, a sanctuary and a rendezvous. In c o m m u n i n g with my brothers l u r e ; in the quiet sanctuary of this living fellowship, I am better o p p o r t u n e d to rediscover my own soul—my God—and the eternal precepts of Alpha Phi Alpha. Truly, this house embodies the spirit of the poet who said: "I sought my soul and could not find it; I sought my God, and my God eluded me; I sought my brother, and found all three." Love a n d b r o t h e r h o o d oftentimes conspire to b r i n g protection, liberty a n d freedom, to the home-dwelling family. Love exemplifies, the growth —the service— a n d the devotion, which inevitably, lead to freedom. Hence, I beseech you, brethren, in the language of Oliver Wendell Holmes, to: PAGE

"Build thee more stately mansions, oh, my soul, As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, 'Til thou at length are free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea." Alpha m e n are strong men—big men—shaped by the Master Carpenter—and forged to work and forget themselves into immortality—Not little, self centered, selfish m e n who remember themselves into oblivion. W e have a great job to do. W i t h this home as a symbol we shall continue to build, " M o r e stately mansions," of National and world brotherhood. We are trained men; College men—the products of the f r o n t i e r s leaders—custodians of the dreams, the plans, a n d the work of pioneers,—possessors of the priceless heritage of courage, faith a n d hope. T h u s , we have a more glorious chance today than ever before to transform Race into Rapport—Creed into Deed—Profession into Performance—Mechanics into Humanics—and Prayer into Practice. Look about us if you will. W e are now engaged in a great social revolution. Liberty a n d justice are ever o n

the altar. But, the exhortation of the Prince of Peace to m e n of good will is just as resilient, efficacious a n d meaningful today as it was 2,000 years ago. T h i s principle a n d that alone, will navigate the great ship of state on this perilous voyage, to a victorious landing,—where the " F a t h e r h o o d of God a n d the b r o t h e r h o o d of m a n " shall be a present a n d priceless possession. Jewel Callis records that, "Alp h a Phi A l p h a was born in the shadows of slavery a n d on the l a p of discrimination." O u r founders sonic 50 years ago builded a firm foundation so that within these walls today, we have the power, the spirit, a n d the tools to settle this question of full freedom now. So, let each brother take new courage from these immortal lines of Sir William Blake and resolve to say: "Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear! O, clouds, unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, 'Til we have built Jerusalem. In England's green and pleasant land." May the spirit of this h o m e , serv(Continued on Page 40) THE

SPHINX

Dedication of National Headquarters 4432 SOUTH PARKWAY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DECEMBER 27, 1955

Service

H roaram J

oDedicaL i cation

General President Frank L. Stanley, Sr.

l i R O T H E R A. WAYMAN WARD. Conducting LITANY

Presiding

CHAPLAIN: In the name of Him who hast created all things, and hast given Light and Life to all mankind. Amen. We are met here today in special conclave to dedicate this house as T h e National Headquarters Home of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. This plaque is received, then, as the svmbol by which this dedicated house ma\ have special meaning. In the spirit of JEWEL HENRY A. CALLIS, that ever seeks the broadening of mental horizons, the deepening of the wells of knowledge, and the exaltation of scholarship,

Invocation Brother C. Anderson Davis

RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE T H I S HOUSE.

Presentation of Telegrams, Letters and other expressions of Congratulations Brother Sidney A. Jones, Jr.

Musical Selection Xi Lambda's Glee Club

CHAPLAIN: For the spreading of the spirit of true fraternity into a developing universal brotherhood as exemplified in JEWEL NATHANIEL A. MURRAY, RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE T H I S HOUSE. CHAPLAIN: T O the remembrance of the contributions of JEWEL CHARLES H. CHAPMAN for the building of character that shall have respect from all mankind. and in turn shall have respect for all men of integrity, RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE T H I S HOUSE. CHAPLAIN: T O the continued inspiration and noble example of JEWEL GEORGE B. KELLEY in making the high ideals and moral standards of Alpha Phi Alpha his guide in life's relationships, RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE T H I S HOUSE.

Introduction of Guest Speaker Brother Oscar C. Brown

CHAPLAIN: AS a tribute to the labors of JEWEL EUGENE KINKLE JONES', who lived gloriously a life that daily expressed Alpha's genuine love for all mankind. RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE THIS HOUSE. CHAPLAIN: In personal pledge to follow the example of JEWEL VERTNER W. TANDY in manly deeds and heroic living in spite of handicaps and outer obstacles.

Guest Speaker Brother A. Maceo Smith Past General President

RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE T H I S HOUSE. CHAPLAIN: In a summation of the high ideals and precepts of Alpha Phi Alpha that hold us in lasting friendships, and good fellowship as expressed in the life of JEWEL ROBERT H. OGLE, and as symbolized in this new home, RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE THIS HOUSE.

Introduction and Remarks by the Jewels

CHAPLAIN: And finally, to the consolidation of all Brothers in Alpha who follow the path lighted by our beloved Jewels, to the encouragement of those who seek after scholarship, who live heroically through manly deeds, who seek to serve all mankind, and to their peace and glory in achievement. RESPONSE: WE DEDICATE T H I S HOUSE.

Brother A. Wayman Ward

CHAPLAIN: Let us pray together: T o Him who knows our vows and gives strength and courage to keep them, we offer ourselves, along with this house, that this dual dedication may make of us brothers in truth, and this house a blessed home, where we shall ever be reminded that those who would be First of All, must be Servants of All in order to Transcend All. Alpha Phi Alpha forever. AMEN.

Solo — "Bless This House"

CHAPLAIN: I now have pleasure in returning this symbolic plaque to our distinguished President General, who shall order it hung in the niche especially prepared for it, that all who see it through the years mav know the meaning of its placement.

Service of Dedication

Brother Edward Pierson

FRATERNAL H Y M N BENEDICTION:

Presentation of Plaque

'H charis tou kuriou 'emon Iesou Christou meta ton pneumatos 'umon. Adelphoi. AMEN. (The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Brothers. AMEN.) , —BROTHER A. WAYMAN

General Secretary James E. Huger FEBRUARY, 1956

WARD

Chaplain, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

PAGE 17

PICTURES STOLEN DURING THE 41st CONVENTION If you find yourself a part of this p a g e , don't try to figure out v/hen it w a s taken. Our mystery photographers, Henry Crawford of Cleveland, Ohio and a photographer from the Ebony magazine staff, furnished us with the a b o v e pictures. W e decided to do a paper doll act with themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;cut them u p â&#x20AC;&#x201D; y o u c a n spot Mrs. Johnny Johnson, mother of the Ebony Publisher, Dr. Dickason. Chairman of Alphas Election Commission. President Stanley. Jewel Brother Kelley, Brother Rudolph Simms, w h o delivered with great eloquence "The House of Alpha," Past President Belford Lawson, Brother Frankie Dee, Brother and Mrs. Roy D. Clinthome, Indianapolis, Ind., A w a r d s Chairman Brother Tolly W. Harris. Public Meeting Speaker, Dr. Mason Howard, Brother John Binford Smith. Detroit. Mrs. Ruth D. Titus. Chicago. Mrs. John Binford Smith, Detroit, Brother and Mrs. Leroy Jefferies, of the Ebony staff, Mrs. Charles W. Anderson, Jr.. Louisville, Ky.. Brother Sidney Jones. Chicago. Brother J. Rupert Picott. Eastern Vice-President, Brother Nelson Woodley and his accompanist, Chicago, Brother Peter Lane, Dallas, Texas, the two grass skirt young ladies w h o presented the orchid leis. Brother Mason Davis, undergraduate speaker and if you look real hard behind the Liberace Candelebra, you will find Brother and Mrs. Perry Jackson. Cleveland. Ohio. There are gobs of others but w e will let you find them.

^srrom the Ljenerai National Headquarters, C H I C A G O , 111.—Greetings to each of you in this first edition of the S P H I N X for the year 1956. As most of you have heard by now a very fabulous convention in the History of Alpha Phi Alpha has just been completed. O u r hats are off to the brothers of the " W i n d y City" for doing everything "jam u p . " T h e arrangement of the Morrison Hotel lor H e a d q u a r t e r s with meeting and living accommodations all u n d e r one roof was most u n i q u e . T h e o p e n i n g session set an all time record with more than 300 brothers in attendance. T h e sending out of General Officers' Reports provided the vehicle for our sessions to move on schedule with General President Stanley at the helm. On Tuesday afternoon we dedicated the beautiful National Headquarters with Brothers Oscar Brown and A. Maceo Smith sharing the spotlight. Wednesday our sessions ran on time with our public meeting on that evening. Dr. T h e o d o r e R. Mason Howard of M o u n d Bayou, Mississippi served as our Public Meeting Speaker a n d received the Alpha Award of Merit before more than 2,500 persons. O u r open dance was enjoyed by more than 1,000 brothers and guests who danced until early m o r n i n g and then went on to the Omega breakfast at the Southernland Hotel. T h u r s d a y , again our sessions were held on schedule and that evening Brother J o h n H. Johnson, Editor a n d Publisher of T a n , Jet, H u e a n d Ebony gave a cocktail party. Frankly, words are simply i n a d e q u a t e to express the sheer magnificence of the affair. It was "the most" and that is putting it mildly. O n Friday General President Stanley and his entire cabinet were re-elected with the addition of Brother C. Anderson Davis of Bluefield, West Virginia as Mid-western Vice-President. T h e assistant Vice-Presidents are: Eastern, Brother Frank DeCosta, Jr., Washington, D. C ; Southern, Brother Clarence E. Branch, Jr., Nash ville, Tennessee; Southwestern, Brother H. R u d o l p h Sims, Baton Rouge, Louisana; western, Brother fames Johnson, Berkley, California and Midwestern, Brother William A. Lester, Jr., Chicago, Illinois. Friday night almost 1200 brothers a n d their FEBRUARY,

1956

Secret ecreiciny

guests attended the Formal Banquet and enjoyed either African Lobster Tail or Prime Sirloin of Beef with a beautifully illuminated parade of the desert. T h e dance? W i l l what would you expect after such a successful four days — a BALL, and that it was. T h e convention adopted a n d wired a resolution urging President Eisenhower, F. B. I. Director Hoover and Attorney General Brownell to "Invoke the authority a n d co-ordinate jurisdiction of the National Government in the protection of the traditional rights of life, liberty, property and happiness of American citizens ol color who have been a n d are now victims of the antagonists of the Supreme Court decision of May 17, 1954." W e have already heard from F. B. I. Director Hoover in response to this telegram. The Fraternity again put into action its theme "Desegregation the mode, Total Integration the goal" with the a p p r o p r i a t i o n of $2,500 to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, raising in cash a n d pledges more than $1,000. for the relief of Mississippi victims of atrocities and economic pressure, approving more than $35,000. in scholarships a n d fellowships, establishing a vocational guidance committee and an Educational Foundation to administer the scholarship funds and approving the application for Alpha Phi Alpha to request admission into the National Interfraternity Conference. T h e date of National Founders day was changed to December 4th in accordance with the history of Alpha Phi Alpha. T h e last lull week in April was approved as A n n u a l Education Week a n d the last lull week in October as A n n u a l Citizenship Week. T h e dates this year are: Education Week, April 22nd-28th and Citizenship Week, October 21st-27th. A 50th Anniversary Postage Stamp was endorsed and a $50,000 Foundation was authorized in commemora-

eJjedk

tion of o u r 50th Anniversary. All Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha were encouraged to subscribe to a life membership in the N A A C P . T h e following r e c o m m e n d a t i o n was adopted: T h a t any chapter initiating a person not in accordance with the m a n d a t e of the General Constitution be suspended from the Fraternity by the Executive Council immediately pending presentation of the charge at the General Convention. A full report of the Convention will be found in the minutes of the 41st General Convention. 42nd

General Convention and 50/// Anniversary Celebration T h e 41st General Convention approved the full program of the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Many delightful treats are in store for the brothers a n d their families when they get to Buffalo August 7-11, 1956. As Brother O. Wilson Winters said, "It was a fine convention—unquestionably the best yet, but I think the Brothers in Buffalo will have an agreeable surprise for us." Plan now, brothers, to enjoy this 50th Anniversary surprise. Information will be sent in o u r next newsletter on hotel accommodations a n d other phases of this great a n d o u t s t a n d i n g occasion. Reclamation O u r goal by August, 10,000 active brothers. W e can reach it if each C h a p t e r and brother will do his part. Regional Conventions Southern: March 30th, 31st and April 1st, D u r h a m , N o r t h Carolina. Southwestern: April 6th, 7th a n d 8th, Austin, T e x a s . Eastern: April 27th, 28th a n d 29th, Newark, New jersey. Western: July 6th and 7th, Portland, Oregon. Midwestern: December 28th, 29th and 30th St. Louis, Missouri. Again brothers, let us do out part (ALL O F US) in helping to reach o u r goal of 10,000 active brothers by August.

DEADLINE

DATE

May Issue-The Sphinx Advertising . .April 15

Pictures and Other Copy . .. May 1 PAGE

ALPHA PHI ALPHA CLOSED BANQUET OPENED TO WIVES AND GUESTS OF VISITING BROTHERS

For the first time in the history of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the closed formal banquet w a s opened to the w i v e s and guests of the visiting Brothers. The 41st General Convention, held recently in Chicago, staged the closed banquet in the Grand Ballroom of the lovely Morrison Hotel, which, incidentally, w a s the headquarters for the Convention. So successful w a s the official action of having the lovely ladies in attendance at the banquet, that Brothers w h o did not bring their w i v e s to Chicago, h a v e already v o w e d that they will not b e caught in Buffalo, the site of the 50th Anniversary Convention, without, not only their w i v e s but the entire family.

Some of the lovely couples caught by our cameraman are: Picture number 1, left to right: Brother Charles Anderson, Convention Keynote speaker, Louisville, Ky.; Mrs. Marie Scruggs, Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Ruth D. Titus, Chicago. Illinois (Barton's aunt); Brother W. Barton Beatty. Jr.. Editor of the SPHINX Magazine, Hampton, Virginia; Mrs. Margaret Smith, Detroit. Michigan; Brother Ramon Scruggs, Executive of Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Phannye Huger and Brother Jimmie Huger, our General Secretary. Chicago, Illinois. Picture number 2, Brother and Mrs. Homer Chavis. Champaign. Illinois, were

caught in a jovial mood b e t w e e n d a n c e s . Picture number 3. Grand "Prexy" Frank Stanley and his lovely wife, lone, (their two sons were also present) Brother Stanley presided at all the business sessions with dispatch and precision, and in the evening w h e n joined by his wife, together they had only ears for music and feet for dancing while accepting all of the greetings b e s t o w e d upon them by the Brothers and their guests. Picture number 4, General Counsel. Brother Billy Jones and his wife, Mrs. Jones. They are from East St. Louis. Illinois. They were caught in a lovely mood while chatting with Miss Roma Jones of Chicago, Illinois. Picture number 5, the Southwest greets the Northeast—left to right—Charming Mrs. Walter

B. Holland and her prominent Alpha husband. Dr. Walter B. Holland of Buffalo. N. Y. (Active in 50th Anniversary plans for August. 1956) and Brother Tolly Harris. Chairman of Alpha's Committee on Achievements and A w a r d s and his lovely and gracious wife, Mrs. Harris; they are from Tulsa. Oklahoma. Lots and lots of other charming and lovely ladies were a part of the great spectacle—impossible to get pictures of them all—but w e are going to get some more pictures in August during the 50th Anniversary Convention which convenes in Buffalo August 7-11, 1956—if you are there, it is a date for a candid shot.

