The Wall St. Alpha Report by The Wall Street Alphas

THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC

February / March 2009

Vol. 2, No. 4

THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC

February / March 2009

The Color Line, the Dream, and the Future of Black History

Vol. 2, No. 4

President’s Letter

By Bros. Jay Williams and Mark Anthony Thomas Dear Brothers and Guests, Brother Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois proclaimed "the problem of the Twentieth Century [was] the problem of the color-line." The Rev. Brother Dr. Martin Luther King inspired the world with his dream for America. But many would now argue that the election of President Barack Hussein Obama has ended the race nightmare that has plagued our nation. With a black man in the White House the struggles of the ancestors and strides forward of the Civil Rights Movement are now fulfilled. Or are they? The Wall Street Alphas' celebration of Black History Month is taking a look at just how much things have changed since November 4, 2008. The Brothers of Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc are asking, "Have We Reached the Promised Land?" On Friday, February 20, 2009 the Wall Street Alphas will host a public forum, The Future of Black History: Establishing a Roadmap for Change. Its purpose is to celebrate Black America's progress in light of where we started and in anticipation of where we must still go. Panelists Mark Winston Griffith, fellow at the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy; Jineea Butler of the Social Services of Hip Hop; and Dr. Fred Harris, Professor of Political Science and Director of Columbia University's Center on African-American Politics and Society, will guide us in our discussion. The evening will begin with a mixer at 6:00pm at the McNally Jackson Bookstore in SoHo (52 Prince Street). The panel and townhall discussion will commence at 7:00pm, and will be followed by a networking reception at 8:30pm. Please visit www.wallstreetalphas.com/blackhistory.php for more information.

“It’s a new day!” -Will.I.Am The words and lyrics of this Will.I.Am song certainly capture the mood and sentiments of the Black community and entire country. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the last 3 months for the first time in this country’s history, we’ve chosen an African-American, Barack Hussein Obama, to hold the highest office in the land and arguably the world: that of President of the United States of America. President Obama took the oath of office on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. The history of his brilliant campaign is well-chronicled and will be studied and celebrated for years to come. The two years of campaigning that led to the election filled us with innumerable memories. But two post-Election memories bookend this journey and stand out for me. My first memory takes place in Wilmington, DE the first stop of Obama’s Whistle-Stop Tour. Partially re-enacting President Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 train ride to Washington, Obama’s tour started in Philadelphia with stops in Wilmington Continued on Page 3

Inside this Edition 9 9 9 9 9

President’s Letter Editor’s Report BHM Profile – Dr. Bro. Willie Bryant Inauguration Weekend MLK Memorial

President’s Letter Continued from Page 2

and Baltimore before arriving in DC. We left Jersey City under the cover of night at 6:00am and arrived in Wilmington shortly after 7:30am. After driving around for several blocks looking for parking we finally found a spot and headed to the train station. By this time a long line had already formed before 8am. Obama wasn’t scheduled to arrive until 1pm and it just happened to be -3 degrees that morning. We were in store for a long, but exciting day. What stood out for us in this our first Obama rally was the solidarity in his supporters. We had experienced it at the fundraisers and talking with friends and strangers alike during the campaign, but never at the rally. Everyone was super friendly and super excited. You didn’t need to know other people there to have a great time either. In the five hours we spent in the freezing cold, we made several friends, traded numerous jokes, and treated one another like human beings.

The bitter cold of a Delaware winter morning failed to reduce the enthusiasm of the crowd on the historic Whistle-stop tour during inauguration weekend.

My second memory takes place in a 6th grade classroom where I watched the first AfricanAmerican take the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. KIPP Star on 123rd Street in Harlem invited parents to come watch the inauguration with kids in the classroom. Being a KIPP employee, my girlfriend thought it would be a great idea to watch it with the students. I have to agree. Short of being in Washington in person being able to share this real life history lesson with young, impressionable elementary school students was a great experience. Certainly the problems that he faces, that WE face, are real and significant. But if there's one thing he's taught us, it's that if we work together we can meet these challenges. YES, WE CAN! Fraternally, Jioha Amatokwu President, KXL Chapter “Wall Street Alphas”

Mark your Calendar! 2/8: Area Wide Alpha Awareness Seminar 2/9: Chapter Meeting 2/20: Black History Month Program 2/28: Area 5 Alpha Phi Alpha Project Alpha 3/10: Chapter Meeting 4/2 – 5: Eastern Region Convention - PA

Visit the “Wall Street Alphas” on Facebook or My Space or at www.wallstreetalphas.com

Remembering Bro. Samuel Parker: One Year Later

Think Black 2007

It was just one year ago on February 9, 2008 that we lost dear Bro. Samuel Parker. So much has changed in the Chapter and in the country since that time, but one thing remains the sameâ&#x20AC;Ś.we miss you Brother!

