The Sphinx Magazine Spring/Summer 2008 part 2 by Darryl R. Matthews Sr

LOST GRAVESITE OF FRATERNITY JEWEL

EUGENE KINCKLE JONES LOCATED IN QUEENS, NEW YORK By Joseph L. Sessum

n Spring 2008, the aspirants of Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter in St. Albans, New York were given a particularly daunting task by Chapter Intake Coordinator Brother Darren Morten, former Eastern Regional Vice President. The five young men who aspired to enter the Fraternity through the 239th House of Alpha were charged with locating the lost gravesite of one of the Fraternity’s Seven Jewels—Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones—and thereby, reclaiming a bit of the organization’s history and bringing honor to the ZZL Chapter. The whereabouts of Brother Jones’ remains were sketchy at best. However, the aspirants—Darrel Robinson, Jason Clayton, Eric Henry, Charles Joyner and Ron Carlos—who have since been initiated into the Fraternity, accepted the task as a means of

Zeta Zeta Lambda Brothers and aspirants are pictured at newly relocated gravesite of Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones.

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showing their tenacity and commitment. They realized that positive results of their test would not only prove important to the local chapter but would also hold great significance for the entire brotherhood. They began their search knowing only one thing for certain— that Jewel Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones had been laid to rest in the state of New York in 1954. Because the state’s local boundaries have been redrawn since that time, it was uncertain if Brother Jones had been buried in Queens or Brooklyn. Countless phone calls, library research visits and physical site investigations were made by the aspirants. Their search uncovered several interesting items. However, it may have been the aspirants’ newly gained insight into Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones’ travels, mission and commitment that best helped bring about their understanding of the founder, which eventually led to their discovery of his gravesite. The aspirants recognized that Jewel Jones was an energetic pioneer who was instrumental in forging the “first steps of expansion”, which was the impetus that moved the membership of his circle in 1907 to accept applications and increase the Fraternity membership. It was the founder’s travels to Washington, D.C., Virginia and other locations during that period that caused the Fraternity to charter new chapters. It also was through his high spirit, determination and vision that the groundwork was set to make Alpha Phi Alpha the leader it has become today—with chapters and members located throughout the world and the organization establishing itself as a major influence on local, national and international issues. In addition, their acknowledgment of Jewel Jones’ life work and mission gave the aspirants a better understanding of the founder while also helping to strengthen their bonds and spirits in the performance of the assignment. Their knowledge of Brother Jones’ experience kept them mindful of their task; and to perform it with Alpha’s high standards. Their team became closer as they came to a realization through Brother Jones’ work of what it takes to move and motivate men. Brother Eric B. Henry, a first year law student among the aspirants, states: “It was an effort filled with

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false leads and dead ends; but along the way we found out more about Big Brother Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones that far surpassed our expectations… We very rarely examined the founders apart from the information we were able to find on the Internet or in the (Alpha Phi Alpha) history book.” Through the efforts of Zeta Zeta Lambda’s Spring 2008 initiates, the gravesite of Eugene Kinckle Jones was uncovered in Flushing Cemetery in Queens, New York in March 2008. Brother Jones had resided in Flushing and attended church there. He and his wife, Blanche, lived there together in harmony until Brother Jones’ passing in 1954. In addition, the headstone revealed that the gravesite was a family plot for Brother Jones, his wife and children. The MIP class enjoyed the privilege of personally touching a part of the Jewel’s life history and sharing a prayer for the brotherhood—that the organization might continue to further the cause of Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones and the rich legacy that he has left us—at the moment the gravesite was located. Following their discovery, Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter pledged to clean up and maintain the Fraternity founder’s gravesite. The re-discovery of the Jewel’s lost gravesite has served as a sharp reminder to Zeta Zeta Lambda Brothers of the Fraternity’s rich history and the quality of men who have found membership in this great organization. It has served as a basis for their rededication to continue to move onward and upward toward the light. Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones was born July 30, 1885 in Richmond, Virginia, the son of Joseph and Rosa Jones. Both his parents taught at Virginia Union College, which is now Virginia Union University. From 1899 to 1902, he attended Wayland Academy, which was the high school division of Virginia Union University. Upon graduation from high school, he entered Virginia Union University and graduated in 1906 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. In Fall 1906, he enrolled at the Cornell University College of Civil Engineering in Ithaca, New York. In February 1907, Brother Jones transferred to Cornell’s Graduate School of the College of Arts of Science, selecting Social Science as his major with Economics as his minor. At Cornell University, Brother Jones became one of the first initiates of the Fraternity, as well as having the distinction of being named an original founder. His status as a founder was established in 1952—two years before his death. The Fraternity founder served as Alpha Chapter’s second president, and along with Jewel Brother Henry Arthur Callis, created the Fraternity name. He also was a member of the first Committees on Constitution and Organization and helped write the Fraternity ritual.

Eugene Kinckle Jones

Jewel Jones organized the first three Fraternity chapters that branched out from Cornell—Beta Chapter at Howard University; Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union University; and the original Delta Chapter at the University of Toronto in Canada. He also later helped establish Alpha Lambda Chapter in Louisville, Kentucky where he had traveled to teach before beginning work with the National Urban League in New York. Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League and founded the organization’s Opportunity Magazine. His 20-year tenure as NUL’s Executive Secretary thus far has exceeded those of all his successors. Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones entered Omega Chapter on January 11, 1954. Brother Joseph L. Sessum is Associate Editor to The Sphinx for Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter.

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THIRD HOUSE OF ALPHA: CHAPTER FOUNDED BY EUGENE KINCKLE JONES HOLDS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION GALA

ore than 75 college and alumni Brothers who were initiated into the Fraternity through Alpha Phi Alpha’s third oldest chapter attended Gamma Chapter’s Centennial Celebration Gala last fall at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Current and former Gamma Brothers came from locations throughout the U.S. to attend the Chapter’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. Gamma Chapter’s Centennial Celebration began with a golf outing. For those who chose not to participate in the golf outing, a registration and hospitality room was made available. During registration, the Brothers received Gamma memorabilia such as shirts, hats and bags that were available only for the event. In addition, the registration package included a welcome letter from the planning committee, discount coupons, tickets for the events and a magazine highlighting local attractions. A Rededication Ceremony at the Gamma plot on the Virginia Union University campus was held, which called for Brothers to rededicate their lives to service; reminisced about college days; and remembered Gamma Brothers who have joined Omega Chapter. Following the Rededication Ceremony, Brothers attended the Virginia Union University Homecoming Step Show hosted by the Student Government Association. Later, Brothers attended an informal dinner. On Saturday morning, Brothers participated in Omega Services and served as pallbearers for Brother William Owens, Ph. D. who served for many years as the Dean of Student Affairs at Virginia Union. Later that morning, Brothers attended a meeting hosted by the present Gamma Chapter members where they heard about the current affairs of Gamma and were told how alumni Brothers can continue to help the Chapter. Current Gamma Brothers—with support from the alumni— lent a hand with a local community faith-based business, Ruth and Boaz, by painting and cleaning the center. Following the community service activity, Brothers attended Virginia Union’s homecoming football game and tailgated with other alumni. New Gamma Brothers initiated into the Fraternity had an opportunity to meet older Brothers who did not hesitate to embrace them and share information on the history and legacy that Gamma has held since the December 30th day that Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones founded the Chapter at his alma mater. More than 150 individuals attended the Gamma Centennial Gala. Numerous individuals addressed the Gala, presenting

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speeches, proclamations and other expressions. Among those who captivated the audience were Brothers Wyatt T. Walker (Gamma ’43) and Herman “Skip” Mason, candidate for the 33rd General President. Brother Mason told those at the program that: “There is something special about the Number 3.” The Gala also honored the oldest and newest initiates that entered the Fraternity through Gamma Chapter. Those in attendance were given a commemorative porcelain plate, depicting artwork that was commissioned for the Gamma Centennial Celebration. The Gala closed with a celebratory toast—with each attendee receiving a champagne glass that was embossed with other artwork commissioned for the Centennial Celebration. The evening ended with a Gamma Cabaret and Stepping Exhibition, which was open to the public. On Sunday, the Gamma Centennial Celebration concluded with Gamma Brothers attending a religious service in Coburn Hall on the Virginia Union University campus. The weekend 100th Anniversary Celebration was a truly remarkable moment in Gamma history! Gamma Chapter was chartered on the campus of Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia on December 30, 1907. The Chapter was founded by Fraternity Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones and seven college men on the campus of Virginia Union. Brother Jones, who entered Cornell University’s Graduate School of Sociology in 1906 after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Union University, helped organized the first three Fraternity Chapters that branched out from Cornell—Beta Chapter at Howard University; Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union University and the original Delta Chapter at the University of Toronto in Canada. In addition to becoming Alpha Chapter’s second president and joining Alpha Phi Alpha founder Henry Arthur Callis in creating the Fraternity name, Brother Jones was a member of the first Committees on Constitution and Organization and helped write the Fraternity ritual. He later became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League. In addition to being the Fraternity’s third-oldest chapter, Gamma Chapter hosted the Ninth Annual Convention on the campus of Virginia Union on December 27-30, 1916; is the home chapter to two General Presidents—Lucius L. McGhee and Simeon S. Booker; and the first Sphinx Club was organized on the VUU campus in Fall 1924.

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1: Gamma Brothers sing the Alpha Hymn at the Fraternity’s campus plot following their rededication ceremony. 2: Gamma Chapter President Kristopher Bumbray, who served as the gala’s Master of Ceremonies, is pictured with guest keynote speaker Brother Herman “Skip” Mason. 3: Brothers attending the Fraternity’s 9th Annual Convention at Virginia Union University in 1916 are pictured. 4: Brother Rev. Dr. Wyatt T. Walker (seated), legendary civil rights leader and a 1943 Fraternity initiate through Gamma Chapter, is pictured with fellow Gamma Brothers. Brother Walker served as one of the keynote speakers for the Centennial Celebration. 5: Gamma Chapter’s Centennial Planning Committee is presented with a special 100th Anniversary memorabilia.

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ALPHA PHI ALPHA CHAPTER IN EUROPE CELEBRATES 45TH ANNIVERSARY Theta Theta Lambda Brothers Demonstrate Leadership to European Community Company Commander, Sergeant Major, First Sergeant and work in the HEIDELBERG, Germany—Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s career fields of medicine, finance, signal, adjutant general, culinary Chapter in Europe celebrated the 45th Anniversary of its chararts, military police, career counselor and personnel. The men of tering in May 2008, marking a quintessential milestone in the TTL have earned coveted honors such as USAFE Air Force NCO of the history of the organization. The original founders of Europe’s Year, which was won for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008; Theta Theta Lambda Chapter—Brothers General Roscoe C. the 2007 Community Volunteer of the Year Award; and distinction of Cartwright, James M. Ararett, Jr., Harold S. Burnside, Leonce having the first-ever Naval Reserve Officer recruited in Germany. Gaither, Leo A. Morton, Wallace W. Price, Paul Lawrence Since 1985, the Brothers of Theta Theta Lambda Chapter have Harper, Cloyd Trouth, James E. Williams, Remus Rhodes, given scholarships totaling more than $350,000 to over 120 stuWilliam J. Stephens, McClain A. Garrett, Jr., James A. Johnson dents to help them with the rising cost of a college education. The and Lovie M. Pearson—served in various capacities within the Chapter’s scholarship winners have attended colleges and univerDepartment of Defense. They served either as active duty milisities such as Harvard University, Howard University, Langston tary personnel, civilian employees or teachers in the University, Bethune-Cookman College, Fisk University, Boston Department of Defense Dependent School. The Chapter’s foundUniversity and many other major ing fathers chartered Theta Theta colleges and universities. Two years Lambda on February 15, 1963 in ago, Theta Theta Lambda initiated its Frankfurt, Germany. continuing education scholarship The international graduate chapprogram by awarding former recipiter currently has more than 54 mements with additional funding to assist bers on its rolls that live and work in them until they graduate. The scholvarious communities in Germany, such arships are provided through charias Ansbach, Bamberg, Baumholder, table contributions of the memberHeidelberg, Mannheim, Kaiserslautern, ship, their families, corporate sponPirmasens, Wiesbaden, and Wurzburg. sors, and members of the TTL $1K The current chapter president is Club. Membership in the TTL $1K Brother Samuel C. Gregory, a DOD Club is open to the general public. In Civilian who has lived in Germany for fact, more than $12,000.00 was more than 25 years. Theta Theta donated by members of the Theta Lambda has received generous praise, Theta Lambda $1K Club. certificates of appreciation, and countTheta Theta Lambda Chapter’s less accolades from community lead45th Anniversary Celebration took ers, educators, agencies and parents Theta Theta Lambda Brothers are pictured with place this year during their Annual throughout Europe. Many of the Eastern Region V.P. Dennis Kemp (front row, 2nd Black and Gold Scholarship Banquet, Brothers are in the armed forces and from left) and Eastern Region Executive Director held at the Patrick Henry Pavilion in they serve in the capacities of Battalion Jay Johnson (front row, far right) during the Heidelberg, Germany. Nine students Commander, Executive Officer, Chapter’s 45th Anniversary Celebration.

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member organizations represent the Divine Nine, the Links, the ROCKS, NAACP and the Masonic organizations in Europe. ENC also serves to resolve calendar conflicts for events and creates an atmosphere of support. Alpha Phi Alpha’s efforts are at the helm of the progressive organization. Over the years, an established tradition has been developed between Theta Theta Lambda Chapter and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s General Presidency. Since the Chapter’s founding, no less than six sitting and former General Presidents have visited the European Chapter, including James R. Williams, Charles C. Teamer, Sr., Henry Ponder, Milton C. Davis and Adrian L. Wallace. The Chapter presently enjoys a strong and fraternal relationship with current General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., who visited during his term as Executive Director. Theta Theta Lambda Brothers participate in numerous activities and programs that promote academic excellence, such Pictured are: (l-r) Brothers Antwan Dugan; H. Nacomas Jones; Dennis Kemp, as the annual Reading Exhibition hosted Eastern Region V.P.; and Jay Johnson, Eastern Region Executive Director. by the Mannheim American Middle School in Mannheim, Germany. The Reading Exhibition serves as the only oratorical venue for Department of were awarded over $9,000 in scholarships, which were presented as Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) students in Europe. The first-time awards and continuing-education scholarships. Eastern 2007 event highlighted the oratorical skills of 75 students; while Regional Vice President Dennis G. Kemp and his family attended this this year there were 119 participants. In the program, Dr. Seuss year’s gala, along with the Eastern Regional Executive Director Jay M. meets Alpha for a day in schools all across Germany. The Johnson. Brother Johnson was initiated into the Fraternity through Brothers participated in the Read Across America Program in Theta Theta Lambda Chapter, as was the Fraternity’s Executive Director their various communities by reading selected books to children Willard C. Hall, Jr. and numerous other Brothers who serve the organin various grade-levels at the local elementary schools. Further, ization throughout the United States. Brother Kemp, his family and TTL Brothers have been invited to speak in the German schools Brother Johnson were treated to a tour of the castles in Schwetzingen to bridge the cultural and academic gaps and foster positive relaand Heidelberg, Germany and enticed with appetizing German cuisine. tions within the local German community. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has enjoyed a close relationship The men of Theta Theta Lambda live and work on at the forewith the NAACP and that relationship in Germany is no different. front of “Freedom’s Frontier” as several of our members have or TTL Brothers have formed a lasting bond with Dr. Rudy Howse, are currently serving in the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and president of the Rhein-Neckar Branch of the NAACP; and supAfghanistan. The Brothers in Europe continue to dedicate themported the organization’s efforts, including membership drives, selves to the principles of Manly Deeds, Scholarship and Love for blood drives and voter registration campaigns. Moreover, TTL All Mankind. Alpha in Europe continues to March Onward and was at the cusp of a venture, which resulted in the collective Upward Toward the Light. organization of the European Network Council (ENC). ENC

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U.S. SENATOR TED KENNEDY ADDRESSES PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RALLY HOSTED BY ETA TAU LAMBDA CHAPTER Chapter Works to Get Out Ohio Vote Through A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People Campaign By Ronald D. Stovall, Jr.

