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The
Sphinx
Volume 5 1
Number 3
1965
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. P.O. Box 2 8 5 Lincolnton
Station
New York, N. Y.
10037
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Directory for 1965-1966 Jewel Henry A. Callis
November
Editor-in-Chief George M o r r i s
Daniels
3206 E Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Contributing Editors Officers
General President — Bro. Lionel H. Newsom General Secretary— Bro. Laurence T. Young General Treasurer— Bro. Leven C. Weiss General Counsel — Bro. James H. McGee Editor, The Sphinx — Bro. George M. Daniels
Barber Scotia College, Concord, N. C. 4432 South Parkway, Chicago, III. 2920 Kendall St., Detroit, Mich. 1526 W. 3rd St., Dayton, Ohio 470 Lenox Ave., New York, N. Y.
Vice Presidents Eastern — Bro. Frank J. Ellis Midwestern — Bro. Billy Jones Southwestern — Bro. Jacob T. Stewart Southern — Bro. W. Dewey Branch Western — Bro. Oscar V. Little
1929 W. Lanvale St., Baltimore, Md. 342a East Broadway, East St. Louis, III. P.O. Box #365, Grambling, La. 2801 14th Ave., North, Bessemer, Ala. 5835 Ernest Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.
Assistant Vice Eastern — Bro. Harry D. Mayo, III Midwestern — Bro. Randall Maxey Southwestern — Bro. Kirby Kirksey Western — Bro. Rufus Skillern Southern — Bro. Warren Davis
Presidents # 6 Gray St., Montclair, New Jersey 5100 Whetsel, Cincinnati, Ohio 3002 Ruth Street, Houston, Texas 7991 Sunkist Drive, Oakland, Calif. Florida A and M University, Tallahassee, Fla.
Comptroller— Bro. Gus T. Ridget Historian — Bro. Charles H. Wesley Dir. Ed. Activities — Bro. Oscar W. Ritchie
Kentucky State College, Frankfort, Ky. 1824 Taylor Street, N.W.. Washington, D.C. 4778 Lakewood Rd., Ravenna, Ohio 4272 Washington St., St. Louis, Mo.
DIRECTORS
Eastern Region Massachusetts — Bro. James Howard Rhode Island — Bro. Ralph Allen Connecticut — Bro. W. Decker Clark New York — Bro. Marvin A. Riley Pennsylvania — Bro. Allan Durrant Delaware — Bro. Frederick Franklin Maryland-Washington — Bro. Frank J. Ellis Virginia — Bro. Alfred C. Fentress
105 Greenwood St., Boston, Mass. 179 Doyle Ave., Providence, R. I. 66 Dry Hill Road, Norwalk, Conn. 2190 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. 40 W. Upsal St., Philadelphia, Pa. Delaware State College, Dover, Del. 3727 Dolfield. Baltimore, Md. 715 E. Princess Ann Rd., Norfolk, Va.
Midwestern Region Indiana — Bro. Montague Oliver I l l E. 19th, Gary, Indiana Northeast Ohio — Bro. Charles Nunn 10926 Pasadena Ave., Cleveland, Ohio Central Ohio — Bro. Oliver Sumlin 2724 Hoover Ave., Dayton, Ohio Northwest Ohio — Bro. Robert Stubblefield 1340 W. Woodruff, Toledo. Ohio Southern Illinois — Bro. Harold Thomas 1731 Gaty Ave., East St. Louis, Illinois West Missouri and Kansas — Bro. Edwin Byrd 2533 W. Paseo Dr., Kansas City, Mo. Wisconsin — Bro. Hoyt Harper 5344 N. 64th. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Southeast Ohio — Bro. Paul Turner 2335 Gardendale Dr., Columbus 19, Ohio Western Michigan — Bro. William Boards, Jr 680 W. Van Buren St., Battle Creek, Mich. Northern Illinois — Bro. J. Herbert King 4728 Drexel Blvd., Chicago, Illinois East Missouri —• Bro. Clifton Bailey 3338A Aubert Ave., St. Louis 15, Mo. Iowa — Bro. Ernest Russell 3927 Amherst St., Des Moines, Iowa Southwest Ohio — Bro. Holloway Sells 699 N. Crescent Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio Kentucky— Bro. Herbert Olivera Kentucky State College, Frankfort, Kentucky Regional Secretary — Bro. James T. Adams 4247 Boston Ave., Detroit. Mich. Southwestern Region Oklahoma — Bro. Vernon L. Fosbee 569 N. 9th Street, Muskogee, Okla. Louisiana — Bro. Anthony M. Rachal, Jr 6727 Congress Drive, New Orleans, La. Arkansas — Bro. James A. Vault 2012 Commerce St., Little Rock, Ark. Southern Region Alabama — Bro. Kirkwood Balton Georgia — Bro. Henry Collier Florida — Bro. James H. Green Mississippi — Bro. T. J. Ranee North Carolina — Bro. G. H. Vaughn South Carolina — Bro. Luke Chatman Tennessee — Bro. George W. James Bro. Odell Lewis Bro. William Corbin Bro. Carlton Dias
Editorial Advisory
Committee
Frank Ellis, M a l v i n R. Goode, M a r s h a l l H a r r i s , J o h n H. J o h n s o n , Moss H. K e n d r i x , J . H e r b e r t K i n g , B e l f o r d V. L a w s o n , S a m u e l A. M a d d e n , J . E. M a r t i n , Lionel H. N e w s o m , Gus T. Ridgel, Floyd S h e p h e r d , L. H. S t a n t o n , Felix W a r r e n , L a u r e n c e T. Y o u n g . Staff Photographer Henry Crawford
Chr. Alpha Phi Alpha Building Foundation, Inc.— Bro. William M. Alexander REGIONAL
W. B a r t o n B e a t t y , Charles A. B r o a d d u s , S t e n s o n E. B r o a d d u s , R o b e r t F. C u s t i s , David A. Dowdy, J . M. Ellison, M a l v i n R. Goode, M a r t i n L. Harvey, Maceo Hill, L. W. Jeffries, B e l f o r d V. L a w s o n , S a m u e l A. M a d d e n , Lionel H. N e w s o m , Gus T. Ridgel, Floyd S h e p h e r d , A. Maceo S m i t h , Frank L. Stanley, Sr., L. H. S t a n t o n , Charles Wesley, 0 . Wilson W i n t e r s , L a u r e n c e T. Y o u n g .
1303 Main St., Birmingham, Ala. 1527 Mills B. Lane Ave., Savannah, Ga. 1539 W. 23rd St., Jacksonville, Fla. 407 Washington St.. Brookhaven, Miss. 1708 Shady Ave., Winston-Salem, N. C. P.O. Box 1311, Greeneville, S. C. 1527 E. 3rd St., Chattanooga, Tenn. Western Region 330-22nd Avenue, East, Seattle, Washington 2401 W. Cherry Lynn Road, Phoenix, Arizona 949 Broderick St., San Francisco, California
The Sphinx is the official magazine of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 4432 South Parkway, Chicago, III., with editorial offices at 282 Convent Ave., New York, N. Y. Published four times a year: February, May, October and December. Address all editorial mail to P.O. Box 285, Lincolnton Station, New York, N. Y. 10037. Change of Address: Send both addresses to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 4432 South Parkway, Chicago, III. Manuscripts or art submitted to The Sphinx should be accompanied by addressed envelopes and return postage. Editor assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts of art. Subscription: $2.00 per year. Opinions expressed in columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and use of any person's name in fiction, semi-fiction articles or humorous features is to be regarded as a coincidence and not as the responsibility of The Sphinx. It is never done knowingly. Copyright 1965 by The Sphinx, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of the editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited. The Sphinx has been published continuously since 1914. Organizing Editor: Bro. Raymond W. Cannon. Organizing General President: Bro. Henry Lake Dickason. Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y. Postmaster: Send form 3579 and all correspondence to P.O. Box 285, Lincolnton Station, New York, N. Y. 10037.
Contents
TOP OF THE MONTH
Dick Gregory: Chicago's Sage, Satirist and Reformer
2
Interview: Entertainer talks about Politics, Civil Rights and Mayor Daley
3
No Fraternity Becomes Great by Chanceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a Message from the General President
6
The Sphinx Undergoes Transformation With this issue of The Sphinx readers will discover a radical change not only in typography and layout but contents as well. The magazine opens, we believe, on a high note, presenting in sharp words and clear pictures one of the most controversial issues on the civil rights scene today. The Sphinx will, from issue to issue, attempt to focus on the issues and problems confronting Negroes today on the cojlege and university campuses and beyond. For the Dick Gregory profile and interview The Sphinx thanks Renewal Magazine in Chicago for permission to reprint both articles.
Letters to the Editor Ideals vs Social Changeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;A timely warning from an undergraduate brother
7
A Statement of Public Policy
9
The Sphinx does not expect all readers to agree on what is said on these pages. We expect gripes and plaudits. We invite you to write to our letters-to-the-editor section which starts with the December issue. All letters must be signed but names will be withheld on request.
60th Anniversary Convention DEPARTMENTS Alpha Directory
Inside Front Cover
Frat Humor
10
Alpha Workshop
13
News and Activities
14
If Alphas want to see the nation's highest monument, the court house famous for the Dred Scott Decision, the baseball and football Cardinals in the newest stadium in the majors, then plan now to attend the Fraternity's 60th Anniversary Convention in St. Louis, August 15-18, 1966. There will be a moonlight cruise on the Mississippi River and trips to one of the world's most famous zoos. Arthur Ray, president of Alpha Eta, says "We'll outdo Shindig and Hullabaloo." Other firsts for St. Louis: shoes and booze.
Coming in December SPECIAL FEATURE Convention Camera Clicks
21
COVERS: Pickets on front cover are demonstrating against Jim Crow schools in Chicago. Primary target is firing of School Superintendent Benjamin Willis. On back cover Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, receives President's Award for his untiring aid and courageous efforts in civil rights. Making presentation is General President Newsom as Jewel Henry A. Callis and Judge Howard Bennett observe historic occasion.
PICTURE CREDITS: Convention coverage on pages 20 to inside back cover by staff photographer, Henry Crawford. Dick Gregory photos 3-5 by Steve Rose.