EBONY RECEPTION IN HONOR OF BROTHERS AND GUESTS A CELEBRATED OCCASION

Brother John H. Johnson, Publisher and Editor of Ebony, Jet, Hue and Tan magazines with members of his staff entertained Brothers and The their guests with a reception and cocktail Party of the publishing company's home office building, located in downtown Chicago. party presented an opportunity for g o o d fellowship and jovial fun that blended well with the holiday season. The food, w e are, sure w a s planned by the Ebony Food Editor, Miss Knight, included all of the whims of taste, "turkey, ham. s a l a d s , pastry, vegetables, spices and celery, other meats" that made for Shakespeare's "Capon lined belly-" The drinks ran the gamut from c h a m p a g n e to Old Taylor. The entire party setting w a s built around a H a w a i i a n atmosphere enhanced with native music a s p l a y e d on string instruments b y four different groups of musicians located at different levels and in different rooms of the artistically trimmed interior of the Publishing Company. All present had a good time and expressed willingness to remain longer . . . Picture No. 1 finds Brother Sydney Jones. Chicago Alderman and Banquet

PAGE 20

THE SPHINX

Toastmaster in conversation with the two beautiful ladies in H a w a i i a n "Hula" skirts w h o presented e a c h lady guest with an H a w a i i a n Lei made of b a b y orchids flown into Chicago just a few hours before the party. Picture No. 2 catches a quartet of Brothers, left to right: Dr. Milton S. J. Wright, Department Head. Wilberforce University, Dr. Charles W e s l e y , President of Central State College, Wilberforce, Ohio. Dr. Walter Booker. School of Medicine, Howard University. Washington, D. C. and Dr. Howard Long, College Administrator, Central State College, Wilberforce. Ohio. As you can s e e they are modeling the men's "ala" H a w a i i a n h e a d gear which w a s a gift to e a c h Brother attending the Ebony Party. Picture No. 3. Brother Editor Johnson (center) chats with a group of his guests. Incidentally Brother Johnson w a s the recipient of one of Alpha Phi Alpha's highest annual a w a r d s . Picture No. 4 s h o w s part of the 1500 plus guests attending the party—the picture w a s taken near the entrance but on a second level—The party w a s great, thanks to Brother and Mrs. John H. Johnson.

FEBRUARY, 1956

PAGE 21

^Defensive

una K^f-Pensive S^truaaleS

^LJemocrucu Jowura By B R O . C. W. A N D E R S O N , J R . Counsellor at Law, Louisville, Ky. Keynote Speech vention.

list

General

Con-

C H I C A G O , I l l . - T h e r e is perhaps no other period at which this world in which we live faces a greater challenge t h a n in the vast area of race relations. It is especially t r u e today at a time when the U n i t e d Nations ol the world are so concerned a n d so worried about the democratic rights of minority groups t h r o u g h o u t the world. It is especially true when we pause to consider that racial hatred a n d religious intolerance were the basis for the wholesale slaying a n d m a i m i n g ot millions a n d millions of innocent, peace-loving men and women in the Second W o r l d W a r , a n d that racial hatred a n d religious intolerance is the basis lor conditions now existing in Mississippi a n d the several Southt i n states. After all, that lor which men a n d women fought and died in the Second World W a r was the right of m e n to be tree from the dictates of ruthless force, a n d to live with the assurance of equal justice u n d e r the law. \ common conception of justice ind a willingness to administer justice to all people alike is a far more binding and p e r m a n e n t tie t h a n the seals of an executive emergency order. T h e long range objective of the American Negro, both in peace a n d war, is to u p h o l d the ideals a n d perfect the processes of democratic government. II those of us gathered here u p o n this occasion will make a measurable c o n t r i b u t i o n toward creating better race relations a n d a greater understanding of the benefits of democracy lor all of the American people, irrespective of race, then we shall have aided in smoothing the rugged road which will lead to racial understanding, an e n d u r i n g peace, a n d a better America in which all people can live. T h e maintenance of national a n d civic unity a m o n g all groups in this country has become America's No. 1 issue. T o maintain this unity, we must immediately solve our economic and u n e m p l o y m e n t problems at the national level . . . we must underwrite a governmental policy of nonP A G E 22

KJOUI

Jsn

{Jur

^Jotul^rntearutiion

discrimination, a n d we must give concrete evidence of the fact that here in America there will not be one type of democracy in Mississippi a n d a n o t h e r type of democracy in New York. But rather, that security a n d equality of o p p o r t u n i t y shall be provided for all w h o live within our democratic framework. Unless America becomes more equality conscious on the homefront, it is going to be more difficult for this nation to retain its leadership in world affairs a n d to advise other nations as to the formal principals of democracy . . . when there still remains second-class citizenship for American Negroes in spite of o u r national Constitution a n d Bill of Rights. The worst disease u n d e r which our nation suffers is, in my opinion, the mistreatment of the American Negro in the South. It is a disease far worse than cancer or syphilis because they are confined to a limited lew individuals, while the disease of segregation and discrimination based on racial prejudice, as it affects the Negro people in America, destroys not only the framework of o u r democratic philosophy of government but it affects the leadership of o u r nation in world affairs, a n d at a time when world peace among men is so desired a n d so necessary. Certainly in the halls of the U n i t e d Nations every representative of the American Government, including Dr. R a l p h B u n d l e , Mrs. Eleanor Roose-

velt and others who have participated in the deliberations of that body have been faced with the knowledge of the m i s t r e a t m e n t a n d injustices directed toward o u r minority g r o u p , a n d as such, they have been constantly humiliated a n d embarrassed in trying to explain why America has cane type of democracy in Gerjrgia a n d another type ol democracy in the District of Columbia. Therefore, we can n o longer consider the gangster or the racketeer as America's Public Enemy N o . 1 but, on the contrary, it is, in my opinion, that Public Enemy No. 1 is the Jim Crow policy of segregation a n d discrimination, based o n race a n d color. This public enemy is n o longer confined to our forty-eight states and territories because today, in the halls of the U n i t e d Nations, it is of international importance. T h e rest of the world is concerned a b o u t this public enemy and the elimination or the continuation of this enemy within our own framework is in the hands of the American people, a n d it is our American obligation to determine its future existence. If we are to have world peace, then the biggest peacetime fight in which all American people must be united, is the fight to make democracy work in America or else we cannot tell the nations of the world about the democratic rights of all m a n k i n d u n t i l we give concrete evidence of the existence of First Class Citizenship for all of the American people. Segregation a n d discrimination are

SITE OF ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Statler Hall, School ol Hotel Administration, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

THE

SPHINX

not only undemocratic, expensive, a waste of money, a n d inefficient, b u t they have no place in a democratic slate, and the time is now at h a n d for democracy to be practiced in its entirety here in America. T h e progress of events just past has taught us the vital need lor a more aggressive a n d uncompromising approach to the problems lacing us as a minority group. T h e need for a reconstruction of h u m a n institutions upon the principles of social, econo mic a n d political opportunities. T h e r e s h a p i n g , rebuilding a n d re-vamping ol a more definite and far-reaching national organized program of constructive, aggressive a n d uncompromising action leading toward cooperative endeavors in the interest of the masses rather than a selected few . . . in the social, economic a n d political well-being of all of the American people. America continues to have n o problem more perplexing a n d disquieting than that of the proper a n d permanent relations^ existing between the white and colored races. Although it concerns most vitally Southerners, both white a n d black, it is a national problem because whatever affects one part of o u r national urbanism conecu is the whole of it. T h e atrocities which existed at Money, Mississippi in the T i l l case, or the slaying of the Minister at Belzoni, Mississippi are eyesore spots in the dealing of America with the peoples of India a n d other darker races of the world w h o look to America for leadership in the fight for the democratic rights of all m a n k i n d . T h e American Negro must continue to protest against racial discrimination with every means at his command, but resources resident within the g r o u p itself must be harnessed and directed for concerted, gainful action. T h e assurance of the future lies in the education of the masses a n d in

the development of a new a n d more liberal public opinion. Along with increasing need a n d development of a new a n d more liberal public opinion, it has become necessary for the Negro to combat judicial decisions a n d k-i^is lative enactments which have nullified the processes a n d intentions of the T h i r t e e n t h , Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of o u r national Constitution. In many states it has become necessary to have beneficial, remedial legislation passed in order to grant even the most ordinary of the Negro's social rights . . . such as the enjoyment of recreation a n d amusement in public places, the right to receive food in restaurants operated for the general public, a n d the right to seek shelter in hotels operated for this same general public, or to travel u p o n trains in a non-segregated m a n n e r . So vicious have been the attacks u p o n o u r minority g r o u p that most of o u r time has been spent or directed in the defense of what few rights a n d privileges we have enjoyed, in an effort not to lose g r o u n d . In the courts of America we have fought to have segregation laws declared unconstitutional in order that o u r living conditions would not grow worse, a n d to have grandfather clauses or anti-Negro primary laws declared unconstitutional in order n o t to become stigmatized with the charge of not having the right to vote. I n the past twenty-four m o n t h s or less we have been successful in the United States Supreme Court in o u r efforts to eliminate discrimination in educational opportunities for Negro students a n d to remove the barriers of discrimination a n d segregation in transportation facilities, as well as the elimination of restrictive covenants in deeds. In the past we have appealed to the Executive Branch of o u r government for the protection of o u r lives a n d property against lawless physical vio-

Jewel George B. Kelley Sells Frat Supplies We take this opportunity to call your attention to a new enterprise now engaged in by Brother George B. Kelley, of Troy, New York. Since his retirement as a tax assessor for the State of New York, Jewel Kelley has become identified with sales of fraternity neckties, ribbons, and a varied assortment of items of interest to our general membership. This merchandise can be made available to any chapter or college by writing Jewel Kelley at 1 - 113th Street, Troy, New York. List price for the merchandise: $1.25 each for the neckties or $12.00 per dozen. T h e ribbon sells for $3.50 per dozen. Since one of our Jewels, now in retirement, has turned to this avenue so close to the fraternity he helped to found, Brothers are urged to give their full patronage. Write Brother Kelley for details!

lence. In the Legislative Branch <>i o u r government we have fought to maintain even the small appropriations a n d educational facilities given us a n d to prevent further efforts at segregation a n d discrimination. All of these defensive struggles have been vital a n d indispensable to o u r welfare a n d progress as a minority group, b u t so vigorous a n d dramatic have been o u r defensive struggles that we have not been able, in the past, to direct o u r efforts toward offensivestruggles or constructive legislation until within the past five years. It is my concern at this m o m e n t to briefly touch upon a lew of o u r major defensive efforts as a minority g r o u p before passing on to the present varied a n d peculiar problems which comm a n d the attention of Negro leadership. Handicaps Imposed During And After Reconstruction T h e cause of the Negro has often been in some form or a n o t h e r before the legislatures of the different states of the U n i o n , a n d Southern statute books during a n d immediately after the Reconstruction Period soon came to be covered with discriminatory laws which either in a p a t e n t or latent way tended to violate the rights of the Negro u n d e r the F o u r t e e n t h a n d Fifteenth Amendments. T h e various laws enacted d u r i n g the Reconstruction Period a n d which infringed upon the property rights of the Negro a n d his rights as an American citizen may be grouped as follows: 1. Grandfather clauses a n d antiNegro primary laws which deny Negroes in Southern states t h e right to vote, poll tax a n d election laws which. in effect, deny the use of the ballot in the solid South. 2. Laws affecting inter-state a n d intra-statc transportation. 3. E q u a l accommodations in public places. 4. Local residential segregation ordinances a n d restrictive covenants in deeds. 5. Inequality and inferiority of educational facilities. 6. Inequality a n d inferiority of recreational facilities. 7. Inequality a n d inferiority ol hospital facilities. 8. Inequality a n d inferiority of housing a n d public utilities. 9. Denial of employment in govei n mental agencies. Education T h e lack of educational facilities has been a n d still is one of the major defensive problems of o u r minority g r o u p in the South. A recent survey P A G E 23

showed that in eleven Southern stales the public school outlay averaged $44.00 for the white child, a n d $12.57 lor the Negro child, although the Negro child is much more d e p e n d e n t upon public funds for education. In Mississippi, the figures were $45.00 against $5.00, a n d in South Carolina they were $60.00 for the white child a n d $7.00 for the Negro child. In that county in Georgia from which came the a u t h o r of "Uncle Remus," w h o symbolizes the gentle, kindly a n d docile Negro associated with the sentiment of the old South, the public school expenditures per white child in the survey were $102.39 for the white child, a n d for the Negro child it was $4.62. In other words the Negro child in the deep South has to get along with about 1/15 of the eucation of the average white child. As. the late Dr. Booker T . W a s h i n g t o n once said, "Ol course the Negro child may be smart, b u t it is a pretty high compliment to expect h i m to learn in three m o n t h s what it takes the white child nine m o n t h s to learn." T h i s condition has not stopped with widespread discrimination .in the grade school b u t has been equally felt in Southern state-supported universities a n d colleges. Even t h o u g h Negro taxpayers supported these same universities a n d colleges, Negro students, until within the past few years, have been denied admission, based on color. However today, as we move from defensive action to offensive action, we find Negro students not only fighting in the courts for admission but actually a t t e n d i n g state-supported institutions in Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee a n d West Virginia. Discrimination in the distribution of public funds for education is not only undemocratic b u t vicious, both in principle a n d practice. Segregated education, forced u p o n the youth of o u r country by law, in common with every other form of segregation perverts a n d distorts the healthy development of the h u m a n personality. T h e r e f o r e the Negro leaders a n d parents, such as in the small town of Henderson, Kentucky, w h o a few weeks ago petitioned the Board of Education to continue to send Negro children to the colored high school and expressed their disapproval of integrated schools in that community, a n d who asked for equality of educational opportunities on a segregated basis did a contemptible disservice not only to themselves, b u t a vicious a n d contemptible disservice to the Negro boys a n d girls w h o live within the c o m m u n i t y of Henderson, Kentucky a n d in any other c o m m u n i t y in which PAGE

Uncle T o m s , handkerchief-heads, cotton mouths, bandana-wearing Negroes connive with whites to oppose integration ate unworthy of the full rights a n d privileges of citizenship, and more than that, they are unworthy of being lathers and mothers when they seek inferior education for their own sons and daughters in the time a n d age in which it is of vital concern that every Negro boy a n d girl shall have the highest educational opportunities a n d be entitled to all the rights and privileges of First Class Citizenship. Therefore those parents, teachers, educators or leaders in any community who are opposed to integration are riding backward on the train into the valley instead of forward to the m o u n t a i n top. Citizenship And Voting In o u r light for justice and equal rights, the ballot is o u r most potent weapon. W i t h a n d by it we can support measures beneficial to o u r group, and defeat those obnoxious to our welfare a n d progress. W e can elect to office men publicly committed to the principles of equal opportunities a n d equal rights for Negroes, a n d defeat public officials a n d political parties who a n d which are false to these principles. But the Negro must, first of all, really feel his potential citizenship a n d then strive to realize it. If he is too lazy, indifferent or too unconcerned to vote for state or municipal officers, he has n o way of seeing that men are elected who will be just in their t r e a t m e n t of the races. H e can do n o t h i n g about u n p a v e d streets, governmental employment, housing facilities, public parks a n d playgrounds, i n a d e q u a t e hospital facilities, the lack of street lights in the

Brother

Negro community, or police brutality. T o gain further political headway, education today must of necessity be along political lines. Greater political recognition will, of necessity, produce greater economic a n d social recognition. Let me make it crystal clear. T h e American Negro is no longer to be fooled and misled by the dishonest and Stupid platforms of either the R e p u b lican or Democratic parties which have reached the height of hypocrisy and double talk on civil rights . . . as such the subject of civil rights has been a political football for each presidential election within recent years, as was d o n e with the anti-lynch bill from 1920 to 1932. N o longer will weasel-worded platforms attract the Negro voter, but on the contrary, either the two major political parties in the national Congress will have to give affirmative action on civil rights or else the Negro vote will soon be found with a third party advocating a n d p u t t i n g into practice the basic principles of the Bill of Rights of o u r national Constitution. The Negro's Obligation To Himself It therefore behooves the American Negro to make economic a n d political advancement the major plank in our platform for an ideal society for o u r race. As such we must initiate an offensive, legislative program which will open new avenues of employment for o u r people. W e must see that the Negro working classes benefit as they should by the Wage a n d H o u r Law. We must continue to fight for fair employment practices, a n d vigorously fight to remove barriers of racial discrimination in wages a n d government-

Greene

Improved

Latest report from Atlanta, Georgia is to the effect that Brother Charles W. Greene has recovered from his recent illness, and is able to resume most of his former duties as an executive of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Concern for Brother Greene was expressed throughout our circle, and no 'small wonder' as Brother Greene is one of the Alpha stalwarts and pioneer leaders. For seventeen consecutive years he served faithfully as Southern Vice-President. So it was distressing news that he had been confined as a patient at the U. S. Veterans H o s pital, Tuskegee. The Southern Vice-President has announced that in recognition of Brother Greene's many years of service, the "Charles W. Greene" Trophy is being designed for the purpose of presenting to the chapter in the Southern Jurisdiction making the best all-round record between the Chicago Convention and the Golden Anniversary Session to be held next summer at Buffalo, New York. The trophy will be presented in Buffalo. It is hoped that the trophy will be an added incentive for the Southern Jurisdiction to do its part in helping the General Organization achieve the overall goal of 10,000 members by August of 1956.