ith the state of Ohio expected to play a major role in this year’s historic Democratic Presidential Primary Election as well as the 2008 U.S. Presidential General Election, Eta Tau Lambda Chapter Brothers are leading the charge to get Akron and Summit County, Ohio out to vote through their A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People campaign. Eta Tau Lambda’s A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People program involved providing absentee ballot applications to members of the community who had already chosen their candidate and wished to vote early. The endeavor continued through the March 4, 2008 Ohio Primary Election date when Brothers also assisted those who needed help on Election Day. The Chapter also hosted a forum for one of the Democratic Presidential Primary candidates at its Alpha Center. On February 16, 2008, the Ohio Committee to Elect Senator Barack Obama sponsored an event on behalf of the Democratic Presidential candidate where Eta Tau Lambda Brothers hosted U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy of Massachusetts as the group kicked off their campaign efforts in Summit County. The line began to form outside of the Alpha Center at approximately 1 p.m. and by 2:30 p.m., the line wrapped around the parking lot. Those who gathered were anxiously waiting to see Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, the second-longest serving Democrat in the U.S. Senate. The cold weather did not stop the many supporters from coming out and showing their support. Brother Eufrancia Lash, Eta Tau Lambda President, along with and event chairs Brothers Mike and John Williams, led the

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brotherhood in welcoming the guests. Brothers dressed in either gold or black blazers with black and gold ties as a sign of unity. The doors opened at 3:15 pm and guests began entering into Founders Hall to meet the volunteers, fill out available absentee ballot applications, and sign-up as volunteers to aid in the Change Movement. Among the crowd of supporters present to hear Senator Ted Kennedy speak were Chapter Founders Brothers Allen Killings; David Wilson and his wife; along with Summit County and Ohio officials, including Akron Municipal Judge Annalisa Williams, the wife of Brother Councilman-at Large Mike Williams; Ohio State Representative Brother Vernon Sykes and his wife Barbara Sykes; Rev. Brother Curtis Walker of the Board of Education; various pastors; members of the laborers union; and many others. Brother Mike Williams energized the crowd while speaking about the job each of us will have to fundamentally change politics as we know it today. “This is the America I love!” he proclaimed while standing amongst a crowd composed of men, women, and children from various backgrounds, ethnic groups, and ages. Following a brief greeting by Brother Lash, Senator Ted Kennedy approached the podium—arriving to crowd cheers. His message was empowering as the Senator proclaimed that Ohio is an important state in the primary election. The Massachusetts Senator said while people are led to believe their state does not matter or that their voice will not count—that is simply not the case. Every state is very important and after the events of Super Tuesday, Ohio is very important, he said.

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Eta Tau Lambda Chapter leaders are photographed with Senator Ted Kennedy. Pictured (l-r) are: Chapter President Emeritus Willis Lonzer; Senator Kennedy; Chapter President Eufrancia Lash; former Midwestern Region Vice President Samuel Deshazior; and event co-chair Michael Williams. Photo by Brother Dr. Willis Lonzer.

Senator Ted Kennedy addresses rally at Alpha Center in Akron, Ohio. Photo by Brother Dr. Willis Lonzer

Senator Kennedy concluded his speech, saying the next President of the United States should be able to inspire people; have the courage to make change; have the ability to get the right people around him; and have a plan that will encourage the young people to get back into the political process. That individual is Senator Barack Obama, he said. Event guests came over to meet the Senator after the rally concluded. Members of the Barack Obama campaign team commended Eta Tau Lambda Brothers for use of their outstanding facility; their extraordinary hospitality; and exceptional organization of the event. Those attending the rally left with new motivation to stay

involved in the political process and to make sure that democracy returns to the control of the people. In the coming weeks and months, Eta Tau Lambda will continue to sign-up individuals for absentee ballots and work with the local community to bus people to the polls on Election Day as part of its A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People campaign. Brother Ronald D. Stovall, Jr. was initiated through Theta Tau Chapter at Kettering University in Flint, MI and currently is a member of Eta Tau Lambda Chapter in Akron, OH.

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HISTORICAL CONNECTION TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS DISCOVERED BY ALPHA BROTHERS IN PENNSYLVANIA By Dr. C. James Trotman

he Frederick Douglass Institute at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is an academic program that supports, promotes and advocates the study of Frederick Douglass (18181895), a giant among the great voices of freedom in American history and the only member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to be initiated posthumously in 1921. A portion of his fraternal history lives through Zeta Psi Chapter, which is seated on the campus of West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Brothers were directly involved in discovering that Frederick Douglass gave his last public lecture at the University just 19 days before his death on February 20, 1895. They also played an important role in creating public awareness about Douglass’ personal and historical connection to the campus and the continuity of his work through the historical marker that was erected in his honor in May 2006. The Chapter also participated in a dedication ceremony designating the third floor of the University’s Sykes Student Union Building the Sage of Anacostia, a moniker Douglass received in his later years which associated him with where he lived just outside of Washington, D.C.

Who is Frederick Douglass? Exactly who is this noble man and American icon that an earlier generation of Alpha men saw fit to recognize as one of “us”? The short answer is that Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, better known as Frederick Douglass, is the most famous and effective black intellectual of the nineteenth century. Born into chattel slavery, he escaped physical, mental and spiritual bondage to become a courageous fighter for justice; and championed the freedoms and liberties for all people in American society and elsewhere. Writers know him as the unmistakable voice in what has come to be called a literary classic, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself (1845). My Bondage and My Freedom in 1855 and The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in 1882 followed. The slave community and the Abolitionist Movement admired him as the eloquent orator witnessing about the degradation of slavery, having been one himself. Journalists recognized him as the founder and editor of The North Star, the second black-owned newspaper published in America. Civil libertarians and feminists cheered him as an advocate for women’s rights because of his principled stand on the right of

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women to have the vote at the 1848 historical convention on women’s suffrage held in Seneca Falls, New York. The diplomatic world of international relations respected him as the honorable ambassador to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the early 1890s. In brief, the historical Douglass is an enormous figure of accomplishment and integrity who engaged in fighting against one of the world’s most systematic efforts of oppression. To know his life and struggle is to take the full measure of resistance to slavery and the responsibilities of freedom. In essence, to know him is to know what is unfinished in his time and to understand what it might take to actualize humanity and democracy in our own.

The Frederick Douglass Institute Established in 1995, the Douglass Institute at West Chester University has been a site to realize an American hero’s vision of equality through the active recruitment and development of minority faculty. It is the model for existence of Douglass Institutes now found at each of the 14 universities that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). In developing this model, the primary goal has been to campaign for themes indefatigably advanced by Douglass, which also are core values of the Fraternity: the pursuit of excellence and justice. The Douglass Scholar is the name for one particular action in this development. Today, this initiative to systematically advance diversity and excellence has resulted in more than 60 all-but-dissertation and mostly minority doctoral students being hired as temporary faculty assigned to teach in their specialties and thus to test their interest in college teaching. It is a defining movement in PASSHE. Active college and alumni Brothers have played pivotal roles in institutionalizing the Douglass Institute, while serving as faculty and student participants. It is a story, moreover, that shines with commitments to serving mankind and sustaining a social vision that will bring about justice for all. Below is a description of the way this project started, followed by comments on its future.

The Douglass Project and the Collaborative In his own time, Douglass often reflected upon his closest allies—the abolitionists, the freedom fighters of his day—by calling attention to their passion for freedom and their unwillingness to com-

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Brother Dr. C. James Trotman and Executive Director Willard C. Hall, Jr.

promise on freedom.1 In 1995, West Chester University became the site for a national academic centennial celebrating the life and work of Frederick Douglass, embraced around the title, “Voices of the 19th Century: The Roots and Realities of Multiculturalism.” The conference culminated a two-year period, beginning in May 1994 and extending throughout 1995, of small groups to discuss the relevance of Douglass in our time. These discussions led to presentations by 70 scholars from more than 100 institutions, with the keynote conference addresses by Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Houston A. Baker, Jr. who was then with the University of Pennsylvania. If Frederick Douglass’ vision of “transcendence” meant political and social freedom for the slave, the Douglass Institute’s leadership saw the possibilities of extending this concept beyond its local borders: (1) Was it possible for every campus in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to have a Douglass Institute? (2) Could the study of Douglass become part of a national initiative so that every elementary and secondary school, public and private, might have his voluminous writings and speeches available in their libraries? (3) What would be the role of the nearly 30 schools named for Douglass on such a national agenda?

(4) Would agencies such as the Underground Railroad Network and the National Endowment for the Humanities provide links of support and public relations?

o date, only one of these questions has been answered. Douglass Institutes are operating on each state-managed university across Pennsylvania. In 1999, PASSHE acknowledged its newest partnership: the Frederick Douglass Institutes of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, known as the Collaborative. Each Collaborative member is a representative picture of the state system itself. We are black and white, male and female, faculty, students, administrators and librarians who share a passion for using the North Star’s editor as a catalyst for advancing the curriculum, for diversifying the faculty and the student body, and for enriching the climates of campus communities. Academics, the Douglass image, entrepreneurship, outreach into the community, and recruitment are among the major components and activities found on each campus. Academically, the life and times of Frederick Douglass serves not as an end but as a means for inclusiveness. For example, many campuses have found that having students read Douglass’ famous

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1845 Narrative is an effective place to inject multiculturalism into the curriculum, especially with first year students. Most of them, like his first readers, respond very personally to the roots and realities of slavery and to the human vulnerabilities that Douglass depicts. Reading Douglass’ words and examining their contexts means taking a crucial path toward questions about the nature of humanity and about who defines it. Where are the women, the Native Americans, and the other members of the historically oppressed in our history? What are the consequences for us today when their histories are omitted? These and many, many other questions provide a wide range of practical, philosophical, and societal concerns facing the discerning student and the campus which seeks to use Douglass as an instrument for social change in transforming pictures of separation into images of unified action. By image, I mean that Collaborative members are in unique positions to use the multiple visuals available on Douglass to enhance their programming and advance missions of teaching, research, and service with the aid of a variety of academic disciplines. This is not just superficial representation. Just as Douglass was an interdisciplinary learner before the term was being used, his life has attracted painters (Jacob Lawrence), poets (Langston Hughes) and philosophers (Alaine Leroy Locke), and biographers (Booker T. Washington), all drawn to the spirit of achievement and courage of Alpha Brother Douglass. Perhaps, in a very fundamental way, a picture of Frederick Douglass helps to break the dominance of white faces in all places, while celebrating American history and hope emanating from the African American community. The entrepreneurial element starts with but is not limited to fundraising. Having an endowment fund shows a commitment to permanence that links the institute to the future plans of the campus. Beyond that, the entrepreneurial component asserts an independence that makes it possible to seek new challenges, to go against the grain if necessary, if the conditions call for it. Finally, there is recruitment. For the Collaborative, recruitment has been the benchmark and focus for defining a Douglass Institute. It is the way we jointly relate to each other in PASSHE. It is the common activity that allows us to reach out to campuses across the country in order to make equity and excellence a palpable reality, and it is the path to the future when in the familiar prophetic words of a legendary Alpha man and heir to Douglass said that our children “will be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.” As noted earlier, more than 60 younger scholars have taken advantage of this opportunity, and to the best of my knowledge they are all teaching at accredited colleges and universi-

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ties across the country. This record itself is an outstanding illustration of what can work in using historical legacy, like the one Douglass has left, to make a best practice for others to use.

Alphas Serving the Present and the Future As mentioned earlier, only one of the four questions posed above could be answered right now. Does that mean that the local Douglass Institute and the Collaborative have reached their potential? Or, worse, have we failed to fulfill the witness of Douglass and the Alpha motto: “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All”? Not so fast, Brother Douglass might say. A little more than 150 years ago, while celebrating West Indian emancipation in a speech on August 3, 1857, Douglass reminded his first audience on the eve of civil war what he meant by the words now immortalized from the speech: “If there is no struggle there is no progress.” Earlier in the speech, he addressed the prophetic nature of the event and its connection to the words quoted above. The West Indian event was to be understood as, Douglass declared, “…a finding and restoration to the broken ranks of human brotherhood… It is the resurrection of a mighty multitude, from the grave of moral, mental, social, and spiritual death, where ages of slavery and oppression, and lust and pride and cruelty, had bound them….2 In other words, the message then and now is that in searching for the best, we must all be willing to embrace our challenges— knowing that before we can serve we must suffer. But what sustains us in our journeys is an unfaltering faith that will lead to victory. It is essentially what Jewel Callis meant when as the sixth General President, he spoke about the purpose and the character of our fraternal destiny. The chief significance of Alpha Phi Alpha lies in its purpose to stimulate, develop and cement an intelligent, trained leadership in the unending fight for freedom, equality, and Fraternity. Our task is endless. 1

This is just one of many references to this idea. Foner, Philip S. “A Letter to the

American Slaves From Those Who Have Fled From American Slavery,” in Frederick Douglass: Selected Speeches and Writings. Chicago, Illinois, Lawrence Hill Books, p. 158-163. 2

Ibid. “West Indian Emancipation,” speech delivered at Canandaigua, New York,

August 3, 1857, pp. 344-358.

Brother Dr. C. James Trotman is a Life Member of the Fraternity and member of Rho Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is Professor of English and Director of The Frederick Douglass Institute at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADDRESSES WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY GREEK-LETTER ORGANIZATIONS By Mark Barnes

inority student representation in Greek Week activities at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is struggling among Black and Latino Greek-letter Organizations there. Size and sometimes cultural differences make it difficult for the minority groups to be represented on par with their white counterparts in campus activities such as the Greek Sing. However, while disparities in minority students’ level of involvement in Greek Week are stark, there are many commonalities among members of all the campus’ Greek-letter societies—especially when it comes to their message to the larger community that their purpose is greater than simply Greek Games. Zeta Psi Chapter—in partnership with the University’s Office of Greek Life Affairs—sees purpose as the motivating factor for increasing social interactions among all Greeks. To promote the message, they invited Fraternity Executive Director Willard C. Hall, Jr. to the University to help kick-off Greek Week through a town hall meeting. In April, Brother Hall came to the campus where he addressed 600 members of West Chester’s Greek system. His message focused on being mission-centered and market-smart in an American society that deems Greek-letter organizations irrelevant—as typified by news reports that sensationalize incidents of hazing and binge-drinking. His 45-minute conversation encouraged attendees to strive for relevance and excellence in scholarship

and service. Brother Hall received a hero’s welcome and got a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks. During his visit, Brother Hall toured the campus and West Chester borough, along with Brother Francis “Trae” Mohammed, president of Zeta Psi Chapter. Brother Mark Barnes, Chapter advisor and Professor of Geography and Urban Studies, introduced the Executive Director to personnel from the Student Affairs Division. They discussed the many challenges, dilemmas and opportunities in developing today’s college students. Brother Hall also had an engaging conversation about Frederick Douglass with Brother Dr. C. James Trotman, long-time Chapter faculty advisor who also is Professor of English and founder of the Frederick Douglass Collaborative. The Collaborative is a part of each University in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; and it works to increase the number of minority faculty teaching in the system and at other colleges and universities. It was also arranged for Brother Hall to have a private dinner with the leadership of the Black and Latino Greek-letter Organizations. During the course of the meal, representatives of Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi and Kappa Alpha Psi enjoyed frank conversations on issues such as new member recruitment and diversity; academic excellence; and what motivates people to join fraternities and sororities. Brother Hall also met with the General Secretary of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and took a group photo with their chapter. BTP members at Cornell University were friends of Alpha Phi Alpha and assisted several of our Jewels in their early efforts. Brother Hall concluded the evening by fellowshipped with Brothers George Carter, James Carter and Mark Barnes of Zeta Omicron Lambda at a local eatery where they discussed matters of Brotherhood, elections, and the meaning of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Brother Willard Hall (dressed in suit and tie) is pictured with campuswide members of Greek-letter organizations at West Chester University.

Brother Mark Barnes is a member of Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also is advisor to Zeta Psi Chapter and Professor of Geography and Urban Studies at West Chester University.