Brother Mai Goode is a top newscaster-reporter for the American Broadcasting Company, stationed at the United Nations. He is one of the most widely-traveled brothers of Alpha and some of the things he has seen, as they involve Alpha, should make for exciting reading. An undergraduate brother at Bethune-Cookman College returned from Africa where he worked with Operation Crossroads Africa. He's excited and thinks Alpha should know more about this program. So do we. President Johnson's commencement address at Howard University will be published in full. We hope that this will serve well those Alphas and potential Alphas in areas of the country where this historic speech was either not published by segregationists newspapers or was ignored at the time by those who should have been most concerned. Deadline for the December issue: November 1, 1965
Dick Gregory: Chicago's Sage, Satirist and Reformer By JAMES R. McGRAW The phone rang in my New York apartment a couple of weeks ago. It was one more call from Chicago. "Hey, baby. This is Greg. Can you pick me up at LaGuardia at 5:15? I have to do the Merv Griffin Show." Once again Dick Gregory was leaving the scene of social protest to earn his daily bread. Dick Gregory. The name conjures up a variety of opinions and emotions. He has been described as "the Will Rogers of our time" and as "The Negro Mort Sahl" (Gregory says, "in the Congo Mort is the white Dick Gregory"). Bayard Rustin calls him "the Miracle Man of the revolution," SNCC kids call him "our leader," and disapproving Mississippi whites designate him as "that millionaire nigger." He is often misunderstood, and occasionally honored with laurels praising his almost superhuman efforts in the struggle for human dignity. But whatever the response, his is a voice our society must hear. At the airport, Dick Gregory debarked the plane in obvious pain. He had just checked himself out of the hospital where he had been recuperating from a personal street confrontation with the Chicago police. But as he appeared before the TV cameras, no trace of personal discomfort could be seen. He was satirist in his solo performance, and sage on the panel. And he wanted no sympathy from the audience to interfere with either role. There are those who say Dick Gregory lives in "two worlds" (Tom Morgan, HOLIDAY, Dec. 1964). They mean, I take it, the world of performance and the world of reform. I doubt that this is true. Such segmentation of his life is as unreal as saying the clergyman lives in the world of the pulpit and the world of daily action. Every man, clergy and laity alike, has a variety of daily functions. But hopefully, there are certain standards and values and ideals which dominate all our doing. And so it is with Dick Gregory. Dick Gregory is a concerned human
being. He sees enough hope and promise in life to be willing to work and sacrifice to see that all men are treated with dignity and justice. He has never allowed himself to become the victim of frustration and despair. This is a noble, and perhaps surprising, quality in one who is the product of a St. Louis slum. He knows what it is to share a bed with four other children, to be deprived of heat and water, to go to bed hungry and to wake up shaking. He knows the experience of going to work at an early age, of long hours and pitiful pay to keep a family together. And, he knows how it feels finally to break through the system, to rise rapidly to the top in his chosen field of entertainment, to travel across the country in a single day and around the world in a single week. And yet, these overwhelming personal changes in his brief 32 years, have never altered his basic concerns. Gregory still is a man living for his fellow man, and he would sacrifice all of his newly achieved "success" on behalf of this fundamental principle. Wherever injustice is manifest, Dick Gregory will soon be there. In June, 1964, word came to him that three young civil rights workers were announced missing in Mississippi. Gregory was in Moscow, Russia. That evening, he joined James Farmer and others in Philadelphia, Miss., to investigate the incident. He will fly from San Francisco to Chicago, from Los Angeles to Louisiana, to speak at a rally. And he will be back the same evening for his night club performance. No demonstration is too small, no demand upon his time or personal finance too great. He has marched with handful of pickets in Greenwood, Miss., and he has joined thousands of marchers in Montgomery, Ala. And all at his own expense. His activity as a reformer has cost him well over $100,000 in traveling expenses and cancelled bookings. Dick Gregory's passionate concern for humanity is not limited to the racial crisis.
He has traveled abroad on a world peace mission. Recently in Selma, Ala., the night before the beginning of The March to Montgomery, Gregory addressed a mass meeting which included many clergymen and nuns. "Don't let this crusade for right end here," he pleaded. "There are so many other things. Take capital punishment, for example. The church has told me all my life, 'Thou shalt not kill,' but they haven't told the state yet. If a priest or minister held a sit-in in the electric chair on the day of execution, it would end capital punishment immediately." This past Christmas was a time of special satisfaction for Gregory. He was personally responsible for the delivery of over 100,000 pounds of frozen turkeys to the state of Mississippi. And Gregory spent the holiday in Mississippi seeing his cargo safely delivered. Deliveries were made to all manner of poorâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;white, Negro, Indian and Chinese. "If Bob Hope can spend his Christmas in Viet Nam," Gregory explained, "I can spend mine in Mississippi. At least Bob knows he has the government on his side, so it's safer for him." On his Christmas project, Gregory later observed, "It dawned on me that this is man's number one job; before he lands on the moon or Mars, or cures another disease, or invents another invention, he has to feed man all over the world." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, has often spoken of Dick Gregory's uncanny ability to provide comic relief to the most tense situation. As clubs descended and tear gas enveloped demonstrators in Selma, Ala., Gregory quipped, "I don't know why they're using tear gas on us; we've got enough to cry about already." In Chicago, as Gregory was speaking to a group in front of City Hall, an irate white man began hurling insults his way. In complete command of the situation, Gregory answered, "You're just saying that 'cause you know we're nonviolent."
Dick Gregory is fond of saying "these are trying times, not normal times." And indeed many painful moments are yet to be in the social revolution that is sweeping this country. When these moments of crisis erupt, I am sure Dick Gregory will be there. Perhaps his own words, from his autobiography NIGGER, help us to share his concern. '"This is a revolution. It started long before I came into it, and I may die before it's over, but we'll bust this thing and cut out this cancer. America will be as strong and beautiful as it should be, for black folks and white folks. We'll all be free then, free from a system that makes a man less than a man, that teaches hate and fear and ignorance. "You didn't die a slave for nothing, Momma. You brought us up. You and all those Negro mothers who gave their kids the strength to go on, to take that thimble to the well while the whites were taking buckets. Those of us who weren't destroyed got stronger, got calluses on our souls. And now we're ready to change a system, a system where a white man can destroy a black man with a single word. Nigger. "When we're through, Momma, there won't be any niggers any more."
INTERVIEW (Editors Note: Dick Gregory lives in Chicago's Hyde Park. As much as any man, he has been committed to the growing movement in Chicago. This interview was conducted on June 26, in a three-hour session at Gregory's apartment by James R. McGraw, whose profile of Gregory appears on the preceding page, and Stephen C. Rose, editor of Renewal Magazine, published by the Chicago City Missionary Society. The profile and interview are reprinted with permission of the editors of Renewal.) Dick, you are a resident of Chicago. Your home is here. Do you like Chicago? Chicago can be one of the nicest cities in the whole world. That's what we want to make it. You see Chicago is the only city I know that has problems this badâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; all of the corruption and viceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and yet the basic problem is changing a system, not a mind-set. It's the system that's bad, not the minds of people. We don't have people yelling at us when we march to city hall.
By and large we don't have the kinds of reactions that show a diseased mind. It's just that white folks and colored folks would do anything that city hall tells them to do. If city hall said tomorrow, "Everybody get a nigger in your house," people would probably run out and do it. And so that's our goal, changing city hall and that machine. It's just like in Kentucky. Good things have happened, because they don't want a problem. So just point out the problem and they'll do anything to avoid it. The machine, the system irt this town, is such that they can pull off the same thing. The mayor says, "Do it," and the people do it. You mean any mayor? Do you want to keep Mayor Daley? No. Anyone but Daley. The Daley machine is dead. There are all kinds of sassy things being said against it as a result of this protest. The machine has already been cracked. Newspapers are saying sassy things they didn't say before. Even little
" W h e n we get t h r o u g h , Mamma, there w o n ' t be niggers any m o r e . " 3
old ladies in the street are talking back to the machine. But if you get rid of the machine— Do you know what this machine is like? It's like a big old bully son in jail. The machine is in jail. Caged in and locked up. But the tentacles of the machine are still out there, in the neighborhood. Precinct captains and people working for the system. You couldn't change that if you tried. A cop told me something last night. "I don't know who's been talking to these people in city hall. Then again, I guess I do. People like myself. People who have gotten fat, living so high on the hog, that we've lost contact with the Negro in the street. People like us, we can't speak for our brother anymore. But I go back, once in a while. I go back and hear what my brother is saying. But I won't tell city hall what I hear. The people, the Negroes, who talk to Daley aren't speaking for the Negroes who are talking now in the streets."
groes are trying to tell him he would be better off. Is Supt. Willis really the question at stake? Well, let me say this. If Willis hadn't got his contract renewed, everyone in Chicago would know that it was Mayor Daley who prevented it. So when he did get it renewed all Chicago should have known that it was the mayor who was responsible for it. But the machine has this town asleep. There seems to be a wave length that goes out and the people react. They react like the machine, like city hall wants them. There was an article in the paper the other day where the writer talked about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. While the destruction was going on, there were carnivals in the street and bread being distributed. And that's just like Chicago today. While the destruction is going on, we have astronauts on parade and the distribution of anti-poverty money. I guess this is Mayor Daley's carnival.
But, you see, Mayor Daley had all the signals. Like when he was booed at the NAACP rally at Soldiers Field (in 1963).
Which reminds me, I think we have President Johnson on our side too. He would like to bust this Daley machine. Mayor Daley is about the only one who can stand up and tell the President what to do. I understand, sometime back, money was offered to some twenty cities throughout the country—not anti-poverty money. Chicago was the only city that turned Washington down. (Editor's note: Money was offered to finance better relations between police departments and Negro communities.) Now, I'm sure LB J would like to bust that kind of power.