If you have any comments on the Newsletter or would like to submit content, reply to WSANews@gmail.com Visit us at www.wallstreetalphas.com and www.wsacf.org 4

THE EDITOR’S REPORT Greetings Brothers, January 20 saw change I could believe in as the WORLD tuned into Washington to see the first U.S. President of African descent get sworn into office. Many of the old civil rights era guard didn’t think they’d witness such a sight in their lifetime and even folks my age weren’t so sure it could happen until our children’s generation. Yet as many expressed over the past year, Barack Obama may have been the right man to come along at the right time. Even the day prior to the inauguration, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, was even more memorable than usual, as the bright spotlight of then President-Elect Obama helped highlight this special day as he and his wife Michelle dedicated time to the troops and called on the nation to renew their commitment to serving in their communities. As we celebrate another Black History Month let’s appreciate the accomplishments and many contributions that giants like Bro. King and everyday African Americans have made to this country. Let’s offer our support to Bro. Lamonte Parks (ZH) who is navigating the red tape to start a Black Student Union at Pace University. A BSU will be the first for Pace and will hopefully become an additional resource that students of color can use to help ensure their success at school and help to promote black culture to the general student body. Good work brother! In keeping with the celebration of black history this month I wanted to highlight the work of an Alpha brother who has worked his entire life in his communities to effect change and stand up against policies or people who tried to keep others down. Bro. Dr. Willie Bryant (HXL) has been a leader in his community for over 50 years and continues to inspire

those who know him to always be first of all, a servant of all. And speaking of being a leader in the community, we need look no further than Bro. Kevin Powell (ZH) whose book “The Black Male Handbook” is a 2009 NAACP Image Award Nominee. Bro. Powell continues to make it happen in BK and I have no doubt we’ll be saying farewell to him in a couple years when he successfully pushes aside the status quo to represent his district in Congress. Brothers, be sure to put February 20 on your calendar as committee chairmen Bros Mark Anthony Thomas and Jay Williams present “The Future of Black History: Have We Reached the Promised Land?” Our BHM program last year was outstanding so be sure not to miss this one. Be prepared to be engaged and have an active discussion as we take our first steps into the Obama age. Andrew Young, John Lewis, Martin Luther King III, Harry Belafonte, and so many others were on hand and interviewed in some of the television coverage I saw on Dr. King’s birthday, the day before the inauguration. But perhaps the highlight of that day was having an opportunity to see the ENTIRE “I Have a Dream Speech.” That was a rare treat for sure. Possibly the next occasion for such a gathering will come in about 18 months when Dr. King’s memorial is dedicated. The latest on where that project stands is on page 12. Get your check book out and make a contribution to this historical project today. As President Obama proved in his campaign, if we ALL contribute just a little bit, we can do incredible things! ‘06,

Brian Pruitt Newsletter Editor in Chief Wall St. Alphas

The First Family is the new image of the black family, and that’s not a bad thing. Note: The Editor’s report reflects thoughts or opinions of the Editor and are not necessarily shared by the chapter or the Fraternity as a whole. 5

Bro. Dr. Willie L. Bryant BUILDING A LEGACY BRICK BY BRICK By Bro. Brian Pruitt In Fall 2008 I remember watching some of the Republican Convention and seeing the absolute glee that Rudy Giuliani and many of the other speakers took in trying to disparage the background and qualifications of Barack Hussein Obama, the “community organizer”. It was as if working to improve your community was something to be scoffed at and denounced without further thought. Only, come January 20, they had to call him something different….”Mr. President”, as Mr. Obama organized perhaps the greatest campaign ever seen and won support across the entire country. A central theme that he emphasized on that special day was that each and every American should rededicate themselves to serving in their communities in some capacity.