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Spring • Summer 2008

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION ENLIGHTENS YOUTH TO THEIR POTENTIAL By Walter Whitley

ifty-two bright, eager and energetic young men from across the Eastern Region and beyond participated in the Alpha Phi Alpha Leadership Development Institute, held last summer on the campus of Howard University. The raw leadership potential of each Alpha Ambassador was apparent from the moment they entered the program. Over the four-day experience, the young men participated in intensive and exciting workshops; lectures; small group discussions; interactive seminars; and recreational, social and cultural activities that were designed to engage and educate them. Dameon Proctor served as chairman for the LDI. The Alpha Ambassadors began their day with morning affirmations and then actively participated in seminars that addressed Leadership, Dressing, Grooming & Etiquette Instruction, Goal Setting, Mentor Selection, Values & Ethics, Conflict Resolutions and a several other topics. The class of Alpha Ambassadors has served as representatives to their respective schools, communities, and homes. Members of the class included, Joshua Jackson, 14, of Williamsburg, Virginia, a 4.0 honors student; Michael Williams, 17, of Hampton, Virginia, who led his football team to numerous victories each week; and Michael Session, 17, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, who says he will be President of the United States and is an up and coming pilot who has already flown his maiden voyage. Prior to and while attending LDI, all the young envoys demonstrated maturity, character, scholarship, and service—all fundamental qualities required for leadership. The LDI opening luncheon was highlighted by the inspirational words of Brother Denny N. Johnson of Cheltenham, Maryland who has a passion for motivating people from various socioeconomic levels. The Detroit, Michigan native is currently the Principal & Owner of Keepin’ It Real Communications, a company that focuses on

Spring • Summer 2008

disseminating information that enhances, entertains and expands the mind—with emphasis focusing on area high school and college students. Brother Johnson’s three-point plan—Pray, Plan, and Position Yourself for Greatness—was well received. LDI faculty and mentors nurtured the leadership potential of the Ambassadors at the Leadership Development Institute and supported their personal growth. Brother Carlisle Parker, Sr., a LDI mentor and chaperone for many years, said this was the finest crop of representatives he has seen to date. Other members of the institute staff commented that it was a great experience to witness youth leadership in action, and to see the Brothers get excited by engaging, sharing and teaching the young Ambassadors over the course of four days. One of the highlights of the Institute was The Egypt on the Potomac field trip through Washington, D.C. It was not your average tour of Washington. It was an interactive experience that educated, enlightened and transformed. The field trip was designed by Alpha Brother and author Anthony Browder to familiarize participants with the architecture, symbolism, philosophy and mythology of the ancient Nile Valley; and shows elements of the disciplines that can be found throughout the District of Columbia. Brother Browder stated: “This is a field trip, not a tour. We (African Americans) can’t afford to be tourists. This is a learning experience. We were written out of history.” The young men were fascinated to learn that the Washington Monument, a tribute to America’s first President is a copy of a 6,000-year-old memorial that honored the resurrection of Ausar, an African god; and that the Masonic temples along 16th Street, NW in Washington—the Scottish Rite Temple in the 2800 block and the House of the Temple in the 1700 block—are modeled after those in ancient Egypt. According to Brother Browder,

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Alpha Ambassadors are pictured on Cultural Excursion “Egypt on the Potomac” field trip. Photo by Walter Whitley

ancient influences and replicas of pyramids and obelisks can be seen all over Washington. The Leadership Development Institute was chartered in the Eastern Region in 1983 and is housed within the William Ross Education Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization. With the exception of its first year, the program had continuously been held on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the Mu Lambda Chapter until 2002, when the program was hosted at George Mason University, located in Fairfax, Virginia. In 2007, the LDI returned to Howard University. Rev. Y. Trevor Beauford of Florence, South Carolina was the speaker for the closing program. He told the Alpha Ambassadors to “Walk It Out”, a reference to the popular song by DJ Unk. Walk It Out with God, Walk It Out with parents and mentors, and Walk It Out with all those that have come before you and paved the way, so that your path might be just a bit easier than those that have gone before you. Brother Beauford is an ordained minister and currently serves as the DeiVision Minister of Children, Youth, and Singles

at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was recently named an Emerging Leader for the NAACP as well as the American Baptist Churches, USA. As our society grows into a more chaotic and volatile place for young African American males and we find it easier to house these young men in prison than college, the importance of finding emerging leaders is crucial. Through LDI, not only have these potential leaders been identified, but also their talents are being given the opportunity to nurture, develop and grow. The Leadership Development Institute continues to be a vital springboard to launch gifted and talented young men into a future with great promise and potential. In 2008, the Leadership Development Institute celebrates 25 years of leadership and service. Brother Walter Whitley is an Editor with FoxNews in Washington, D.C. He was initiated into the Fraternity through Sigma Chapter in Spring 1985 and is currently a member of Mu Lambda Chapter in Washington. He is Associate Editor to the Torch Newsletter.

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Spring • Summer 2008

CHAPTER

CHAPTER NEWS

EASTERN REGION

(L-r) Brothers Shawn Settles; Dennis Kemp; Darryl Matthews; Dave Raphael; and Willard Hall are pictured at Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter’s 2008 MLK Breakfast.

(L-r) AAL Chapter Brothers Dustin Baker (l) Jean-Louis (c) and Scott (r) are pictured with members of the East Orange, New Jersey Police Department.

KAPPA PHI LAMBDA

ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDA

Columbia, Maryland Chapter Claims History-Making Feat

New Jersey Chapter Works to Make Positive Difference in the Community

Kappa Phi Lambda has claimed a history-making feat in fraternal leadership, with top-ranking Corporate, Regional, District and Area Fraternity leaders all holding membership in the Columbia, Maryland Chapter. Following some research, the Chapter has offered that for the first time in the 102-year history of the Fraternity the General President, Executive Director, Regional Vice President, District Director and Area Director all held membership in one chapter at the same time. General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.; Executive Director Willard C. Hall, Jr.; Eastern Regional Vice President Dennis Kemp; MAAC/District VI Director David Raphael; and Area IV Director Shawn Settles all held active membership in the Chapter at the same time—for a more than two-year period. The period ended in February 2008 when Brothers Raphael and Settles completed the terms in their respective offices. Additionally, Brothers Matthews, Kemp, Raphael and Settles have been members of Kappa Phi Lambda for the past 10 years or more—with most of the Brothers having held top chapter leadership positions, including serving as chapter president. Kappa Phi Lambda is Howard County, Maryland’s alumni chapter. Since its chartering in 1975, Chapter members have served in numerous leadership positions within the Howard County community, including the educational system and advisory boards there. In the past 33 years, Kappa Phi Lambda was selected five different times as the Eastern Regional Alumni Chapter of the Year; and in 1995, KPL was selected National Alumni Chapter of the Year.

Alpha Alpha Lambda Chapter’s biannually event, “An Evening of Elegance”, was a time for Brothers to fellowship with significant others, family and friends while also raising money for scholarships that will be disseminated throughout the year. The affair was successfully coordinated by Brother Jameel Scott who went to extremes to ensure the event was done in Alpha Style. Also, Chapter Brothers participated in a feed the homeless program this past Christmas Day. AAL partnered with the East Orange, New Jersey Fire Department to feed hundreds of less fortunate individuals throughout the city. The program, which is in its 20th year, was held at a Faith Temple FWB Church; and brought Jews, Moslems and Christians together on the holy day. It was awe-inspiring and encouraging to see civicminded people, coming together in the name of community spirit and goodwill, feeding the homeless and the (L-r) AAL Chapter President Jesse elderly and presenting toys to Branson and formal affair coordinachildren. It also was a time to tor Brother Jameel Scott. showcase the Fraternity.

Columbia, MD

Spring • Summer 2008

Newark, NJ

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CHAPTER NEWS

Brother Dustin Baker coordinated the event for AAL. He has participated in this annual event for over 18 years, coming as a child with his father who started the program. Brothers also had a chance to explain the Fraternity’s mission to a culturally diverse group of participants. AAL Brothers are also proud of their MLK Oratorical Contest for junior high school male students. It is held annually in concert with the birth of Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and seeks to imbue confidence in the youth for public speaking as they develop scholastically and mature into adults. This year’s event involved the Chapter holding a preliminary session consisting of over 20 young men from across Essex County, NJ. From the round, there were seven outstanding youngsters selected to participate. Zanis Mason from Whitney Houston Academy in East Orange, NJ was selected as winner of the event. The winner was awarded a computer, and the other participants received U.S. Savings Bonds. The event was spearheaded by Brother Aaron Gibbs. The remainder of the year will be busy for AAL with scheduled mentoring programs; voting initiatives; Leadership Development Institute; Project Alpha; Go-to-High School, Go-to-College; and other programs.

Thunder is a mentoring program that prepares youth to take the Statewide Regents and Achievement Test. Workshops are provided to help improve the youths’ life skills and provide them with the tools they need to achieve academic, social and economic success in their scholastic and potential business careers. Kappa Upsilon Lambda has been responsible for the Project Thunder Program in Poughkeepsie. Over the past two years, the weekend program—which is held during the school year—has supplemented the education that students have received in the public school system. Scores of educators, elected officials, community activists and other professionals have declared that Project Thunder is making a successful impact in the lives of children. In addition, the chapter has sponsored a wide range of community-oriented activities, including a job fair with Price Chopper and an African-American History Month celebration. The Chapter has 40 students from various grade levels currently enrolled in its program. The students realize the importance of a high school education, as well as furthering their education beyond high school. The volunteers who conduct specialized seminars throughout the program year include members of the Fraternity; clinical social workers; current and retired educators from local school districts; college students from area schools; local college professors; business people; lawyers; and state and local officials.

ZETA OMICRON LAMBDA Philadelphia, PA

Carol Mosley Braun Addresses Philadelphia MLK Memorial Service

(L-r) Brothers Randall Johnson and Kelvin Lara register students for KUL’s Project Thunder.

KAPPA UPSILON LAMBDA Mid-Hudson Valley, NY

Project Thunder in Poughkeepsie Supplements Students’ Education Kappa Upsilon Lambda Chapter President Randall Johnson and Sigma Eta Chapter Vice President Kelvin Lara were present at the annual King Street Park 7th ward festival in the city of Poughkeepsie to register youth for the Project Thunder program. Each year, the Fraternity registers more than 50 youth from the middle school and high school for the program. Project

Zeta Omicron Lambda Brothers joined the Fraternity’s other Philadelphia area chapters for a memorial service to celebrate the life and legacy of Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held in January at The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. Former U.S. Senator from Illinois and now Ambassador to New Zealand, Carol Mosely Braun, gave the keynote address in tribute to Brother King. Ambassador Braun’s message concerned change in our society. She declared that a change in attitude must precede a change in laws. Ambassador Braun stated that the things we perceive govern how we respond; and that response determines future choices of others. She emphasized that the future is based on actions taken today. Present day decisions lead to a better future, she said. The speaker implored every individual to contribute their maximum extent possible. Ambassador Braun closed by stating that citizens receive no more than they demand and it only takes one person to light the spark for change. Brother Father Martini Shaw joined the area Brothers in singing the Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn at the close of the service. Brother Joe Stevenson of Rho Chapter led the singing of the Hymn. Father Shaw thanked the brotherhood for its gift of $500 to St. Thomas Church. Following the service, the Brothers hosted dinner at the Alpha House in Philadelphia.

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Spring • Summer 2008

CHAPTER NEWS MIDWESTERN REGION

ETA TAU LAMBDA Akron, OH

Akron, Ohio Chapter Ends Year with Scholarship Awards Banquet and March for Babies Participation

Pictured are: (l-r) Brothers Wonderful Watson; Eddie Jones; Elgie Sims, Illinois District Director; Roland S. Martin, CNN Commentator; and Marcus Payne, former Illinois District Director.

IOTA DELTA LAMBDA Chicago, IL

Eta Tau Lambda hosted its 34th Annual Scholarship Awards and Recognition Luncheon where the Chapter presented scholarships to ten area high school students. The guest speaker for this occasion was Brother Garey L. Lewis, M.Ed., of Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter in Columbus, Ohio. The Chapter also held a reception for Brother Sylvester Small who is retiring from the Akron Public Schools where he served as the first African American superintendent. Local Brothers and individuals from he community were welcomed into the Alpha Center—headquarters to Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc.—to celebrate his service to the community. The Chapter finished its major business in May by participating in the March of Dimes’ March for Babies where Brother Thomas Tatum serves as the District of Ohio and the Midwestern Regions Coordinator. To date, the Chapter has raised $14,000. In June, the Brothers will convene for their annual brotherhood cookout at the Alpha Center. The event usually involves an abbreviated meeting followed by a bar-b-que and outdoors fellowship. This year the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. agreed to prepare the food, as a result of their losing a bowling match competition held between the two chapters in March.

Chicago Chapter Education Foundation Hosts Annual Scholarship Luncheon The Iota Delta Lambda Education Foundation hosted its 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Luncheon at the Oak Lawn Hilton in the Chicago metro area. More than 400 guests were in attendance. The Slogan of this year’s event was “Forty Years After We Lost the King: How IDeaL Has The World Become?” The main sponsor for the event was Ariel Capital Management, LLC, with additional sponsors being Kraft Foods, Corn Products International and Pepsi-Cola. Brother Roland S. Martin was the keynote speaker at this year’s event. Brother Martin is the host of the Roland S. Martin show on the TV One cable network as well as a contributor to many media outlets including, CNN and Essence Magazine. Brother Martin captivated the audience with a poignant address on the state of African Americans, and particularly, black men today. Scholarships totaling $2,500 were given to five scholarship recipients, including Brother Rodney Carew, a student at Northwestern University, as well as four other high school seniors. The Chapter also sponsors the Fraternity’s Project Alpha national program. Iota Delta Lambda chartered Project Alpha in 1981 and was later adopted as a national program. The chapter also sponsors Boy Scouts of America as well as other organizations in various capacities.

Spring • Summer 2008

THETA UPSILON LAMBDA Fort Wayne, IN

Theta Upsilon Lambda Bestows Its Humanitarian of the Year Award Theta Upsilon Lambda Chapter awarded its 2007 Brother James YergerHumanitarian of the Year Award to community activist and Fort Wayne City Councilman Glynn Hines. Councilman Hines was recognized for his service to the community and his role as a positive role model for all—especially young African American men in our community. The Brother James Yerger-Humanitarian of the Year Award is presented to a local individual recognized for their contributions to the African American community, delivering meritorious service to the community at large, displaying an Alpha-like image and who models the aims of the Fraternity. Councilman Hines accepted this award at the Chapter’s 33rd Black and Gold Scholarship Ball. In addition to the Humanitarian of the Year Award, Theta Upsilon Lambda also awarded their 2007-2008 E.A. Charlton Scholarship to Landon Smith. Mr. Smith was a 2007 graduate of Wayne High School and was the highest ranked African American male student in his class. The E.A. Charlton Scholarship is a four-year award, which can be used toward the student’s academic career to purchase books or other educational supplies. Since 1974, Theta Upsilon Lambda Chapter has contributed more than $70,000 local high school graduates. The scholarship is named in memory of Brother E.A. Charlton who was a noted educator in Fort Wayne Community Schools.

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CHAPTER NEWS SOUTHERN REGION

Street sign for newly named Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Charlotte, NC is unveiled.

BETA NU LAMBDA Charlotte, NC

Beta Delta Brothers pause for a group shot during “Run for the Dream 5K” race day.

Community Work of Beta Nu Lambda Helping Make Dr. King’s Dream a Reality Charlotte, North Carolina has become the latest city to have a street named in honor of Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The recognition was realized in large part because of the work of Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers there. Also, the Brothers from Beta Nu Lambda Chapter have been instrumental in helping to make Brother Dr. King’s dream a reality through their work in the community. The Chapter’s efforts recently reached another milestone. In a show of support and honor for the life and legacy of Brother King, more than 115 area Brothers turned out for the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade. In addition, Beta Nu Lambda’s step team took first place in the competition, as well as receiving first place honors in the original float competition.