THE

SPHINX

al employment, a n d see that there is an equal day's pay for an equal day's work. W e must seek to secure O l d Age Pension benefits for the aged of o u r race a n d to eliminate discrimination in the g r a n t i n g of O l d Age Pension benefits. W e must continue to wage a vigorous a n d well planned legal fight against discrimination of Negro teachers with the integration of Negro pupils in both the high school a n d college level. A n d more than that, to continue to wage a vigorous a n d aggressive light against discrimination in every phase of h u m a n endeavor . . . against discrimination in the admission of Negro students to schools in the South, a n d against discrimination which exists in housing, transportation, public parks a n d playgrounds, hospital facilities, stores, restaurants, and theatres, or all facilities operated for the general public, a n d seek to repeal legislation which hinders our economic a n d political progress. H'e must undergo the task of educating Negro public opinion toward the value of offensive action . . . as we move toward new frontiers of integration or full a n d unqualified citizenship rights. T o do this, we must: F I R S T : Analyze the needs of respective Negro communities a n d de-

ALPHA MAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MARY McLEOD BETHUNE FOUNDATION Brother George W. Engram was elected President of Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation. alter the death of the late Dr. Bethune. He is President of Beta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.Fraternity, Inc., President of Campbell Street High School P. T. A., member of the Governor's Interracial Committee. Member of Daytona Beach Interracial Committee, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Bethune Volusia Beach. President of Engram Electric Company, and a Shriner.

F E B R U A R Y , 1956

termine what needs can be improved by legislation or legal action. S E C O N D : W e must urge our leaders to confer with groups in question a n d agree upon what laws are necessary to improve the living, working. social, economic and political condition of the race. T H I R D : W e must work u p public opinion and make every available contact. F O U R T H : W e must develop a favorable press a n d publicity. F I F T H : W e must plan o u r course of legal action and legislative endeavors u p o n both a local a n d national level, as the need appears best to achieve. A N D F I N A L L Y : W e must see that the masses u n d e r s t a n d the program a n d that they are not left out, b u t rather that they have a participating part in the program and lake advantage of the benefits to be derived. America's Wavering Leadership In World Affairs T h e b u r n i n g issue of the world today is the equality of all m a n k i n d . T h e little peoples of the world are united in a single effort, a n d that effort is to make democracy work, not only in America but t h r o u g h o u t the entire world. American leadership is failing because its world example as a democracy has failed because of the vicious policies of segregation a n d discrimination based on race, a n d as a result we have failed in world leadership as a democracy. If America is to retain or continue its leadership in world affairs, then we must prove by positive action here in America that there is First Class Citizenship for all of the American people w i t h o u t segregation or discrimination based o n race, color or religion. O u r political philosophy is no longer of mere local concern or the concern of the forty-eight states a n d territories, b u t it is of international contern. W h a t we do, or what we have done in every city a n d state is news of vital concern to the little peoples of the world seeking equality of m a n k i n d . T h e r e are 2 billion, 4 h u n d r e d million people in the world today. W e are so close to them t h a t any one of us in this room can get u p a n d in twenty-four hours be sitting down, shaking hands a n d eating d i n n e r with any other g r o u p of h u m a n beings in the world. W e are so indisputably associated that we will never get farther apart. As a m a t t e r of fact, the jet planes have p u t us only twenty-four hours apart, a n d we will never be separated. Two-thirds of all the h u m a n beings

in the world are colored. T h e y are either black, brown or yellow. O n l y one-third of the h u m a n beings in the world are white. Two-thirds are black, brown or yellow. I want to repeat that two-thirds of all h u m a n beings are either black, brown or yellow. In this multi-colored world, the U n i t e d States is the most powerful. It is the most powerful nation that ever existed in the world; and the second most powerful nation in the world today is Soviet Russia, a n d that is extraordinary. Fifty years ago that cation was m a d e up, for the most part, of farmers a n d people with little rights or privileges. T h e y had no learning or money, no skills, a n d no capacity for organization, a n d yet, inside of thirty years they have organized themselves a n d built u p the second most powerful nation in the world in a military fashion, and have launched a program of economic a n d spiritual changes on a world-wide scale which in less t h a n thirty years has eight h u n d r e d eight million followers. An additional eight h u n d r e d million people have not yet m a d e u p their minds as to w h e t h e r they are on the side of democracy or on the side of communism. All b u t a b o u t 10% of that eight h u n d r e d million are colored, a n d the white people of the world are divided. N o t all of the white are on the side of democracy. Therefore, with eight h u n d r e d eight million people u n d e r Communist d o m i n a t i o n , a n d a n o t h e r eight hundred eight million people undecided, it is of serious concern to the democratic nations of the world that they win the support of the darker peoples of India, China, J a p a n , Africa, and other smaller nations to the side of democracy. Therefore, to convince the darker people of India a n d other places that America is acting in good faith as a democracy, it is necessary that the Negro people residing not only in the South, b u t in the N o r t h enjoy the full rights a n d privileges of First Class Citizenship, a n d that all barriers of segregation a n d discrimination be eliminated. For certainly the people of I n d i a are not going to r u n from communism into the control of a nation that segregates a n d humiliates them, a n d robs them of an equal o p p o r t u n i t y to earn a living. T h e political leaders of America, b o t h R e p u b l i c a n a n d Democrat, have got to make a decision as to w h e t h e r they are going to show good faith as a world leader of democracy, or if we are going to yield to the hypocrisy of the South. T h e p r o p a g a n d a of Russia throws a searchlight u p o n every act of segregation a n d discrimination in AmeriPAGE

ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDA HONORS 25-YEAR BROTHERS Alpha Alpha Lambda Chapter honored eleven of its brothers with a Silver Anniversary dinner at the beautiful Winchester Turnpike Inn. near Morristown, New Jersey in gay summer fashions, with Brother O. Wilson Winters as toastmaster and Jewel Brother George B. Kelley as guest speaker . . . These brothers were awarded certificates for their untiring service, leadership in both religious and civic affairs, as well as their devotion to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in upholding its principles, philosophy and ideals for more than twenty-five years . . . Top row left to right: Brother and Mrs. Robert A. Johnson. Brother and Mrs. Aubrey Robinson. Brother and Mrs. Arthur C. Williams. Brother and Mrs Oliver Brown . . . Bottom row. seated: Brother and Mrs. George Hoffman. Brother and Mrs. J. C. Carr. Brother James Eastman, and Brother and Mrs. Ollie T. Daly.

ca. Therefore, tour h u n d r e d million people of India a n d four h u n d r e d million people of China must decide either to join forces with us, or cast their lot elsewhere. T h i s is a serious problem as we look forward, regrettably, to the possibility of atomic warfare. France, Italy and South America ait overrun with communism, a n d realizing the threat to freedom, the R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h has declared itself against Russia a n d communism, a n d has taken the lead in the fight for equality a n d against segregation. T h e Episcopal C h u r c h of England has reversed its past position and is now against segregation. In our relations with foreign countries another factor enters the picture. Every year thousands of students from Europe a n d Asia have come to the U n i t e d States, a n d there is some reason to suppose that that n u m b e r will increase. C o l u m b i a University alone has several h u n d r e d , b u t the larger n u m b e r who come are well scattered all over the country, in the South as well as in the N o r t h . T h e y are very often the future leaders of their respective countries, a n d if they r e t u r n h o m e with tales to tell of discrimination they observed or, perhaps painfully encountered, it is not likely to help our democratic cause in the world. T a k e for instance the arrival in PAGE

H o u s t o n , T e x a s of diplomats of dark skin from India who were humiliated and embarrassed a n d placed in a segregated dining room behind a curtain while traveling from Mexico into America, by way of H o u s t o n , T e x a s . T o some that might have been just a minor incident, but it required the Secretary of State of America and o u r Department of Foreign Affairs not only to apologize to the diplomats of India, but to give public apology to darker races all over the world for the incident that h a p p e n e d at the airport at Houston. Therefore the little incidents that may happen at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, the Brown Hotel in Louisville, or the Andrew Jackson Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, or even the incident that h a p p e n e d in Miami, Florida d u r i n g the Lincoln Day Dinner by the Republican Organization of that c o m m u n i t y may be a local incident, but when the Communist newspapers and propaganda machines send the message t h r o u g h o u t the world it is magnified not as a mere local incident, b u t becomes an incident of international importance a n d is a sore finger p o i n t i n g in the direction of America in its mistreatment of minorities in this country, a n d shows that America has not cleaned its own house as a democracy before assuming world leadership as a democracy.

T h e disregard of the civil rights of the Negro people must be as vigorously and aggressively fought in the local communities as at the national level. W e must be just as concerned about the rights of Sam T h o m a s in Jonesville, Arkansas or T u p e l o , Mississippi as we are concerned a b o u t judge Hall in Chicago. T o d a y we must chart a course of organized action, a program of national unity which will carry our defensive a n d offensive efforts side by side if we are to achieve the goal a n d privileges of other American citizens. F'ar too long we have looked to the goodwill of the American white m a n lo protect the Negro in his rights. W e have been the recipients of so m u c h p h i l a n t h r o p y on the part of the white m a n u n t i l we have formed a settled aversion to paying for the things we need. We, the h u m b l e meeks, have been satisfied to take whatever the white man has cast aside, b u t today the American Negro must become a m a n in his own right, in assuming his own responsibilities, a n d in carrying his own privileges. T h e American Negro must be prepared to assume a new role in world affairs, a n d to acquire a new type of t h i n k i n g which will enable h i m to play a more vital p a r t in n a t i o n a l a n d world affairs. W e must encourage, educate, a n d develop more m e n THE

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<>l the character and stature of Dr. Ralph Bunche, and in addition to that, we must develop a leadership that can think in terms of ideals and attitudes which will demonstrate that it is as social minded as the leadership of any other group, and as willing to assume the social responsibility of seeking brighter opportunities for the masses as well as for themselves. We must develop a leadership with the adaptability, vision, personality, and the courage to lead toward the cooperative endeavors in the interest of the masses rather than a selected few . . . a leadership concerned with the political, social and economic welfare of all the people. And finally, we must develop a leadership which can sense the problems lacing the race in a rapidly changing world, and which knows the techniques with which these problems should and must be approached, and who will not use the dinging, selfish and compromising Uncle Tom attitude of yesterday for the problems of today. As we move from the mode of desegregation toward the goal ot integration, we must present an efficient, prepared, well-trained and resourceful leadership, and a leadership which knows the value of legal action and legislative endeavors as we march toward the goal of full and unqualified citizenship rights. The biggest challenge by reason of the Supreme Court decision on May 17, 1954, is for the Negro citizens of America to make the Mandate of the Supreme Court workable and to continue our fight for First Class Citizenship, and to continue the fight for desegregation toward the goal of integration. The fight is not ended and it is not over. In fact, the real fight has just begun, and America can regain fully its position of world leadership by seeing that the Mandate of the Supreme Court of the United States is caiiied out and workable in its entirety, and that the entire program lor equality of citizenship be had in good faith. This is a challenge not only to America, but an opportunity for the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to continue its light lot total integration as its goal. The light for Total Integration, and First Class Citizenship is a job which takes .'i().r> days in each year. Its a full time job, and there can be no rest period, or else the forces of reaction will move ahead . . . Tin Southern Council lot White Supremacy is working now, night and day, in Mississippi and every other Southern state against the Mandates of the Supreme Court, and against equal jus(Continued on Page 40) FEBRUARY, 1956

DR. O. WILSON WINTERS, Editor "1 shot mi arrow into the air It fell to earth I knew not where." —LONGFELLOW

HE 41st General Convention is over. We stand on the dock at T< and Xi Lambda and watch the Ship of State sail out into the sunset of

Theta 1955, growing smaller, ever smaller until it is lest in the kaleidoscopic glow of the horizon where the sea and sky meet in a twilight embrace. The memory lingers on. Pardon me Miami, Detroit, Cleveland, California, in fact, pardon me, all the others gone before, but Chicago 1955 was Alpha's greatest convention. Think of it! Eleven hundred diners at the formal banquet, brothers and their ladies. Goodbye, stag banquets, goodbye forever. It was my happiest convention. Never have I had so many acknowledgments and compliments on this column. Most of them were from the ladies. Even the post-convention letters to ye olde editor bespeaks the convention's legislative saturation. One brother, the very first night after his return home, showed the effect of prolonged and intensive convention business by continually crying out in his sleep, "Unready, unready." (Well, you don't have to question it; the DR. O. WILSON WINTERS story says he was asleep). Chicago was a Convention of Humor and Rumor Humor Mrs. McFadden had identical twins and it was almost impossible to tell them apart. Her husband solved the problem by putting tags on them— "Jnmes" and "Mary." * * * Lucille, the chorus girl, was determined to improve her vocabulary. She used a lot of fancy words explaining to the owner of the threatre, "I'm marrying a society man two weeks from today and I have to get my torso ready." * * * The pride we felt when a police escort ran through red lights and drove on both sides of the avenues leading us to the Alpha National Office on South Parkway was suddenly lost when we overheard a corner bystander explain to another that the police vans were too small so the police had chartered buses to transfer some prisoners from Cooks County Jail to the Penitentiarv. * * * Alpha Man — "Is Middleton a natural born American?" Kappa Man — "No Caesarean." * * * Christmas Oddities at Camp Gordon Little girls playing with dolls Little boys playing with soldiers Big boys playing with dolls Big girls playing with soldiers * * * Christmas Oddities at the Sorority Conclave A busy convention — Girls ldoking for husbands and husbands looking for girls. (Continued on Page 38) PAGE 27

Buffalo Alpha Wives Set Stage To Welcome Vacationing Wives and Families At Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, August 7-11, 1956 B U F F A L O , N . Y.—Attention Alpha Wives!! W o n d e r i n g where to spend t h a t August vacation this year?? T h e A l p h a Wives C l u b of Western New York has the answer!! . . . a n d here are the facts . . . m a ' m : The Dales: Tuesday, August 7 through Saturday, August 11, 1956. The Place: Buffalo, New York . . . or anywhere along the Niagara Frontier—especially if you're p l a n n i n g to drive: The Occasion: T h e 50th Anniversary Celebration a n d Convention of A l p h a Phi Alpha Fraternity . . . of which your A l p h a m a n should be a part. The Reason: T h e r e are m a n y . . . a n d here are just a few . . . First—you should know t h a t many sessions of this historic convention have been especially p l a n n e d with Alpha wives a n d sweethearts in m i n d : —The Alpha Historical Review, feat u r i n g the incomparable Alpha Historian, Dr. Charles Wesley; T h e Musical "Alphacade," a musical tribute to Alpha u n d e r the direction of the talented maestro Lionel H a m p t o n . " T h e Pilgrimage" to Cornell via the "Alpha Special" train to Ithaca; the star-studded public meeting which will focus the N a t i o n a l Spotlight on the c o n t r i b u t i o n of minorities to the American way of life; the Anniversary Banquet and d o s i n g party which will climax the week-long celebration. T o all of these 50th Anniversary Convention features, wives, a n d sweethearts will be welcome a n d especially invited. But ol equal importance will be the well balanced social program being

MRS. ALFRED D. PRICE President. Buffalo Alpha Wives Auxiliary

developed by your co-hosts, R h o Lambda and Delta Epsilon; T h e Alpha Anniversary Dance; The midnight lake cruise; T h e Alpha get-acquainted-party " u n d e r the stars," a n d the Pan Hellenic Dance. Bro. S. Calvin Johnson, President of R h o L a m b da; Social C h a i r m a n , Bro. Walter B. Holland, and the Brothers of R h o L a m b d a are hard at work on this phase of the celebration. But . . . in addition to all this . . . lor many long months, the Alpha Wives C l u b of Western N e w York, under its energetic president, Mrs. Alfred D. Price, has been giving particular attention to the special, social needs of Alpha wives a n d the families they will bring with them on summer vacation: A G a r d e n Party a n d recep-

tion is designed to serve as the convention's "Ice Breaker" as A l p h a wives exchange chit chat a n d get better a c q u a i n t e d with each other; a bridge a n d game luncheon, a little later, will provide further o p p o r t u n i ties for the kind of informal social atmosphere that makes for lasting friendships and pleasant memories; and don't forget the "small fry" . . . for them, a Beach Party is in the making to help make this a vacation they too, will long remember. As a result of some of your suggestions at the Chicago Convention plans are, even now, u n d e r consideration to provide an "Alpha Child Care Center" which will keep youngsters busy a n d u n d e r supervision d u r i n g the day with a "Baby Sitter" service furnishing "Coverage" for evenings. If this is something which you feel you will want a n d need, why not write Mrs. Price a n d her C o m m i t t e e at 144 Winslow Avenue, Bulfalo, N . Y. O t h e r officers of the club include Mrs. S. Calvin J o h n s o n , Secretary a n d Mrs. W a l t e r B. H o l l a n d . T r e a s u r e r . T h e y would be happy to consider any requests or suggestions you might have. But there is still more to this "Extravaganza" of events, for the Mighty Niagara, one of the top tourist attractions in the nation, is just a 45 m i n u t e ride from the heart of Buffalo, with plans for the tour of this scenic wonder in the hands of Delta Epsilon C h a p t e r headed by Bro. Ray Green. N o w what more excitement and activity could you want in a weeks s u m m e r vacation?