Mr. Gerald Inman (ΩΨΦ) proudly presented his mentor Bro. Dr. Willie Bryant (right) at his Hall of Fame Induction.

Dr. Willie L. Bryant, a retired dentist and longtime resident of Rockland County, NY is the current Recording Secretary of Eta Chi Lambda, the “Rockland Alphas”. Dr. Bryant has been an active leader in his community throughout his lifetime and has made contributions to both Alpha and Black History. From growing up in the Jim Crow south in the 40’s to facing civil rights challenges in the 60’s, to travelling to D.C. to see the first black President take his oath in January, Bro. Bryant has seen a lot and has continued to be guided by his principles in good times as well as bad. As 2008 was winding down, I spent a few hours at Bro. Bryant’s home to gain a better understanding of his past and what goals he has set for the future.

Initiated into Beta Nu Chapter at Florida A&M University in 1957, Bro. Bryant reluctantly followed his older brother Alvin onto that Florida campus at the demand of his mother, although his preference was to forge his own path at a different school. Brother Willie admits that his mother made the right decision for him. Four of the “Bryant boys” were students at FAMU, leaders on campus, and today leaders in their communities. Bro. Bryant still is an active advocate of his alma mater, serving as the NE Regional Vice President of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association. Being a young African American in the south in the 50’s came with its challenges. It was 1954, when the Warren Supreme Court in Brown vs. Board of Education declared that state laws that established separate public schools for black and white students denied black children equal educational opportunities. This particular decision had a significant impact on Bro. Bryant’s life; motivating him to join the NAACP in 1956 while a freshman and eventually becoming President of his college chapter. Making an Impact Throughout his life Bro. Bryant has not been afraid to stand up to authority when he felt strongly about an issue. While at school he became involved in the ROTC, got an internship at the VA Hospital, and made his way to New York where he settled in Ossining, becoming active with that NAACP branch. An Alpha brother, Sam Howard, brought to his attention an incident where the Superintendent of Schools there had kicked a troublesome black student out of school. They met with the Superintendent and after bringing Continued on page 7 6

….Bro. Dr. Willie Bryant Continued from page 6 heavy community pressure on him, were able to have the boy transferred to a different school district so that he could get a fresh start and continue his education. That leadership gained him some notoriety in the community and helped propel Bro. Bryant to lead that branch of the NAACP in 1971. Still, being an outsider to the Ossining community, he had to work to establish himself, find a niche, and develop a constituency to enable him to affect change on the issues he cared about. Dr. Bryant began to garner support from some of the local white leadership through his activities and rising influence. He also formed a two person political action committee with a black psychiatrist to put pressure on local politicians. At the Ossining NAACP he came up with the idea to have a sickle cell screening and tested over 1,200 people. “At my dental office I noticed there was a high incidence of people coming in with history of the sickle cell trait, so that’s what spurred the idea.” Improving the welfare of the underserved community has always been a focus. “Where I got my strength from was the fact that I was a dentist and I had all of these patients, the majority of lesser means, and this is how I got my support. The people who could hardly afford things, I became their drum major. The local press would come to me on issues because they wanted change and I’d speak out on issues. That’s where I started getting my real education in community service. It was an awakening for me. I thought that because I was black, that I would have black support, but it was not that way. The so called middle class blacks did not want any dealings with me because I was an outsider. And an example of that is Barack Obama before the Iowa Caucus. You had the established blacks….and I could understand how they had their loyalties to Clinton….but I saw this guy and I felt something. He was different. I got a certain feeling. Just like when I saw Martin Luther King, when I went to the March on Washington, when I was at Yankee Stadium when Nelson Mandela came back, when I saw Kennedy in New Jersey…..there was a feeling that went through my body. That same feeling went through my body with Barack Obama. And very seldom do I have those feelings. Back in January ’08 I came out in the newspaper talking about how Barack Obama, win lose or draw, had already transformed America. And this is before it was popular. As it relates to Barack Obama, I was telling the reporter that this is not about black history, this is about American history.” Being able to help so many with the sickle cell testing is one of his proudest achievements working with the NAACP, but Bro. Bryant also contributed greatly to its infrastructure. “When I left Ossining, that’s when I took out my first installment to become a Life Member of the NAACP. So when I came to Rockland County in 1976, I found a void in an area where I thought I could participate. I proposed to the NAACP President here that we have a Life Membership breakfast program to increase life memberships in Rockland County, which had never been done before. There was no life member in that branch at the time. Today we have close to half of the members as life members.” Bro. Bryant leveraged FAMU contacts to get a prominent judge, Bruce Wright, to be the key speaker at the first breakfast. His belief in the program caused the NAACP President to cast the deciding vote in favor of initiating the program. This successful program of 28 years had four goals: increase life memberships in the branch, create a forum for local, state, and national leaders to come and address issues that impact the African American community, raise money for the local branch and the national NAACP to further its mission, and raise money for a local headquarters. Three of those goals were achieved under his leadership. The NAACP President also gave Bro. Bryant the responsibility of being the Editor of the Spring Valley NAACP newsletter as they were in need of someone to publish it. His success with the newsletter and also that branch earned both the Thalheimer Award which is the highest award of recognition that the NAACP gives to branches for their excellence in the areas of Programs and Publication. Continued on page 8 7