Mayor Wagner in New York didn't get these signals, so he had to quit. Mayor Daley is listening to the wrong voices. If he would stop going to these funerals on the South Side honoring dead Negroes and start listening to what these live Ne4
Do you feel that there's a movement in Chicago? Well, the machine has felt it. It has reached out and felt the sound of protest. The mayor has been sending out the precinct captains, and they have been telling folks, "Cool it, or you will lose your relief check money, or you'll be put out of the project." This has been going on for some time. This works all right when you are dealing with a hungry stomach alone. And for a long time this is the way it was with Negroes. But now, the Negro has a full stomach and a hungry mind. So it won't be satisfied until things do start sounding right. The hungry mind is telling the
mayor the same thing he told the empty stomach: "Start sounding right or you'll lose your check, or be put out of your project." / / you could sit down with the leaders of big business in Chicago, what would you tell them? I would tell them not to get caught in the system. If they want to see things as they really are, then they have to look deeper than the surface. They can't see this thing as a matter of jobs alone. You can give a Negro a decent job. But that doesn't solve anything, if that same Negro walks downtown with a light-complected Negro girl and has a cop misuse him because he thinks she is white. When that kind of insult and misuse happens to him, the Negro comes home and takes it out on white folks. Even if he does have a good job, it's things like this that keep the problem festering. The Negro knows—he sees the vice and corruption — and he knows that the cop is going to take it out on the underdog, the guy that doesn't have a gun. I'd tell those businessmen to look this deep. I'd tell them to take a drive in their cars and look at those signs that
say KEEP CHICAGO CLEAN. Well, there's more than one way to clean up a city. What about the schools? Is the school situation the basic issue? It is an issue we can grab hold of. It's as close as we can get to the basic problem with the machine. I imagine George Washington would have liked to march against
the king, but the red-coated soldier was as close as he could get to the basic grievance. Of course, this is what all these protests are, really. In Harlem and elsewhere throughout the country, people called last summer's activity "riots". They said Negroes were "rioting" and "looting". But it was the only form of protest open to a frustrated and misused people. Not only did the founding fathers of this nation march against the mother country, but they took her tea and dumped it in the water. If that isn't rioting and looting, then I don't know what the words mean. So if you put down our protest, you have to put down all the protests on which our country was founded. What effect do you think this protest has had on the Mayor? Oh, I think Mayor Daley has probably already called Washington to ask LBJ if he has any more of those ambassadorships open. Many people see you in the streets and say you're not funny anymore. What about it? I'm not being funny in Chicago. I haven't worked as a comedian in Chicago for a couple of years. And I don't care to. This struggle is a front-line action. I wouldn't be funny on the front line in Viet-Nam either. Chicago is my home. This is where my kids are being raised, where my wife lives. So what happens here is very serious to me. But our struggle has made the mayor the comedian. He's in center stage. He's our Pagliacci, and he's ticklin' the hell out
of us. Now we're just waiting to see what he does for an encore. Do you feel your involvement in the civil rights struggle has hurt your career as a comedian? No. It's a funny thing. People, who would never get out on the front lines, come to a club where I'm playing. It's their way of showing support. A few years back, when I was just making jokes, and was not as active in the movement as I am now, people would write me letters and call me "nigger". Now, I still get letters of protest and hostility, but they always say "Mr. Gregory". It's just like Adam Clayton Powell. Nobody ever calls him "nigger". The press calls him names they don't usually call Negroes, like "demagogue". Do you think Congressman Powell will call Dr. Willis to testify before his committee in Chicago in mid-July? He probably will. And the interesting thing will be to see the respect Adam will have here in Chicago. It will surprise a lot of people. But, you know who has made Powell's image in the mind of the Negro? Hollywood and Madison Avenue. Every popular image which the Negro has been made to see, but which he could never be, Adam Clayton Powell is. He is Hollywood's leading man. He doesn't have basic stereotyped Negro features— thick lips, nappy hair, and rolling eyeballs. He is the tall, dashing figure of the movies —with the mansion, the big car, and the unlimited expense account. He's the Negro who made it. You hear it said that the Negro has made his point, that things will take time to straighten out, that the Negro is now pushing too hard. How do you feel about that? Of course, we have made progress in the past one hundred years. But there are still many things society does not yet realize. Look at it this way. Say a person wears a size 8 shoe, but he has been pushed into a size lx/z. Now it's not enough to wake up one day and say you are going to get him a brand new size 8. You're forgetting all about those corns and bunions the IVi has produced. You have to give him a size 9 or 10 and work on the corns until he is ready for a size 8 again.
That's the way it is with the Negro in America and society has not yet realized it. There have been pictures in the papers of you with your children in your arms being arrested. How do you justify involving your children in this kind of street demonstration? Well, little four-year-old Lynne answered that question for me. When we were being placed in a wagon to go to jail, Lynne said, "We're in trouble, aren't we, Daddy?" That night, I cried because of what she said. Tears of anger, really. I was angry that my Mommy and Daddy had not taught me I was in trouble at the age of four. I didn't find it out until I was 29. And here my little girl has a 25-year head start. We all know of incidents in Chicago where kids have voted in election frauds. So kids have been used for wrong. You see, the struggle in this country is not a racial struggle—black against white. It is a moral battle—right against wrong. You don't have to be white to wear a sheet and you don't have to be black to wear a freedom button. A minister down in Bogalusa, Ala., criticized us for using children in the demonstration. He called us "scum". If I read my Bible right, little David was a boy when he went out to fight Goliath with a sling shot. We're not telling kids to kill anybody. We're just telling them to stand up for what's right—and there's no age limit on that. 5
No Fraternity Becomes Great By Chance By LIONEL H. NEWSOM General President
Our fraternity is just one year short of three score years of providing our nation with desperately needed leaders. Our goals today are basically the same as they were in the year of our birth: to prepare carefully selected individual members of unpolished, yet outstanding abilities, and not too often, tried integrity; men of great courage, filled with the desire to provide unselfish and balanced leadership for our great nation in general and our fraternity in particular. We have come to the social revolution of the sixties with the realization that our awakened powers must enable us to force from this life those conditions which will provide all Americans with opportunities for achieving equality. My Brothers, join me as I utter the words of my own although the thought comes from the pen of Helen Keller: We love to labor with our heads and our hands, for we are optimists in spite of all. Although we are frequently thwarted in our desire to do something useful, we have found though the ways in which we make ourselves useful are few, nevertheless the work open to us is endless. The happiest laborer in the Alpha's vineyard may be severely handicapped, he should only be satisfied if he does his very best to accomplish a great and noble task. We must fulfill the demands that each day makes upon us and know full well that success is opportunity married to preparation. No group knows better than Alpha the words of Marden, that success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has overcome, and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. Not the distance he has run, but the obstacles he has overcome; the disadvan6
tages under which he has made the race, will decide the prize. Membership at Standstill It is evident that we can no longer live on glories of the past. Our membership has been at a standstill for the last decade, hovering around 6,500, from the low of 5,530 in 1955, to 6.617 in 1965; our initiatees around 900â&#x20AC;&#x201D;from 837 in 1965 to 956 in 1961. While I am still for quality membership, I am mindful that we are declining for, relatively speaking, while college male enrollment increases the number of men interested in Greek life is decreasing. We must weigh the problem of maintaining the increased cost of survival at a reducing level of financial resources. Our financial structure is not what it ought to be or what it should be. I urge you to look carefully at the reports of our fiscal officers as you look at the responsibilities of other offices of our fraternity. It is imperative that we find new sources of income. New Programs Needed There is a great need for new, creative and dynamic, programs of education, similar to the Dallas Project, the Outreach Program of the Eastern Region, or a combination of these and other programs. I
hasten to add that there is still need for our "Go To High School, Stay Through College" program, and a reactivation of our theme "A Voteless People is a Hopeless People", for the new Civil Rights Laws of 1964 and 1965 are preludinal aids to the ultimate development of the human potential of every American citizen. Generally speaking, all Americans now have the right to vote but we must do what we can to see that they know how to vote and that they exercise the right to vote. Alpha Phi Alpha, nationally and locally, must do all it can to open the doors of opportunity, and then fill those doors with qualified young men and women. President Johnson has now made President Lincoln's promise in the Emancipation Proclamation a possibility. What was a dream to the new freedmen in 1865 has become a reality in 1965. It is now our duty to roll back horizons and to harness reality. Make Alpha the Greatest To paraphrase Seneca, a wise Roman philosopher, "No Fraternity becomes great by chance." We cannot stumble into greatness, we must work for it. I urge you to bend every effort to continue the thrust for equality of opportunity and to make Alpha Phi Alpha the greatest. I am pleased to report that 1 have made personal appearances at four of the five Regional conventions. I was only absent from the Eastern Regional because it was held on my Inaugural Day. May 7th, at Barber-Scotia. I have been busy, but not too busy to visit Brothers in activities in New York, Cleveland, Columbus (Ohio), Philadelphia, Detroit, Macon (Georgia), Athens (Georgia), St. Louis, Raleigh, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Greensboro,
Houston, Prairie View, Shreveport, New Orleans, Augusta, Greeneville, Birmingham, Huntsville, Little Rock, Beta Chapter of Washington, D.C., Frankfort (Kentucky), Jefferson City, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Palo Alto (California). I represented Alpha Phi Alpha in Washington at the Negro Leadership meeting called by Brother Whitney Young of the National Urban League; the meeting of American Negro Leadership Conference on Africa, a meeting of Greek Letter Organization Heads at the Omega headquarters with Brother Oscar Ritchie, Director of Education; and I requested Brother Billy Jones to represent the Fraternity at the President's Conference on Civil Rights which was held in the late winter. While it is true that the entire Executive Council was not called to meet until two days prior to the Chicago Convention, all members were always alerted to the problems, the successes of the Fraternity and the thoughts of the national officers in carrying out their duties. Only when absolutely necessary were members called to meetings at Headquarters, and always at a much smaller cost than would have been if the Executive Council had been called. A meeting of the entire Council costs about $4,000. Therefore, I felt that such an expenditure should be made only as a last resort and not to the pleasure of members of the Council. Hazing Outlawed All Alphadom has been made the object of justified ridicule and shame as a result of the inhuman treatment and brutalities practiced in our pledge periods and our initiations upon candidates for membership. Two undergraduate chapters were placed on temporary suspension and are now on indefinite probation. In 1947, we outlawed hazing and all brutality; yet as late as the spring of 1965, too many undergraduate chapters are still guilty of barbaric conduct. Brothers who insist upon, and/or persist in, mistreating candidates must be eliminated from the Chapter Roster for there is no place for such heathens in today's Alpha Phi Alpha. I urge all brothers, graduate and undergraduate, to root this evil and diabolic behavior out forever.