BROTHERS AND THEIR WIVES EAGERLY AWAIT YOUR ARRIVAL Rho Lambda and Delta Epsilon Chapters, their wives and sweethearts, co-hosts to the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, Buffalo. New York.

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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The your homework now! These goals will be realized only -41st General Convention demonstratCome to Buffalo, Brothers, and if you and I and every Brother who ed among other things that opening bring every member of your family. has seen the light of Alpha, plan now our banquet to wives and sweethearts There will be many pleasant surprises to be on hand when the roll is called is another step forward in our efforts over and above excellent accommoda- at the birthplace of our fraternity. to reestablish Alpha in the hearts of tions reasonably priced, inspiring proNo other convention has offered our very own. By the presence of grams and superb entertainment. Here hundreds of wives and sweethearts, you will share in the greatest Golden so much. None hereafter, in our we had not only our largest but most Anniversary ol all times, renew old time, will provide such a rewarding picturesque banquet in history. It acquaintances, and foment an ever- opportunity because unfortunate l\. was an inspiring picture that will last strengthening bond of brotherly and for many of us, we will not be on forever in the minds of all who at- Family love that will redound to our hand at Alpha's 100th anniversary. Fake a plane or train, hop a bus tended. benefit for many years to come. or crank up the family chariot-even At Buffalo and Ithaca next August At Buffalo we want the largest walk if you must—but meet us in 7-11, we hope to extend the ties of family attendance possible, our great- Buffalo. We are counting on you to Alpha families one step further. We est active membership in history of be there during this one opportunit\ want the whole family—every member 10.000 brothers, record-breaking chap- of our life time, to celebrate our 50th —to help us celebrate our 50th Anni- ter registrations, all past chapter and Anniversary. And we want your famiversary. For truly anniversary time general officers and every Brother who ly to see Alpha in its finest hour. You, is family time and this is a family con- desires to rededicate himself to the they and Alpha Phi Alpha all stand vention. Our co-host chapters at Buf- noble ideals of Alpha. to gain. falo have shaped their whole program around Alphas, their wives and sweethearts and children. Since August is a favorite vacation month, many brothers plan to begin theirs at BufIs Your Chapter Planning a "Chapter Exhibit" falo and then continue on to points at the 50th Anniversary Celebration! east, west, foreign or what-have-you. We cannot stress the value of greatWhy not place this on the Agenda of your next meeting? er family appreciation of Alpha too One picture is better than a thousand words! much. Next to our loved ones is AlPictures tell the story at a glance and the story of Alpha Phi Alpha pha Phi Alpha. Certainly should the can be told much more colorfully and effectively by the picture story of two most cherished possessions that what Alpha Chapters are doing. we have become more closely identified in our all-out effort to advance How about telling the story of your Alpha Chapter through the our place under the sun as the foremedia of a Chapter Exhibit Booth in the foyer of the Convention Hall at most college fraternity in the world. the 50th Anniversary Celebration this August: Behind every great Alpha is a ten—Pictures of program projects your Chapter has sponsored over the der, loving feminine heart, which, past several years. whether he openlv admits it or not, —Copies of programs sponsored by your Chapter in the community is mostly responsible for his success. —educational, social, etc. Our Semi-Centennial is the greatest —Unusual "Pledge projects" or "Help Week" projects of the Chapter opportunity in history for us to further unite the families of Alpha—the or individual Brothers. source of much of our future being— —Tell the biographical life story in tribute to "An Alpha Great" in the cradle of future Alphas. your Chapter—with news clippings, photographs, citations, and What greater custodians of our letters. rich heritage and what more effective —Build a display around an unusual hobby of an outstanding Alpha participants in our tomorrow's deBrother as an indication of the cultural interest of Alpha men— sign can we name than our familiespaintings, carvings, photography, etc. sons, daughters, wives and sweetThese displays will be open to the public and will not only be of inhearts? terest to our wives and friends, but serve as a source of inspiration to This is a new day in Alpha. It is Chapters everywhere who are looking for ways and means to improve the recognition of our very own withtheir program and make a richer contribution to their College and Comin the framework of our beloved framunity. ternity. It is the perpetuation of If your Chapter is interested, write in your request for space imAlpha through our offspring — our mediately, for such space will be limited and the best exhibition themes sons as Alpha men — our daughters may have to be selected. Your material can be shipped to Convention as wives of Alpha men. It is the emHeadquarters, insured, and will be cared for until your Chapter Exhibit bracing of all who can and will make Chairman arrives. Alpha greater and greater. The rebirth of Alpha begins at home. Do FEBRUARY, 1956

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Banquet

Address

IT'S ALMOST TOMORROW By B R O T H E R J O H N

H.JOHNSON

C H I C A G O , 111.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;I think that all Alpha men should congratulate themselves on the choice of the (heme for this 41 si a n n u a l convention. "DESEGREGATION, T H E MODE TOTAL INTEGRATION, THE GOAL." It is certainly a timely theme for desegregation is indeed the mode of our times. Almost daily we read and hear great stories of progress in race relations a n d civil rights. While it is true that there are some disturbing, and sometimes .shocking, rumbles in the news, it seems that total integration is inevitable. The big stories of our time are stories of progress. In Atlanta, just this week, Negroes are playing golf on municipally-owned courses. A few weeks ago, when Georgia's Gov. Marvin Griffin suggested that Georgia Tech refuse to play against the University of Pittsburgh a n d its Negro fullback, Bob Grier, in the Sugar Bowl, thousands of white students voiced their disapproval. T h e governor was h u n g in effigy. In education, in labor, in politics daily we can see examples of progress. Many of you m e n here tonight are representatives of that progress. T h e civil rights climate has iniproved so much in the past lew years t h a t the N A A C P has set 1963 as die target year for total integration in the United States. Less than eight years from now, according to the N A A C P schedule, we will reach that sunny and

bountiful tomorrow which we have dreamed of for 90 years . . . O n e night last week, I went into a coffee shop for a quick snack. W h i l e I was there, someone put a dime into the juke box and a record began playing. T h i s was a recording of the Dream Weavers. T h e title of their song was: I T ' S A L M O S T T O M O R ROW. At home, later that night, while attempting to finish some home work, I was struck by the fact t h a t I T ' S ALM O S T T O M O R R O W for us 16 million American Negroes. We are almost on the threshold of success in out biggest deal. In the language of business, we are almost ready to close a sale. But the fact we would like to stress

here tonieht is this: CLOSING A SALE IS THE TOUGHEST PART OF SELLING. Unless we make the right moves now. and in the next few years, we cannot reach thai sunny and bountiful tomorrow of total integration. And it would be tragic if, because of our own failure to make the right moves, we wind u p like members of the singing g r o u p I heard in that l i t t l e coffee shop . . . D R E A M WEAVERS . . . The NAACP has done a wonderful job. T h e United States Supreme Court has made great a n d historically significant decisions on Civil Rights. It is largely because of those two groups, the NAACP and the Supreme Court, that we can now take direct aim at total integration. But there is much more work to lie

BANQUET WAS A COLORFUL AFFAIR During closed Alpha Banquet. Brother Henry L. Williams. Cleveland, is caught putting a deep point over to Miss Patrina Moore. New York City, and Brother lay B. White. Cleveland.

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done, mote moves to be made, a n d neither the N A A C P nor the Supreme Court can make them for us. The Supreme Court and the N A A C P have brought us to the threshold of tomorrow, but they cannot carry through the door into that wonderful eta we have desired lor so long. It is. in my h u m b l e opinion, imperative that we shoulder, both individually and collectively, more of the responsibililies in the campaign lor total integration. I want to .suggest that it is time for us to forsake the "doctrine of charily" a n d begin to pay o u r own way in cold, hard cash. W e can do that only if we begin to swim in the mainstream of American business a n d industry. I wislt to suggest to you that we must increase out business interests, for o u r failure to d o so can bring failure to o u r campaign for total integration and make a nightmare of o u r dream. Many years ago, Calvin Coolidge said: " T h e business of America is business." That is no less true today than it was when he said it. But in this respect, we have not made America's business, which is business, out business. In many other fields, we have taken out rightful places beside other Americans. W e have produced great statesmen, a n d Dr. R a l p h Bunche a n d our own Archibald Carey are examples. W e have proven that we can hold our own in medicine. Many of our doctors have made large contributions to world health. In some elements of sports and e n t e r t a i n m e n t , we stand supreme. But we have not yet produced a business m a n of the stature of a Rockefeller or a Morgan or a Ford. It does not seem reasonable to me that we can say this is true because we lack o p p o r t u n i t y . O u r own Negro Market is w o r t h f 16 billion dollars annually. Americans spend over 300 billion dollars each year. And it is a fact of business life that people d o n ' t stop to worry a b o u t race, creed or color when they want a good product or service. T h i s has been proved by the outstanding success enjoyed by men like S. B. Fuller of Chicago, the Kerfords of Atchinson, Kansas, a n d Archie Alexander of Des Moines. T h e Fuller Products C o m p a n y sells cosmetics to all races of people. T h e Kerfords store a h u n d r e d millon dollars worth of government property in their cold-storage caves. CustomTHE

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ers for their quarry products mostly are white. W i t h a white partner, Alexander operates a construction firm that completed 300 building projects worth $20 million dollars in 34 years. Certainly the opportunity is there. Realizing that a n d seizing it seem to be our big drawbacks. T h e key to success in business is selling. T o be successful, a businessman must convince people that he has something that they either want or need. Similarly, we must convince ourselves that we need to be big in business which is the biggest thing in America. Not only should we begin to provide goods and services so that we benefit from the 16 billion dollars annually, of which 90 per cent is being spent outside the race, we must move into position to reap o u r fait share of the $38(> billion dollars harvested by general business annually. In the past, it seems to us, we have had a tendency to look down o u r noses a t the selling side of business. We d o n ' t believe that selling has been rated nearly so high as it must be if we are to reach the tomorrow we are traveling toward. Yet all of us must be salesmen to succeed in whatever field we are in. T h e dentist has to sell the child on the idea that pulling a tooth will not be painful. T h e doctor must sell the patient. T h e lawyer must sell the judge a n d jury. A N D T H E Y D O G O O D JOBS OF SELLING. Why not, then, can't we sell ourselves on the t r u t h that business is good for us? In the past, most of o u r brainpower has gone i n t o teaching, professions and social work. W e have sought security a n d s h u n n e d the fields we thought d e m a n d e d that we take a risk. W e have been, if I may say so, afraid to take a chance. W e have been afraid of failure. T o n i g h t , I want to suggest that the professions aren't the only salvation of the Negro. I want to suggest that we have clung to a false security, for civil service jobs have been abolished, college presidents have been fired, a n d social workers have found themselves unemployed. T h e fact is that there is n o true security outside of man's own ability and confidence in that ability. If we are to be able to pay o u r own way, t h e n we must get into business, where the o p p o r t u n i t i e s are. Now you may ask why I am saying these things, emphasizing the importance of business, to a g r o u p in which F E B R U A R Y , 1956

there are many doctors, teachers, social workers, civil servants. Well, this is the answer: I :tm saying these things to you because you are men with the brainpower. You are moulders of public opinion. You have the money which can be the foundation of Negro business. You are the logical people to lead a revolution in Negro t h i n k i n g and doing. You are the people who can guarantee that we reach that to morrow we are traveling toward. You are the people who can change the title of this speech from IT'S ALMOST TOMMOROW into T O M O R R O W IS T O D A Y . T h e r e never was a belter time lot young men to enter business and industry than today . . . right now. Business is crying lot men with ability and ambition. 1 would like to urge you brothers to lake the lead in encouraging o u r young men to enter business. Let's convince our young men that the chances for success in business are as good as the chances in other fields. Let's stop wasting so much of o u r brainpower in the United States post office. Let's convince them, most of all, that only by adding business success to o u r accomplishments in other fields can we hope to hit the target of total integration. A while back, I said that we have by-passed business largely because we sought security. I have said, too, that there is no security outside of a man's ability and liis confidence in that ability. I would now like to state what I believe to be the five

tenets of successful business. Thev are: Imagination . . . think of a new service or product or improve an old product and synchronize your actions to proper timing. Hard-work . . . nothing beats bard work, and you must work h a r d to p u t into action the products of your imagination. Creative selling . . . a businessman in these modern times must dramatize his product, for today a man's success in business depends upon his power to get his message to prospce tive customers. Knowledge of your business . . . modern society demands a never-ending education ol one's self about his own lit in, his own line of production. a n d all allied fields. Persistence . . . there never was a better h u m a n quality t h a n stick-to-itiveness. Another one of the reasons why we have not yet become successful in business is because we have longed for ejuiek recognition. W e have, as a race, lived hard lives in the past and now we crave recognition. In business, recognition does not come so quickly. But lor the persistent m a n , there are both recognition and personal satisfaction. For us, as American Negroes, there is a bright tomorrow almost here. But in order to attain it, we must answer the challenge of total integration, which includes participation. not only in law, medicine a n d social work, but also in business a n d industry.

THE FORMAL DANCF/FOLLOWED THE BANQUET Alphas frolic at the Closed Formal at the Morrison Hotel. What a dance after a delicious Banquet dinner! The music by Eddie Fisher and his orchestra was divine.

P A G E 31

Did You Ever Have A Wish Come True? J E W E L B R O . G. B. KELLEY ALBANY, N. Y . - D i d you ever wish and pray for something you h o p e d would h a p p e n ; something that you wanted to last into the future? That was the wish of the writer lor vears before tin- formation of the Beta Pi Lambda C h a p t e r of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity incorporated among brothers in the capitol district a n a of New York Stale. Before the formation of the chapter, .Alpha men gradually entered this area and laid a foundation for the l he 1111 lire.