….Bro. Dr. Willie Bryant Continued from page 7

Knowing how to leverage contacts behind the scenes to make things happen has been an integral part of Bro. Bryant’s career success. Having received many accolades over the years for his work, perhaps the most prestigious recognition occurred on December 17 when the Rockland County Commission on Human Rights recognized Bro. Bryant and five others, including the late Harriet Tubman, in it’s 2008 induction class for its Civil / Human Rights Hall of Fame. Laying the Foundation Claudia Mae Bryant was a single parent and raised six sons and one daughter. There are two half sisters, Ann and Sharon (both medical doctors and AKA’s) who were raised by a different mother.

Bros. Les St. Louis (HXL President), Harold Hicks, Willie Bryant, Clarence Branch, Brian Pruitt, and Rockland County Legislator William “Bill” Darden are joined by the Grand Nieces of Harriet Tubman at the Hall of Fame Induction.

The father was a man of prominence who owned several properties and actually resided in the same community, but because the kids were born out of wedlock, there was no recognition of his ties to the family in the community. So Ms. Bryant raised the children by herself with no financial assistance from the children’s father. Despite not having a high school education, she had a strong vision of what she wanted for her children and a great business sense. She was a seamstress and worked several jobs to support the family and like many parents, envisioned that her children would have a better life. One day she talked to her boys who at the time were in grade school. She told them that she wanted to build the family a house. They lived in the worst house in the neighborhood and Ms. Bryant feared that it would be condemned. She asked that the boys go to school three days a week and work two days a week. The deal was that their grades could not go down and the money earned each week would be saved and go towards the construction of the house. The children became migratory workers when Bro. Bryant was in the sixth grade traveling from Florida to South & North Carolina, Virginia and ending up in New Jersey. Every time there was enough money for 50 bricks Ms. Bryant would have a man come and lay the bricks for the house. This continued until three or so years later the house was completed. Running water, double beds for the kids, white stoves, and nothing brought from the old house to the new one. That kind of discipline and vision resulted in all of the children graduating from college. Three became doctors. Bro. Bryant’s oldest brother graduated with the highest academic average, was an exceptional ROTC cadet, became a 2 star General, and a trauma surgeon. Wilbert became the Secretary of Education for the State of Virginia and eventually ended up in the Bush Administration as the Deputy to Secretary Paige, in charge of the Historical Black Colleges. Continued on page 9

