The SPHINX - 2010 Winter/Spring Edition

WINTER/SPRING 2010 VOLUME 95 H NO. 1

The

SUDARKASA: Chartering Alpha in South Africa

Alpha boycotts Arizona:Moves 2010 Convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas

REID: Vancouver 2010 and Olympic memories at the Alpha House

SPECIAL REPORT

Haiti’s Ground Zero

After relief mission,

men in Alpha delegation

reveal what they saw,

and why America must

help Port-au-Prince

rebuild.

®

Alpha Leads by Leaving Town: Boycotting Arizona for NevadaIn a bold move and strong show of support for civil rights and human dignity, Alpha Phi Alpha becomes the first major organization to boycott Arizona over the state’s controversial immigration bill. The fraternity moved its 104th Anniversary Convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas, prompting other national groups to boycott the state. Alphas + Law Enforcement = Peace in “City to Busy to Hate”In Atlanta, Ga., local law enforcement leaders and members of Alpha sign a historic pact to “stop the violence” in the metro area. The sheriffs agreed to open their jail cells and Alpha brothers agreed to take nonviolence courses and then go behind bars to talk to inmates one-on-one.

A Hall for Coach Robinson at Grambling StateHe’s been inducted into nearly every hall of fame in which a legendary football coach can be enshrined. Now the late Eddie G. Robinson is getting his own hall on the very campus where he became the winningest Division I college football in history.

Haiti’s Ground Zero: Saving Lives One at a Time-Part I Hundreds of thousands died following the Haiti earthquake and the aftershocks, but what will life be like for those left to live with the memory of it all? Alpha Phi Alpha members tell the story of what they saw when they hit ground zero in Port-au-Prince on a humanitarian mission, and why Alpha and America must commit to helping the island recover. Big Brothers Can Make a Difference How relevant will black Greek-lettered organizations be in the future? It depends on how much investment they make now with today’s young African-American boys. Alpha brother and Big Brothers Big Sisters executive Lowell Perry examines the issue up close.

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ON THE COVERBrother Joseph Gambrell, M.D., exams a toddler in earthquake-torn Port-au-Prince. Photo by Bryan J.A. Kelly.

OrganizingEditorRAYMONDW.CANNON

(1892-1992)

OrganizingGeneralPresidentHENRYLAKEDICKASON

(1886-1957)

OfficialOrganof theAlphaPhiAlphaFraternity,Inc.®Winter/Spring2010–Volume95,No.1

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRICKBLALOCK

[email protected]

EXECUTIVE EDITORHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.

ASSOCIATE EDITORS JabrielS.Ballentine,DavidC.BrownJr.,DennisA.DeanII,DennisA.DosterLeonardLe’DouxJr.,AudwinB.Fletcher,DarrellV.Freeman,ByronJ.Grayson

ReynaldoP.Green,TroyD.Griffin,LeeHouse,JohnW.HugginsDrevonJones,JamesE.JonesJr.,JonathanC.W.Jones,SamuelH.Lloyd

RoscoeW.McClainJr.,CalMcNeill,M.D.,RenardMobley,AnthonyMooreBlakeMoorman,JamesA.Muhammad,JeramaineO.Netherly,HerbertOlivier

CarlosM.Parker,FreddiePlayer,MichaelD.Rachal,ZahmuSankofaKristianSawyers,DerrickL.Sibert,JulianSmart,De’ShawnSmithSteveSmith,VictorKSmith,RossStuckey,CharlesM.Washington

ShelbyWillis,GeorgeWimberly,GeraldYerby

COPY EDITORK.ThomasOglesby

CONTRIBUTING EDITORSJerryAskin

BryanJ.A.KellyWilliamDouglassLyle

DonWeston

SENIOR WRITERSEllisAlbright,WaldoE.JohnsonJr.

DerrickAlexanderPope,AndrewTimothySiwo,F.CarlWalton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSU.GrantBaldwinJr.,JamesE.Ball,MarkBarnes,FerrelBonner,JeanG.Celestin

JeanMcGianni,Celestin,JamesCrumel,AaronCrutison,RashidDardenHoraceDawson,NicholasFletcher,IraL.Foster,Esq.,JosephGambrell,M.D.AntoineM.Garibaldi,JustinHarlow,RonaldC.Jackson,RicardoR.JeffersonM.ColeJones,MichaelJohnMyersII,QuincyO’Neal,LowellW.Perry,Jr.RonPeters,JamesV.Pierce,MichaelA.Smith,M.D.,RoderickSmothersZollieStevenson,BradleyD.Thomas,MarkTillman,NormanE.W.Towels

RonnieVersherJr.,MarquesWilkes,SacobyWilson

CONTRIBUTORSHyacinthC.Ahuruonye,DonM.Alameda,CoryJ.Anderson,MarkA.Anderson

EdwardD.AnthonyIII,LarryArmstrong,KennethAvery,KengieBassBrandonBatts,RodneyCash,TonyCheatham,CharlesC.DavisJr.