T h e first to arrive was Dr. William Biown. a graduate of H o w a r d University and Howard DcntalCollege. Brothel b l o w n had passed the New York Slate Dental Test in second place. lie started practice in Albany, New York. His practice has steadily increased until today he is one of the tnosi successful dentists in Albany. Just before Dr. Brown h a d started practice there came to Albany Dr. fames C. Spencer, a graduate of T a l ladega. Howard University a n d Howard Medical Colleges. From the beginning Dr. Spencer became popular, not only because of his knowledge of

medicine, but also because of his pleasant and jovial disposition. He is well known lor his generosity to his patients also. Dr. Spencer's practice grew a n d grew with only a small percentage from his own group. Alter several vears of successful practice, Dr. Spencer and his very helpful wife left lor Budapest a n d Vienna where he pursued a course in surgery. Upon his return to Ids Albany office his practice soared larger than before. T h e writer has often passed Brother Spencer's oil ice long before his oil ice hours a n d found it crowded to capacity and overflowing. After the close of the Second World War. Brother Spencer decided to lessen his practice and become a spec ialist in Dermatology. He again closed his office and entered H a r v a r d University. Alter finishing Ids course he received his certificate to practice Dermatology. His practice as a specialist has increased as steadily as it did wheal he as a general practitioner stalled out. The successful continuation of Beta Pi Lambda can be traced to its location in the capiiol district area. In Albany there are m a n y state employ-

Brother George W. Engram. (lower right) President of the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation. Guest speaker at the Memorial Service, held in Washington. D. C. by the National Councxl oi Negro Women. November 8-13. 1955 . . . In picture, left to right: Mrs. Edith Sampson. former Representative to the United Nations. Vice-President of the United States. Richard Nixon, congratulating Dr. Marguerite Cartwright. correspondent. Afro-Asian Conference. Bandung. Indonesia. Mrs. William Thomas Mason. President of the National Council of of Negro Women.

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ees, a n d in Schenectady, the home of the General Electric Company, there is a great attraction for engineers. Alpha at one lime had five graduate engineers employed there. Troy, with a smaller p o p u l a t i o n has also contributed to ihe success of the Chapter. O n e ol the members of the Chapter, Brother Edwin M. J o h n s o n , h a d been made at Beta C h a p t e r and h a d come to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in T r o y , New York as a G I. student. Alter graduation he was employed by the General Electric C o m p a n y . He has been transferred, with his division to Ithaca, New York. H e is now presid e n t of Alpha Chapter. Brother Edward Bouey, a former president of the Chapter, has also been employed at the General Electric Co. H e has been transferred with his division to Binghamton. T w o of the engineers now active in the C h a p t e r are employed in the D e p a r t m e n t of Public Works of New York State. Brother H a r o l d Bethel is a senior designer of bridges a n d Brother Crispin Hall is a senior designer of road crossings. Both brothers are graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which Brother Hall has received his master's degree. Early in the formation of the chapter, there came to Albany Brother Clarence Maloney, a graduate of Syracuse University a n d Syracuse Law School. H e h a d been appointed an Assistant Attorney General of New York State, assigned to the Welfare D e p a r t m e n t . He is now carrying on a successful practice of Law in Buffalo, New York. W h e n the state government was (hanged because of politics, Brother Lamar Perkins was appointed to this post a n d has been an active and useful member of Beta Pi Lambda Chapter. Brother Perkins received his education at Lincoln University a n d Harvard Law School. He was formerly an active member of the New York State Legislature. Brother Herbert L. Bryan is a gradu a t e of City College of New York City and has been connected with the State Welfare D e p a r t m e n t for a number of years. H e is also an officer in the organization of social agencies a n d the Albany Council of the State Commission Against Discrimination. At present Brother Bryan is Director of Research of the D e p a r t m e n t of Correction. Brother D o n a l d A. J o h n s o n , a graduate of Siena College, is an internal revenue agent with the federal government. Brothel George A. Poyer, the presiTHE

SPHINX

PLANNING THE EASTERN REGIONAL CONVENTION Brother Frank L. Stanley, General President and Brother J. Rupert Piccott, Eastern Vice-President, center, discuss final plans for the Eastern Regional Convention to be held in Newark, New Jersey, April 27, 28 and 29th, with Brother Jerry L. Martin, right, Vice-President of Alpha Alpha Lambda Host Chapter, and Brother Phillip Hoggard, left, delegate. Above picture was taken at the 41st National Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc., held recently in Chicago, Illinois.

(l"nt of Beta Pi Lambda, received his education in Chemistry from City College in New York City a n d his degree of Master of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Brother Poyer is a chemist for the State of New York in the D e p a r t m e n t of Purchases. H e has just received a merit award from the state because of his g r a d u a t i n g thesis. Brother J o h n \V. Jennings is a .graduate of New York State College for Teat hers in Albany, New York. H e is now pursuing a course at the Albany Law School. H e is now a supervisor in Children's Bureau of the Albany County D e p a r t m e n t of Public

Welfare. Brother Edward F. Kennell received his education from Fisk University, H a r v a r d and the American University G r a d u a t e School of Public Administration. H e is Executive Director of the .Albany Interracial Council a n d a m e m b e r of the Albany J u n i o r Chamber of Commerce. Brother Kennell has just completed a very successful drive in the raising of over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the erection of a new b u i l d i n g for the council. Brother T a y l o r T h o m a s is a graduate of N o r t h Eastern University in F E B R U A R Y , 1956

Boston, Massachusetts. H e is an attditor with the New York State Department of T a x a t i o n and Finance. Brother T h o m a s i>. also the watchful treasurer of the t oapter. Biol her George L. T o r i a n , a graduate of Virginia State College, was a loniKT employee of the Albany Welfare D e p a r t m e n t H e is now Manager of the Albany Office of the Victor} Mutual Life Insurance Company. Brother fames A. T o r i a n , who has been connected with the Federal Veterans Hospital in Albany has returned to Virginia State University for further courses in his pursuit of a degree in medicine. Brother James E. Carter, a graduate of Siena College is a supervisor in the Albany County Welfare Department. Peter M. Pryor is a graduate of Siena University a n d Albany Law School. Alter graduation from law school, Brother Pryor entered into partnership with two of his classmates lor the practice of law. H e has also been an associate attorney with New York State. N o w he is conducting' his own office in Albany, New York. Brother Everett H e n r y received his

B. S. degree a n d his M. S. degree from New York University. H e is a successful teacher with the New York City D e p a r t m e n t of Education and is a teacher in charge of his school in West New Brighton, Staten Island. T h e C h a p t e r is honored in having as a m e m b e r Rev. Charles E. Stewart, now pastor of Israel A.M.E. Church, Albany, New York. Brother Stewart has received degrees from Will) rime e. H o w a r d University a n d H o w a r d LawSchool. H e is an Alpha Brother of many years a n d has d o n e o u t s t a n d i n g work for the Fraternity together with his pastoral work. Rev. Stewart is called upon for addresses at many of o u r colleges a n d universities. He is also active in work of the 33째 of the Prince Hall Masons. T h e writer, George B. Kelley, received his degree in civil engineering from Cornell University. After several years as an engineer in private industry a n d the New York State Barge Canal, he transferred to the D e p a r t m e n t of T a x a t i o n a n d Finance of New York State, where he served for over thirty-two years. Since his retirement from New York State service, Jewel Kelley has been conducting a successful practice as tax consultant. PAGE

Jke

-Jtlpha

1/tentorial

f-^kl

-Arlpka

S^>eeri/ice

EDITOR'S NOTE: Seldom do we stop in oui hectic days to pay tribute to those who have completed their earthly labors—Yet Alpha Phi llpha has included each year as a part i>l iIn- General Convention program, a memorial .seance. Brother Wayman Wind. Chaplain o) Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, conducted and planned so well the memorial service and the service of dedication of the National Headquarters, we felt il fitting to publish both.—Thanhs, Brother Ward. MUSIC

Organ Voluntary

THE INVOCATION 0 Master Eternal, give to each of us the deep consciousness of Thy Presence, that the spirit of true fraternity may so direct our thoughts, guide and control our hearts and lives, that we may become, thru Thee, servants of all mankind. AMEN. THE FIRST VERSE AND CHORUS OF THE ALPHA HYMN (All standing through Scripture) SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS "The Light of the World" And God said, let there be light, and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was Cod. In Him was the life and the light of men. Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world. He that tolloweth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Chnst. Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. .... 1 am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. AMEN. Soloist MUSIC DEPOSITING OF THE MEMORIAL BOUQUET Ego to Alpha kai Omega, o protos kai o eschatos, e arche kai to telos. (I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.) WORDS OF TRIBUTE THE LITANY O Father of life, and giver of light, look with favor upon Thy creatures here assembled: AND GRANT US THY BLESSINGS. O Thou who hast led man thru the ages of his existence upon the earth by Thy Spirit; GRANT US THY CONTINUED GUIDANCE Thou who dost generate love and goodness in our hearts, and the desire for fellowship one with the other in life's living, INCREASE THY SPIRIT IN US Thou who has called our brother from his task to the reward of noble thoughts and deeds, DEEPEN OUR MEMORY OF HIM Thou who art the light of the new heaven, the new earth, the new Jerusalem: the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end of all creation. GRANT A FINAL RESTING PLACE WITH THEE TO ALL WHOM THOU HAST CALLED, AND FINALLY OURSELVES. AMEN Omega Chapter Hymn (Brothers in circle) Alpha Brothers, gather round and make our praises resound Of this Brother whose labors now are crowned. His good deeds, heaven blest, Commend him, thru each test, To Omega, our chapter of sweet rest. Chorus Farewell, dear Brother, transcendent art thou, Thy spirit shall dwell with us now. We cherish thy mem'ry, thy good name we'll revere To thy glory, thy honor, Brother dear.

BROTHER A. WAYMAN WARD Chaplain. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Inc.

Judge Wins Final Award Of '55 Chest

C L E V E L A N D , O h i o - W i n n e r of the final Distinguished Service A w a r d of the 1955 C o m m u n i t y Chest campaign was Municipal J u d g e , Brother Perry B. Jackson. O n e of the city's o u t s t a n d i n g welfare leaders, J u d g e Jackson has been active in many agencies which serve youth. H e is a trustee of the Youth Bureau, chairman of the social work departnii nt of the Cleveland C h u r c h Federation, vice-president of the Greater Cleveland Boy Scout Council, vice chairman of the Cedar Branch YMCA. j u d g e Jackson has served o n the board of the Welfare Federation and the advisory b o a r d of the County Welfare D e p a r t m e n t . In 1953 Brother Jackson received the H u m a n Relations Award of the Cleveland R o u n d T a b l e of the National Conference of Christians a n d Jews. In part the Chest award presented read: " H e has become recognized as a n o u t s t a n d i n g influence for good, b o t h in his legal career a n d his own personPRAYER OF BENEDICTION , „ . ,u • al life. T h e hours of personal time 'H charis tou kuriou 'emon lesou Christou meta tou pneumatos umon Adelphoi. he has devoted to the i m p r o v e m e n t of AMEN. this c o m m u n i t y place the judge a m o n g the great citizens a n d h u m a n i (The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Brother. AMEN) The tarians of our time." MUSIC P°stlude PAGE

THE

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Education and Full Integration By B R O T H E R N. VVYATT, J R . Undergraduate Convention Address C H I C A G O , I l l . - S i n c e I have been in attendance at this 41st Convention, I have heard a n d observed a great deal of history. Listening to the imp r o m p t u discussions engaged in by the most worthy a n d venerable jewels, the past general officers, a n d Brothers, I am firmly convinced t h a t the destiny of the Alpha Phi A l p h a has always been in capable hands a n d u n d e r able leadership. For one to be prolific, he must be either a well read scholar or one who has seen m u c h history. I claim neither. I have only an imperfect knowledge of history and, because of my youth, have seen little. T h i s history of the American Negro from that of a chattel to a n American citizen, in the brief span of 100 years, is the most inspiring piece of history I have ever read. It makes me proud, and yei it makes me h u m b l e , to realize that I am a part of this g n a t American heritage. Yes, the history of the American Negro u p to this point has been a glorious one. But what about his present a n d future prospects? At the present, he is on the threshold of total integration; l u l l citizenship. T h a n k s to the great leadership of many of our own Brothers — Brother Frank Stanley, Brother T h u r g o o d Marshall, Brother R a y m o n d W. Cannon, to n a m e a few. T h e i r trials, their defeats, their courage, and fortitude in the face of i n s u r m o u n t a b l e odds is a story you know far better than any words of mine could ever tell you. T h e question now is what shall we do as undergraduates, the future leaders of the American Negro, to continue this transition from second to first-class citizenship? First, we must p r e p a r e ourselves for the mighty task that lies ahead of us. In order to do this, it seems to me, we must ask ourselves three questions, namely; W h e r e are we going? H o w are we going to get there? W h a t are we going to do when we get there? In expressing my sentiments on this most serious a n d solemn subject. 1 d o not expect to change the destiny of the world. However, if in these few fleeting moments I am able to stimulate one u n d e r g r a d u a t e brother to his future responsibility as a leader in this crucial period of Negro American history, I feel I shall have F E B R U A R Y , 1956

in some measure, discharged my duty as a leader of one of the chapters ol this great fraternity. In the words of the great English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, "I am constantly impressed with how infinitesimal is anything that I can do; yet I am even more impressed with how i m p o r t a n t it is that I do it." W h e r e are we going? We are moving from an illusion to a reality. We are moving from an American Negro dream of full American citizenship to a "real" full American citizenship as guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence a n d the Constitution of the U n i t e d States. We ask no more. W e will never be satisfied with less. T h e next question is how are we going to get there? H e r e i n lies the reason for the title of this discourse. Education is the answer. At the far Western Regional Convention of 1954, a few days after the Supreme C o u r t h a n d e d clown its now historical decision, I contended then and I contend now, that by accepting the freedoms inherent in that decision, we also must accept the great responsibilities that go with them. It was well put by one of o u r great present day philosophers in discussing democratic institutions, " T h e r e is no increased freedom without increased responsibility." It is the duty of the Alpha Phi Alpha u n d e r g r a d u a t e to

DEADLINE DATE May Issue Sphinx The 50th Anniversary •

Advertising APRIL 15 Pictures, Other Copy MAY 1

prepare himself for this great responsibility that will soon lie thrust upon him. In my opinion, the only way this can he done is through the medium of education. We are in a period of perpetual social change. We are continually moving from a folk cult tire to the genera] culture; from marginal participation to total participation in American life. Hence, we must have a comprehensive knowledge of sociology, history, and political science in order that we might he able to intelligently analyze, forecast, and judge whether a certain course should be followed at a given time in o u r attempts at this total integration. At the entrance to the Administration Building of the college where I am presently a student are carved these words — "Education is learning to use the tools of n a t u r e that man has found to be indispensable." We must translate this knowledge gathered in the laboratories of the classroom into intelligent leadership. It is these various institutions of learning which provide the great impetus towards elevating the undergraduate in order that he in turn can supply the intelligent direction needed by the fifteen or t w c i m million people in their cjuest for lull freedom in this great democratic society of ours. I n this period of great world tension, centered a r o u n d the great conflict between the ideologies of the U n i t e d States and the Soviet Union, there is a pressing need in this country for young men qualified by technical training. T h e d e m a n d was never greater lor men so trained to assist us in the vast technological a n d scientific development now going on in this country. T h a n k s to the farsightedness of o u r past and present leadership in the Alpha Phi Alpha that we undergraduates are provided with all k i n d of monetary a s s i s t a n c e through our many fellowships, grant aids, and scholarships. Unfortunately, there have been too few of us who have taken advantage of this assistance, being content to fall back on the old cliche "I can't afford a higher education." T h i s is a sad commentary u p o n the u n d e r g r a d u a t e of Alpha Phi Alpha. If we fail in our leadership when the time comes for us to take it over, we cannot blame our predecessors. T h e y have prepared the way. It will be because we have not prepared otirPAGE

selves; we have not taken advantage ol the o p p o r t u n i t i e s given us to prepare and meet the needs and demands of o u r society. Therefore, let us take advantage of these educational opportunities offered by our elders; let US translate the resulting know ledge, a n d training into production of useful things and services. A college degree is ol little value unless what it represents can be used to translate our dreams "I democracy into a reality. Finally, what are we going to d o when we get there:- What must we expect to Find when we have reached our goal — total integration in America? T o me the answer is obvious. We will find equal o p p o r t u n i t y ; we will find "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," — no more; no less. T h e oft quoted and widely mis understood phrase in out Declaration of Independence that "all men are created e q u a l " guarantees us as Americans one thing and one thing only — an equal o p p o r t u n i t y to educate ourselves in order that we may rise as high as out intellectual endowments will allow us to in a free and highly competitive society. No man c m be equal to every other man just because the constitution or the Declaration of Independence says so. These two immortal documents were never intended that all men in America should be reduced to a common denominator. T h i s would indeed be a perversion of tin American concept. Every man is not equally capable of being honest, considerate, or competent; but through the process of learning in o u r colleges, universities. and religious institutions, we are guaranteed equal opportunities to acq u i r e these traits which set us above the common hordes. This is the problem as I see it t h r o u g h the eyes of an undergraduate. 1 must toilless that when 1 came to this convention, I was filled with some misgivings as to whether my undergraduate brothers h a d been giving the consideration and thought to this tremendous responsibility that must be ours in the not too distant future. However, alter having conversed with man) ol them, my faith has been renewed. I find that they are, like myself. cognizant of their d u t y a n d responsibility to this great fraternity, their people, a n d their country. I can assure you—Jewels, Brother General President, and Brothers, t h a t we will not fail you; that with your continued advice a n d encouragement, we shall go forward, ever keeping o u r eyes fixed o n that goal you have set lot ns which keeps shining brighter a n d brighter u n t o a perfect day. PAGE 36