….Bro. Dr. Willie Bryant Continued from page 8 Bro. Bryant didn’t know it at the time, but it was an Alpha man who designed the plans for the new house. Alpha continued to play a prominent role at various stages in his life. Four of the Bryant boys attended FAMU and all became Alphas. His older brother was at the top of his freshman class and pledged Alpha a year before Bro. Bryant came to FAMU. Once he got there the doors were open. All of the fraternities competed for him, but Alpha clearly stood above the rest. But ironically it was Ms. Bryant who taught her son at an early age the importance of networking to achieve success. How was it that a poor single black woman in the South could build a home, see her kids through college, and amass various properties? She obtained loans to help put some of the kids through school, and also used the property that she purchased from her grandmother Mary Williams as security. Ms. Bryant used these properties as collateral to get additional property, and continued to use her assets to reach each successive goal from putting the children through school to acquiring several family businesses and properties through the years. She got the loans because the white people she worked for vouched for her at the banks and also worked out private loans from time to time with a lady named Mamie P. Smith in Homestead, Florida. A Monument to Thurgood Marshall Thurgood Marshall, a young NAACP lawyer, came to Hillburn, NY in 1943. At the time there were two schools in the area; a dilapidated black school called the Brook School and a new modern school. Marshall put pressure on the state to allow the black students who were attending the old “black” school (no running water, no heat, outside toilets) to attend the new school which was in the area and attended by predominantly white students and was large enough to accommodate all of the students. The black parents had pulled their children out of the run down school and refused to send them back. The school district had drawn a questionable district line to essentially keep the black students out of the new school. When a judge ordered the kids back to school and they refused to go, the 49 black kids were labeled as “truants”. Marshall was eventually successful in encouraging the NY State Commissioner of Education to close the Brook school so that the black students could attend the new school. This case made national headlines in 1943, one of many chapters in the struggle for civil rights. Bro. Bryant moved to Rockland County in 1976 but did not visit Hillburn until 2001. The 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education was approaching and Bro Bryant was well aware of what Thurgood Marshall had done in Hillburn. He decided he wanted to build a monument there to recognize this significant piece of American history. He first proposed the idea at a fraternity meeting and upon receiving approval to learn more about it, pursued the issue until its conclusion. His journey included winning the support of the Hillburn Mayor Jake Brown and countless local politicians to obtain the funding for the project. On May 18, 2002 a ceremony was held to erect the monument to Bro. Thurgood Marshall in the Ramapo Central School District. Eta Chi Lambda received letters from former President Bill Clinton and several Supreme Court Justices congratulating them on their efforts and vision to recognize a man who contributed so much to American history. Several other things came from Bro. Bryant’s Marshall project. The Superintendant of schools with the support of the President of his Board of Education in 2002 presented a resolution that the labeling of the 49 students as “truants” would be stricken from the records. It was approved. Then, on April 28, 2005 Rockland County Legislator Bro. Bill Darden (HXL) announced that the Court room in main Rockland County Courthouse in New City where Bro. Marshall defended the Hillburn parents and students would be named after Thurgood Marshall. He noted, "This momentous occasion will pay homage to the late Thurgood Marshall, who so valiantly touched and changed the lives of countless individuals in Rockland County as well as nationally with landmark civil rights decisions." Continued on page 10 9

….Bro. Dr. Willie Bryant Continued from page 9 Finally, on May 12, 2008, the NY State Legislature passed a resolution recognizing the contributions made by United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and commemorating Friday, May 17, 2008 “Thurgood Marshall Day” in New York State. Joining the legislators in Albany on that day were many local Rockland County leaders including County Legislator Bro. Bill Darden, Spring Valley Mayor Bro. George Darden (HXL), President of the Spring Valley NAACP, Willie Trotman, Bro. Willie Bryant and a host of other leaders at the state and local levels. Mentors and the Alpha Influence Bro. Bryant finished his successful dental career as Director of Dental Services for Mid-Hudson Developmental Disability Services (1990 – 2005) while maintaining a small private practice on the side. In earlier years he learned a lot about dentistry from one of his mentors, an Alpha Brother, Leon Josey, who had a practice in Ossining. Bro. Bryant eventually took over that practice and brought his patients to Rockland County. “From college to the military, to my professional life, and to my social life, Alpha has been there, every step of the way. Not a single moment has Alpha been absent from my life. And it’s because of these Alpha Brothers that I’ve been successful. And I’m grateful for it.” In addition to the many Alpha men who served as formal or informal mentors or role models and helped frame Dr. Bryant’s interest in community service, other men played important roles in his development. His Sunday School Teacher, Mr. R.C. Maycox was a strong influence who always encouraged him to read as a boy. Mr. Maycox would always tell him that he would become a doctor or a lawyer or something important and would encourage him to read. Ironically, Mr. Maycox could hardly read himself. Mr. George Cooper, his scoutmaster, was another mentor. He had in his mind to make an Eagle Scout before he retired. He actually had Bro. Bryant’s older brother Alvin in mind who at the time had 19 merit badges, needing two more to make Eagle Scout. Bro. Bryant had just 12 merit badges at the time, but focused on the task at hand and caught up to his older brother. Both Bryant brothers made Eagle Scout together in December 1955 and were told that they were the only two brothers in the State of Florida who achieved that honor at the same time. That accomplishment, when his Eagle Scout badge was pinned on him, was on his mind on December 17, 2008 when he was inducted into the Civil / Human Rights Hall of Fame. The oath that he took upon becoming an Eagle Scout has been a guiding force in his life. “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and obey the scout laws. To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