By BRO. HARRY D. MAYO, III
Several week ago an article appeared in a New York paper concerning hazing. Several members of a fraternity had unmercifully beaten some pledges, and the pledges' parents had complained to the authorities. The article went on to describe the actions being taken against that fraternity under an old "hazing" statute dating back to the 1880's. Recent weeks have also seen two of our oldest and largest undergraduate chapters censured for their alleged brutality, with threats of suspension hanging about their heads. These important, though isolated, incidents point up a problem which is becoming increasingly more significant in the scheme of things to come in the way of fraternal life. The post-war years have had an effect upon each of us, our ideals, our standards of living, our manner of dress, our work, our schooling, and certainly no less important, our social habits. Social habits have changed such that the fraternity has lost much of its prominence in the wake of change. Indifference to Greek-letter organizations has become widespread and local chapters of fraternities frequently find themselves on the border of expulsion on many school campuses throughout the country. War On Their Hands As far back as 1954, Mr. Lloyd Cochran, past president of the National Interfraternity Conference, warned his brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity that fraternities had a war on their hands. He told them of student organizations "reaching over the fence of fraternity prerogative," and telling fraternities how to operate and
how to choose their memberships. Furthermore, he stated that he found college administrations aloof and unfriendly, unappreciative of the ideals and values of a fraternity life, and frequently throwing stumbling blocks in the way. And now, 1 1 years later, the situation is much the same. I ask you to stand off for a moment, brothers, and appraise the fraternity objectively; is it the administrators who misunderstand us or is it we ourselves? Where have our noble ideals gone? Do we pay lip service to them and pass on, or do we really practice as well as preach those noble ideals? Brock Brower, in an article entitled "The Death of Fraternities", doesn't think we practice our ideals. He puts it this way: ". . . Taken pretty much for granted before the war, fraternities, suddenly came under severe scrutiny as to their usefulness as a part of the educational process. Their adolescent hazing, poor scholarship, childish immorality, and stumblebum drunkenness all raised doubts. Not very complicated ones either; the sort of simple doubts that would occur to any nitwit pledge as he 'assumed the position': "Why do I , every time I hear a cry of 'Grab your jewels,' take a protective hold on my genitals and wait to be swatted with a paddle I fashioned with my own hands?" "Because it was done to me, pledge, and to my brother before me, and to his brother before him. And you're gonna' have to gouge out the Alpha in this paddle a lot deeper pledge; I'm not getting the right embossment on your flat ass." "Why am I sliding naked across the floor, clutching a jelly bean between my buttocks?" 7
"Because this is a jelly bean race, pledge, and your team is behind." Earl Jerome Ellison, once the national assistant secretary of a large national fraternity, remarked that "Fraternities have had over 100 years to show that they have an educational purpose and they haven't done it yet!" He even went on to say, in an article published in the Saturday Evening Post, that fraternities are "the prime breeding grounds of the minimum-effort attitude . . . and have a world view no broader than a dollar bill," and that they should all disband forthwith. Now these are strong indictments, brothers, and it is time that we met them face-to-face. It is time we took a really good look at ourselves: what we're doing, and where we're going. That fraternities are on the decline is an inescapable fact. The alarm bells of extinction have been growing louder with each passing year. Certainly Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity has been a forerunner in determining that the patient is ill; certainly we have time and time again discussed methods of making the patient more comfortable, but we haven't found a cure. Like the common cold, the malady lingers on. Eliminate Rift What then can we do? I suggest that the first thing to be done is to exert all of the energy within our power to eliminate the age-old rift within the organization. The rift of which I speak, of course, is that between the graduate and the undergraduate. We, as undergraduates, must be big enough to understand the graduate, and we must make an attempt to understand his motivations. 8
By the same token, we must prevail upon the graduate to look upon the undergraduate as a brother; not a son, not some reckless beatnik, and above all, not a mindless, senseless creature whose only purpose in being there at all is to act as a lackey to the graduate with nary a thought as to "why." This is, as I'm sure we all know, a difficult gap to bridge. But we must take the initiative; we must illustrate the folly of his position to the graduate, and we must use all of the tools of diplomacy that we can muster to roll back the walls that time has erected. We must attend and participate in graduate meetings as well as our own, for an informed graduate is much more likely to see wherein he has erred. We must invite graduates tc participate in some of our own affairs, not as overlords or as chaperones, but as equals able to find a common pleasure in the true spirit of togetherness. We must elicit advice, when needed, from a graduate brother in a BROTHERLY manner, not one of errant son to allknowing father; and we must make it clear that we are accepting his advice as just that: advice; that the final decision will be made by us after a period of thoughtful reflection. Brothers, it is only in this way that we can begin to build again; it is only in this way that we can begin to respect both ourselves and the national body once more. It is only in this way that we can attract new members into the fraternity. Then perhaps if some of us were to take suggestions like the one offered by Bro. Joseph Jones of Eta chapter recently, we might once again become leaders of the community in every aspect. Bro. Jones suggested that, as a part of the pledge program, Sphinxmen be trained in the various aspects of the social graces; in short, that the program be designed to aid the brother-to-be to become a more cultured person, thus enabling him to more readily achieve a cultural heritage, to take his rightful place as a leader, as a man among men, and as an Alpha man. The scythe of enlightenment is in our hands, brothers; to sweep away the dead grains of outmoded visions it remains only for us to aim the blade.
Favors JC Students in Pledge Clubs Bro. Rufus Skillern Assistant Western Vice President I am honored to have been elected to the office of Assistant Western Vice President. My congratulations to all incoming officers and all returning officers. After having read the reports of the National Convention, I would like to congratulate the brothers for a job well done. I am particularly interested in the amending of the Constitution which will allow us to select and initiate into the Alpha pledge clubs qualified junior college students working toward a four year degree. I am sure this legislature will greatly enlarge the membership of the western region. During the month of August I had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles, California, in the midst of the rioting and confusion. As I stood on the streets and watched the looting and general upheaval of the people I was concerned about the image that had been presented to these people and is now being passed on to their posterity. I was reminded of a stanza in our Alpha Hymn. "College days swiftly pass, imbued with memories fond, And the recollection slowly fades away." As we leave college each of us has a choice of image to present to the community. We can move forward and gain success and remain passive in stature or we can present ourselves to the communities and ghettos that persist throughout the nation in an effort to create an image that will give our people a common goal and a high standard to obtain. I am extremely proud of our work in the community geared toward the youth for it is my feeling that a person's character is first molded in childhood and the majority of his goals are shaped before he reaches college age. Let us press into the communities and seek out young minds and help to shape and encourage them.
George Morris Daniels on Chicago and Civil Rights One morning last August Chicago's embattled Mayor Richard J. Daley was invited to speak at the opening session of the 59th national convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the nation's oldest Negro fraternity and, perhaps by far, one of the most esteemed of any that exists. Some 600 members of the fraternity had gathered to hear Mayor Daley, along with a few invited and some uninvited guests who crowded the rear of the hotel ballroom. Mayor Daley told the fraternity how the city was making progress in clearing slums and building modern housing for its low income and middle income residents. He talked about improved race relations and rising employment among the city's one million Negro residents. It was at this point that a few boos were heard, and this not only unsettled Mayor Daley but it rattled most of the Alphas there because the mayor was their guest. As it turned out the boos were from some of the uninvited guests who had followed Mayor Daley to the meeting to continue their protests against segregated schools and inferior education. Mayor Daley was invited to welcome the convention as the titular leader of Chicago. It was protocol for the fraternity to invite him; it demonstrated their respect for the office, not necessarily the man who held it. Allowing him to appear before them was not tantamount to the fraternity's endorsement of his programs or morals and manners. But once invited, the Alphas felt that he was due proper respect, regardless of any disagreements that may have been evident. The fraternity made a heroic effort to stay out of what it considered a local affair. But a press conference at which appeared several pro-Daley newsmen, caused the fraternity not only to become involved but to receive an unfair press as well. A few reporters deliberately took out of context the statement of the fraternity's president and made it appear that he and the fraternity were against demonstrations in Chicago. There are those who feel that Alpha does not need to explain its position, or rise to protect itself and its good name. These people know Alpha and they are acquainted with its historic position on civil rights. There is doubt, however, as to where the vast majority of Negroes in Chicago stand. They are the real victims of an inferior educational system, and the efforts to oust Benjamin C. Willis, superintentendent of schools, who has done so little to wipe out segregation, has not received wide support from enough citizens, especially the vast Negro middle class. It is certainly true that Chicago can boast of considerable racial progress in recent years. I well remember the ten years I lived there, struggling as a reporter and writer for a Negro daily newspaper and a monthly family magazine. Then Negro politicians were much fewer, and there were only a handful of Negro sergeants, no lieutenants and only one Negro police captain. Negro judges could be counted on one hand, and Negroes with high appointive positions were fairly hard to un-
cover. But this was in 1951, when I first moved to Chicago. Things were just beginning to change. During the years that followed I met most of those who were considered as leaders, and many of those who wanted to think of themselves as leaders. Most were members of the Negro middle class. They were mainly conservative and moderate and quite satisfied with the status quo. They had, and still have, very little to do with the impoverished mass of Negroes. To a large degree, the middle class Negro has supplanted the white heel on the poor Negro's neck with his own. In Chicago, as in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and elsewhere, the middle class Negro has not returned to his community what he has taken out of it. He has accepted its courage, its hopes, its ambitions, its goodwill, and very often its economic support; but having finally succeeded to heights many Negroes cannot realistically begin to dream of attaining, they have avoided returning to it to instill courage and hope in those less privileged. Too often the middle class Negro has learned to exploit the poorer Negro as the white man did before him. There are, actually, exceptions. There are a goodly number of middle class Negroes who would like nothing better than to make a significant contribution to civil rights in their communities, but they're not in any position to say much of anything with the white and Negro political power structure being what it is. Negro politicians in Chicago usually do not want to become embroiled in controversial issues if they can avoid them. If controversial issues cannot help them politically, they will find some excuse for maintaining a hands-off policy. In the City Council Negro alderman play the game according to the way Mayor Daley wants it played. They're all Democrats and to them it's the party that counts. In Springfield, 111., where Republicans control the legislature, Negro legislators, also basically Democrats, can stomp and yell about Negro rights all they want, and do so because they know that most civil rights legislation hasn't a snowball-in-hell chance of passing. It's what happens in Chicago that counts, and in Chicago you won't find Negro politicians, judges and high appointive Negro officials participating in civil rights drives or leading demonstrations. Neither can one find an appreciable number of middle-class Negroes joining forces with their lower-income brothers to push a real civil rights campaign. It won't be too very long before Negro politicians will find their positions more insecure and precarious if they do not fight the real battles of the Negro people instead of playing politics with their lives. As for the growing middle class Negro, his failure to provide reasonable and knowledgeable community leadership is greatly responsible for the violence that struck New York in 1964 and Los Angeles this summer. The time has come when the middle class Negro must assume his full measure of responsibility in areas where Negro have-nots can do so little for themselves. 9
rat By O. WILSON WINTERS
The kind of convention we had at Chicago in August can be recounted in this simulated musical composition as depicted by this simulative composer. There will be no sepulchral rotation by Gershwin or Rimski-Korsakov over this "Masterpiece" unless it will be in disgust. I assure you the cadences, the melodies and the nuances will be that which I experienced in my dual capacity as columnist and parliamentarian. Our new president made his premiere in a legislatively charged atmosphere. Brother Dr. Lionel H. Newsom acquitted himself nobly as a seasoned Alpha celebrity should.
full of wit and philosophy. The next stanza was the visit of Mayor Daley of Chicago and his welcome address. If Brother Sidney Jones had given us just half of the oratorical excellence he showed in presiding that morning he would have been an Alpha president long ago. The Mayor was aptly extolled but the greetings from the director of the Sanitation Department and his boast of the number of Sepia employees caused one wag to say to me, "These Chicago guys go all the way. We've been in the gutter many times but this is the first time we have been taken down into the sewers."