Graduate and Undergraduate Chapters Join Forces C I N C I N N A T I , O h i o - D e l t a Cam ma Lambda, and Alpha Alpha Chapters are examples of graduate and undergraduate chapters working together for the advancement of the fraternity. W h e n several years ago the u n d e r g r a d u a t e chapter was about to become inactive, the grads were successful in keeping it active. Now, with enthusiastic young men in Alpha Alpha, and one of the finest pledge clubs in its history, it is destined to become a leading undergraduate chapter a m o n g those at predominantly while universilies. The two chapters meet in the Irat house of which we ate so proud, often in joint meeting. Incidentally we have the only Alpha house in Ohio. W e plan o u r promotions, social affairs a n d educational programs jointly. We are currently p l a n n i n g a testi

monial b a n q u e t to h o n o r Brother T h e o d o r e Berry who was recently elected Vice-Mayor in o u r eight-man City Council. The president of our graduate chapter, Brother Willis Weatherly was recently a p p o i n t e d to the board of directors of the Cincinnati and Hamilton C o u n t y Y.M.C.A. O u r chapters are active in the local councils of the Pan-Hellenic, and A C H R ; work with the N.A.A.C.P.. and the Y.M.C.A. W e are lending our assistance' to the U r b a n League in their preparation for a national conference. Brothers, we have already started p l a n n i n g to welcome and entertain you at the 1959 Convention. Sl'AULDING DlCKERSON

Associate Editor to the SPHINX Delta Gamma Lambda Chapter

New Chapter Is Off to a Good Start S P R I N G F I E L D , O h i o - Z e t a Delta L a m b d a Chapter, one of the newer graduate chapters of A l p h a Phi Alpha began its fall activity program in September at the home of Brother S. Lloyd Corbin, with Brother Ferdin a n d Clark as co-host. A review of the activities of the preceding months was discussed, which included the Installation Services in March, the lecture on Israel by J u d g e Ben Goldman. the Lionel H a m p t o n dance at Memorial in J u n e a n d the Alpha picnic in August at Maplewood T e r r a c e , the beautiful country h o m e of Brother Leo G. Robinson. After the business meeting, there followed a social h o u r d u r i n g which Brother Leroy Hacker e n t e r t a i n e d the brothers with color movies of the highlights of the Shrine Convention. After t h a n k i n g the wives of the hosts, Mrs. Corbin a n d Mrs. Clark, for the delicious repast served to the brothers, the meeting was concluded with the singing of the A l p h a h y m n .

singing of the Alpha song after which the meeting was adjourned. Brother Louis H a l l a n d C. Leroy I lac ker were co-hosts at the Novcmbci nice ling of Zeta Delta L a m b d a Chapter which met at the home of Brother Hall. During the social h o u r two probates, Alonzo Moss a n d E d m u n d Cooke, were presented to the members. After a delicious buffet supper was served the social h o u r was concluded a n d the business session was resumed. The following officers of Zeta Delta L a m b d a C h a p t e r were elected for the ensuing year: Attorney Nat h a n H . Beavers was r e n a m e d president of the chapter, with Dr. George E. W r i g h t being elected vice-president, Lester Embrey, recording secretary; Professor R o b e r t J. Anthony, corresponding secretary; Louis R. Hall, historian; Wallace W . Jackson, parliam e n t a r i a n ; L y m a n Alexander, Chaplain; Maurice Reed, Sergeant-at-arms a n d Riley N . Jackson, associate editor of the S P H I N X .

T h e October meeting of the Zeta Delta L a m b d a C h a p t e r was held at the h o m e of Brother Daniel Elmore with Brother Lester Embry as co-host. In spite of a very rainy n i g h t the spirits of the brothers present were not d a m p e n e d . At the conclusion of the business meeting, bountiful refreshments were served. Brother Daniel, our sepian Bing Crosby, led the

A m o n g special committee chairmen a p p o i n t e d were L y m a n Alexander, program committee; Professor R o b e r t Anthony, organization of A l p h a auxiliary, a n d the Rev. C. Leroy Hacker, public relations. A p p o i n t e d to represent the chapter as delegates at the forty-first N a t i o n a l Convention in Chicago were Brothers N a t h a n H . Beavers and F e r d i n a n d Clark. T H E SPHINX

Judkins and Our Community By CORNELIUS R. RICHARDSON EDITOR'S NOTE: Attorney

Cornelius

Richardson is head of the Law Firm where our late Brother Julius Judkins 'practiced law.

Richmond, Indiana is a typical Mid-west industrial city with a population of approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Among these are about 5,000 persons of color. In the fall of 1948 there came to this thriving community one Julius Caesar Judkins, Jr., who hung u p his shingle and entered into the active practice of the law for which he was most eminently fitted. Immediately upon coming to this community, the young lawyer made himself of service in the true sense of the word. This was manifested in his activities in The Frontiers Service Club and all organizations with which he affiliated. He belived in progress. While "The LAW is a jealous mistress"â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Judkins found time to aid in so many and varied enterprises, hav-

ing for their objective civic betterment and community uplift. T h e American Legion, The Masonic Orders and T h e NAACP were the beneficiaries of his enthusiastic and unwavering support. He loved justice and was always ready to help others. The young people of our city had in him truly a real champion. We personally know of scores of our young students, now in our leading colleges and universities, whose presence there is due wholly to the wise guidance, sane counselling and careful planning of Judkins. He was unstinting in his advice and ever most liberal with his purse. He had a zeal to be of service. He was always helping in some worthy cause. His ardent devotion to his wife and children made him an ideal husband. In all phases of life among the people he labored here and not in vain. He rose to great heights because of his love for humanity. While his was a brief stay in our community, his unselfish life was an inspiration and indeed a benediction. In the words of Dr. Milton S. J. Wright, "HERE WAS A MAN!"

In Cooperation With United Nations By B R O T H E R AARON BROWN Assistant Director, Phelps-Stokes Fund

pha Phi Alpha should make application for membership in the National Interfraternity Conference. EDITOR'S NOTE: Alpha Phi Alpha FraI have contacted the Organization, ternity, Inc., by action of the 4\st Anwithout obligating our Fraternity, nual Convention held in Chicago, Illinois. during December, 1955, has applied for and now have the requirements for membership in the National Interframembership and other related data. ternity Conference. I understand that our General SecreCHICAGO, I l l . - T h e 40th General tary, Brother Huger, also has the Convention authorized the General necessary data which he has collected. As a result of my observations and President to appoint a Brother as an Observer or Listener at the United the conferences with Dr. Bunche, I Nations. Brother General President am recommending that Alpha Phi AlStanley appointed me as the Fraterni- pha attempt to become a Senior Memty's official Listener on July 12, 1955. ber of the National Interfraternity I immediately presented my creden- Conference. tials to the proper officials at the The press has done an excellent United Nations. Later, I was re- job of interpreting the actions of the quested to have a conference with United Nations to the American pubUndersecretary G e n e r a l Ralph lic. In the belief, therefore, that Bunche on July 21, 1955. After the most Brothers here assembled have an conference I performed the duties understanding of the United Nation's open to me and another conference significant accomplishments, I shall was held with Dr. Bunche on October simply state a few major facts. 26, 1955. The Tenth General Assembly closThe National Interfraternity Con- ed officially on December 20, 1955. ference has been given the privilege Its accomplishments are varied and of representing all member Fraterni- significant. They range from the es-, ties at the United Nations and it has tablishment of an International Coman official Observer. It is the belief mission on the Peaceful Uses of Atomof Dr. Bunche, and I concur, that Al- ic Energy to boosting the General FEBRUARY, 1956

Assembly membership from sixty to seventy-six. T h e United Nations has developed a strong public opinion in favor of its ideals and objectives. Its major concerns have been in the direction of World Peace and the recognition of human dignity regardless of race or geographic location. T h e United Nations attempts to conduct all of its business in a democratic manner and at the same time keep in the forefront of its endeavors the realization of basic purposes and goals. The current President is from Chile while the Seven Vice-Presidents are from China, Ethiopia, France, Luxembourg, Russia, England and the United Slates. The six major committees, in addition to the Steering Committee, also represent a wide range of countries and all races. T h e committees are: Political and Security, Chairman from New Zealand; Economic and Financial, Chairman from Haiti; Social, Humanitarian and Cultural, Chairman from Egypt; Trusteeship, Chairman from Mexico; Administration and Budgeting, Chairman from Norway; and Legal, Chairman from Poland. This is an indication of its attempt to be universally representative. This ought to create an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual respect. The Security Council, composed of eleven (11) national representatives, is perhaps the capstone of its worth and weight. There are five permanent members of the CouncilChina, France, Russia, England and the United States. For 1956 the others will be: Australia, Belgium, Cuba, Iran, Peru and Yugoslavia. The Trusteeship Council is composed of fourteen (14) representatives including the five permanent members of the Security Council. T h e Economic and Social Council is composed of representatives of eighteen (18) countries. T h e International Court of Justice, under the Presidency of the representative from the United States, is composed of fourteen additional members. There are ten (10) Specialized Agencies including: T h e Food and Agriculture Organization; T h e United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and T h e World Health Organization. The Secretariat is headed by Secretary-General Dag Hammerskjold. T h e United Nations Budget for 1956 is $48,556,350.00. I wish to commend the Fraternity for its vision in making provision for an Observer. I am grateful for the honor given me by Brother General President Stanley to serve the Fraternity in this capacity. PAGE 37

Past General Counsel Participates in Fight For Flat, Damages The NAACP New York Branch hails a State Supreme Coon decision awarding $750 in compensatory damages to an interracial couple and a permanent injunction against a realty firm which had sought to lock them out of an apartment they had rented. The award was made to Diana and Thurman Faulk of 81 Perry Street, who had rented an apartment at 588 West End Avenue from the Syltol Realt) Corporation. The NAACP and the State Temporary Housing Rent Commission joined forces in bringing the case lo court. NAACP attorney, Brother lawn A. Saudi Ier, commented: "This is the first instance to our knowledge where the courts and the Rent Commission have indicated such a positive and direct position against this form of discrimination. "We have made further inroads against discrimination in private housing where no question of federal, state or municipal funds is involved." volvcel." New York NAACP President Russell 1'. Crawford added: "The NAACP will redouble its efforts to eliminate discrimination in all types ol housing in New York City. The program for the coming year will be accelerated and intensified in this direc lion." •

Convention Address (Continued from Page 13) pathway . . . Here in the midst of weird voices of a confused and dying world, strangling our souls, I beg yon to head right and keep going . . . the door of hope is still open and the God of Abraham is still in charge. IIK die has been cast—We must face, fight and die with our heads up and our breasts bared to the ruthless enemy of right and justice. This is our Day. I have been impressed with the spirit of the men here. I was deeply moved with the challenging presentation of facts and conditions by Brother Anderson on yesterday and I am alarmed over the growing stupidity of men in their search of peace. Beautiful phrases, well chosen documents by all the nations of the earth will not bring peace. Peace and justice are attributes of God—Without Him there can be no peace. PAGE 38

FRATERNITY

FUN

(Continued from Page 27) Iambic Feet in Christmas Anthem Poetry "How still we see thee lie" Scrambled Meter — Late returning hubby, with alibi, "How we see thee still lie." * * * April Drama Depicting the Three "Rs" Scene I — Enter — three Internal Revenue Collectors 1st Collector: That is ouRs 2nd Collector: This is ouRs 3rd Collector: These are ouRs. * * * John came to work one morning and said to his friends, "Boys, I've got to get married!" "How come?" they asked. "Well, you see it was like this. Last night I was sitting with a girl in a car in a garage. She proposed to me and I couldn't back out." * * * Fugue in Seven Sharps Blinks — "I hear you and your neighbor are on the outs. What happened?" jinks — "Well, his kids are taking music lessons, and the other day I sent him an ax with a note saying. T r y this on your piano'." * * * "Do you ever play post office?" asked the Radio Quizmaster. "Sometimes," admitted the pretty contestant. "That's fine! But at my house we play pony express. That's post office with a little more horsing around." Lambda Loquacity Filched from a diary — Monday — Today we got reports and 1 got Poor in cooperation and Poor in english, spelling, music and hygene and one or two others. Mr. Miles said to me, "Eva, you will have to improve your conduct and effort an do better work or else you're lible to be not promoted at the end of the term." I wrote a note and said: Dear Mr. Miles: Will you please give me another chanch. I will try my best very mutch, Your loving friend Eva. * * * Experience is what is left when everything else is gone. * * * A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin. * * * The SPHINX says: Never use two words when one will do. Never use one word when none will do. * * * Many a woman is always expensive; hair today, gown tomorrow. * * * There's always danger that hush money will speak for itself. * * * A voting newlywed was sobbing because her husband was out shooting craps and she didn't know how to cook them. * * * Rumors It was reported that there was a room where the fellows were offered lessons in elementary Mathematics. Most courses ended in seven or eleven. One, went to twenty-one; another played tricks with the digit, two, frequently calling it "wild." I am proud to say that our delegates ignored the lures and they both petered out. * * * There was another story going around the convention that young mothers' milk is cgood for stomach ulcers. (Tsk! Tsk! Just finding that out, buddy?) * * * They tell me that Brother John H. Johnson of Ebony, Tan, Hue and Jet fame who gave a cocktail sip and turned it into an impromptu banquet, and who gave away Hawaiian hats to the men and baby orchid leis to the ladies, THE who served no libations in a class lower than Old Fitzgerald, who usedSPHINX Cham-