“From college to the military, to my professional life, and to my social life, Alpha has been there, every step of the way. Not a single moment has Alpha been absent from my life. And it’ it’s because of these Alpha Brothers that I’ I’ve been successful. And I’ ’ m grateful for it.” ” I it. -- Bro. Dr. Willie L. Bryant

2008-2009 Chapter Officers and Board Members Executive Board President:

Brother Jioha Amatokwu

Vice President:

Brother Damon Culcleasure

Recording Secretary:

Brother Christopher Hunt

Corresponding Secretary:

Brother Tony Thompson

Treasurer:

Brother Brandon Ray

Financial Secretary:

Brother Allen Moton

Chaplain:

Brother Wiky Toussaint

Historian:

Brother Sean Gayle

Coordinator of Intake:

Brother Nicolas Rosello, Jr.

Sergeant-at-Arms:

Brother David Williams

Parliamentarian:

Brother Esu Maâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;at

Dir. of Educational Activity:

Brother Plemmie Lawson

Assoc. Editor to the Sphinx:

Brother Corey A. McDougle

Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation Board of Directors President & Chairman:

Brother Shawn A. Curwen

Secretary:

Brother Tony Johnson

Treasurer:

Brother Roy A. Williams

Assistant Treasurer:

Brother Brent Cohen

Fundraising/Sponsorship Chair: Brother Brandon V. Ray Board Member:

Brother Gerard Brogdon

Board Member:

Brother Derrick Crawford

Board Member:

Brother Elvin Dowling

Board Member:

Brother Samuel Parker

Newsletter Committee Editor in Chief:

Brother Brian Pruitt

Assistant Editor:

Brother Chris Hunt

Contributors:

Brother Corey A. McDougle Brother Lino Solis Brother Jay Williams

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial : Building the Dream By Bro. Brian Pruitt On January 20, many saw the down payment on the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when our 44th President was sworn in. We now begin the count down to yet another dream; the first memorial to an AfricanAmerican on the National Mall. Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, Jefferson, King. In the not too distant future, that will become a reality.

Bro. General President Skip Mason stands by a replica of the Stone of Hope (above). A model of the proposed memorial grounds suggests a unique and tranquil design (below).

Completion and dedication of Dr. King's National Memorial is projected for late Summer, 2010. The Brothers leading the Build the Dream Project have done an outstanding job in raising the necessary funds as we now stand today having raised approximately $104 of the $120 million dollar goal. The latest big money donors have included Exelon Foundation ($1 million), Boeing Corporation ($1 million), UnitedHealth Group ($1 million), and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation ($1 million). This journey began back on September 28, 1996 when the United States House of Representatives passed Joint Resolution 70 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a memorial in Washington, DC to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Senate soon followed and on July 16, 1998, President Clinton signed a Joint Congressional Resolution authorizing the building of a memorial. The journey continues as we push to support the fundraising efforts to make the dream of the King monument a reality.

To donate or learn more, visit www.buildthedream.org 12

Bro. Kevin Powell, known for his powerful written voice and community activism, has long been an advocate of positive Black male development. In 2004, he organized the 10-city national State of Black Men tour, which was widely attended and critically acclaimed. In June 2007 Kevin produced Black and Male in America, a 3-day national conference attended by 3000 men and boys in Brooklyn, New York The critical follow-up to that conference are monthly Black male empowerment workshops, also in Brooklyn. And Brother Powell recently ran for Congress in New York. He plans to do so again in 2010. His most recent book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life" has been nominated for a 2009 N.A.A.C.P. Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work Instructional. The 2009 NAACP Image Awards will take place on Saturday, February 12th in Los Angeles.