There were high notes and low notes and one sour note made so by the garbled report of sensation-seeking news men taking a personal opinion out of context and emasculating its import. One broken string from the official family harp was the retirement of my chief, C. Anderson Davis, Sphinx editor for the last four years. Ours has been a fine fraternal friendship with mutual respect. The next stanza points to Bennie Brown, the indefatigable general convention chairman, presiding at the visit of Hon. Hubert H. Humphrey as special convention speaker. Top security cautions and activity by the Secret Service was awesome, interesting and amusing. It was awesome enough to make Bennie give a "perfect French" translation to ah-fors-e' lui lanima, an aria from La Traviaia. Indeed, he gleamed with pride and implored the audience to appreciate his French. Brother Humphrey, who was later to be honored with Alpha membership, acknowledged the lingualistic faux pas by identifying it as Italian but softened the pain with his fine address
Allegro
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The surprising climax of the Undergraduate Luncheon was the emergence of Brother Ronald English as an orator par excellence. A standing ovation disclosed that Morehouse College still has a forensic propensity. He told us about the prospective members Alpha is missing. Many of them are joining the outlaw fraternities, the Soul Psi Phi, the Liquor Psi Phi and the Sex Psi Phi. The tempo of the convention quickened as each social event was reached. The Pan-Hellenic Dance was where we put on our best form and exhibited our social proficiency in the presence of the sundry fraternities and sororities that comprise the Pan-Hellenic conference. Now we come to the Presentation Ball. Beautiful girls and courtly young men, graceful bows and curtsies, festooned surroundings mingling with moving palms and scented bowers. Here in Philadelphia we call that a Cotillion; but we don't always present debutants at our affairs as they did at the Chicago Ball. We acknowl-
edged with affectionate commendation the ladies of the committees who sponsored the affair. Other notes merit entering any composition one might make in chronicling such a convention. Remember the divine who in his long all inclusive prayer said, "Oh Lord, thou hath been mindful of thy servants, thou didst know that we would be parched and thou didst permit us to distill gin and to make Scotch; and we repent thee that we did make so much Whoopee." A few notes about a brother who while attending church at home had someone attempt to steal, not only the tires, but the wheels from his car. Unknowingly he proceeded to Chicago. Near Toledo, the car wobbled so badly it was decided to check everything. The Man upstairs must have liked Brother Ellis of Baltimore for the front wheels had lost every lug but one and probable death was riding along. After an expense of $41.00 in repairs our well known exponent of parliamentary bellicosity reached the Convention and was elected Eastern Vice President. In the heart of the business district a large crowd watched as a motorist plowed into the rear of a car as he parked. Calmly he got out, wrote a note and put it under the windshield wiper and drove away. This is what was written. "Dear Sir, I have just hit your car and have done much damage. There are a lot of people standing around and they think I am signing my name to this note, but I ain't." There are seventeen (17) Negro judges in the Chicago courts. One scofflaw appeared before Judge Ernest Greene with 77 tickets for traffic violations. He was sentenced to 2 years. When asked if he had anything to say, the prisoner began
singing, "In-our-dear-A-Phi-A-fraternalspirit binds." Ecstatic Moments Descending in the escalator with Brother General Counsel McGhee from Dayton, a pretty little lady on the ascending escalator waves and says, "Hi." I waved back, so did McGhee. Thinking it to be one of the Frat Fun Fans, I asked Brother McGhee if he knew her name. He said, "sure, that's my wife." * * * * * An annual visit to the Eagles nest on the 41st floor Penthouse suite, Brother Leroy Jeffries, vice president of Johnson Publishing Company, Goodwill Chrysler tycoon, dispenser of continuous liquid hospitality, teamed with Brother Wexler, who guarded an uncrashable portcullis. * * * * * Old fashioned chats with Brothers Meredith G. Ferguson, the sage; Tatum, the tantilizer; Kermit Hall, the perfectionist; Brothers Pleasant and Miller from Tidewater, Virginia. Reminiscing with Tollie Harris and absorbing the surprising personalities of W. Dewey Branch and Charles M. Johnson. * * * * * Renewing my fealty to the inseparable, incomparable Burt and Grace of the Mayberry dynasty.
* * * * * That Alpha has no monopoly on hospitality was evidenced by a prominent scholastic couple who entertained me Tuesday night at dinner at the Tropical Hut on the University of Chicago campus, a tour of the Hyde Park, Lake Meadows, and other sections of Chicago sepia life. Wide-eyed and unbelieving 1 saw high-rise apartments and low-rise hovels, fine business establishments and greasy spoon joints. It was a treat suitable for a visiting potentate. My hosts, co-authors of a book, "Negroes Who Helped Build America," were Samuel Straton and his wife Madeline, Chicago educators. *
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participate in the American Contract Bridge Championships games at the Palmer House with no scarred shins on Felix. Mrs. Warren won first prize on the Woman's Bridge Games conducted by the Alpha wives at the Sheraton. * * * * * Rho Lambda delegate was Brother Dr. Walter Holland, Sr., wealthy Buffalo dentist. The delegate from Gamma Chapter at Richmond, Va. was Walter Holland, Jr. Hellabaloo The baptism of parliamentary fire that greeted Brother Judge Billy Jones on his maiden experience as presiding officer. Brother Jake Stewart's sang-froid; his sleuth-like supervision over my inclination toward gastronomic indiscretion; his enigmatic Buddha smile. Brother Frank Morris' recalcitrancy when the schedule listed him as presiding officer during the legislative period prior to the conversion of the assembly into Committee of the Whole to consider what Brother Buckner called the Committee on Internal Structure, but what Brother M. G. Miles fondly labelled the Committee on "Infernal Structure." The Anacin Episode Characters President Newsom — tall, tan, terrific Chairman Buckner — 6 feet 250 lbs. voluble and volatile Sergeant at Arms — Atwater, 5 feet, 140 lbs. proficient Buckner: "Bro. President" Newsom: "I don't recognize you" Buckner: "Bro. President" Newsom: "You're out of order" Buckner: "Bro. President" Newsom: "Sit down, sir, or I'll call the Sergeant-at-Arms Buckner: "That would be something interesting to see." Brother Dee — Assistant Sergeant-atArms: "Control yourselves! Don't take it out on each other, you need Anacin for fast relief!"
asked him the secret of his conquests and contentment. He explained that he has long made it a point to be able to say, "I'm glad I did," rather than, "I wish I had." Just a few minutes before the Alpha banquet I chanced to see the speaker, Rev. Brother Morris H. Tynes in the 7th floor men's lounge. He came in complaining to his friend, Rev. Archibald Carey, about a painful arm and shoulder caused by sitting in the draft of an air conditioned room. I mumbled something about an evanescant myostitis but such unsolicited advice from a humorist was redundant. Myositis or not, Parson Tynes was in rarest form; philosophy, sophistry, satire and invective pervaded his address. Pursuing the theme of the current dilemma in the socioracial problem he warned about mediocrity. He twitted about reverse segregation; he taunted us, saying, that our feelings against white people are just as aggressive as theirs and just as abhorrent. He declared that they have a perfect right to sit in the back of the bus as the back part was going in the same direction as the front. They have the same right to live in ghettos and commit the same very much publicized crime as we, that we should insist and fight for their right to "enjoy" some of these "blessings" and help them fight for their civil rights. May they never be unappreciated and unchampioned as was the youngster in this closing story. In a class of children at an elementary school, the teacher was reviewing Negro History before some visiting dignitaries. Among the pupils in the class was a red headed youngster by the unbelievable name of Dammit Jones. The question was asked, "Who was the first Negro Rhodes scholar?" The little red head stood up and raised his hand. The teacher sternly said, "sit down Dammit, you don't know it." The head of the delegation, interrupted by saying. "O'Hell give the kid a chance, he might know it!" Permit a farewell chord in loving memory of my very good friend, the late Rev. Brother A. Wayman Ward.
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It was great to see Eddie James and Felix Warren teamed up once again as delegates from Alpha Iota Lambda but it was better to see Felix and wife, Annette,
Counterpoint I have a friend, a fine Omega "Que" who is a very affable fellow, an acknowledged Don Juan among women. I once
Now, let's all join in the refrain: "Old college presidents never die, They just lose their faculties." Amen! 11
Alpha Phi Alpha's
PUBLIC POLICY (At its Chicago convention some 600 delegates of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., adopted a five-point PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT putting forth the fraternity's position on civil rights, labor, the right to vote, the declining enrollment of Negroes in graduate and professional schools, and calling on all Americans of good conscience to enlist and work diligently in the crusade for the general uplift of mankind. The text of that statement appears below. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE EDITOR) No. 1 Alpha Phi Alpha takes notice of the advances that have been made in the struggle for first class citizenship and total emancipation for America's 22,000,000 Negroes, and it commends President Lyndon B. Johnson for unprecedented leadership. The Fraternity pledges to lend its full weight in continuing the thrust to achieve as rapidly as possible the full realization of the American dream and constitutional declarations of equal rights, equal treatment and equal opportunity for all the people regardless of race, color or national origin, and urges its membership to redouble their efforts in communities the nation over to eradicate every vestige of segregation and discrimination. Alpha Phi Alpha reaffirms its historic position in support of peaceful, nonviolent protest and assembly. While supporting the right to petition, protest and demonstrate, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity takes the position that there can be no uniform application of methods and techniques to all and every situation, but rather that they must be conceived, designed and executed in ways that are related to the particular circumstances of that particular community.
making positions and high levels in personnel management. The Committee on Public Policy of the fraternity recommends the establishment of a Commission on Economic Foundations to give intelligent direction for the stimulation of Negroes in acquiring financial security, building businesses, planning estates and in gaining a total involvement in the wealth and economy of America. No. 3 Historically Alpha Phi Alpha was in the forefront in urging Negroes of this country to achieve their constitutional right to vote. Now, following the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Bill, Alpha Phi Alpha again urges the Negroes of this country to intensify their efforts in voting and full participation in the political processes of the nation. We urge Negroes to register, vote and become advised and informed on the political issues in their local communities, states and nation. We recommend that the Fraternity initiate at once a program aiding in registration of Negroes. We encourage qualified (and competent) Negroes to seek (all) elective offices and that they demand appointments to the policy making boards, commission, and agencies.
No. 5 At this point in the struggle for civil rights, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity reiterates its historical position that Negro leaders join hands with people of all races and creeds to help achieve their legitimate aspirations and share equally in the fortunes and abundance of this nation. By "all people" we mean the dispossessed, the disinherited whomsoever and wherever they may be, particularly Mexicans, American Indians, Puerto Ricans, poverty stricken people in the mountain areas of the Southwest and in the Appalachians, and all migrant workers of the country. These people are our brothers and we are concerned with the alleviation of the burden of poverty and oppression from them as well as ourselves. Finally, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity hereby appeals to all Americans of good conscience to enlist and work diligently in the crusade for the general uplift of humankind.
No. 2 Alpha Phi Alpha calls for admission of America's 22 million Negroes into the economic life of the nation and urges that business and industry significantly, and not by token representation only, accord Negroes employment and apprenticeship training. The Fraternity calls upon both the public and private sectors, including the federal government, to cooperate in this effort by placing Negroes in policy
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No. 4 The Fraternity is vitally concerned with the declining enrollment of Negroes in graduate and professional schools. We urge the youth of the nation to seek higher education and careers in education, medicine, and in business administration, public administration, law sciences and technology, and all the newer areas of specialization.