BETA DELTA

South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC

Beta Delta Brothers Sponsor “Run for the Dream 5K” to Benefit National Memorial Beta Delta Chapter hosted its First Annual Run for the Dream 5K Road Race on the campus of South Carolina State University. The event was held to raise funds for the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In an effort to promote the race, expansive media and sponsor connections were established with the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce; Orangeburg County Administration; Comcast; News 19 WLTX; Live 5 News of Charleston, SC; Orangeburg Times and Democrat Newspaper; Orangeburg Whatley Ford; and South Carolina State University. The race was a challenging three-mile course that channeled participants from South Carolina State University through the scenic downtown area of Orangeburg, SC and back to the starting location. As a result of the 180 race participants and donations received from private donors, the Chapter was able to raise $3,000 for the MLK Memorial Foundation and $1,995 for the Fellowship Christian Athletes. The event will continue to be held within the city of Orangeburg, SC to benefit youth of the community. In addition to the event, Beta Delta Chapter actively participates in Project Alpha, the National Diabetes and AIDS Walks, and the Relay for Life initiative.

Beta Nu Lambda takes first place honors. .

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Spring • Summer 2008

CHAPTER NEWS SOUTHWESTERN REGION Museum, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Catholic Charities, and Algiers Charter Schools. Xavier students have found the new program to be a great way to have a part in servicing the community. During the service days, 10-15 volunteers per site, show up to assist the Beta Tau Brothers in re-building the city. Service Saturdays is a big success on Xavier’s campus and is just what the doctor ordered for the city of New Orleans.

Beta Tau Photo Caption: Beta Tau Brothers work to restore New Orleans.

BETA TAU Xavier University New Orleans, LA

Xavier’s Beta Tau Brothers Help Re-build a Vibrant New Orleans

Brother Wallace Ford (2nd from left) received the Silver Beaver award from Boy Scouts of America.

Hurricane Katrina’s devastation can still be seen in New Orleans today. While some parts of the city are enjoying the smooth sounds of the second line bands, others parts are still dealing with the remnants of the storm. Since its chartering on March 29, 1936, Beta Tau Chapter has held service to the community in high esteem. Seventy-one years later, Chapter Brothers are working to continue the trend and have become intricately involved in the rebuilding of the city through their “Service Saturdays” initiative. On designated Saturdays, Brothers and volunteers from Xavier University work at different places throughout the city. The city park in New Orleans is a very popular attraction and one of the sites where students are able to volunteer during Service Saturdays. At the park, volunteers are able to beautify landscaping; assist with the upkeep of the park’s museums; and help with other park-related projects. The seventh ward of New Orleans experienced a massive blow from the storm. As a result, neighborhood beautification is still needed in the area. The Seventh Ward Neighborhood Association is in constant need of help to beautify homes there. Beta Tau Brothers and others from the school have answered the call. Volunteers assist the association in beautifying the yards of homes located in the area while also learning about the rich history of the seventh ward. Volunteers also are able to assist Hope Haven, which is located in New Orleans. The home, which is always in need of upkeep, is for children with special needs. Volunteers are able to assist with painting and cleaning the home in order to provide a nice, comfortable environment for the children. Other sites include the Jackson Barracks

ALPHA SIGMA LAMBDA

Spring • Summer 2008

Dallas, TX

ASL Wins Scrapbook Competition at District and Regional Conventions Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter competed at their District Convention for Chapter and Scrapbook of the Year honors. The Chapter won the Scrapbook competition at both the District and Regional Convention. However, they narrowly missed receiving the Chapter of the Year honor. They congratulate Xi Tau Lambda Chapter, located in North Dallas County, Texas for receiving the honor; and wish them success in the General Convention competition. Also at its recent annual banquet, Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America presented longtime volunteer Brother Wallace Ford with one of its highest recognitions for volunteer service— the Silver Beaver award. Brother Ford has served in Scouting since 1963. He has been continuously active in the Good Street Baptist Church Scouting program for 33 years. His service includes being Popcorn Chairman and many other positions. Brother Ford took Wood Badge training at Philmont Scout Ranch in 1990. He has been a volunteer with the Red Cross for the last 28 years in water safety and has received Red Cross’ Exceptional Volunteer Award. The award was presented at Circle Ten Council’s annual

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CHAPTER NEWS banquet, held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field. WFAA’s Jeff Brady served as master of ceremonies. The keynote speaker for the evening was Dallas Mayor and Circle Ten Council Board Member Tom Leppert. Established in 1931, the Silver Beaver Award is presented for distinguished service to young people within a BSA local council. More than 50,000 recognitions have been conferred to date.

XI NU LAMBDA Baton Rouge, LA

Xi Nu Lambda Bestows MLK Humanitarian Awards Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and dream lives on in the Greater Baton Rouge Community thanks to Xi Nu Lambda Brothers. The Chapter held its Second Annual MLK and Humanitarian Awards Breakfast in January at Winbourne Elementary School. Brothers recognized community leaders and activists in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. Receiving awards were Rose Chinwoh, Coordinator for New Horizons Clinical Services, Inc.; Rev. Jennifer Jones-Bridgett, Associate Minister of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church; Nancy Roberts, Executive Director for the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators; John Smith, community leader and member of 100 Black Men of Greater Baton Rouge and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Jesse Spears, civil rights pioneer and activist in the town of Zachery, LA; and Howard Taylor, CEO for the Capital Area United Way. The event’s

keynote address was given by Joseph Delpit, former Metro Councilperson and state legislator. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be applied towards the MLK, Jr. National Memorial Campaign to help erect the memorial in honor of Dr. King on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Also, Xi Nu Lambda Brothers hosted a reception this year for world renowned oncologist Brother LaSalle Leffall, Jr., M.D. Brother Leffall is internationally known for his medical expertise and scholarship on cancer research. He is the former president of the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons. He currently holds a professorship in surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine and is chairperson for the National Cancer Institute’s Advisory President’s Cancer Panel. Brother Leffall has been instrumental in raising the awareness of “disparities between blacks and whites in cancer prevalence, treatment, and mortality” as noted in his book released in 2005 entitled No Boundaries: A Cancer Surgeon’s Odyssey. The reception was co-sponsored by Sisters Supporting Sisters and the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Sisters Network, Inc., a support group for African American breast cancer survivors. The location for the reception was the Dr. Leo S. Butler Center, a facility named after one of Baton Rouge’s first African American doctors and Howard University College of Medicine Alums. Brother Leffall initially was in town to address the Fourth Annual Louisiana Conference of African American Breast Cancer Survivors at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Some of the Fraternity members who attended the Xi Nu Lambda reception included East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Vice President-elect Brother Jay Augustine and Julia Bradford Moore, a founding member of Sisters Supporting Sisters.

Xi Nu Lambda Brothers are pictured with award recipients (middle l-r) Rev. Jennifer Jones-Bridgett, Howard Taylor, Nancy Roberts, John Smith and Jesse Spears. Rose Chinwoh is not pictured.

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Spring • Summer 2008

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY FIELD HOUSE NAMED IN HONOR OF BROTHER LT. CMDR. WESLEY BROWN Alpha Brother was the First African American to Graduate from the Navy Officer Training School

By Willard C. Hall, Jr.

n May 9, 2008, at the special invitation of the Commandant United States Naval Academy, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was represented by its Executive Director at a VIP dinner to celebrate the opening of the Wesley A. Brown Field House on the Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Maryland. Brother Lt. Cmdr. Wesley A. Brown, USN (Ret.) completed his assigned course of study and became the first African American to graduate from the Naval Academy in 1949, although Cadet Brown was not the first African American to attend the prestigious academy. There had been five “Negro” students there before his admission. However, each of them was forced out. That would not be the future for Alpha man Wesley Brown. He was determined to succeed and he did. In my conversation with him that night and in his remarks to the group of family, friends, midshipmen and admirers present, Brother Brown spoke about the challenges and the obstacles he had to endure and overcome. The project to complete the Wesley A. Brown Field House began in March 2006—taking just a little over two years to finish the $45 million project. It is now a showcase on the campus—with state of the art athletic equipment and functionality. It is befitting of the Alpha Brother for whom it is named. Lt. Cmdr. Brown is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict. The years have taken a toll on his physical condition; however, his spirit is not the least bit diminished. It was my honor to present to Brother Brown—on behalf of General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.—a proclamation honoring his life of service to his country and his Fraternity. Brother

Brown is a Life Member of the organization who was initiated in 1950 through Sigma Chapter. As we talked that evening, he appeared as proud to tell me about his personal Fraternity—and the fact that he had known three of our Jewel Founders—as he was to have a building named in his honor at the Naval Academy. Now there goes an Alpha Man. I encourage all Brothers to read more about this Alpha Brother and great American treasure. Brother Brown currently lives in Washington, D.C. and told me he is always happy to visit with Alpha Brothers. He currently spends a good deal of his time speaking at schools in the Washington, D.C. area. Brother Willard C. Hall, Jr., Ed.S., is the Executive Director for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Above: Portrait of Brother Lt. Comdr. Wesley Brown, to be hung in the newly named Field House, is unveiled. At Left: Brother Willard Hall presents Fraternity proclamation to Brother Lt. Comdr. Wesley Brown.

Spring • Summer 2008

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FRATERNITY HEADQUARTERS AND SURROUNDING CHAPTERS PARTICIPATE IN BALTIMORE-AREA NATIONAL PROGRAM AND SPECIAL INITIATIVE EVENTS By Willard C. Hall, Jr.

he Fraternity’s national programs and special initiatives are critical activities, which demonstrate to the world how the organization lives out its mission statement: Providing Service and Advocacy to Our Community. To that end, we have encouraged the General Office staff to be personally involved in the national programs and special initiatives, beyond the support that we provide to our Brothers and Chapters. I personally am a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Central Maryland Board of Directors, as well as a member of the National BBBS African-American Task Force. Another Brother in the Corporate Headquarters, Jodie James, who serves as the Director of Educational Activities for the Education Foundation, is a member of the Baltimore County March of Dimes. This Spring Brother James and I worked together to enhance the activities in the Baltimore community for both of these partner agencies. Brother James has also hosted a meeting with the Boy Scouts in the local Baltimore area.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

the representatives from the agency; had the opportunity to hear from Brothers who were mentoring; and even met a couple of the youth enrolled in the program. On Friday, June 13, 2008, we hosted the first Baltimore County Alpha Bowl for Kids Sake with Brothers from eight of the local chapters participating, including Beta Alpha, Beta Alpha Lambda, Delta Lambda, Kappa Phi Lambda, Iota Alpha Lambda, Mu Rho, Nu Kappa and Sigma Sigma. Delta Lambda Chapter Brothers—led by Chapter President R. Anthony Mills and event co-organizer Brother Earl Gilliam—won the prize for the Chapter Raising the Most Money for the Event. Also, one of the two Delta Lambda Chapter bowling teams won the bowling bragging rights for the evening. We had two teams from the General Office, which included Brothers at the Headquarters. Also members of Kappa Phi Lambda, Delta Lambda and Beta Alpha Lambda chapters, as well as ladies on the Headquarters full-time staff, joined forces with the four summer interns at the Headquarters—who are Brothers at Alpha Phi, Eta Delta, Epsilon Pi and Gamma Upsilon chapters—for the bowling party with a purpose.

In April, we hosted an Open House for BBBS at the General Headquarters. The primary agenda for the event was to introduce the leadership of the local BBBS agency to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity leadership and chapter Brothers in the Baltimore area. We were joined that evening by the local agency president, members of her staff and the chair and vice-chair of their Board of Directors. Alpha Brothers—led by Eastern Regional Vice President Dennis Kemp; MAAC District Director Jerome Offord; and a host of chapter leaders and Brothers—came out for the event. They met

On May 3, 2008, a team of staff members joined Brothers from Delta Lambda and Kappa Phi Lambda chapters for the Baltimore City 2008 Walk for Babies event. We gathered with thousands of community residents to raise money to combat the ills of pre-maturity and low birth weight babies. Also in May, the Central Maryland Board of Directors held their quarterly board meeting in the Alpha Corporate Headquarters.

BBBS of Central Maryland leaders are hosted for an Open House at the Fraternity Headquarters. Pictured (l-r) are: Brother Maryland Delegate Keith Haynes; local agency BBBS Board Chairman John Patterson; local agency BBBS President Robin A. Tomechko; and Executive Director Willard Hall.

Fraternity Headquarters staff members and interning Brothers at the Baltimore County Alpha Bowl for Kids Sake.

March of Dimes

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LEADERSHIP FOR A NEW SOCIETY Editor’s Note: The following 2007 State of the Fraternity Address was delivered by 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. at the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 101st Anniversary Convention, held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The address, which has been edited for publication, was delivered on August 11, 2007.

SALUTATION My Brothers Assembled… What a pleasure it is to be with you today—to be here in the City of Orlando, Florida, enjoying the city they say was built by a mouse. Enjoying the blessings of good fellowship with the greatest brotherhood known to man; and to be here in this relatively new and luxurious resort built by a man who is an alumnus of Cornell University and who worked his way through college waiting tables in the various fraternity houses on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Does that sound familiar? Next year is an election year, both for President of the United States of America and for General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I wish each of the candidates for 33rd General President well. During these times, we have the chance to see and hear Brothers articulate their vision for a greater day in our dear Fraternity and to show what they have to offer in the way of leadership. Listen to these Brothers; examine their platforms; observe their campaigns; and participate in the process of choosing your next leader.

STRATEGIC PLAN The great American entrepreneur and author John C. Maxwell said that “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” I would like to modify that somewhat and say that a leader is one who “Learns the way, goes the way, and shows the way”. I spend many nights in hotels across this country and beyond, conducting the business of Alpha Phi Alpha. On many of those nights, I would retire to my room to catch up on the events of the

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day and the headlines that make up the news. Quite often, we see stories on Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf War, the war on drugs and the violence that is pervasive on our streets. And having worked at the White House in Washington, D.C., I am keenly aware of the fact that behind the scenes there are people who do nothing but analyze the events of the day and provide the President of the United States with what is known as “spin control”. It happens in the White House; it happens in corporate America; it happens in our churches; and it happens in our schools. People try to turn a negative into a positive. They engage in spin control so that the events of the day do not hijack the original message. That begs the argument of: “What is real?” and “How can we tell when the truth is being told?” Well today let me share some truths about Alpha Phi Alpha— the organization I love so dearly; the organization that is the cradle of my manhood; the organization that is filled with the men who nurtured me and held me high; and eventually elevated me to this lofty office that we call the General Presidency. In May 2005, the leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha—including your current Board and some past Board members, along with the various Foundation chairs and other select Brothers—crafted mission and vision statements for the Fraternity and developed a master plan that combines the efforts of the various Committees, insures the consistent positioning of our brand, and provides guidelines and resources for established programs and the creation of new ones. Each of you should have received—via email or seen in the last issue of The Sphinx Magazine the Fraternity’s Strategic Plan. The plan was completed just prior to the Centennial Convention. It is the result of great minds coming together with a common goal— the betterment of Alpha Phi Alpha. This plan identifies and is focused on five key areas of fraternal operations: The First Item Is Operations Management: We have focused on strengthening the General Office—analyzing job functions and benefits—and produced a model staffing plan to operate the General Office, large enough to provide greater efficiency and the

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Photo by John Lewis

General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.

desired level of quality service to our Brothers, as well as support for our National Programs. I am convinced that we have a dedicated staff but we have used a lot of stick and very little carrot. We will not attract or retain good people if they are not fairly compensated. This staff works extremely hard for you each and every day. They do so for many reasons—the most significant of which is they have a vested interest—not only as Brothers—but because their work preserves the history of Alpha. I would like for all staff members who are here now to please stand and let us thank you. The second goal is in the area of Communications and Public Relations: This year alone—I have been called upon to comment or participate in no less than 20 major events. I have given countless interviews on television, radio, and in print. We have developed a media team that on a moment’s notice can evaluate a media request and turn around a response in minutes—or well before a

writer’s deadline. The results have been nothing short of impressive. America knows more about Alpha Phi Alpha now than ever before because she knows where you stand on key issues affecting black America. To that end, we have not shied away from controversy. And rather than saying no comment, we offer a response to media— even when the news is damaging. We will not hide. We will speak out when appropriate and we will represent you well. We have hired a public relations company—and I hope that those of you who handle P.R. in your local Chapters will go to the workshop later today conducted by Monica Wood Public Relations as part of Alpha University. Also on that topic, Brothers, I know that sometimes you will be asked by the media to make a comment on behalf of Alpha. We ask that you do not do that until you have cleared it with the appropriate persons or the General Office. It is important that as an organization we speak with one voice and one message.