O u r 50th Anniversary should be more t h a n a celebration. It should erect a p e r m a n e n t m o n u m e n t in terms of a F o u n d a t i o n , sufficient to strengthen o u r financial position for the pressing needs of o u r future. Obviously, to effect the k i n d of u n d e r g r a d u a t e housing program that we need, to broaden o u r scholarships a n d fellowships for m a x i m u m good, a n d to build an a d e q u a t e reserve not only to protect our material assets, b u t so see us t h r o u g h any financial crisis, we must of necessity create a source of income over and above our n o r m a l grand tax. I should like to think of our 50th Anniversary as being synonymous with a :$50,000.00 Foundation in order that we may lace our next fifty years with security. Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha, when you elevated me to the general presidency, you p u t my personal convictions a b o u t o u r beloved Fraternity to a test. You challenged me to make personal sacrifices and to give the best leadership I could in directing for our 50th Anniversary Celebration. Alpha Phi Alpha into new and greater Your fiscal officers a n d I have met fields of service. I now pass that chalat least twice this year with the Anni- lenge on to you a n d implore you to versary Committees a n d the co-host meet it as fully as you can in this Brothers of R h o L a m b d a a n d Delta majestic h o u r of o u r existence. O n e Epsilon Chapters. W e offer to you, usually finds time, energy a n d money t h r o u g h the General C h a i r m a n of regardless of how i m p o r t a n t or busy our 50th Anniversary Committee, he is, for the things closest to his what we believe reflects your desires heart. All of vis were initiated into a n d aims for the i m p e n d i n g high Alpha because of o u r competency to point of our whole Fraternal exist- add something to the solutions to o u r ence. W e ask that you make every fraternal problems. As you rededicate possible change lor belter a n d then yourself to Alpha a n d resolve to m a k e grant swift approval for us to proceed the greatest c o n t r i b u t i o n you can to with the business at h a n d of supplying its sum total, take new h o p e in this necessary finishing touches in short thought: order. " W e live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; O u r fiftieth anniversary presents a In courage, not cowardice; in feelHixai personal challenge to every livings, not figures of a dial. ing Alpha. Unlike all previous anniW e should counl time by heartversaries, our fiftieth will be more throbs. costly a n d its success will depend H e lives most who thinks most, feels largely u p o n the attendance of every the noblest, a n d acts the best." living Brother. Recommendations O u r goals are—10,000 active Broth1. Re-evaluation of o u r designing, ers. with no less t h a n 3,000 in attendtiming, processing and receiving ance at Buffalo next August. T h e s e of ballots in electing a General are basic m i n i m u m s u p o n which the President, so that this m e t h o d of occasion's success is predicated. We general suffrage may serve more efmust not fail. fectively in stimulating reclamaEvidently for some time o u r amtion a n d p r o m o t i n g earlier paybitions have been greater t h a n our m e n t of G r a n d T a x . Both the treasury. Generally, b r o t h e r h o o d a n d Election a n d Reorganization Coma n d money make a n explosive commissions have recommendations to bination. Yet, one of the most tangithis effect. ble evidences of o u r loyalty a n d love 2. Consideration of another memberfor A l p h a is to be found in the finanship classification to be open to cial contributions we make for the men of high professional and pubfurtherance of its programs. Our lic service accomplishments who experience with our n a t i o n a l headhave not h a d the good fortune to quarters has been a commendable efreceive an earned degree. fort in this regard. N o w we are faced with an even bigger o p p o r t u n i - 3. T h e question of m e m b e r s h i p in the National Inter-Fraternal Conty-

pagne for chasers and oysters Rockefeller and pheasant under glass for a p petizers, who regaled us with native music from Honolulu and had the entire establishment garlanded with Bird of Paradise floral arrangements from the tropical isles, paid for the entire affair out of his petty cash fund. What a Man! Brother, how about stamping my mortgage out with one of your piggy banks. * * * They tell me that Chicago produced the attendance of Alpha's most charming women. 1 saw Mrs. Myles Paige, I got a glimpse of Mrs. lone S t a n l e y , ! effervesced about Mrs. Sandifer, I strutted when Mrs. Sidney Jones raved about Frat Fun and called me America's black Rabelais, (say, did she say Rabelais or "rabble what ?") I puffed up when Mrs. Obie said she was the president of my fan club, 1 drooled when Mrs. Sydney Brown fed me a post convention brunch, I beamed when Brother Tollie Harris' sister, Hattie, reminded me that I was her bad little old classmate, 39 years ago, but I blacked out right in the main lobby of the Morrison when 1 looked over my left shoulder and saw ermined Belle Miller smiling—either at H e r b or at me. 1 revived when the vivacious Laura Holland crooned "there will be 'sixteen tons' of this Alpha joy, jam packed with the famous Buffalo hospitality August 7 - 1 1 , 1956 at the 50th Anniversary celebration." " "I shoot my wit into the S P H I N X Sometimes it's good; sometimes it s-t-i-n-k-s." —WINTERS •

President Stanley Reports (Continued from Page 2) blood a n d retain o u r position of leadership in this age of high fraternal competition. T h e time has come for us to realize that Alpha is fundamentally in the business of securing initiates a n d bridging the gap between college g r a d u a t i o n a n d graduate chapter affiliation, if we would survive the death struggle t h a t engulfs us. T h i s is o u r gravest m o m e n t and we are imperiled by o u r failure to grow numerically. T h i s is our most acute problem. Somehow, the glue of Alpha has become unstuck and unless we find a n immediate remedial program, we shall soon dwindle to nothing. General Secretary Huger's report shows thai our lip service and feeble efforts of the past six years have resulted in continuous decline of u n d e r g r a d u a t e members, [In seriousness of the situation may be compared to the physician w h o pronounces more deaths than births. W e must redesign our whole recruitiiiciii policy and discover new ways a n d means of b u i l d i n g a healthy and sizeable u n d e r g r a d u a t e membership. Every Brother who wants to keep this Fraternity of ours alive must become its salesman—a salesman w h o will single out every good prospect in his hometown schools, churches or whathave-you, a n d inspire him to seek the light of Alpha. T h i s j o b cannot be left to officers and chapters alone; it must be the j o b of every active brother w h o desires to have a fraternity to belong to next year a n d thereafter. After four years of tireless efforts, o u r Semi-Centennial General Committee a n d its related sub-committees will present to you a detailed program

F E B R U A R Y , 1956

PAGE

.5.

ference has come up repeatedly. It appears that such is required by many of the integrated schools where we now seek to establish chapters. We recommend that this convention approve membership in the National Inter-Fraternal Conference. Approval of the amendment of The Commission on Reorganization regarding our Educational Foundation's constituency and administration. Endorsement of a Fiftieth Anniversary postage stamp, a promotion aid to our 50th Anniversary Celebration. That we authorize and create the machinery necessary to build a $50,000 Foundation in commemoration of our 50th Anniversary. Our most glaring shortcoming is in failing to provide an effective program of guidance, counseling and tutoring of high school seniors and college freshmen. Actually, we do nothing for those who would become our brothers. We stand aloof and idle. At Miami, we adopted a recommendation that 'Chapters set up vocational counseling services wherever the need presents itself." Brothers, the need grows more acute by the minute throughout the realm of Alpha. Our competitors have already made this a national project and are reaping amazing results, while rendering service to the youth of the land. I recommend that this convention set up a commission with appropriate budget to administer this program forthwith. BRO. FRANK L. STANLEY, General President •

National Headquarters (Continued from Page 16) ing as a beacon light of liberty and justice, cast its rays into the hinterlands of our nation. May this beacon continue to extend its light across the seas. May the spirit of this Christmas serve to consecrate and rededicate us to the great and unfinished tasks which lie ahead. Technological progress in transportation and communication makes for a smaller world. We are now neighbors with all the peoples of the globe. Therefore, it becomes more and more imperative that some solution, other than war, must be found to end social, political and economic frustrations. We must produce a better world where one is not identified as white, black or yellow, but as a man. And, while we build hydrogen and atomic weapons for human destruction, we must burnish anew the lamp of liberty, and trim the wick of the PAGE 40

flame of brotherhood throughout the world, knowing full well that this country and the world—can no more exist half-slave and half-free today, than in that other day when the candle of democracy flickered and went out. As we dedicate this house today, we reconsecrate ourselves to this noble task. •

Defensive and Offensive Struggle In Our Democracy (Continued from Page 27) tice and Democracy for all Americans. If we are to move forward toward the goal of Total Integration and First Class Citizenship for all American people without regard to race, creed or religion . . . then the challenge and the fight has just begun. In the words of the poet Browning: Why greet the new day If it's a copy Of the day that went before, A tale of wrongs unrighted, For what's a new day Unless it's better than The day that went before. •

Challenge of the Hour (Continued from Page 7) tion of God and nature. The only way that such a system as our Southern culture has produced can be seen as it is, is for the observer to get outside of it. Fortunately for us, cultures meet and conflict and thus offer the opportunity to evaluate them. The decisions that the Supreme Court has given down since May 17th 1954, are going to revolutionize education in the South and in the world. We have sent our American Negro troops to the ends of earth to fight, bleed and die for the same share of democracy that America gives her other citizens. We have not sent our black sons out to fight, bleed and die for any separate but equal theory as practiced throughout the South. There is no such thing as separate but equal facilities where the rights of the individual are concerned. We must prepare our young people for the emerging integrated social order in the South. Recently, I was on the Campus of a Negro College in the South where there was a total enrollment of 2,900 students and approximately 2,000 were enrolled in the Department of Education. I maintain that there must be a shift of emphasis in Negro education today. With unlimited new fields in engineering, nuclear science and business for our youth today, it is my belief that we need to restudy our whole educational approach to our problems in a completely integrated society, with the question uppermost in mind, "will

the Negro survive intellectually in a completely integrated society." If this vital question is to be answered in the affirmative, then the most brilliant minds of our youth must be used as a Marine Corp to establish new Beach-heads in new fields of opportunities. Surely Socrates in his ageless discourse on the good society was thinking about this grave hour when Gloucon said, Socrates, I do not believe that there is such a City of God anywhere on Earth." Socrates replied, "Whether such a City exists in Heaven or ever will exist on Earth, the wise man will live after the manner of that City, having nothing to do with any other and in so looking upon it will set his own house in order." There is no serious doubt in my mind that even in South Carolina, Georgia and in my Mississippi equality of opportunity for all races will eventually prevail. But as an observer from the very jaws of Hell, I am thoroughly convinced that every delaying action known to the enemies of true democracy will be used to circumvent the Supreme Court Decision as long as possible. Divided mankind still has the freedom to select salvation or destruction. If in this grave hour the Negro in America selects salvation, then we will have less need to despair about the trends of events in this nation today. In spite of South Carolina and in spite of Mississippi, we can begin to channel our talents and energies into the golden era of human dignity which has been our hope and goal since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The tragic fact remains that it is in the midst of threatened deep tragedy—at the bedside of loved ones, in dungeon cells, in the bitter cold and in the sweltering heat of the battlefield—when all else has failed, when emptied of self-dependence and hope in that which is known and seen and felt—that man in order to survive reaches out to the unknown for help and assurance, for guidance, strength and endurance, to something beyond the mortal range. I believe that our hope is found in the return to moral values which are found in the Gospel of Christ. "Come O Blessed of my Father, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I say, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to Me." Thank you. THE SPHINX

UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTERS (Continued from Inside Front Cover) 60 BETA RHO—Johnnie E. Burke (S). Shaw University. Raleigh. N. C. 61 BETA SIGMA—Bruce Gill (P), Southern University, Baton Rouge. La. 62. BETA TAU—(Inactive) New Orleans, La. 6.1. BETA UPSILON—Herman C. Morris (S). Ala. State College, Montgomery, Ala. 64. BETA PHI—Louis H. Roberts (S), Dillard University. New Orleans. La. 65. BETA CHI—Herbert Thompson (S), Philan66. d-r Smith College. Little Rock. Ark. 67. BETA PSI—(Inactive) Portland. Oregon. GAMMA ALPHA—Louis D. Hicks, Texas 68. College. Tyler, Tex. GAMMA BETA—John Rovster (S). N. C. College. Durham, N. C. 69. GAMMA GAMMA—Fred Talbot (P). Allen University. Columbia. S. C. 78. GAMMA NU—Leon Cooper (DP). Nitlanv P. O. Box 145, State College, Pa. 70. GAMMA DELTA—Vernon Webb, A. M and N. College. Pine Bluff, Ark. 71. GAMMA EPSILON — (Inactive) Madison, Wis. 72. GAMMA ZETA—Robert C. Dixon (S), Ft. Valley State College. Ft. Valley, Ga. 73. GAMMA ETA—Odis Cargill (P), Box 198, MRC—Ind. Univ.. Bloomington. Ind. 74. GAMMA THETA—John E. Moore (P). 1331 Swisher Ave.. Dayton 8, Ohio. 75. GAMMA IOTA—William Moss. P. O. Box 63, Hampton Institute, Va. 76. GAMMA KAPPA—Robert A. Bethune (S), 77. 308 Kappa Ave.. Birmingham. Ala. GAMMA MU—Smith Turner. Jr. (S). Living79. ston College. Salisbury, N. C. GAMMA XI—William Johnson. 2116 S. West80. ern Ave., Los Angeles. Calif. GAMMA OMICRON—Charlie Williams (VP), 81. Knoxville College, Knoxville. Tenn. GAMMA PI—Darwin M. Johnson (S), Bene82. dict College, Columbia. S. C. GAMMA RHO—Donald D. Masse (CS). 35 83. North 25th St., Lafayette, Ind. GAMMA SIGMA—Cat roll A. Bdt (S), Dela84. ware State College. Dover. Del. GAMMA TAU—Frank Wilburn. 318 Elm Place, East Lansing. Mich. 85. GAMMA UPSILON—Hozy Burenstien, Jr., Tougaloo College. Tougaloo, Miss.

86. GAMMA PHI—Cornelius Blount (S), 102 Sag; Hall. Tuskegee Institute. Ala. 87. GAMMA CHI—(Inactive) Pittsburg. Kans. 88. GAMMA PSI—Weslev Copeland. 815 F Davie St.. Raleigh. N. C. K9. DELTA ALPHA—Walter L. Sailers. Claflin University. Orangeburg, S. C. 90. DELTA BETA—Robert B. Ford, BethuneCookman College, Daytona B a c h . Fla. 91. DELTA GAMMA—Freddie McClain (CS). Alabama A. and M. College. Normal. Ala. 92. DELTA DELTA—I. Andrew Edwards, Albany State College, Albany, Ga. 93. DELTA EPSILON—Sumner C. Nunley. 382 Woodlawn Ave.. Buffalo 8, N. Y. 94. DELTA ZETA—(Inactive), Syracuse. N. Y. 95. DELTA ETA—Clevon Johnson (CS), Savannah State College, Savannah, Ga. 96. DELTA THETA—Lloyd H. Williams. Jr.. Box 184. Texas Southern University. Houston. Tex. 97. DELTA IOTA—William L. Reid (P). 12 Jennings Court. New Brunswick, N. J. 98. DELTA KAPPA—Wright L. Lassiter. Alcorn A. and M. College. Alcorn, Miss. 99. DELTA MU—William T. Ridgeway (S). 812 Malhewson, Wichita. Kans. 100. DELTA NU—Clyde Boyd. Maryland State College. Princess Anne, Md. 300. DELTA XI—Thomas R. Gross, Box 285. Wilberforce. Ohio. 301. DELTA OMICRON—Roland Hall (S), 216 Thrift St.. San Francisco, Calif. 302. DELTA PI—Harvey B. Collins (S), State Teachers College, Cheyney. Penn. 303. DELTA RHO—Don W. Burnett (VP), 2816 Wabash Ave.. Kansas City 9, Mo. 304. DELTA SIGMA—Leroy J. Sanford (S), Grambling College. Grambling. La. 305. DELTA TAU—Caesar W. Beckett (S), St. Paul's Polytechnic Institute, Lawrenceville. Va. 306. DELTA UPSILON—Charles Brown (S), Miami University. Oxford. Ohio. 307. DELTA PHI—Myles M. Hubbard (S), Box 7014, Jackson College. Jackson, Miss. 308. DELTA CHI—Edward L. Weems (RS), 456 Jefferson Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 309. DELTA PSI—James Day (S), Florida N. and I. M. College, St. Augustine. Fla. 310. EPSILON ALPHA—Merle Dixon, 69 Port Lawrence Apts.. Toledo, Ohio.