General President Newsom (second from left) presents award to Bro. Taliaferro W. Harris, long-time chairman of the fraternity's Committee on Achievements and Awards. At right is former general president Bro. Roscoe Giles.
"The tumult and the shouting dies The Captains and the Kings depart." Thus winds up the 59th Anniversary Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., recently adjourned in Chicago — which Convention proved to be epoch-making in many ways. Congratulations are in order to the Host Chapters — Xi Lambda and Theta, and to Brothers Bennie D. Brown and Bennett M. Stewart for a job well done. The General Convention was opened with an address by the Vice President of the United States, Honorable Hubert Horatio Humphrey, who, by vote of the Executive Council, was made Honorary Life Member No. 2 of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and was also presented the General President's Distinguished Citizen's Award for his untiring and courageous efforts in the areas of civil and human rights, good government. and freedom for all people. Mayor Richard J. Daley (Chicago) was presented to the General Convention by Bro. Sidney A. Jones, Jr., and made an inspiring address, extolling the worth of the Fraternity, with special reference to the many brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha in his cabinet, and in positions of trust in the city of Chicago. Attendance: Including delegates, visiting brothers, distinguished guests and ladies, the total attendance was 1,150. 131 chapters were represented at the Convention and 208 delegates participated in the business sessions, in both divisions. There were seven past General Presidents, and our only living Jewel — Bro. Henry Arthur Callis in attendance. Awards: The Alpha Award of Honor was presented to Bro. Charles H. Wesley; the Alpha Award of Merit was presented to the Pepsi Cola Company and was received by Mr. Herbert L. Barnett, Chairman of the Board of Directors; the Undergraduate Award was presented to Beta Kappa chapter, Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma. The Outstanding Undergraduate Award was presented to Bro. Bradley F. Watkins for his excellence scholastically at the University of Kentucky. Distinguished Service Awards were presented to: Bro. Bro. Bro. Bro. Bro.
Meredith G. Ferguson —former General Treasurer Ferdinand D. Williams — posthumously Frank V. Plummer — posthumously A. Maceo Smith — former General President I. Richard Mahone — Supervisor, National Headquarters Building.
Human Interest was injected into the presentations by General Presidents Newsom who presented a plaque to Bro. Taliaferro W. Harris, chairman of the Committee on Achievements and Awards for many years. For the first time in Tolly's adult life, he was speechless and shaken with emotion, to the delight of all. Newly Elected Officers: A majority of the present officers were re-elected, the newly selected officers are: Eastern Vice President — Bro. Frank J. Ellis, Baltimore, Maryland Assistant Eastern Vice President — Bro. Harry D. Mayo, Montclair, New Jersey
Editor — Bro. Assistant Bro. Assistant Bro. Assistant Bro. Assistant Bro.
"The Sphinx" — George M. Daniels, New York, New York Midwestern Vice President — Randall Maxey, Cincinnati, Ohio Southwestern Vice President — Kirby Kirksey, Houston, Texas Western Vice President — Rufus Skillern, Oakland, California Southern Vice President — Warren Davis, Tallahassee, Florida
ALPHA Laurence T. Young General Secretary
Omega Inductees: Eighty-four brothers were inducted into Omega chapter with impressive ceremonies conducted by Bro. Martin L. Harvey. Public Policy: Again the policy of the Fraternity (see page 14) was enunciated as it relates to matters bearing upon the Negro's determination to exercise complete rights accorded under the law of the land; reaffirming Alpha Phi Alpha's historic position in support of peaceful, non-violent protest and assembly; and to lend its full weight in continuing the thrust to achieve as rapidly as possible the full realization of the American dream and constitutional declarations of equal rights, treatment and opportunity for all people regardless of race, color or national origin, urging its members to redouble their efforts in communities the nation over to eradicate every vestige of segregation and discrimination. Internal Structure: The report of the Committee on Internal Structure was well received. Many legislative changes were effected including a revitalized undergraduate program focused on nurturing leadership potential and encouraging early initiation into the fellowship, and the authorization of an Ad Hoc committee on Undergraduate Affairs; permitting the establishment of chapters at junior colleges; permitting more than one graduate chapter in a metropolitan population area; redirecting major forms on the under utilized members of the Fraternity by broadening communication in promoting a new policy of "inclusion"; centralization and consolidation of records, services and chapter supervision in the office of the General 13
Secretary; definition of services to be rendered by the General Office to members, chapters and regions; changing the name "Executive Council" to "Board of Directors"; changing the name "National Headquarters" to "General Office." New Programs Initiated: More will be related relative to the new programs initiated which are: The Alpha Out Reach Program (Massachusetts), The Alpha Phi Alpha War on Poverty (Ohio), the Alpha Merit Group (Texas), General Office relocation, rebuilding or remodeling and choice of city. The 1965 Alpha Phi Alpha (active roster) Directory is now available and will be distributed to each chapter free of charge, to all Life Members and members of the Board of Directors within the next few days. The forthcoming newsletter will be published and duly distributed to every chapter which will set forth more in detail actions at the General Convention. The official minutes will be in your possession within the next few weeks. Congratulations to all re-elected officers and the newly elected officers of Alpha Phi Alpha. The services of the General Office are yours for the asking which will become a demand. Constitutional Amendments: The Constitutional Amendments adopted at the 59th Anniversary Convention have been circularized to all chapters under date of August 23, 1965. A negative vote within 60 days after submission by 5 1 % of the Chapters will be sufficient to veto the action of the General Convention (Art. X V I I — # 1 ) . In the mailing, referred to
herein, an amendment to By Law # 9 was inadvertently omitted, and is amended to read: "No Undergraduate member shall receive a transfer from his chapter while he is a student in the institution designated in the chapter." News Items: Acknowledgment is made of telegrams received during the Convention from officers of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; National PanHellenic Council, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The nation is proud of Brother Thurgood Marshall on his induction as United States Solicitor General (Attorney for the People of the U.S.) by President Johnson, and Justice Hugo L. Black, both heaping high well earned praise on the new official. Brother O. Wilson Winters, our Parliamentarian has been elected a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians, a national organization to aid in the improvement of parliamentary procedure and help make democracy more effective in striving for world-wide peace with freedom. Brother James E. Huger, former General Secretary A A, has announced his candidacy for City Commissioner—Dayton Beach, Florida, Good luck Jimmie. Summit Conference: Summit Conference of the National Pan-Hellenic Council was held in Washington, D.C. September 18, 19, 1965 at the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity National Headquarters.
news from the chapters After a Convention, what next After a General Convention, what then? The 59th Anniversary General Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.. may well be remembered as the most productive in the history of the Fraternity. As we deliberated on the business of the Convention, we were forced to rededicate ourselves to the precepts and purposes of the Fraternity and to evaluate our activities—individually and by chapter, state 14
organization, etc.—in terms of the role of Alpha in an era of constant, never-ending change; a fascinating, dangerous, and promising age in which to live. The challenge which we accepted is aptly described in the words of Dr. James M. Hester, president of New York University: "We face an enormous challenge in finding the economic and political methods
Bro. Jacob T. Stewart Southwestern Vice President
for sharing our scientific and technological accomplishments. But the basic challenge that confronts us is not scientific. It is the challenge to raise our standards as human beings—our standards of thought, standards of behavior, standards of taste, standards of aspiration." After a General Convention, what then? How do we implement the challenge we accepted; the vow to do more to make
the programs of our chapters, state organization, and region more attractive and meaningful? The following suggestions may be helpful: 1. Strengthen the programs of state organizations so that they will be more meaningful and challenging. State organizations should provide leadership and direction for chapter programs, serve as clearing houses in order to avoid conflicts and duplicating activities (state-wide programs — Founders Day Observances, scholarships, socials, etc., should be considered), provide an outlet for recognizing the achievements of brothers in the state. 2. Give new life—vigor and vitality— to chapter programs: One of the best ways
of keeping brothers financially and physically active is to develop programs of activities which will capture and hold their interests and utilize their skills and abilities. Consider the following: Voter registration projects and classes in citizenship education. Cultural programs using the talents of brothers in the chapter. Programs of assistance to high school and college students (study programs and tutoring, vocational counseling, recreational and social activities). Services of rededication and periodic review of Ritual. Seminars on effective chapter organization and operation.
Programs to recognize outstanding achievement of brothers in the chapter. Support financially and actively programs for freedom and equality—buy life membership in NAACP. Attend and support actively state, regional and national conventions. Involve all brothers in the activities of the chapter. 3. And individually, let each of us strive to be "First of all, servant of all." As we go through the years ahead, may we gain strength and inspiration from this prayer: Lord, what we know not, teach us; Lord, what we have not, give us; Lord, what we are not, make us.
Support and Guidance of Chapters Needed Bro. Randall Maxey Midwestern Assistant Vice President
I would like to extend my greetings to Alpha men everywhere, in hopes that in the coming year we will be communicating frequently with our ideas, programs, problems and even grievances. By appointment of General President Bro. Lionel Newsom. I am chairman of the Committee on Undergraduate Activities which consist of the five assistant vicepresidents, the five past assistant vicepresidents, Bro. Belford V. Lawson, and Bro. William Alexander. This committee grew out of the need for a new effort on the part of the fraternity to aid the undergraduate segment and to insure its continued good quality in most instances; to revamp its direction and method in others, where we find the need. As an example of the programs under consideration are standard history examinations to be administered to all candidates for initiation before and as a prerequisite to their approval by the vice-president; also a leadership training laboratory staffed professionally.
To my Brothers of the Midwest, I am indebted for their faith and confidence that I will give them adequate leadership. I intend to work intimately with the vicepresident, Bro. Billy Jones, in whatever capacity he wishes and with his go-ahead signal, I hope to initiate numerous ideas that have been conceived to help make our region more exacting and meaningful for all concerned with emphasis on the collegiate brothers. To be reasonably effective would require a good communications system, but since we intend to do an excellent job, there must be an all-out effort to communicate both nationally and regionally. As an Alpha man you should consider it your duty to promote Alpha, and your privilege to receive the benefits derived thereof. It is my job to see that each and every chapter contributes to our region's progress and receives in return all that Alpha can offer. However, no man can lead without support and even more important, no man can lead without the guidance of those who he seeks to lead. To help make and/or keep our fraternity, our region, one of excellence this office needs:
1. your cooperation 2. the mailing address of all Midwestern Chapters 3. the names- and addresses of all Chapter officers 4. a current list of chapter members, financial and unfinancial 5. any ideas or suggestions 6. any chapter problems or difficulties 7. current housing status and/or plans, if any, to secure housing and its financing 8. the name of a graduate brother and undergraduate brother that will serve as inter-chapter liaisons where two or more chapters exist. 9. a schedule of your events a. pledging and initiation b. campus, civic, education c. social, etc. I urge and invite correspondence on any of the aforementioned subjects. 15
plementing our commitment to higher education? If such is the case, I'd appreciate knowing the details.