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The third area of importance is the area of leadership management: Our Strategic Plan calls for action and an evaluative process for measuring everything we do. It calls for evaluation of our current leadership, including not just our Executive Director but key volunteers as well. We also have to manage and cultivate the development of our future leaders. We must be about the business of succession planning. We should have a formal process putting Brothers in the pipeline of development prepared to lead this great Fraternity at every level. Fourth and most important is fiscal management: We have for some time been teetering between the red and the black… between solvency and real financial challenges. If we continue with our past fiscal practices—well if we were in a hospital we would be in the intensive care unit. Right now we are operating on sound financial ground. We have instituted stringent financial controls in an effort to be better stewards of your money. As always—there is not enough of it. But what little money we have, we are managing to the best of our ability. To that end we have instituted a policy of full transparency. In other words, we will not spend your money at will without specific budgetary authorization. Every line in your budget is tied to the Strategic Plan. If there is a request and it is not in our Strategic Plan, we will not arbitrarily commit resources to it. Nothing will be spent that does not have prior authorization or Board approval. This General President and Board of Directors will ensure the fiscal solvency of this brotherhood and protect against unauthorized and extravagant spending. In addition to protecting what we have, we must look for ways to strategically grow our coffers as well. On Thursday, the Board of Directors approved the creation of the Alpha Phi Alpha Charitable Foundation. We are blessed to have received from an anonymous donor, the sum of $500,000 as seed money to start up this venture. This Charitable Foundation will develop and institute a comprehensive planned giving program to grow an endowment to support the Fraternity’s ongoing viability and programs. To launch this effort, North Carolina Mutual—the oldest African American-owned financial services company in America—has entered into an agreement with Alpha Phi Alpha—the oldest African American intercollegiate Fraternity in America—to license qualified Alpha Brothers to sell whole life insurance policies to Brothers and supporters of Alpha Phi Alpha. We do this in memory of the late Brother Fred Crier, a former member of Eta Lambda Chapter in Atlanta, Georgia. In the early 1980s, Brother Crier passed away and left a life

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insurance policy payable to Eta Lambda Chapter and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Brother James Blanton can tell you how this was considered a windfall for the Fraternity at that time. It would be very much welcomed even now; but we spent the money and until this moment I had not heard Brother Criers’ name mentioned again. I promise you, we will not make those mistakes again. This is the just the first phase of a comprehensive program and effort to leave a lasting and protected legacy for the development of our programs—creating future leaders and scholars. The proceeds from this Foundation are restricted, as allowed by law, to support the Fraternity’s programs, scholarship giving, and our other related Foundations. This money cannot and will not be used for lawsuits, budget deficits, or other frivolous notions. Brothers this is the vision that I believe Brother O. Wilson Winters had when he became Life Member No. 1; and the vision that Brother John Buckner had when he grew the Life Membership Program to record numbers and dollars raised. The final pillar of this plan is one that affects you most— the area of program management. Each and every one of you should be involved in one or more of Alpha’s programs. The greater we are to become, or be perceived, the more compelling the need for you to provide the required services and advocacy for our communities. You have stepped up to the plate and handled your responsibilities well—including participation in Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boy Scouts of America, the March of Dimes, A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People, and many more programs in our communities. You are nurturing and you are a caring brotherhood. However, we must have some controls to ensure that we maximize our efforts and accurately evaluate and document your participation. This will allow us to better seek funding opportunities and insure that our participation is in line with the overall mission of the Fraternity. We cannot be everything to everybody. But we will be a driving force in those issues and programs that are most aligned with Alpha Phi Alpha.

MLK NATIONAL MEMORIAL As I noted earlier—the higher our profile, the more we are in the public eye, and the more we become the subject of spin doctors attempting to cloud our message. Again, I am here today to speak the truth. You have no doubt seen and heard a number of issues regarding the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. Let me assure you that the Memorial continues to flourish and you will learn more about that in the days to come.

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You also have heard about the controversy over the selection of a sculptor from China. The true course of events is that the MLK Memorial Foundation researched artists who have experience with large scale projects like this—using the materials designated by the National Park Service and the various Commissions. As we always do in Alpha, we sought to get the best and most qualified. All who wished were given the opportunity to compete. Certainly, there were others who were qualified but a choice had to be made and with the assistance of an Artistic Advisory Committee, I believe the right and best one was chosen.

THE “N” WORD CONTROVERSY Now a word about uplifting downtrodden humanity: Some of you heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show a few weeks ago that your General President was an honorary pall bearer at the funeral conducted by the NAACP to bury the “N” word at its national convention in Detroit, Michigan. Some Brothers started whispering campaigns, asking “Why is the General President getting involved with that?” Some of you said the same thing regarding my op-ed piece on the lyrics contained in gangsta rap that was printed in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. Brothers, understand the event was symbolic but we must eliminate that language from our vocabulary. Even more importantly, we must address the self-inflicted wounds it signifies and the destructive behaviors that are promoted by it. Brothers need to be on the scene standing in places of leadership on these issues. Let me remind you why we must stand up and speak up. Alpha Phi Alpha has been a symbol of hope, equality, positive expectancy, and civil rights for more than 100 years. Our members have been those who fought against the use of derogatory words and the thoughts and intent behind them. Historically, language has been used to define, limit, make fun of, and ridicule all African Americans. Specifically, the N-word was a term of exclusion and derision, a verbal reason for discrimination. It was justification for a demonstrable air of racial superiority. Whether used as a noun, verb, or adjective, it strengthened the stereotype of the lazy, stupid, dirty, worthless nobody. No other American surname carries as much purposeful cruelty as this word, nor does any other ethnic group allow others to use denigrating and derogatory terms when referring to their community. Nor do they empower others to think they can use it without repercussion because after all, they say, “They call themselves by those names publicly and you hear them use it all of the time—especially in their movies and in their music”. I understand that you may argue that some of these terms have evolved from their original meanings and purpose.

However, in the mouths of others they are rarely used as terms of endearment. We believe in the right of free speech. We do not believe that right should be used to bring harm and ridicule to anyone. Just because you have the right to say something does not mean you ought to say it. To resist the urge to utter repulsive speech requires good judgment and is deemed appropriate conduct and good manners. Some might even say its plain old fashioned decency. This is only a first step. We must follow-up and continue to affect minds. We must change the thinking of our people— the young and the old—and drive them to more positive and noble pursuits. If we lead, others will follow. We must exorcise this language and these caricatures and their evil spirited intent from our souls as we seek to help heal others. We are transcending and according to the Holy Scriptures: (Ephesians 4:29-32, NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other… (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS We must share this serum of healthy self respect with others most in need of hope: James Allen authored the book, As A Man Thinketh, which is a classic in the fields of inspiration and spirituality. He writes in the introduction, “This little volume is not intended as an exhaustive study on the much-written-upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that they themselves are makers of themselves by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage.” So it is written … As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. And that brings me to our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Over a year ago, in an effort to inspire this brotherhood to respond to the absolutely critical need for African American male mentors, I issued a call for 10,000 Alpha men to become a Big Brother to

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a young boy. And what better representative of what a man should be than one who has matriculated at the University of Brotherly Love, the School for the Better Making of Men, a nobleman from the House of Alpha? Why then are many of us still on the sidelines? Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has enjoyed a long partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is considered to be the premier mentoring organization in the country. Both Alpha Phi Alpha and Big Brothers Big Sisters are over 100 years old and share the distinction of being the “gold standard” in their respective realms. During the past 20 years, our dear Fraternity has demonstrated great leadership in the area of volunteer mentoring by producing two national “Big Brothers of the Year”—Brother Dale Long in 1989 and Brother Sylvester Fulton last year—in 2006. No other group or organization can make that claim. The urgency to act now is compelling: These facts and statistics provided by BBBSA reveal: • There are 2.4 million children with a parent who is incarcerated. • At least 7% of all black children have an incarcerated mother or father compared to just 0.8% of white children. • A past U.S. Senate report stated that children of an incarcerated parent face a 7 in 10 chance of suffering the same fate. • Following that logic, nearly 1.7 million of those children are at risk of entering the criminal justice system in this country. • 1 in 8 African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 is incarcerated. • A Vanderbilt University study compiled by Professor Mark Cohen states that if a child drops out of high school and in fact chooses a life of crime, that child will cost society between $1.3 and $1.5 million dollars. In some areas of some of our cities, not enough of the black male students graduate from high school or go on to college. My Brothers, there is not only a moral reason to get involved but a compelling economic sense of urgency as well. The good news is that there is a proven solution. Mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBSA) has been effective for over 100 years. According to a landmark study done by Public Private Ventures in 1995, kids that have had a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are: • 46% less likely to begin using drugs, • 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, • 52% less likely to skip school, • 37% less likely to skip a class, and • 33% less likely to hit someone.

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Several other studies document highly positive outcomes that come from serving. So what are you going to do?

WE ARE ALPHA PHI ALPHA There are some things that have surfaced in the past year or so that some Alpha Brothers are involved with that I do not like; I will not tolerate; and I will take action when it gets out of hand. There is this intangible thing about Alpha that we love and cherish. It’s called brotherhood. Listen, some of the utterances I have seen and heard can be called anything but brotherly. We have Brothers who call each other out in public and in public forums. It is O.K. to disagree but as my mother used to say: “Don’t air family business out in public.” We have Brothers signing on to chat rooms and listservs, calling each other names. These are not secure conveyances and who are you to assert yourself as a self righteous and pompous… well, you fill in the blank. We have people making accusations about other Brothers in forums that are not secure and easily accessible to people who are not Brothers. Where have we gone wrong? Why have we bought into hate? Where has the brotherhood gone? We are not thugs. We are not pimps. We are not purveyors of hate. WE ARE ALPHA PHI ALPHA— and we all would do well to remember that. You wanted your Fraternity to be in the limelight. Well, you are highly visible, noticed, and admired. Always remember that when you are in the limelight, people are watching—not just for the good but also for the bad. Too many people have worked too hard, and for too long, to build this Fraternity up. I will not let anyone tear it down from the inside. We are powerful beyond measure. We are a beacon to many a lost soul out there. We are the answer to many a malady that vexes our society. We are the solution to problems that have perplexed the ages. We are the mighty and the strong. WE ARE ALPHA PHI ALPHA! And so my Brothers, as we convene here in Orlando, Florida for the 87th General Convention, let our light shine with a brightness that shall light the way of those young men who shall follow— who at one time thought they would be caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and racism and joblessness and hunger and violence; who now because of you can see another way. You are the leaders of a new society; the sunshine of a brand new day—the leader who “learns the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” My Brothers, pick up your torch and follow me…for WE ARE ALPHA PHI ALPHA!

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101ST A NNIVERSAR Y C ONVENTION

1: Alpha Sigma Lambda, Alumni Chapter of the Year. 2: Epsilon Pi, College Chapter of the Year.

3: MOD’s Gwen Carmon (c) presents WalkAmerica and Project Alpha Awards. 4: Miss Black & Gold Pageant Contestants.

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ALPHA PHI ALPHA SETS POLICY AGAINST “N-WORD” USE AT ORLANDO CONVENTION General President Calls on African American Community to Join Ban on Offensive, Demeaning and Degrading Language Compiled by: Seaton White Contributing Writers: Paul Brown and Zollie Stevenson

lpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Convention in Orlando, Florida— themed The New Century of Alpha: Setting the Standard for Leadership and Service—convened as the African American community wrestled with a controversy sparked by a well-known comedian’s racial rants; and the racially insensitive comments made against a group of Rutgers University black-female basketball players by a mainstream-media, television talk-show host. The subsequent fallout from those comments led to a national discussion about African American’s use of the “N-word” and other derogatory terms that community members sometimes use to describe each other. The Fraternity took up the topic at its 101st Anniversary/87th General Convention, held August 9-13, 2007 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. The organization forthrightly addressed the issue with the African American community and nation—in particular, examining the language and mores of the current youth generation in what has come to be known as “hip-hop culture”. Following on the heels of his participation at the NAACP’s national conference held earlier in Detroit, Michigan, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. issued a call for organization members and the African American community to ban the N-word from their vocabularies. The General President stated that the offensive racial epithet should be purged from music lyrics, movie dialogue, talk radio and general conversation. Labeling the term an “evil intent”, Brother Matthews issued a new Fraternity policy that instructed alumni and college Brothers to not use DJs or to themselves play music containing lyrics that are offensive, demeaning or degrading. Earlier this year, Brother Matthews also spoke out against the influence of “gangsta rap” on the nation’s youth. See the State of the Fraternity Address in this Sphinx edition for more about the General President’s N-word comments.

General Presidential Campaign More than 3,000 attendees participated in business sessions, seminars, service initiatives and special ceremonies during the

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Orlando Convention. Two final candidates were selected to run for the office of 33rd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at the event. At the time of the Convention, six candidates still remained in the race for the office. They included Brothers Elvin Dowling, Cecil Howard, Ralph Johnson, Herman “Skip” Mason, Darren M. Morton and Darryl A. Peal. Following delegate voting at the Convention, Brothers Mason and Peal were selected as the final two candidates that would compete for the office. Voting by the Fraternity membership was scheduled to begin in Spring 2008 with the winning candidate and 33rd General President of the Fraternity announced at the organization’s 2008 Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Other prominent Brothers attending the Orlando Convention included former U.N. Ambassador and Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young; Horace Dawson, Chairman of the World Policy Council; and Past General Presidents Harry E. Johnson Sr. (31st), Adrian L. Wallace (30th), Milton C. Davis (29th), Henry Ponder (28th), Charles C. Teamer, Sr. (27th), Ozell Sutton (26th) and James R. Williams (25th).

Convention Activities The 101st Anniversary Convention opened in Orlando with the Board of Directors and Education Foundation meetings. The registration desk was opened to Brothers on the first day, along with ladies and youth registration. In addition, the Awards Display Room was opened and the exhibit hall where numerous Fraternity vendors set up booths began operating. The Convention golf and tennis tournaments kicked off early that morning and a gala Opening Reception was held that evening in the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort Ballroom to welcome Brothers and guests. The opening day’s activities were followed over the course of the Convention by the Fraternity’s Plenary Sessions; Committee Meetings; Regional Caucuses; College Brothers Caucus; Alpha University and C2C workshops; C2C Career Fair; Health Fair; Community Outreach Project; General Presidents’ Book Signing;

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101ST A NNIVERSAR Y C ONVENTION 1: (L-r) General Presidents Harry Johnson, Henry Ponder, Darryl Matthews, Ozell Sutton, James Williams and Charles Teamer. 2: General President Darryl Matthew presents Convention’s closing address.

3: Pictured at the closing banquet are: Alpha First Ladies and General Presidential guests (l-r) Dorothy Henderson, Karen Johnson, Joanna Sutton, Allison Matthews, Eunice Ponder and Jewell Cardwell. 1

Collegiate Scholars Bowl; Miss Black and Gold Pageant; Education Foundation Luncheon; Alpha Academy Alumni Reception; College Brothers Luncheon and Oratorical Contest; Step Show Competition; Life Membership Luncheon; Ecumenical Worship Service; Gospel Brunch; Public Program; Black & Gold Reception; Black & Gold Banquet; Black & Gold After Party; and Closing Board Meeting. The ladies activities included the Ladies Fashion Show & Luncheon; Ladies Business & Brunch; Ladies Wine Tasting; Ladies Seminars; Ladies Shopping; and Ladies Disney World Outing. Youth activities included Youth pizza parties; games and movies; Tour of Gator Land; Youth Leadership Development Institute; Disney World Outing; Disney Youth Education Series; Kennedy Space Center Tour; and Youth Dinner.