Congratulations Bro. Powell on this well deserved honor!

The handbook offers useful tools for many aspects of life including money management, starting a business, preparing for a job interview, taking care of physical and mental health, and so much more. Of the 10 contributors to The Black Male Handbook, 6 are members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., including Brother Michael Scott Jones (cover photographer), Brother Kevin Powell (editor), Brother Hill Harper (foreword), Brother Lasana Hotep (essay), Brother Ryan Mack (essay), and Brother Jelani Cobb (essay).

Lift Every Voice and Sing Written by: James Weldon Johnson Composer: J. Rosamand Johnson

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee. Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee. Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGWsqR6UbGk

If you have any comments on the Newsletter or would like to submit content, reply to WSANews@gmail.com Visit us at www.wallstreetalphas.com 14

The Latest News with the Alpha GENTS! The Education Committee led by Bro. Plemmie Lawson started our fraternal year with a bang and has not slowed down one bit in 2009. Education, personal growth, networking, and mental and physical fitness remain the cornerstones of the program.

Add the following dates to your personal calendar and plan to come out and support our young men and the Education Committee. Contact Bro. Plemmie Lawson for more information on how to get involved.

A workshop at Columbia University/Double Discovery Program for SAT Prep & College Selection.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dress for Successâ&#x20AC;? workshop was well attended (above and below) by the young men as well as brothers.

FEBRUARY Alpha GENTS Community Service @ Soup Kitchen MARCH Job Preparation and Interviewing Skills

APRIL College Tour: Princeton University / Monmouth College

MAY GENT Workshop: Physical Fitness/Get Ya Weight Up w/ Bro. Chris Tolbert & Bro. Plemmie Lawson

JUNE Annual GENT Recognition Ceremony

INAUGURATION WEEKEND The Phirst Fraternity welcomes the new First Family

Bro. Brandon Ray and Bro. Kouri Marshall with Bro. General President Skip Mason at the Alpha reception. Bro. Marc Morial and Co-Founder of the Young and Powerful Group Bro. Jarvis Houston (right). Other notables attending this YPG event included Rev. Jesse Jackson and Michael Eric Dyson (top and bottom right).

Bro. Ray and Bro. Willard Hall at the Alpha reception. 16

INAUGURATION WEEKEND The Phirst Fraternity welcomes the new First Family

Bro. Brandon Ray with Bro. Eric Trapp (Beta ’87) and Bro. Lino Solis getting a bite at the Florida Avenue Grill.

Ginger and Logan Solis at the “Manifest Hope” gala in Washington.

Bro. Eric Hamilton (right) was also a witness to history, seen here, on the National Mall.

President Barack Hussein Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Capitol Building.

CHANGE HAS ALREADY COME Three “Firsts” burst onto the Political Scene

Eric Holder Restoring the rule of law is seen by many as a top priority in the new administration, with Guantanamo Bay prisoners, Executive privilege, and illegal wire tapping of ordinary citizens just a few of the concerns of many following the previous administration. The former U.S. Attorney under President Bill Clinton and most recent senior legal advisor for then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama, Eric Holder becomes the first African-American Attorney General of the United States. This Bronx native will clearly have his hands full trying to uphold the Constitution while keeping the country safe and ensuring the freedoms of all citizens.

Dr. Susan Rice A Rhodes Scholar and renowned foreign policy expert, Susan Rice attended Stanford and Oxford and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She has served in the capacity of Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the Clinton Administration as well as various other advisory roles for President Clinton. She becomes the first female AfricanAmerican United States Ambassador to the United Nations and the third woman to hold that position. Given President Obama’s preference for diplomacy over aggression, Dr. Rice should play an important role in the new administration.

Michael Steele The former Lt. Governor of Maryland from 2003 – 2007 has been a familiar Conservative face on the political talk show circuit following an unsuccessful bid for the Senate. Michael Steele becomes the first African-American leader of the Republican National Committee following a highly contested bid for that seat. He assumes the position at a time when some believe the Republican Party needs to appeal to nonwhites and lessen its image as mainly a Southern party. Still others believe that emphasizing core Republican values is what’s needed to return the party to prominence.