GRADUATE CHAPTERS 101. ALPHA LAMBDA—William Braxton (S), 1456 Beech St.. Louisville 11, Ky. 102. BETA LAMBDA—James Jeffress (S), 1824 Paseo. Kansas City, Mo. 103. GAMMA LAMBDA—Barton W. Morris (S), 293 Eliot St.. Detroit 1. Mich. 104. DELTA LAMBDA—Clifton R. Jones, 2504 Longwood St., Baltimore. Md. 105. EPSILON LAMBDA—Fred T. Simms (P), 4959 Maffitt Place. St. Louis 15. Mo. 106. ZETA LAMBDA—Clarence C. Johnson. 1119 29th St.. Newport News, Va. 107. ETA LAMBDA—William H. Hale, 1351 Sharon St., N. W.. Atlanta, Ga. 108. THETA LAMBDA—Avery Watson, Jr. (S). 1.330 Home Ave.. Dayton 7, Ohio. 109. IOTA LAMBDA—Lehman D. Adams (P). 17 West 22nd St.. Indianapolis, Ind. 110. KAPPA LAMBDA—Charles A. Grant (CS), 504 Beech Si.. Greensboro, N. C. 111. MU LAMBDA—Dr. William F. Nelson. 721 12th St., N. E., Washington 2, D. C. 112. NU LAMBDA—John E. Reinhardt (S), Virginia State College. Petersburg. Va. 113. XI LAMBDA—Lincoln A. Blakeney, 4106 Cottage Grove Ave.. Chicago. III. 114. OMICRON LAMBDA—C. A. Howze (S). 1000 4th St., N.. Birmingham. Ala. 115. PI LAMBDA—C. Franklin Brown (S). 1019 Cross St., Little Rock. Ark. 116. RHO LAMBDA—Russell N. Service, 585 Michigan St.. Buffalo. N. Y. 117. SIGMA LAMBDA—Walter E. Morial (S), 1433 Touro St., New Orleans, La. 118. TAU LAMBDA—N. H. Williams. Jr., 1405 South St., Nashville. Tenn. 119. UPSILON LAMBDA—Ralph B. Stewart (S), 109 E. Union St.. Jacksonville, Fla. 120. PHI LAMBDA—R. H. Toole (S), 1005 S. Person St., Raleigh. N. C. 121. CHI LAMBDA—Thomas E. Kellev (S), Box 132. Wilberforce. Ohio. 122. PSI LAMBDA—George W. James. 1527 E. 3rd St., Chattanooga. Tenn. 123. ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDA—Arthur C. Williams (S), 158 Lincoln St., Montclair, N. J. 124. ALPHA BETA LAMBDA—Carl I. Lvnem (S). 407 N. Upper St.. Lexington. Ky. 125. ALPHA GAMMA LAMBDA — Augustus Simms. 209 W. 125th St.. New York 27. N. Y. 126. ALPHA DELTA LAMBDA—A. B. Owens, Jr. (S), 598 Williams Ave.. Memphis. Tenn. 127. ALPHA EPSILON LAMBDA—R. W. Harrison (S). 2291/2 Main St.. Yazoo City. Miss. 128. ALPHA ZETA LAMBDA—Joseph I. Turner (S), Bluefield State College, Bluefield. W. Va.

129. ALPHA ETA LAMBDA—James W. White, Texas Southern University. Houston 4. Tex. 130. ALPHA THETA LAMBDA—Chester C. Sutton (S). 1011 N. Ohio Ave.. Atlanta City, N. J. 131. ALPHA IOTA LAMBDA—E. R. Armstead (S), Institute. Institute. W. Va. 132. ALPHA KAPPA LAMBDA—E. D. Downing (S). 36 Center Ave.. N. W.. Roanoke, Va. 133. ALPHA MU LAMBDA—William Holt (S), 733 Saxon St.. Knoxville, Tenn. 134. ALPHA NU LAMBDA—Ira L. Ferguson (S), Box 217. Tuskegee Institute. Ala. 135. ALPHA XI LAMBDA—Wayman D. Palmer. 568 Oakwood Ave.. Toledo 2. Ohio. 136. ALPHA OMICRON LAMBDA—Wilbur C. Douglass (S). 412 Bakewell Bldg.. Pittsburgh 19. Pa. 137. ALPHA PI LAMBDA—James O. Ellis. 1500 E. 1st St.. Winston-Salem. N. C. 138. ALPHA RHO LAMBDA—Raymond Thomas (S). 641/2 N. 22nd St.. Columbus, Ohio. 139. ALPHA SIGMA LAMBDA—Edward L. Massey. 3930 Wilder St.. Dallas, Tex. 140. ALPHA TAU LAMBDA—Tollie W. Harris (P), 326 Greenwood. Tulsa 6, Okla. 141. ALPHA UPSILON LAMBDA—W. H. Coston (S). Alabama State College, Montgomery, Ala. 142. ALPHA PHI LAMBDA—Thomas W. Young. 1660 Corprew Ave., Norfolk 12. Va. 143. ALPHA CHI LAMBDA—John M. Tugg (S). 1108 Phillips St.. Augusta, Ga. 144. ALPHA PSI LAMBDA—Henry W. Webber, 37 Samson Circle. Greenview. Columbia. S. C. 145. BETA ALPHA LAMBDA—William Johnson (S). 117 Atlantic St., Jersey City 4, N. J. 146. BETA BETA LAMBDA—John H. Anderson (S). 1200 N. W. 6th Ave.. Miami. Fla. 147. BETA GAMMA LAMBDA—Harvey O. Freeman, 2806 Griffin A v . . Richmond 22. Va. 148. BETA DELTA LAMBDA—Ernest C. Cook (S). Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach. Fla. 149. BETA EPSILON LAMBDA—L. G. Ashley (S), Box 247. Boley, Okla. 150. BETA ZETA LAMBDA—Cyrus B. Tavlor, 805 E. Dunklin St.. Jefferson City. Mo. 151. BETA ETA LAMBDA—M. E. Gamble (S)." Hennessey. Okla. 152. BETA THETA LAMBDA—J. M. Schooler. 1607 Favetteville. Durham. N. C. 153. BETA IOTA LAMBDA—V. B. Lacour (P), Southern University, Baton Rouge, La. 154. BETA KAPPA LAMBDA—E. B. Burroughs (S). 35 Morris St.. Charleston. S. C. 155. BETA MU LAMBDA—L. E. Anderson (S), P. O. Box 862, Salisbury, N. C.

156. BETA NU LAMBDA—H. W. Norris (S). Johnson C. Smith Universitv. Charlotte. N. C. 157. BETA XI LAMBDA—W.' T. Bryant, 2731 Franklin. Omaha, Neb. 158. BETA OMICRON LAMBDA—Curtis A. Woodard (S), 1250 Hercules St., Mobile, Ala. 159. BETA PI LAMBDA—Donald W. Johnson (S). 104 First St.. Albany 10. N. Y. 160. BETA RHO LAMBDA—James E. Smith (S). 962 W. Federal St.. Youngstown 1, Ohio. 161. BETA SIGMA LAMBDA—Jarvis H. Arms, 23 Westland St.. Hartford 5. Conn. 162. BETA TAU LAMBDA—Felix C. Thurmond. I0C5 E. Leuda St.. Ft. Worth. Tex. 163. BETA UPSILON LAMBDA—V. J. Gilmore. 400 Laconte St.. Jackson. Tenn. 164. BETA PHI LAMBDA—E. A. Bertrand (S). Savannah S»ale College. Savannah, Ga. 165. BETA CHI LAMBDA—Harry M. Hodges (S). 808 Fondulac St.. Muskogee, Okla. 166. BETA PSI LAMBDA—Oscar V. Little (S). 1518 E. 22nd St.. Los Ang-les 11. Calif. 167. GAMMA ALPHA LAMBDA—John Chiles (P). 9 East Frederick St.. Staunton, Va. 168. GAMMA BETA LAMBDA — Arnold W. Wright, Kentucky State College. Frankfort. Ky. 169. GAMMA GAMMA LAMBDA—R. W. Anderson (S). Box 441, Greenville. S. C. 170. GAMMA DELTA LAMBDA—Martin K. Austin (S). Box 21. E. Beckley. W. Va. 171. GAMMA EPSILON LAMBDA—Thomas A. West (P). 914 E. 2nd St.. Hopkinsville, Ky. 172. GAMMA ZETA LAMBDA—Richard F. Pride (P). 2907 26th St.. Tampa. Fla. 173. GAMMA ETA LAMBDA—C. P. Johnson (P). 1173 Hargrave St.. Austin. Tex. 174. GAMMA THETA LAMBDA—Phillip G. Sadler (S), 314 Rogers Rd.. Wilmington. Del. 175. GAMMA IOTA LAMBDA—Isadore Liddie (S). 178-20 Leslie Rd.. St. Albans, L. I.. N. Y. 176. GAMMA KAPPA LAMBDA—B. T. Washington (S), 306 N. 6th St., Wilmington, N. C. 177. GAMMA MU LAMBDA—Edwin M. Thorpe (P). Florida A. and M. University. Tallahassee. Fla. 178. GAMMA NU LAMBDA—Allen F. Thornhill. 719 Johnson St., Lvnchburg, Va. 179. GAMMA XI LAMBDA—Charles F. Rogers (P), 885 Rondo Ave.. St. Paul 4, Minn. 180. GAMMA OMICRON LAMBDA—Ben C. Hampton (S), Albany State College. Albanv. Ga. 181. GAMMA PI LAMBDA—Fleming Huff (S). 4110 Avenue 1, Galvston, Tex. 182. GAMMA RHO LAMBDA—Otha L. Porter, 2320 Mass. St.. Gary, Ind. 183. GAMMA SIGMA LAMBDA—O. Edwards Hicks. Ft. Valley State College. Ft. Valley, Ga. 184. GAMMA TAU LAMBDA—T. L. Inghram (S). 106 John St.. Orange. Tex. 185. GAMMA UPSILON LAMBDA—T. W. Cole. Wiley College, Marshall. Tex. 186. GAMMA PHI LAMBDA—James P. Joshua, 645 62nd St.. Oakland. Calif. 187. GAMMA CHI LAMBDA—Grandvel Jackson (P). 1959 Hayes St., San Francisco, Calif. 188. GAMMA PSI LAMBDA—E. L. Fair (S), 32 Grail St.. Asheville. N. C. 189. DELTA ALPHA LAMBDA—Henry C. Crawford, 10708 Hampden Ave.. Cleveland. Ohio. 190. DELTA BETA LAMBDA—Judson H. Furlow. 102 W. County St.. Phoebus, Va. 191. DELTA GAMMA LAMBDA—Andrew G. White. 6.322 Chandler St.. Cincinnati 27, Ohio. 192. DELTA DELTA LAMBDA—R. L. Smith, 431 North Ros-mary Ave., W. Palm Beach. Fla. 193. DELTA EPSILON LAMBDA—Billy Jones (P). 342-A E. Broadwav. E. St. Louis. III. 194. DELTA ZETA LAMBDA—R. L. Hurst (P). S. C. State College, Orangeburg, S. C. 195. DELTA ETA LAMBDA—P. A. Townsend, 416 Kansas Ave.. Topeka. Kans. 196. DELTA THETA LAMBDA — Calvin B. Browne. Alabama A. and M. College. Normal. Ala 197. DELTA IOTA LAMBDA—James A. Hurling (S) 1729 7th Ave., Columbus. Ga. 198. DELTA KAPPA LAMBDA—Clyde L. Reese (P), 305 Sanborn St.. Florence. S. C. 199. DELTA MU LAMBDA—Ferdinand D. Williams. 9 N. 7th St.. Newark. N. J. 200. DELTA NU LAMBDA—L. Wilson York (S). 205 N. Ridge St.. Danville. Va. 201. GENERAL ORGANIZATION — (Material mailed individually) 202. DELTA XI LAMBDA—Herndon G. Harrison, 808 Wooden Blvd.. Orlando. Fla. 203. DELTA OMICRON LAMBDA — Simon J. D^Vane (S). 6V2 Pine St.. Cambridge. Md. 204. DELTA PI LAMBDA—Andrew J. Durgan 1417 Tremont St., Selma, Ala. 205. DELTA RHO LAMBDA—U. J. Andrews (P). P. O. Drawer 1598, San Antonio, Tex. 206. DELTA SIGMA LAMBDA—Oliver E. Jackson, A. M. and N. College. Pine Bluff. Ark. 207. DELTA TAU LAMBDA—William M. Corbin (P), 4505 S. 19th St.. Phoenix, Ariz. 208. DELTA UPSILON LAMBDA — James C. Leary (S). 1956 Weinstock St.. Shreveport, La. 209. DELTA PHI LAMBDA—Herman B. Smith, Jr. (S), 1612 27th Ave., Tuscaloosa, Ala. 210. DELTA CHI LAMBDA—Peter C. Murrell (P). 809 W. North Ave., Milwaukee 6, Wis. 211. DELTA PSI LAMBDA—Charles B. Minor. 2300 Williams St., Denver. Col. 212. EPSILON ALPHA LAMBDA—W. K. Kinnebrew. 1511 N. Palace, Tyler, Tex. 213. EPSILON BETA LAMBDA—W. S. Hutchings (S), 536 New St., Macon, Ga.

Semi-Centennial Convention Headquarters. Statler Hotel. Buffalo, N. Y„ August, 1956.

214. EPSILON GAMMA LAMBDA—Edward O. Gourdin, 35 Hutchins St.. Roxbury, Mass. 115. EPSILON DELTA LAMBDA—James O. Hobson, Talladega College, Talladega. Ala. 216. EPSILON EPSILON LAMBDA—J. W. Yancy, II (S), 1116 Elm Ave., Waco, Tex. 217. EPSILON ZETA LAMBDA—Charles E. Wil1'ams. Jr.. 1003 S. E. Sherrett St., Portland 2, Oregon. 218. EPSILON ETA LAMBDA—Cleo G. Davis. 311 S. Elm St.. Charleston. Mo. 219. EPSILON THETA LAMBDA— Winton T. Williams. Notth Shore. Pembroke E„ Bermuda, B. W. I. 220. EPSILON IOTA LAMBDA—W. Lovell Turner (S). 604 Adams St.. Suffolk. Va. 221. EPSILON KAPPA LAMBDA—Orlando C. P o w r s (P). P. O. Box 196, Grambling, La. 222. EPSILON MU LAMBDA—LeRov Anderson (S), 505 W. Cervantes St.. Pensacola, Fla. 223. EPSILON NU LAMBDA—Joseph W. M d n tyre (S), 236 Nicholson St., Portsmouth, Va.

224. EPSILON XI LAMBDA—B. H. Cooper (S), Box 1000, Clarksdale. Miss. 225. EPSILON OMICRON LAMBDA—Thomas M. Law (S), St. Paul's Polytechnic Institute. Lawr*ncevill;. Va. 226. EPSILON PI LAMBDA—O. H. Jones (S). 1105 S. E. 6th Av:., Gainesvill;, Fla. 227. EPSILON RHO LAMBDA—D. A. Williams. 1633 Seabrook Road. Fayetteville, N. C. 228. EPSILON SIGMA LAMBDA—Willie T. Ellis (S). 903 Bradhv Ave., Tarboro. N. C. 229. E P S I L O N T A U L A M B D A — J o h n C. W i l l i a m s (S), P r a i r i e View A. a n d M. C o l l e g e . P r a i r i e View, Tex.

230. EPSILON UPSILON LAMBDA—Frederick S. Waller, 3420 St. John St.. Flint. Mich. 231. EPSILON PHI LAMBDA—Burton G. West. 900 Dunbar Ave.. Port Arthur. Tex. 232. EPSILON CHI LAMBDA—Edward N. Smith (S). State Teachers College. Elizabeth Citv, N. C. 233. EPSILON PSI LAMBDA—Samuel McKay (SI. 2731 3rd St.. Alexandria, La.

Marbury-Fitzgerald Air Photo.

234. ZETA ALPHA LAMBDA—George H Greene. 401 N. W. 21st Ave.. Ft. Lauderdale. Fla. 235. ZETA BETA LAMBDA—J. M. Morris, 1604 8th St., Sacramento, Calif. 236. ZETA GAMMA LAMBDA—Richard D. Jon-s, Box 297, Langston. Okla. 237. ZETA DELTA LAMBDA—Robert J. Anthony (S), 802 S. Wittenberg St.. Springfi-ld, Ohio. 218 ZETA EPSILON LAMBDA—James W Parker. Jr.. 179 Shrewsbury Ave.. Red Bank N. J. ">39 ZETA ZETA LAMBDA—Thomas N. Coleman. 114 - 52 180th St., St. Albans. N. Y. 240 ZETA ETA LAMBDA—W. G. Keyes. 1504 B»aufort St., New Bern. N. C. 241. ZETA THETA LAMBDA^Richard B. Woodard. 239 Lincoln St., Steelton. Penn. 242. ZETA IOTA LAMBDA—William D. Clark (S), 210 Somerset St.. Trenton. N. J. 243. ZETA KAPPA LAMBDA—Lewis A. James, 1146 West 9th St.. Des Moines. Iowa.