Workshops and Luncheons A major component of the Orlando Convention involved the educational emphasis and workshop training the Fraternity offered to Brothers and ladies attending the event. Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation, for the first time, hosted a luncheon to recognize the academic achievements of most College Brothers. The Education Foundation Luncheon was presided over by Chairman Dr. Ralph Johnson. Other Foundation Board members present included Brothers Dr. Waldo Johnson, Joseph Byrd, and Ruben Barkley. The Foundation’s 2007-08 scholarship recipients, college Brothers with the highest grade point averages and Brothers inducted to various honor societies were recognized at the luncheon. Proceeds from the luncheon benefited the Education Foundation.

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General President’s book signing.

Tangelo Park youth participate in Project Alpha Program.

The Alpha University Workshop instructed chapters on the steps for implementing the Chapter Operations Plan. Brother Dr. Zollie Stevenson and other presenters also led Brothers through goals and strategies in the areas of public relations, brand management, crisis management, fiscal management and reclamation programs. In addition, the training included media kit development and chapter financing. The National Partnerships Workshop was sponsored by the National Chairmen of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America and the March of Dimes. Project Alpha also was discussed. Brother Dale Long recounted his experience with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and several other Brothers shared their stories. It was noted that the Baltimore office has the fourth largest need for Big Brother volunteers. During the Project Alpha discussion, it was recommended that the Fraternity include young women in the program and solicit support from the local sororities to assist in the effort—especially ladies from Zeta Phi Beta who already have a partnership with the March of Dimes. Project Alpha representatives announced plans to move Project Alpha Week to November to coincide with March of Dimes efforts. The program also is considering adding a financial literacy and planning component to the Project Alpha program. They currently are involved in an aggressive marketing campaign and materials can be obtained by any chapter to help promote the initiatives. The March of Dimes representatives asked for more involvement and asked Brothers to ensure that monies raised through the efforts of Fraternity members is designated to the organization. Brothers also were asked to be creative in their fundraising by going to schools, businesses, churches and other organizations to solicit funds. Currently, Brothers in Alabama and Maryland raise the most money for the March of Dimes. Alabama raised $30,456 last year while Maryland raised

$24,331. The leading chapter in fundraising efforts is Delta Theta Lambda Chapter in Alabama. The Communications Workshop: Media Training was offered as a part of Alpha University, as were several other workshops during the Convention. Soror Monica Wood, president of MWPR, Inc., which serves as the Fraternity’s PR firm, conducted the workshop. She discussed goals of effective public relations and media relations as it relates to the organization. The workshop was designed to help Brothers recognize the importance of how the media shapes or influences the Fraternity message the organization attempts to send to the public. She also addressed brand management of the Fraternity’s name and affiliations, and the impact of blogs and site networking. Lastly, she discussed crisis management issues and Brothers participated in exercises to handle reporter’s questions. Other Alpha University sponsored workshops included District Director Training, House Project Developments, Non-Profit Organization Management, Wealth Management: Investing for Today’s Market and Personal Consequences: Understanding the Personal Liability of Your Alpha Phi Alpha Experience.

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C2C C2C Workshops at the Convention were sponsored by leading institutions, firms and recognized leaders from around the country. Cornell University sponsored a workshop on Diversity & Inclusion, which was presented by Abercrombie & Fitch, Price Waterhouse Coopers, LLP and Major League Baseball. Diversity officers from the organizations discussed a variety of topics. Urban Ed Express, a subsidiary of Urban Trust Bank, sponsored a workshop entitled Financing Your Future: Credit Education and Management; Carter Brothers sponsored the Mid Level Management Tips for the 21st Century workshop; and Black

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101ST A NNIVERSAR Y C ONVENTION CONVENTION AWARD WINNERS 2007 CONVENTION AWARDS COLLEGE BROTHER OF THE YEAR: Jelaun Newsome; Epsilon Pi; Norfolk State University—Eastern Region ALUMNI BROTHER OF THE YEAR: Sylvester Fulton; Alpha Delta Lambda; Memphis, TN—Southern Region COLLEGE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR: Epsilon Pi; Norfolk State University—Eastern Region

GREATEST DISTANCE TRAVELED: College Chapter: Xi Rho; San Francisco State University; San Francisco Alumni Chapter: Mu Phi Lambda; Seoul, Korea MOST REGISTERED BROTHERS (OUTSIDE HOST REGION): College Chapter: Theta Tau; Kettering Univ., Univ. of MI-Flint, Baker & Mott Colleges; Flint, MI—11 Registered Brothers Alumni Chapter: Xi Lambda; Chicago, IL—28 Registered Brothers

ALUMNI CHAPTER OF THE YEAR: Alpha Sigma Lambda; Dallas, TX— Southwestern Region

MOST REGISTERED BROTHERS (WITHIN HOST REGION): College Chapter: Alpha Rho; Morehouse College; Atlanta, GA—5 Registered Brothers Alumni Chapter: Eta Lambda; Atlanta, GA—32 Registered Brothers

COLLEGE SCHOLARS BOWL: Winner: Pi Alpha; Clemson University—Southern Region Runner-up: Kappa Tau; Kansas State University—Midwestern Region

REGISTERED BROTHER W/LONGEST MEMBERSHIP IN ALPHA: Registered Brother: John B. Howell; Alpha Tau Lambda; Tulsa, OK; Initiated 12/21/1933—74 Years in Alpha

BELFORD V. LAWSON ORATORICAL: Winner: David Walton; Beta Chi; Philander Smith College; Conway, AR— Southwestern Region Runner-up: LaShondo Burnside; Eta Iota; Voorhees College; Denmark, SC— Southern Region

C2C AWARD WINNERS: Awarded to Brothers who completed the drawing for visits to Career Fair and Health Fair booths. 1st Prize (Free Registration): W. James Conley; Zeta Zeta Lambda; St. Albans, NY—Eastern Region 2nd Prize (2 Nights Stay): Tyrus Cartwright; Gamma Epsilon; University of Wisconsin-Madison—Midwestern Region 3rd Prize (1 Roundtrip Airfare): Quincy Bledsoe; Kappa Lambda; Greensboro, NC—Southern Region

STEP SHOW COMPETITION: 1st Place: Alpha Phi; Clark Atlanta University; Atlanta, GA—Southern Region 2nd Place: Eta Pi Lambda; Pasadena, CA—Western Region 3rd Place: Beta Gamma; Virginia State University; Petersburg, VA—Eastern Region MISS BLACK & GOLD: Winner: Rachelle Vallon; Xi Psi; Hofstra University; Hempstead, NY—Eastern Region 1st Runner-up: Dione Johnson; Kappa Xi; MTSU; Murfreesboro, TN—Southern Region 2nd Runner-up: Kiyanna Harris; Nu Sigma; Stanford University; Palo Alto, CA— Western Region

2007 SPIRIT AWARDS HIGHEST GPA: College Brother: Joshua Oliver; Theta Chi; Northwestern State University of LA; Southwestern Region—4.00/Biology/Pre-Med

Enterprise sponsored a workshop entitled Starting Your Own Business, which was presented by Brother Danté Dixon. Hollywood actress Bern Nadette Stanis, former star of the television sitcom Good Times, presented a workshop for the registered ladies entitled Relationships: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Ms. Stanis is a national speaker and panelist who recently released her book, entitled Situations 101.

TENNIS TOURNAMENT WINNER: Champion: Donald Silvels; Upsilon Lambda; Jacksonville, FL—Southern Region

2007 MARCH OF DIMES AWARDS WALKAMERICA: Alumni Brother of the Year: Kevin Jones; Alpha Eta Lambda; Houston, TX— Southwestern Region Alumni Chapter of the Year: Delta Theta Lambda; Huntsville, AL—Southern Region PROJECT ALPHA: Alumni Brother of the Year: Byron Gautier; Alpha Eta Lambda; Houston, TX— Southwestern Region Alumni Chapter of the Year: Zeta Zeta Lambda; St. Albans, NY—Eastern Region

Also, as part of the Fraternity’s C2C initiative, major corporations from around the country participated in the Fraternity’s C2C Careers Fair and Health Fair, including Cornell University, Kraft, Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Ed Express, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sherwin Williams, Continental Airlines, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Walt Disney Company, Neiman Marcus, Mary Kay and Major League Baseball.

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Spring • Summer 2008

The Fraternity’s First Family is pictured with Ecumenical Worship Service preacher Brother William H. Gray III (2nd from right).

Project Alpha Alpha Brothers visited the Tangelo Park YMCA during the Convention as part of Project Alpha’s national community outreach effort. Project Alpha is a program initiative between Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the March of Dimes Foundation. The object of Project Alpha is to teach young African American males sexual responsibility and relationship building. The event was attended by actor and author Joseph C. Phillips; Chef Jeff Henderson; Senior Vice President of March of Dimes Harry Capell and other community activists. Brother Joseph C. Phillips, national spokesperson for Project Alpha, began the workshop with a personal story about how his father inspired him during his transition from boyhood to manhood. Renowned youth motivational speaker and accomplished chef, “Chef Jeff” Henderson discussed his own struggles on living a life of crime. He also shared how he turned his life around; and urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity of being around the professional Alpha men.

Ecumenical Worship Service Brother Rev. William H. Gray III, former U.S. Congressman, first African American Chairman of the House Budget Committee and former President/CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), served as the Ecumenical Worship Service Speaker. Brother Sylvester Shannon, the Fraternity’s National Chaplain, presided over the service and the Alpha Chorus offered music selections during the service. Saying that “I believe education is the key” and that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are going to be needed more in the future than they ever have been, Brother Gray’s sermon focused on the continuing need for Alpha men to reach out beyond ourselves and to make a difference in our

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Brother Roland Martin.

communities. During his 13-year tenure in Congress—from 1979 to 1991, the Democratic Congressman from Philadelphia became the highest ranking African American leader in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives when colleagues elected him House Minority Whip on June 14, 1989. He remained in the position until he retired from Congress in 1991 and became the president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund.

Public Program Convention Chairman and General Presidential Chief of Staff Al Rutherford presided over the Public Program. Those who extended greetings included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Barbara McKenzie, Supreme Basileus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Dwayne M. Murray, Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Marco W. McMillian, International Executive Director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; the Executive Director of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.; Dr. Michael V. Bowie, National President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council; and Peter Smithhisler, Executive Vice President of the North American InterFraternity Conference. This year, the Fraternity bestowed Alpha Phi Alpha’s highest award given to a member of the organization upon Brother Harry E. Johnson, Sr., President and CEO of the MLK Memorial Foundation. The Alpha Award of Merit was also given to Brothers Alfred “Al” C. Bailey and Eddie Madison, as well as posthumously presented awards to Brothers George Sealy, Oscar Little and John Harvey, who envisioned building a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor the Fraternity’s most prominent Brother, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition, the Fraternity’s highest award given to a non-member of the organization was presented to philanthropist and community builder Harris Rosen.

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101ST A NNIVERSAR Y C ONVENTION

Fraternity officers are sworn in at Black & Gold Banquet.

Bern Nadette Stanis and Darryl Matthews at Banquet.

THE ALPHA AWARDS OF MERIT AND HONOR The Alpha Award of Merit is the Fraternity’s highest award bestowed upon a member and the Alpha Award of Honor is the highest award given to a non-member of the organization.

Alfred “Al” C. Bailey

Harry E. Johnson, Sr.

Harris Rosen

ALPHA AWARD OF MERIT RECIPIENT

ALPHA AWARD OF HONOR RECIPIENT

Over 22 years ago, Brother Al Bailey— along with seven other Alpha members— planted a seed for the National Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Under Brother Johnson’s leadership as President and CEO of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. about $82 million of the $100 million necessary to build the memorial has been raised.

Recognized for his philanthropy and goodwill, Harris Rosen, the Founder and President of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, launched the Tangelo Park Pilot Program in Orlando with the mission of fulfilling the dreams of at-risk children and their parents.

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Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity presents a $10,000 installment check to the MLK Memorial Project Foundation.

Brother Darryl Matthews (r) appears with MOD National Ambassador Zeek Taylor and his family.

In accepting his award, Brother Johnson discussed the importance family has had during his membership with the Fraternity. He reminded members and guests of the importance of supporting the historic project. Brother Johnson has been successful in raising most of the $94.8 million that has been donated thus far for the Memorial. The Fraternity has raised $3.4 million of the amount. Brother Al Bailey, a longtime member of Iota Upsilon Lambda Chapter in Silver Spring, Maryland, in his remarks recalled earlier times when he and the other Brothers started the MLK Memorial approval process. Mr. Harris Rosen, owner of the Rosen Hotels and Resorts— which includes the property where the Convention was held, was awarded the Alpha Award of Honor—the Fraternity’s highest civilian award. The award was given because of his support of the Tangelo Park pilot program, which provides child care and has given more than 250 college scholarships; and for his other tremendous work within the African American community. In addition, Mr. Rosen donated the food for the Orlando Convention’s College Brothers’ Luncheon and the Black & Gold Banquet—a cost of about $250,000. Harris Rosen, during his acceptance speech, reflected on his own struggles growing up in New York that inspired him to help underprivileged youths achieve their dreams. He challenged other business leaders to become involved in their community, stating that he expects to develop similar programs like the Tangelo Park pilot program across the country. Brother Roland Martin, nationally syndicated columnist and CNN correspondent, was the Public Program’s featured speaker. He spoke about bringing social change and the need for Alpha Phi Alpha to continue its outreach efforts in light of the current state of the country, increasing segmentation of American society and issues such as the war in Iraq.

Brother Martin told the Public Program that “black America needs our A-game”, saying there is an educational crisis and increasing demographic challenges that many African American fraternities and sororities will face if fewer members of the community go on to college. He stated that the Fraternity’s longstanding Go-to-High School, Go-to-College program affected him even before he became a member of the organization. However, we must now take the program one step further, he said. Brother Martin said we must encourage our youth to Go-to-Middle School and then Go-to-High School to guarantee they receive a sound educational foundation. March of Dimes Senior Vice President Harry Capell and MOD National Ambassador Zeek Taylor and his family appeared at the Public Program where they shared their story of the family’s struggle in the birth of Zeek and how the organization’s work impacted their lives. MOD officers reported that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has raised more than $226,000, making the organization the number one partner in the category of clubs and associations. Also at the Public Program, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. presented a check for $10,000 to Alpha Phi Alpha for the MLK Memorial Project Foundation. The presentation marked the third installment of the organization’s $100,000 commitment. To date, the MLK Foundation has raised about $82 million of the $100 million needed to build the memorial.

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Brother Paul Brown is First Vice President of Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter and National Vice Chairman of Media Relations. Brother Zollie Stevenson, Jr., Ph.D., is National Chairman of Organizational Effectiveness; Eastern Regional Chairman of Membership, Standards and Extension; and District VI Director of Educational Activities.

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101ST A NNIVERSAR Y C ONVENTION

1: The Step Show Competition attracted first-class steppers.

5: Brothers sing closing Hymn.

2: AKA Supreme Basileus Barbara McKenzie.

6: General President Darryl Matthews (c) accepts Fraternity proclamation presented by the City of Orlando.

3: Rachelle Vallon, representing the Eastern Region, was crowned Miss Black & Gold 2007-2008. She originated from Xi Psi Chapter at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. 4. (L-r) Brothers William Gray and Milton Davis.

7: Convention Chairman Al Rutherford. 8. BBBS President and CEO Judy Vredenburgh address Black & Gold Banquet.