** NOTABLE ALPHA EVENTS**

ΑΦΑ Website

The Inauguration in D.C. wasn’t the only one that recently took place. Watch Bro. Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. become our 33rd General President during inauguration weekend in Atlanta, January 23 – 25. http://broadcasturban.net/webcast/apa2009/

FINANCIAL FOCUS Understanding what’s happening on Wall Street and the World By Bro. Ben Shephard The markets are in complete disarray. The economic indicators are pointing in the direction of more pain for everyone. There is not one bright spot in the financial landscape. To add insult to injury, one of the articles highlights that we are in much bigger trouble than anyone could imagine, because of the commitments that have been made to pay public sector workers, like police officers and firefighters. Another article addresses one of the hardest hit markets the housing market. Another article selection focuses on the changing look and feel of the unemployed. The last article is the only bright spot this month. This article highlights the best companies to work for in 2009. It has an exhaustive list of 100 companies that are growing, and believe it or not, hiring. Gilt-Edged Pensions; Your 401(k) isn’t doing too well is it: This Forbes article highlights the issues in our public pension system. The article gives some very disturbing examples of people gaming state and local pension systems. This issue is of great concern, because of the fact that many pension funds are severely under funded. This article is also important because until this crisis hit, many folks never considered local pension programs to be a problem. The 800lb gorillas that many folks are clearly aware of as huge liabilities are Medicare and Medicaid. The shortfall of Medicare and Medicaid are in the trillions, and still growing. The smaller under-funded pensions that the article highlights are just as serious. A cure for the Real-Estate Blues: This Barron’s article is a one on one interview with the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Cohen & Steers. According to the companies website: Cohen & Steers is a manager of income-oriented equity portfolios specializing in U.S. and international real estate securities, large cap value stocks, utilities and listed infrastructure, and preferred securities. The company also offers alternative investment strategies such as hedged real estate securities portfolios and private real estate multi-manager strategies. The interview provides some interesting insight into a sector that is not as well known to the common investor. This sector is the REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) market. The Co-CEO gives his thoughts on some REITS where he sees value and why he feels that the sector will recover hopefully by the end of the year. The new JOBLESS: This piece in Fortune magazine is interesting because it gives personal stories of the industries that have been touched by this crisis, which is every industry. The stories are diverse in their scope. And the Winners Are: This article provides some interesting companies to keep an eye out for. They are in many different sectors and are hiring. What we seem to forget is that just because things are tough for many companies does not mean all companies are struggling. With all of the headlines we can forget that some companies are thriving in the midst of this turmoil. This article provides 100 of them. **** Bro. Ben W. Shephard does Fixed Income Trading for Bank Leumi, a private Israeli bank. To learn more or to obtain a copy of the articles, contact Bro. Shephard at Ben.Shephard@gmail.com. WEBSITE LINKS Article 1: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0216/078.html Article 2: http://online.barrons.com/article/SB123335924161735075.html Article 3: http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/02/news/economy/jobless_complete.fortune/index.htm Article 4: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2009/index.html

FAREWELL 2008! 2008 brought layoffs, foreclosures, a stock market in the tank, and more of the Iraq war, but it also gave us Barack Obama, the end of the Bush reign, and a VERY BUSY Wall Street Chapter. Here is a brief wrap up of December’s activities.

Bros. Kenneth Martin, Mark Anthony Thomas, and Keith Harvey donated toys to Graham Windham's Finest Care Day Care Center on behalf of the Chapter.

Spring ’08 hit the ground running and didn’t let up. Bros. Lino Solis and Jamel Maloney enjoy a little holiday cheer.

KXL brothers joined Tony nominee Elisabeth Withers for her holiday toy drive.

KXL and ZH brothers come together in fellowship for Founder’s Day.

ΑΦΑ - A Century of Leadership - ΑΦΑ

In May 2002, Alpha Brothers from all around joined Bro. Willie Bryant to celebrate the dedication of Bro. Thurgood Marshall’s monument in Hillburn, NY.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter P.O. Box 5382 New York, NY 10185-5382

Visit us at www.wallstreetalphas.com and www.wsacf.org