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION Scholarships reach $7,500 By Oscar W. Ritchie Director
t is appropriate that I should begin this first column under the editorship of Bro. Daniels by bidding him welcome into the official level of the Fraternity, by congratulating him on his election as Editor of The Sphinx, and by pledging my full cooperation during his tenure in office. All of those I do gladly and wholeheartedly. At the same time, my sense of fairness and appreciation lead me to say to Bro. C. Anderson Davis—"Thank you for a job well done and best wishes in the years ahead!" This column is, in essence, a potpourri of information, suggestions, questions, requests and observations born, principally, of my very brief attendance at our recent convention. Some of these reactions are perhaps less than completely clear; others may be somewhat indefinite, inprecise, or even incorrect and unfounded. If such instances are found in this column, they are perhaps to be explained largely by the fact that the writer was unable to remain in attendance throughout the entire course of the 59th General Convention.
ITEM—For the third year in succession the budget for scholarships and fellowships amounts to $7,500. Is this static or unchanging amount a measure of our educational interests? Or, have we discovered other and better ways of im16
ITEM—Have we forgotten or found substitutes for our sacred and traditional commitments to "fellowship, scholarship, and service?" Why such a question? Read the minutes of the Convention, as I shall do; perhaps we shall find justification and explanation, respectively.
ITEM—Remember the War on Poverty? We pledged our support of it. What has your chapter done? And you, Brother, are you in the War? Let's take a census: Drop me a postal card indicating the extent of your chapter's and your participation in the War.
ITEM—". . . scholarship and love for all mankind." Noble sentiments, yes, but how committed are we? Actions are said to "speak louder than words." What are our relevant actions? How many thousands of dollars a year do we invest in the promotion of education and scholarship? (Oh, yes, we can afford to invest tens of thousands.) Have we endowed "a chair" or established a distinguished lecture series at a great university? How much of ourselves and our money do we invest in our college chapters and Brothers? What, precisely, are the services we render to our respective communities? Through what agencies do we serve? The United Fund? The P.T.A.? The Mental Health Association? The Urban League? The War on Poverty?
Shriver, and the President of the United States. DARE WE FAIL TO DELIVER! * * * Among the needs of college chapters, speakers and participants in workshops, institutes, forums and other educational and literary activities stand out—or should stand out—preeminently. Soon after his first term in office— about two years ago — the Director invited out-of-college Brothers to volunteer for such services. Responses were only minimal. Stated differently — and frankly — few Brothers seemed to be interested in rendering such services. Irrespective of this apparent first failure, the same call is issued again. Any Brother who is willing to participate in such programs please notify the Director of Educational Activities. The names of volunteers will be carried in the Sphinx. In some instances out-of-college Brothers may choose to bear their own expenses when they participate in college-chapter sponsored activities; the financial responsibilities in such situations, however, rests squarely and totally upon the sponsoring college Brothers.
BUILDING FOUNDATION Problems of Housing By Elmer C. Collins
ITEM—Pursuant to the directive of the Fifty-Eight General Convention, the Director of Educational Activities has taken certain steps preparatory to the implementation of our commitment to actively support the War on Poverty. In addition to our unilateral commitment we have joined with other Greek letter organizations in a pledge of support in the War. This pledge has gone out to Mr. Whitney Young, Jr., Mr. R. Sargent
Publicity
Chairman
VJnc of the busiest and most active groups working at the 59th Anniversary Convention was the National Alpha Building Foundation under the direction of its chairman Bro. William Alexander. There were many problems of housing, and a large number of applications from chap-
ters seeking aid with their various housing projects. Each application was carefully studied and acted on. However, it was noted that some Brothers not fully aware of the many facts regarding applying for consideration by the Foundation. A number of chapters seek aid from the Building Foundation. However, because of poor relations with the institution, low scholastic rating, and negative conduct record of individual brothers and the chapter as a whole, it is sometimes very difficult for the brothers on the Building Foundation to consider the applications. For example, Phi Chapter, Ohio University, was given a grant to improve their house. One main factor in giving this grant was the splendid record of this chapter. Phi has over the years maintained good relations with the University and kept a
high scholastic rating. Their behavor has been commendable. During my term as Midwest Vice-President when I talked to the president and dean of Ohio U., they stated that Phi Chapter was a credit to the institution and to the city of Athens. All detailed plans should be thoroughly discussed with the regional vice president before any commitments are made or hopes aroused. The vice president must approve all applications. One requirement of the Building Foundation is to have a grad chapter sponsor an undergrad chapter when a loan or grant is requested. This may be a problem when there is no grad chapter in the city. The vice president would have to work out arrangements that would be acceptable to (he Foundation. With the great changes in housing trends on our campuses and in our cities,
it is important that each chapter study their housing needs carefully before undertaking a project. Some chapters venture into big and costly projects without first laying the proper groundwork and a complete study of all details. In some chapters there are brothers who fail to meet the financial requirements of the chapter plus they do not pay their grand tax. Yet, they take part in all chapter activities, even hold office. This practice should not be permitted. During the years spent in college one develops trends and behavior patterns. Alpha does not want to encourage this type of behavior. The Building Foundation welcomes any suggestions or ideas. For information regarding matters concerning housing please write to me at 10611 Pasadena Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 441008, or to any member of the Foundation.
Progress must cross Civic Collegiate Fields Bro. Kirby Kirksey Assistant Southwestern Vice-President
"To argue or refute, wise councillors abound; the man to execute is harder to be found." As the new academic year commences, we as Alphamen must seriously examine ourselves using these lines from one of La Fontaine's fables. They will well serve as a stimulus for any action in which we might engage. We will have a great job before us. Well planned, well rounded, and properly concentrated programs, cutting across both civic and collegiate fields, will have to be implemented by us. It is through such programs that we have progressed and will continue to progress in later years.
There must be changes made in our methods of rushing. In the past ten years campuses in our region. Alphamen are we have, as undergraduates, decreased in number. As undergraduates, we are the lifeblood of the fraternity. We must, therefore, increase our numbers of pledgees but never give up quality for quantity. There is supposedly a schism between the graduate and undergraduate chapters. This situation must be placed under close scrutiny. As our General President has said, this gap is only a prefabrication of our minds. Chapter programs should move toward being more of a joint effort, thereby bringing the grads and undergrads closer together. A grave loss of strength of the Pan-
Hellenic Council can be seen on many always first. All efforts on our part should be directed in the plan of getting this organization back on its feet. The PanHellenic Council must not be allowed to die. I shall be visiting with you at the various campuses as many times as possible before the Regional Convention. An upgrading of the operation of the general organization will bring about a face-lifting of the local chapters. A new day is on the horizon. As our society moves on, more responsible men will be needed to lead it on its course. These men will be required to do a large and ever changing task. The men needed for this task will be found in Alpha Phi Alpha. 17
Alpha Alpha
apter is Although the Alpha Alpha chapter a young chapter on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, it is making great strides toward exemplifying the true fraternal spirit. This chapter proudly states that it is represented by thee members in all the colleges at the University. iversity. The chapter also excels in such areas areas as scholarship, sports and service. ens and Bro. Tony Yates, Bro. Brig Owens sonsible Bro. Darryl Allen are greatly responsible ;s. Bro. for U.C.'s fine record in athletics. Tony Yates helped lead the University liversity to the NCAA finals three consecutive secutive years. Bro. Brig. Owens, U.C.'s .'s fine fine quarterback and voted the Most Valuable 'aluable athlete, exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship qualities. Bro. Darryl Allen :n holds letters in football and baseball. In the areas of scholarship, the: Alpha d. Bro. Alpha chapter has a fine record.
Beta Zeta Lambda
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Tony Yates and Bro. Brig Owens are members of the men's honorary fraternty, Sigma Sigma. Bro. Yates was the first Negro admitted to this fraternity. Bro. Randall Maxey was the first Negro in Cincinnaters, an honorary service organization, and he was also selected to Metro, an upper-classmen's recognition fraternity. Bro. Wadsworth Douglas was the first Negro to be selected to Sophos, a fraternity honoring the University's outstanding freshmen. In the field of service, the Alpha Alpha chapter stands second to none. This summer the chapter gave a Debutante Ball honoring the girls in high school Greek letter organizations that were graduating. The money from this dance was used to set up a scholarship fund. The members of the Alpha Alpha chapter also serve the U.C. campus. Bro. Brig Owens, the Alpha
Man of the Year, served on the President's Advisory Council. Bro. Johnny Montgomery was major and commander in the ROTC. Bro. Glen Miller also served as a major in the ROTC. Bro. Wadsworth Douglas serves as treasurer of the Educational Tribunal and on the executive committee of the Council of Inter-racial Relations. Bro. Randall Maxey, recently elected Assistant Vice President of the Midwestern Region, serves on the President's Advisory Council, the Senior Class Advisory Council and the executive committee of the Committee of the Council of Inter-racial Relations. We feel confident that the Alpha Alpha chapter under the leadership of its newly elected president, Bro. Richard Cunningham, will continue to add to the success of fraternity life.
Beta Zeta Lambda, Jefferson City, Missouri, closed ou the fiscal year by being Host Chapter, with Alpha Psi, to a successful and enjoyable Mid-Western Convention. The Brothers and wives of Beta Zeta Lambda went all out in making it one of the finest Mid-Western Conventions ever held anywhere. Looking back over the year Beta Zeta Lambda and all of Alpha Phi Alpha can be proud of the "Forward Steps" taken by its Brothers. Working with Bro. Thomas Pawley, the State Central Regional Director, and Bro. Keener Tippin, President, Beta Zeta Lambda was instrumental in helping to start a Colony for Alpha Phi Alpha at Missouri University,
Columbia, Missouri. The Colony is now functioning and will apply for a charter in the near future. Beta Zeta Lambda has one of the latest "Life Members" in Bro. James N. Freeman. Bro. Freeman is Head of the Department of Agriculture and is very active in community work. Also in our fold is Bro. Elmer C. Jackson, who has made a down payment on his Life Membership. Bro. Jackson is a Psychiatrist and both he and Bro. Freeman are devoted Alpha men. Not willing to rest on past laurels, Beta Zeta Lambda has already made plans for a bigger and better year.