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Spring â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2008

BOOK REVIEW

The Echo from Dealey Plaza By Abraham Bolden New York: Harmony Books (306 pages). $25.95 Reviewed by Dr. Joseph T. Durham Brother Joseph T. Durham

Abraham Bolden was the first African American agent on the White House Secret Service detail. He was personally invited when President John F. Kennedy was on a trip to Chicago to thank Mayor Richard Daley for his help in winning the election. Brother Bolden served on the White House detail from l960 to l964. The title of the book, The Echo from Dealey Plaza, is taken from the grassy knoll in front of the Texas building where John F. Kennedy was shot. Even though Brother Bolden’s appointment was historic, he soon learned that the service was prejudicial against him as a black man. There were numerous occasions when he overheard racist and snide remarks about African Americans. Brother Bolden was convinced that President Kennedy was committed to equal justice for black people but the men who guarded him were Southerners who cared less about equal justice for all. In fact, as Bolden found out, many did not care about the President’s safety. They drank on the job; partied with women; and in general, did not take their Secret Service duties seriously.

There was one incident that served to underscore the prejudicial attitude towards blacks in the Secret Service. President Kennedy was scheduled to visit Palm Beach, Florida, and the question of lodging for Brother Bolden arose. The head of the detail was advised that the hotel in West Palm Beach would not accept a “colored” agent and that separate quarters for Brother Bolden could be found “at a firstclass colored motel in Riviera Beach, Florida.” All of this was spelled out in a memo, which Brother Bolden by chance read. He says, “Reading that memo left me totally deflated. It was clear to me that the racism that Kennedy wanted so much to stamp out in the country was alive and well in his own government…” (p. 24). There were other examples of racism. Once while in Hyannis Port with President Kennedy, Brother Bolden’s boss told him: “You’re a nigger. You were born a nigger and when you die, you’ll still be a nigger. You will always be nothing but a nigger, so act like one!” (p. 37). There were times when Brother Bolden was caught in the cross hairs between his two supervisors. One told the Secret Service agent to

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give the reports of his work to him, while the other one told Brother Bolden to give his reports to him. These two agents were John Hanley and Maurice Martineau. Later Hanley was transferred and Martineau remained in charge of the Chicago office. There was no love lost between Martineau and Brother Bolden. At one time, Brother Bolden found a hangman’s noose in his office. Other agents knew nothing about it. Martineau promised to get maintenance to take the noose down; however, he never did anything about it. Martineau’s attitude towards the Kennedy assassination was cool when a secretary rushed into his office to tell him about it. According to the secretary, “Martineau’s response had been a cold, ‘So what else is new?’” The secretary said that Martineau “acted like he didn’t care one way or the other” (p. 51). Brother Bolden was at odds with Martineau because the African American agent often criticized the Secret Service agents for their lax conduct during working hours. Brother Bolden could not understand how men who had sworn to protect the President of the United

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States with their own lives, if necessary, could be so unconcerned about the President’s safety. This attitude of Bolden provoked numerous spates between the two. Martineau was determined to get rid of Brother Bolden and to get him out of the Secret Service. Brother Bolden said, “It was like our own private Cold War that occasionally erupted into open confrontation” (p. 58). The chance for Martineau to get rid of Brother Bolden came when he accused the African American agent of trying to sell the file of the Joseph Spagnoli bond case for $50,000. The book does not make it clear what was in the file. Martineau proceeded to harass Brother Bolden and the African American agent was arrested on May l8, l964. Brother Bolden’s assignment with the Secret Service was over. Brother Bolden was arraigned before court Judge J. Sam Perry. George Howard, another member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was his attorney. (Brother Abraham Bolden, Sr. was initiated into the Fraternity in 1953 through Alpha Psi Chapter at Lincoln University in Jefferson City,

BOOK REVIEW

Missouri and later joined Xi Lambda Chapter in Chicago, Illinois. In his book, Brother Bolden describes George Howard as “his Fraternity Brother” although he never specifically states in the publication that he or Howard are members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.) In Judge Perry’s court, Brother George Howard was stymied at every turn. The government put on a series of witnesses and the court did everything it could to make them appear plausible. Finally, Brother Bolden was put on the stand and was questioned by Dunne, an attorney for the government. Bolden passed the examination with flying colors.

When the trial portion of the case was over, Judge Perry gave instructions to the jury. The jury deliberated for six hours and came to an 11-to-1 decision, with the lone dissenter in the case being an African American woman, Mrs. Anne B. Hightower. Judge Perry was obviously disappointed but he had to declare a mistrial. He thanked the jury for its service and proceeded to set a new date for a second trial. At the second trial, Judge Perry showed that he had not changed his mind. The government lawyers used their preemptory challenges to eliminate African American jurors; the

result was 12 white individuals who formed the jury for the second trial. During the second trial, Judge Perry did not miss an opportunity to make the African American lawyer, Brother George Howard, look like a villain or a buffoon in the jury’s eyes. Finally, one afternoon around 5:30 p.m., the judge called the opposing attorney into the courtroom. He told him that he was going to close the courtroom for the night; however, the jury was going to continue to deliberate. He stated that if the jury reached a decision before the court opened the next day, the verdict would be sealed until the court opened the next morning. The next day, the clerk of the court unsealed the envelope and read: “We the jury find the defendant Abraham Bolden guilty…” (p. l88). At that point, Brother Bolden burst into tears, crying out “In the name of God, have mercy!” (p. l88). The judge then stated, “I hereby sentence you to the custody of the U.S. Attorney General for a period of six years on Count 1 and five years each on Counts 2 and 3. The sentences are to run concurrently.” (p. 188). At this point, it appeared that Brother Bolden would be on his way to jail; however, a bombshell exploded when Spagnoli confessed that he committed perjury against Brother Bolden in the trials. Ray Smith, Brother Bolden’s new attorney, stated that he was going to seek a new trial before the Court of Appeals. However, the Court of Appeals ordered the case back before Judge Perry. Nothing changed. Judge Perry still believed that Brother Bolden was guilty; and the Court of Appeals did not change

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the charge, even though Attorney Smith assumed that the reversal of the earlier charge was inevitable. Brother Bolden was later informed by his attorney that: “Your appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court has been denied and Judge Perry has ordered your immediate incarceration” (p. 222). Brother Bolden was then taken to the Cook County jail and later he was transferred to the Terre Haute prison. Life in prison for Brother Bolden was rough. He was in the company of prisoners who had done various crimes. He described his guards as “Southerners of limited education.” Later, Brother Bolden was transferred to Leavenworth, a maximum security prison. The government had decided that Brother Bolden was a mental case. He would be kept in treatment until he was cured. To his dismay, he found that “none of the time spent in psychiatric could count toward the completion of his sentence.” At the Springfield Center for Federal Prisoners, he was given medicine to calm him down. He refused to take the medicine. He remained at Springfield for two years and was then transferred to the Maxwell Air Force base in Montgomery, Alabama. Just a few months before completing his entire sentence, he was granted parole and was sent by Greyhound bus to Chicago, his home. Thus, the long ordeal of Brother Abraham Bolden was over. He tried to get records pertaining to his trials; however, found that the records were lost but were later found. Brother Bolden then asked for a review of the case by the

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BOOK REVIEW Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court but both appeals were denied. Concerning his story, Brother Bolden wrote, “… I could not have done anything differently. I never could have rolled over and accepted my fate. I could not have accepted gracefully, knowing that my only crime had been to hold my fellow agents to the same standards I set

for myself, and which our government and our President expected of us” (p. 288). The Echo from Dealey Plaza is the story of the first African American to serve on the White House Secret Service detail and the shocking treatment he received. Brother Abraham Bolden has told his story, which reminds us that in the highest reaches of government

are people who do not intend the best for minorities. In 2008, as we wind down the campaign for the next President of the United States—an African American has an excellent chance of being elected as President—and questions concerning his safety must be raised. If the personnel of the U. S. Secret Service has remained deficient in guarding the President—as Brother Abraham

Bolden found during his tenure— what danger might an African American President face? Brother Dr. Joseph T. Durham is Book Review Editor of the Negro Educational Review, Inc.; President Emeritus of the Baltimore City Community College; and is a member of Delta Lambda Chapter in Baltimore, Maryland.

THE ARTS

Alpha Brother Directs Beijing, China Premiere of Martin Luther King Musical

cclaimed tenor Brother Kenneth Alston, Jr. was musical coordinator for the international premiere of Passages of Martin Luther King, which opened in Beijing, China. The premiere was a collaboration between China’s National Theatre and the King Institute at Stanford University. Brother Kenneth Alston, Jr., a member of Delta Lambda Chapter in Baltimore, Maryland, is a classically trained tenor/counter-tenor. He is a member of the renowned “Three Mo Tenors” ensemble. The ensemble performs as a pair of three members. Brother Alston is a Bronx, New York native and graduate of Morgan State University in Baltimore. While at Morgan, he joined the famous choir under then Director, Brother Nathan Carter. Brother Alston was a featured

soloist when the choir performed locally, nationally, and internationally in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Czech Republic and Martinique. The Three Mo Tenors will be performing

in cities across the country. Brother Alston appeared as a featured soloist on HBO’s The Wire, in Porgy and Bess at the Philadelphia Opera, and in Ain't Misbehaving at the Baltimore

Brother Kenneth Alston, Jr. leads performance of “We Shall Overcome” in Beijing, China premiere of MLK musical.

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Theatre Company’s ArtsCentric. His voice has received critical acclaim locally and internationally. Brother Alston was recruited to the opportunity coordinate the international premiere while visiting historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia where Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the pastor. While there, he was asked to serve as musical coordinator for the International Premiere of Passages of Martin Luther King in Beijing, China. The Premiere was held last summer. It was co-produced by the National Theatre of China and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, Stanford University. Brother Alston was featured in the Los Angeles Times and more recently spotlighted in the New York Daily News.

OMEGA

OMEGA CHAPTER

FORMER EASTERN VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER ENTERS OMEGA CHAPTER

Brother Clarke served in the U.S. Army during World War rother William Decker Clarke, former Eastern Regional Vice II. He was an active member of the National Guardsmen and President and previous Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Board of held offices in numerous political and religious organizations. Directors member, entered Omega Chapter on May 18, 2008 Over the years, he remained committed and dedicated to the at the Smith House Residence in Stamford, Connecticut. A.M.E. church. In 1946, Brother Clarke was initiated Early in his career, Brother Clarke into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity through Beta worked in local law firms. He became a Vice Zeta Chapter and became a dedicated and President at the African American-owned enthusiastic member who served in various Carver Federal Savings Bank in Harlem and capacities throughout his life. He served as was later appointed by then New York City Eastern Regional Vice President and board Mayor John V. Lindsay to serve as Deputy member from 1968 to 1972 and was a Housing Commissioner. He served as Fraternity General Presidential candidate in General Counsel to the Commonwealth Land 1972 and 1976. He served as Chairman of the Title Insurance Corporation; and in the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity General 1990s, he worked as an Indian Liaison with Convention in New York City in 1976. Also, he the Senior Environment Employment (SEE) was a longtime Director of the Fraternity’s Program of the Environmental Protection Building Foundation. Agency until his health forced him into Brother Clarke was born July 25, 1925 in retirement in the mid-2000s. Tyler, Texas, the only child of Reverend James William Decker Clarke While at Howard University Law Clarke and Zelma F. Clarke. He lived most of School, Brother Clarke met and married his classmate, his young life in Waco, Texas where he attended local public Eleanora Norwood, in 1951. Upon graduating, they returned to schools, graduating from Moore High School in Waco. As a live in Mrs. Clarke’s hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut where teenager “Decker”, as he was affectionately known, sang bass he directed the senior choir of Bethel A.M.E. Church. The couwith the legendary Wings Over Jordan choir. ple parented Lynda Michelle and Leigh Decker. In 1978, he He received his B.A. degree in political science and econommarried Edwina F. Nelbett and they parented Ondre Decker ics from Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson University) Clarke and Brother Renauld Gillman Clarke. in Austin, Texas in 1946. He later studied international law relaUntil his health failed, Brother Clarke made his home in tions at Catholic University of America where he received his M.A. San Francisco, California where he was active in the communidegree in 1948. He earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) ty, local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha and the church he attenddegree from Howard University Law School in 1952 and his LLD ed. He returned to Connecticut in 2005 to spend his remaining from Yale University in 1955. Afterwards, he continued his studies time with his family. in corporate law and finance at a local university.

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OMEGA CHAPTER

rother David A. Carr, Sr., a member of Beta Lambda Chapter in Kansas City, Missouri, was initiated into the Fraternity through Delta Rho Chapter at the University of Missouri. Born April 10, 1941 in Enid, Oklahoma, he was a revered pharmacist. He was one of the founders of the Lincoln High School Knights and was active with the civil rights movement. Brother Dr. Carr earned his B.S. degree in pharmacy and his doctorate in pharmaceutical science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He was a member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and was a president of Delta Rho Chapter. In 1969, he joined Pharmacare Prescriptions in Kansas City, Kansas as a pharmacy manager. In 1971, he and his business associates established the first African American-owned and operated major retail drugstore in Kansas City, Missouri—MidCity Discount Drugs. His final business venture was Citadel Pharmacy in 1976. In 2002, Brother Carr retired from Swope Parkway Health Center. He was active in Beta Lambda Chapter and was active in the Kansas City, Missouri Branch of the NAACP.

rother Robert Marvin Chatman was a Life Member of the Fraternity who was initiated into the organization through Beta Delta Chapter, at what is now known as South Carolina State University. He was last a member of Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Brother Chatman was born in Honea Path (Anderson County) South Carolina on October 16, 1922. He received his diploma from Reed Street State High School in 1941; and later attended the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College (now South Carolina State University) in Orangeburg, SC where he received his B.S. degree in industrial education in 1947. He completed the course for surgical technicians at the Medical Department Enlisted Technicians School O’Reilly General Hospital U.S. Army of Springfield, Missouri in 1943. He also took post-graduate courses at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and completed the course of study in pattern making and grading at American Gentleman Cutting and Designing School of New York City in 1947. He received a diploma from the Weaver School of Real Estate in Philadelphia in 1957. He later

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received a diploma in oil burner service from the Philadelphia Wireless Technical Institute in 1962. Brother Chatman married his childhood friend, Bertha Idella Anderson, on June 3, 1950. They were married for more than 56 years. Brother Chatman served in the U.S. Army as Technician 4th Grade, Medical Detachment in the 370th Infantry and received his honorable discharge in April 1945. In 1947, he received an Intermediate Professional Teachers Certificate from the State of South Carolina in the field of history. In 1951, he received a teacher’s certificate for secondary education from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the field of social studies, which was later upgraded to include industrial arts: unit shop (tailoring and drawing). Brother Chatman was a teacher in the Philadelphia Public School System for 23 years—many of which were spent as an instructor of tailoring at Germantown High School. He retired from teaching in 1987. In addition, he once owned a dry cleaning establishment; worked in the field of mortuary science; and performed numerous jobs as a handyman to further provide for his family. He served for ten years as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of South Carolina State Alumni Association. He also was designated a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret 32nd degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by the United Supreme Council, 33rd degree at Orangeburg, SC. Brother Chatman entered Omega Chapter on January 17, 2008.

rother Alfred D. Ford was a Life Member and first initiate of Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Brother Ford was reared in Columbus, Georgia where he graduated from Spencer High School. Following high school and after serving in World War II, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut. He later graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. He was married 51 years to Mamie Mitchell Ford who preceded him into the next life. Brother Ford was co-founder/owner of the Ford & James Pharmacy, which was established in 1960 as the first professional African American business of its kind in Hartford. During the turbulent 1960s and later urban renewal, he and his partner, Horace James, had the opportunity to relocate the pharmacy to a

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more economically promising area. However, with the neighborhood’s need for a pharmacy and for youth to see role models in mind, they elected to stay in the North End until he retired in 1980. Brother Ford was a life member of the University of Connecticut Pharmacy Alumni Association and was a member of the Prince Hall Masons and the Carpe Diem Fraternity. Also, he was past president of the Hartford County Pharmaceutical Association and the Greater Hartford Black Republican Committee.

rother Willard Arlen Hurst was a Life Member of the Fraternity and member of the Gamma Lambda Chapter in Detroit, Michigan. Brother Hurst was born February 15, 1935 in East Saint Louis, Illinois where he attended public schools. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1957. In 1966, he received a B.S. degree in education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He was employed by McDonald Douglas Aircraft as an electrical specialist and taught in the East Saint Louis School District before joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1972 where he was a special agent for more than 20 years. In addition to his Fraternity membership, Brother Hurst was a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement. He was married for 47 years to Rose Marie Hurst. Brother Hurst entered Omega Chapter on January 10, 2008.

rother Griff William Kendrick, a Fraternity Life Member and active member of Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter in Prairie View, Texas, was born March 5, 1927 in Clifton, Tennessee. Following graduation from New Trier High School in Evanston, Illinois, he served in the U.S. Army and subsequently, matriculated at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri where he received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting. He and his wife, Irma Kendrick, were married for 53 years. Known for his financial expertise, Brother Kendrick rose from the position of an accountant to serving as the Chief Fiscal Officer at Prairie View A&M University from which he retired as Vice President for Fiscal Affairs. In later years, he served as man-

OMEGA CHAPTER ager of the Prairie View Federal Credit Union. He was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hempstead, Texas where he served as treasurer for more than 40 years. He also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees, member of the Administrative Council and a member of the Men of Praise Choir. In addition, Brother Kendrick served as treasurer of several organizations and he was a financial advisor to many individuals in the community. He was treasurer of the Prairie View Retired Teachers Association and a member of the Prairie View Athletic Club and the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association. Brother Kendrick was initiated into the Fraternity through Alpha Psi Chapter in 1953. He served as treasurer for Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter for many years.

rother Paul Sipio Lewis was a member of Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools of Northumberland County, Virginia and moved to Philadelphia after completing high school. He married Louise Alice Johnson on June 4, 1949. Brother Lewis attended Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania. Shortly after enrolling in college, he was drafted to serve in the military. He rose to staff sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star. He later received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Joseph’s College in 1969. Brother Lewis worked for the African American-owned Provident Home Insurance Company where he started as a salesman and rose to Vice President before they merged with North Carolina Mutual in 1975. He was one of the first African Americans to receive the Chartered Life Underwriters certification from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Following his insurance career, he worked for the State of Pennsylvania as the Regional Director, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs until he retired in 1984. In addition to his membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he was a member of the NAACP; the Urban League; Chapel of Four Chaplains; and the Boy Scouts of America. Brother Lewis entered Omega Chapter on March 6, 2008.

rother Henry P. Lipscomb, Jr. was initiated into the Fraternity through Beta Gamma Chapter at Virginia State University (then Virginia State College) in 1937. He is a Life Member of the Fraternity and was last a member of Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter in St. Albans, New York. Brother Lipscomb was born July 22, 1917 and reared in New York City were he attended elementary and junior high school. He attended Virginia State University High School before being enrolled there as a college undergraduate. He joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity while there and before graduating with a degree in history in 1939. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army. After leaving the military, Brother Lipscomb attended New York Law School where he graduated in 1942. He worked for the New York State Unemployment Insurance Office in Jamaica as an interviewer before passing the New York State Bar exam. For many years, he and his father practiced law together in Jamaica. In 1948, Brother Lipscomb, who was a member of the Republican Party, was appointed by the leader of the party to the position of Assistant Attorney General of New York State where he worked until his retirement in 1977. While serving as Assistant Attorney General, he also had a private law practice. He later bought a building where he handled wills & estates and real estate matters. Brother Lipscomb entered Omega Chapter on March 8, 2008.

rother Thurman Wardell Lyles was a Life Member of the Fraternity and member of Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Brother Lyles received his degree in business administration at Virginia State University. He taught special education and business education, serving as Associate Director or the Youth Study Center for 20 years. He taught at Bok Vocational; Franklin Learning Center; Gratz High School; Berean Institute; OIC; and The Negro Trade Union. He also created the Business Academy at University City High School. As a teacher for more than 40 years, he was certified in more than seven areas of business. Brother Lyles served as an officer in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. He was president of the Virginia State University Greater Philadelphia Area Alumni

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Chapter; and also was president of the Philadelphia Associates Unlimited Investment Club for more than 25 years. He spoke fluent Hebrew; was a master astrologist; and was working on an international project entitled “The Wisdom of the Zodiacosophy” before his passing. He was an avid reader of Nietzsche, Einstein, Wagner and Gilbran. A master of the English language, he penned spiritual poetry and essays. Brother Lyles was married to Blanche Henrietta Burton on December 7, 1957. He entered Omega Chapter on January 17, 2008.

rother Sidney T. Marable was a Life Member of the Fraternity who was initiated into the organization through Beta Epsilon Chapter at North Carolina A&T State University. Brother Marable was born December 4, 1954 in Henderson, North Carolina. After graduating summa cum laude from A&T—earning his Bachelor’s degree in three years—he attended the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. Upon graduation, he served as a Judge Advocate and was nominated Outstanding Young Lawyer in the Air Force. He later became partner at the law firm of Castro, Zipf & Rogers. At his passing, he operated his own firm—the Law Offices of Sidney T. Marable, P.L.C. in Phoenix, Arizona. Brother Marable served on the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Professional Sports Advisory Committee; the Business Partners for the Phoenix Symphony; the Board of Directors for Central Arizona Arthritis Foundation; and as president of the Board of Directors of Community Legal Services. He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), an organization of 60,000 trial lawyers worldwide; and also served on its Board of Governors. He served on the Board of Directors of the Morris Institute of Justice and the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization, becoming the first and only African American attorney to serve on that board. Brother Marable formerly served as president of the Arizona Black Lawyers Association (now The Hayzel B. Daniels Bar Association); and as president of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, becoming the first and only African American attorney

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OMEGA CHAPTER to serve as its president. He was a member of The Phoenix 100 Rotary Club, having served as the first African American officer in the Club’s 90-year history. Brother Marable was most recently a member of Delta Tau Lambda Chapter, having previously served as the president; and was currently serving as Sire Archonelect of the Gamma Mu Boulé (Phoenix) of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Brother Marable was an active member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. He was married to Frances Smith and from this union one son, Marcus, was born. Brother Marable entered Omega Chapter on September 4, 2007.

rother Samuel Linford Mason was a member of Rho Chapter and affiliated with Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born September 14, 1927 in Media, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Nether Providence High School in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. His undergraduate studies at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania led to his degree in biology. While at Lincoln, he lived two years with college president Horace Mann Bond and his family; played football there; and entered into the Fraternity there through Nu Chapter. Following college, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served honorably in Korea for several years until his discharge. In the following years, he completed graduate studies at Drexel University in information systems and computer technology. Early in his career, Brother Mason worked as a laboratory researcher at Rhom and Haas. The evolution of early computer systems led to a career change for him and new opportunities in the field of computer science. For many years, he worked in industry as a computer programmer and systems analyst at IBM, Univac, Philco and Sperry Company. Later, he applied those skills to the Philadelphia School District as a Systems Analyst. He retired from the school after more than 25 years. In addition, he served as a Democratic Committeeman for the 22nd Ward for approximately 20 years and was involved with the Lincoln University Alumni Association. Brother Mason wed Wilhelmina Riley on New Year’s Eve in 1955. His wife passed away in 1996. Brother Mason entered Omega Chapter on January 18, 2008.

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rother Bennie G. McMorris, Sr. was a Life Member of the Fraternity and member of Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Stephens-Lee high school in Asheville, North Carolina, he attended North Carolina A&T State College where he received his undergraduate degree in education with a concentration in sciences. He later received his Master’s degree in education from the University of Michigan. Brother McMorris’ first teaching assignment was in a two-room schoolhouse in Ailey, Georgia. He later held positions as vice president at Montgomery County High School in Georgia; at Stephens-Lee High School; and at Shaw Middle School and Leeds Middle School in Philadelphia. Brother McMorris entered Omega Chapter on January 19, 2008.

rother Herman “Tex” Levaughn Moten, Sr. was initiated into the Fraternity through Chi Lambda Chapter in 1951. He was born July 22, 1916 to Ernest and Nancy McDaniel Moten in Leon County, Texas. He attended Samuel Huston College in Austin, Texas, now named HoustonTillotson University. After graduating from college, Brother Moten moved to Dayton, Ohio and joined the Air Force where he served in World War II. On September 4, 1948, he married Charlyne Loretta Hargo with whom he had a son, Herman L. Moten, Jr., and a daughter, Nancy Charlyne Moten, who preceded him into the next life. While in Ohio attending a football game between Ohio State and SMU, Brother Moten found that he was the only Texan in the group, and he had to cheer for the Texas team. From that moment on, he became known as “Tex”. After retiring from the EEOC as a compliance officer in 1976, Brother Moten began traveling around the U.S. In 1986, he settled in Austin, Texas and worked for the state of Texas in the Department of Community Affairs. In 1990, he married Birdie Sneed Davis. Brother Moten was a devoted Christian and member of Wesley United Methodist Church. At Wesley, he worked tirelessly with the United Methodist Men; was a major fundraiser for the “Old Fashion Sunday School”; and participated in Emmaus and the Kairos Prison Ministry. His commitment to community and social activism was reflected in his dedication to and membership in the Fraternity, which was like a second family to him. He was an advocate for children and a mentor to

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many young adults. He was introduced to Republican politics during the 1930s. Over the years, he worked on the campaigns of numerous noted Republican candidates and was very involved in the political scene in Austin. In 2000, he was appointed by the Austin City Council to the Airport Advisory Board. He also served several years on the board of the Travis County Appraisal District. He was a dedicated alumnus of HustonTillotson. Brother Moten was instrumental in making his 40th college reunion one of the biggest the school had seen. In 2002, he hosted a fundraiser for the school disguised as an 86th birthday party for him. He was an avid bridge player and received numerous trophies and awards from competitions. Brother Moten entered Omega Chapter on April 6, 2008.

rother Arthur E. Newbern was initiated into the Fraternity through Beta Eta Chapter at Southern Illinois University in 1946. He was a veteran of World War II. After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, he taught in the public schools of Carbondale, Illinois for more than 30 years before retiring in 1983. His hobbies were fishing and woodworking. Brother Newbern entered Omega Chapter on September 24, 2007.

rother Remus C. Rhodes III was a 53-year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and became a Life Member in 1973. Brother Rhodes was born August 5, 1935 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He graduated from Druid City High School in Tuscaloosa and attended Tuskegee Institute where he received his Bachelor’s degree. He later received an MBA from the University of Chicago. Brother Rhodes was wed to his wife of more than 50 years, Nancy Pearson Rhodes, in June 1957. His military career as an officer in the U.S. Army spanned 22 years, with assignments that included service in the U.S., Germany, Vietnam, and Korea—culminating with in his retirement in 1980 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Brother Rhodes was initiated into the organization through Gamma Phi Chapter at Tuskegee Institute. He attended 26 State, Regional and General Conventions and was president of three Alumni Chapters—Eta Xi Lambda in Fort Still, Oklahoma; Mu Phi Lambda in South Korea; and Delta Beta Lambda in Hampton,

OMEGA CHAPTER Virginia. He was a charter member of Theta Theta Lambda Chapter in Germany and Mu Phi Lambda Chapter in South Korea. He also served as a District Director/State President of the Oklahoma Conference of Alpha Phi Alpha. At the Regional level, he served on the Constitution Committee; Nomination Committee; and Resolutions & Recommendations Committee. He also was a member of the Board of Directors for the Eastern Regional Educational Foundation. At the State level, he serves as Area Director Tidewater North for 20 years; was honored as VACAPAF Area

Director of the Year in 1998; was awarded Area Director Emeritus at the 63rd VACAPAF Convention in 2007; served on the VACAPAF Education Foundation; and served for many years as parliamentarian for VACAPAF. An active member of Delta Beta Lambda Chapter in Hampton, Virginia, Brother Rhodes held practically every office in the chapter. He was the registered agent for the foundations, serving as Director and Secretary for the Chapter’s two chapter foundations. He was a major player in helping to make the Chapter’s dream of owning their first fraternity

house—and later purchasing their Alpha Center—a reality. The two buildings were valued at over $850,000. In addition, Brother Rhodes served as president of the Tuskegee National Alumni Association; officer of elections for the City of Hampton, Virginia; Life Member of the NAACP Hampton, Virginia Branch; member of the Trustee Board at Bethel A.M.E. Church; and Registered Parliamentarian and consultant for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Community Program. Brother Remus entered Omega Chapter on May 10, 2008.

OMEGA LISTINGS Brother James Allen, Sr. Alpha Omicron / Beta Gamma Lambda

Brother James Matthis Pi Lambda

Brother Dr. William H. Townsend Pi Lambda

Brother MeShawn Brown Delta Xi ‘07

Brother William H. Owens Gamma / Xi Delta Lambda

Brother Walter Watkins Beta Chi ‘39

Brother Perlesta A. Hollingsworth Pi Lambda

Brother Michael R. Palmer Beta Tau Lambda

Brother David Keaton Xi Eta Lambda

Brother Kenneth B. Staley III Gamma

Brother Clarence Lowrey Nu Tau Lambda Brother James R. Lewis, Sr. Delta Rho Lambda / Pi Theta Lambda

Brother Tommie Williams Pi Lambda ‘06 Brother Alan M. Woods Zeta / Iota Sigma Lambda Brother Rev. Barry Young Beta Gamma Lambda

Brother Curtis H. Sykes Pi Lambda ‘71 Brother Larry Taylor Zeta Pi Lambda

Key:

= Life Member

CHAPTER REFERENCES: the first chapter that appears in the Omega Chapter listings represents the Brother’s Chapter of Initiation. If a second chapter is listed, it represents the last chapter with which the Brother was affiliated.

Our true hearts ever strive, success goal to gain, That our Fraternity s praises may be sung.

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CORPORATE CORPORATE DIRECTORY

The Seven Jewels Henry A. Callis

Charles H. Chapman

Eugene K. Jones

GENERAL OFFICERS General President Immediate Past General President Executive Director General Treasurer Comptroller General Counsel Director of General Conventions Historian Chief Parliamentarian

Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., 5075 Red Robin Ridge, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30022 Harry E. Johnson, Sr., 3606 Crow Valley Drive, Missouri City, TX 77459 Willard C. Hall, Jr., 2313 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 George N. Reaves, 1417 Kinross Street, Flossmoor, IL 32312 Frank A. Jenkins, III, 529 South Perry Street, Ste.16, Montgomery, AL 36104 Michael D. Pegues, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3800; Dallas, TX 75202-2711 Michael Thompson, 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, VA 22313 Robert L. Harris, Jr., 102 Burleigh Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850 John M. Williams, 7075 Colesbrooke Drive, Hudson, OH 44236

VICE PRESIDENTS Eastern Midwestern Southern Southwestern Western

Dennis G. Kemp, Sr., PO Box 3056, Laurel, MD 20709 Mark S. Tillman, 25353 Lindenwood Lane, Southfield, MI 48033 Everette Ward, 3112 Falconhurst Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27587 Arthur McDade, III, 1124 Peyton Street, Little Rock, AK 72204 Open

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS Eastern Midwestern Southern Southwestern Western

Mohammed H. Jalloh, 110 Clarendon Place, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Emmanuel T. Brown, 3110 E. Livingston Ave., Apt. 2, Columbus, OH 43227 Stuart P. Lott, 1455 Timothy Drive, Memphis, TN 38116 Maurice D. Gipson, Louisiana State University, PO Box 12131, Baton Rouge, LA 70894 John A. Nelson, 930 Figueroa Terrace #723, Los Angeles, CA 90012

LIVING PAST GENERAL PRESIDENTS 25th General President 26th General President 27th General President 28th General President 29th General President 30th General President 31st General President

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James R. Williams, 1733 Brookwood Drive, Akron, OH 44313 Ozell Sutton, 1640 Loch Lomond Trail, SW, Atlanta, GA 30331 Charles C. Teamer, Sr., 32 Fairway Oaks Drive, New Orleans, LA 70131 Henry Ponder, 3 Covington Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Milton C. Davis, 304 N. Main Street, Tuskegee, AL 36083 Adrian L. Wallace, 281 Debra Lane, Lake Charles, LA 70611 Harry E. Johnson, Sr., 3606 Crow Valley Drive, Missouri City, TX 77459

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