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; B R O . WADSWORTH DOUGLAS
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; B R O . WILLIAM J. HANDLEY
Eta Psi Lambda Delta Theta
Delta Theta Chapter, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, is in its 15th year of existence. Although it is a relatively young chapter considering the ages of some of the other chapters, we have made many advances in such a short period of time. We are really carrying on the Alpha tradition of excellence in all of college and community life. Officers for the ensuing academic year are as follows: Bros. Vancy Bridges, president; Frederick Carvin, vice-president; Donald Odom, secretary; Alvin Mcllveen, dean of pledgees; Crosley O'Dell, treasurer; and Kirby Kirksey, financial secretary. During the past year Delta Theta had several brothers to graduate from its its ranks. Among them were Bros. Harold Carter, Billy Cooper, Charlie Crump, Leon Hardy (cum laude), Johnny Brown, James Lewis, Ira Lucas, Harold Odom, Willie Moore, Tom Smith, and Michael Wright. There are many plans that we have set as our goals to achieve during this year. Our annual food drive will be continued as done in previous years. Also, we plan to work even closer with Bro. Bill Lawson in school struggle. A new leadership conference will have our efforts in trying to upgrade the campus leaders. We are very proud of the fact that the regional assistant vice-president, Bro. Kirksey, is a member of our chapter. The brothers of Delta Theta have planned a busy, challenging, and meaningful calendar for 1965-66. The heritage is of Alpha Phi Alpha demands this of us. Could we do any less? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; B R O . DONALD ODOM
Eta Psi Lambda, Tuscon, Arizona, has been taking an active part in the city activities involving minorities. Bro. Morgan Maxwell, Jr. has been appointed by Arizona Governor Sam Goddard as a member of the State Civil Rights Commission of Arizona. Bro. Maxwell is active in civic affairs in Tucson. He is a member of CORE; on the Board of Directors, Boys Club of Tucson; a member of the Tucson Civil Service Citizen's Commission. He is owner of a general insurance agency in the city. Bro. Maxwell is a graduate of the University of Arizona. He received a MBA from the University of Southern California and did residence work on a Ph.D. at New York University. He is a former Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Atlanta University. Eta Psi Lambda teamed up with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter of Tucson and the local NAACP chapter to run a seminar for Negro high school students and potential college enrollees at the Marisol Recreation Center, South Tucson. The program features discussions on avail-
able scholarships for college students and existing youth programs which will be available in Tucson. Bro. John W. Zander and Bro. Felix L. Goodwin are working on a project with other Negro organizations to feature a major exhibit at the University of Arizona for Negro History week in 1966. Bro. Zander, president, Eta Psi Lambda is a Social Worker at the House of Neighborly Service, Tucson. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, Superintendent of the Church School and served as Moderator of the Southern Arizona Presbytery. Hq is a graduate of Bluefield State Teachers College and did graduate work at the University of Arizona. Eta Psi Lambda awarded scholarships to several Junior High and High School boys to assist them in furthering their education. The major education project for 1965-1966 is the selection of a Senior in High School who will be assisted by the chapter through his senior year, both financially and scholastically.
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; B R O . FELIX L. GOODWIN
Gamma Omicron The brothers of Gamma Omicron chapter, at Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tennessee, are proud to report that we have been keeping with the high ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha: socially, culturally, and scholastically. Realizing that Alpha strives to develop the best in all of these areas and believing in the high standards of Alpha Phi Alpha, we have made increasing progress on our campus. This year Gamma Omicron welcomed thirteen new brothers to the "Bond of Alpha": Bros. Roy Teague, Selma, Ala.;
James Crump, Owensboro, Ky.; James Mixon, Selma, Ala.; Ronald Damper, Birmingham, Ala.; John Prioleau, Sumter, S.C.; Melvin Bentley, Roanoke, Va.; Wallace Madden, Knoxville, Tenn.; Horace Andrews, Knoxville, Tenn.; Dorsey Hopson, Memphis, Tenn.; Ben Evans, LaCross, Va.; Robert Lawson, Sylagcauga, Ala.; Earl Armstrong, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Anthony Lewis, Philadelphia, Pa. This line was not only longer than all the other fraternity lines together, but it had the highest academic average and was
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the most unique in all its probationary activities. Gamma Omicron believes in "bend them while they're young", for these brothers have been a great asset to the chapter and to the fraternity. This year we were fortunate in that we were able to act as host to the brothers of Tennessee, in the 1965 Tennessee State Meeting. Present at the meeting were Bro. W. Dewey Branch, Southern Regional Vice-President, as well as the Asst. Vice President and other delegates and State officials. The theme for this year was "The Great Expectationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Alpha's Unique Role in its Implementation." The discussion was basically on "Reclamation." This event was followed by our observance of our annual Founders' Day Banquet, at which time the late Bro. Henderson, (recently inducted into Omega Chapter) a noted doctor and a noted Alpha man was saluted as one of the founders of Alpha Mu Lambda, (Knoxville, Tennessee) while Bro. James A. Colston, President of Knoxville College was chosen Alpha Mu Lambda's "Graduate Brother of the Year." Likewise, Gamma Omicron saluated Bro. A. B. Coleman as one of its founders and chose Bro. James Ruff as Gamma Omicorn's "Undergraduate Brother of the Year." In the past couple of months the brothers of Gamma Omicron have been extremely busy. Recently, we sponsored our annual "Alpha Mixer." At this time we presented to the freshmen young men some of the many achievements of Gamma Omichon and Alpha Phi Alpha. This was followed by our annual "This Is Your Life" program at which time we saluted the faculty or administrative person whom we felt had made an outstanding contribution in the area of student relations. This year's honoree was the Rev. James Foster Reese, our campus minister. On May 8, we, the brothers of Gamma Omicron, held our annual "Alpha Picnic." This year the "rolling Greyhounds" carried us to Cumberland Falls, Kentucky. Following this, on May 15, we sponsored our annual "Sweethearts' Ball" in the beautiful "Golden Room." In this year's court, are the lovely Miss Alfra Dean Fisher, Miss Alpha Phi Alpha; and Miss Joe Anne McDonald and Miss Eva 20
Rawls, both attendants. Many of our brothers have taken office in the past month, and we congratulate them all. First of all our chapter officers: Bro. Freddie West, President; Bro. Roy Teague, Vice-Pres.; Bro. James Mixon, Treasurer; Bro. James Crump, Secretary; Bro. Lonnie Lewis, D.O.P., and Bro. Ronald Damper, Asst. D.O.P. Around campus: Bro. W. James Lett was recently elected President of the Student Government, and Bro. Anthony Lewis was elected Student Government Vice-Pres. Bro. James Mixon was elected Student Government Chief Justice. These officers are for the school year 1965-1966. As the 1964-1965 senior class officers, we had Bro. Robert Blockum as class president, and Bro. Robert Stephens as class treasurer. For the year 1965-1966 senior class officers we have Bros. William C h a p m a n , Freddie West, and W. James Lett, President, Vice-Pres. and Parliamentarian, respectively. Each year the Pan-Hellenic Council gives away two scholarship trophies to the neophyte young lady and the neophyte young man who made the highest average for the semester he and she was on the pledge line. This year, as it has been every year since the award has been given, the cup has not only been won by one of the brothers, but we occupied the first five places in rank for it. This year the cup was won by Bro. James Mixon, with Bros. Andrews, Crump, Teague, and Damper being runners-up. This year we had ten brothers on the honor roll. Eight of these were on the Dean's List (2.0 accumulative average or better on a 3.0 system). This was more than any other Greek Letter Organization on campus and more than all the other fraternities combined. This year we had eleven brothers graduating: Bros. James Cobham, Clarence DuBose, Eugene Sharpe, Raymond Neal, Noah Robinson, Robert Lawson, Erskine Grant, George Jennett, Robert Blockum, Arvin Sexton, and Robert Stephens. Of the eleven, Bros. Blockum, Stephens, Sexton, and Neal were all elected to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities," and all except Bro. Neal were members of Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. They were given recognition for
carrying a 2.0 average every semester since their freshmen year. Bro. Blockum was not only a member, but was also the president of EtaSigmaTau Chapter, of Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. He was also the president of Knoxville College's chapter of Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Honor Society, president of SNCC (Snick) and the only member of the American Chemical Society on campus. He also received a grant to Princeton University, which he entered in the fall. He is the first Knoxville College student to accomplish such. Bro. Stephens and Bro. Sexton will also be entering graduate school in the fall. Bro. Stephens has received a fellowship to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Bro. Sexton will be attending McCormick Theological Seminary. Bro. Demper, Bro. Madden, and Bro. Andrews were chosen to represent Knoxville College on the Macalester-Knoxville exchange program. The participants in this program are chosen on personality development and academic achievement. Bro. Roy Teague has been chosen to serve in the "Operation Crossroads Africa" program this summer. We have two brothers on the Varsity Baseball team: Bro. George McGowan and Bro. Lonnie Lewis. Bro. Lewis also serves on the Basketball team along with Bro. Omar Brigmon and Bro. Ronald Ward. These are only some of the many activities and achievements of the brothers of Gamma Omicron Chapter, there are many more as: Bro. James Craig, who received an outstanding publications award for his services as the Editor-inchief of the campus newspaper; Bro. Melvin Bentley, who is Drum Major for the college band; and Bro. William Chapman, who has been chosen to attend Harvard University this summer. Though we send these congratulations, we realize that these are things which are expected of Alpha Men. We of Gamma Omicron strive to "Hold Alpha High". Alpha Must Accept Nothing Less Than The Best." With these words we climb. This is the challenge to all Alpha Men. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ANTHONY LEWIS, JR.
Convention Camera Clicks The 59th Anniversary Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at the Chicago Sheraton Hotel was, as Bro. O. Wilson Winters says, a high-point in A Ipha history. Dr. Lionel H. Newsom (at right, with wife) made his debut as general president and the Vice President of the United States, Hubert H. Humphrey became an Alpha Brother. Along with Frederick Douglas he thus becomes the fraternity's second honorary member in history.
Jewel Henry A. Callis (second from left) gave one of the convention's most stirring addresses, calling upon the Fraternity to achieve greater heights in educational services to young people. Helping adjust microphone (from left) are Brothers Billy Jones, Belford V. Lawson, Jr., and Albert A. Duncan. Right photo: Debutants and their escorts who were presented at Presentation Ball.
The General President (third from left above) and five past general presidents appear with Bro. Moss H. Kendrix, or Moss H. Kendrix Associates, Washington, D.C. Left to right are Roscoe C. Giles, second general president; A. Maceo Smith, 17th general president; President Newsom; Dr. Charles H. Wesley, 14th general president; Frank L. Stanley, 18th general president, and Belford V. Lawson, 16th general president. Another highlight was controversial appearance. of Mayor Richard Daley (at left below). At right Bro. Martin L. Harvey delivers eulogy at memorial service for departed Brothers.
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Work, debate, dinners, fashion shows sparked much of the convention. Photographers caught the following activities on this page. Above (left to right) are Brothers Burt A. May berry, longtime convention secretary; John D. Buckner, chairman, Committee on Internal Structure; Charles H. Garvin, 4th General President, giving keynote address. At right: One of the models in the style show during women's luncheon (at left, below). At right is Ronald English delivering address at undergraduate luncheon.
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Brother M. G. Miles (above) during one of the heated debates on internal structure. "I'm never out of order!" says Miles. "I may not be right, but I'm never wrong!" At right, Jewel and Mrs. Callis are greeted by Brothers Sidney A. Jones, Jr., and Andrew J. Lewis II.
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