MiltonC.Davis,StanfordL.Deckard,II,DeloresDiggs,WilliamDoctorHoraceDukes,VonEaglin,AudwinB.Fletcher,NicholasFletcher,JamesFord

RayGittens,GregoryGlass,HenryGoodgameJr.,LarryGoodwin,HenryGreenCarltonL.HaithcoxSr.,JamesHale,K.D.Hale,RandyHall,BrandonHamilton

PhilHayes,EricE.Heath,LewisC.Hicks,BillyJ.Hill,RonnieHorneSamuelL.Jackson,PatrickJeffrey,MichaelJenkins,RichardT.JamesJr.DavidM.Johnson,EmileJohnson,KevinR.Johnson,MichaelT.Johnson

FranklinL.Jones,IssamKhoury,EricKing,FonzellKing,ClaudeAnthonyLegreeIIIEufranciaG.Lash,AnthonyLewis,Antwan-La’MontLofton,DaleLong

DonaldLowrance,TommieMack,WhittakerMackIII,DarrylR.MatthewsSr.TerenceMcPherson,JeremyMercer,RyanEianMiddleton,PaulB.MohrSr.

BlakeMoorman,GordonC.Murray,Esq.,GaryC.Nash,KeithNelsonGaryD.Oliver,JonPack,ChrisPalmer,PhilipParker,ClintonR.ParksJr.ThomasPawley,DameonProctor,CharlesV.PiphusJr.,ErnestJacobRieux

OzRoberts,VictorRobinson,VernonRoss,Jr.,JohnC.Shelby,HiltonO.SmithLangstonD.Smith,MarcusB.Stallworth,RobbieStokes,HenryStovallMichaelStreet,JamesStukes,MichaelE.M.Sudarkasa,RickeyThigpen

RalphThomas,AnthonyThompson,SherelleS.Torrence,MarvinTurnerPerryeTurner,RayburneTurner,ZacheryR.Williams,MichaelWilliamsT.NelsonWilliamsII,DariusWhite,OrrinWhite,KimWright-King

ChristopherWyckoff,BillyYarbrough

ART DIRECTIONTHEO’NEALGROUPToniO’NealMosleyMichelleGlennon

PHOTOGRAPHERSAlonzoS.Blalock,RickeyBrown,JarvisHarris

BryanJ.A.Kelly,Jeff Lewis,JasonLewisPhilipMcCollum,CoryThompson,JamalWiggins

ChristopherWilliams,EvelynWright

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.Herman“Skip”Mason,Jr.,GeneralPresidentWilliamDouglassLyle,ExecutiveDirector

JamesW.Ward,Chairman,CommitteeonPublications

FOUNDERSHenryArthurCallis

CharlesHenryChapmanEugeneKinckleJonesGeorgeBiddleKelley

NathanielAllisonMurrayRobertHaroldOgle

VertnerWoodsonTandy

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©2010AlphaPhiAlphaFraternity,Inc.Allrightsreserved.

I N E V E R Y I S S U E

3 EDITOR’S DESK

4 CONTRIBUTORS

5 GENERAL PRESIDENT’S LETTER

6 NEWS

33 CHAPTER NEWS

40 INITIATIVES

43 BROTHERS ON THE MOVE

49 OMEGA CHAPTER

60 LEADERSHIP DIRECTORY

2 THE SPHINX H Winter/Spring 2010

The

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Thinking About the World and Our Role in It

Spring is upon us, and for most parts of the United States the cold temperatures have given way to warm climates that can bring hazardous storms. Much of the country, during the period that this issue of The Sphinx was produced, saw huge downpours, deadly tornadoes and floods that left thousands homeless.

Then, of course, at the outset of 2010 we had Haiti’s earthquake (coverage beginning on page 21), which left more than 200,000 people dead and thousands more without shelter. These acts of nature continue to remind us that we mortals are very small, vulnerable pieces in the big scheme of things. It took a volcano (in Iceland of all places) that halted human movement to remind us that we are inhabitants of earth, not the species running the planet, as many of us think.

Much has happened on the political front, too. We witnessed history with the passage and signing of the Healthcare Reform bill, which provides help to nearly 40 million people who need heath care but lack insurance to help pay for it. Arizona’s new immigration law has sparked boycotts not seen since the days of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Alpha Phi Alpha has led the way in making a statement about the law by moving the 104th Anniversary Convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas in July.

On the world stage, a new peace treaty between Russia and the U.S. was signed. The hope is that the reduction of both countries’ nuclear stockpiles will lead to a more peaceful world. Even still, the world’s stabilization may not lay so much in what the superpowers do, but what other countries—several with nukes—do. Nuclear Pakistan is always a question mark. North Korea has a nuclear bomb. Iran is close to having a nuclear weapon (if it doesn’t really already have one), and Israel remains steadfast with its finger on its own nuclear button, in the face of a feared attack from its Middle Eastern enemies. Oh yes, and America is still owned by China, because of the United States’ continually racking up debt on its “Bank of China” credit card.

At The Sphinx we cannot cover all the issues of the day; however, we attempt to cover many of the important matters we believe deserve the attention of the world in general and persons of color in particular. That is why we have dedicated space for a two-part series on Haiti, in this issue and the coming summer magazine. We also provide some voice to the issues of domestic violence, emerging leaders of business in Africa and America, and why professionals need to reach young people as big brothers and big sisters—before it is too late.

So there is much to consider and think about as we head into summer. And did I mention that midterm congressional and gubernatorial elections are right around the corner? H

Editor’sDesk

Rick Blalock is a two-time Emmy® winner and editor of The Sphinx. [email protected]


U. GRANT BALDWIN JR. is a mental health social worker in Whiteville, N.C. A member of Gamma Kappa Lambda Chapter of Wilmington, N.C., he was initiated at Tau Nu Chapter at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2004. In 2005, he graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. This May he earned his Master of Social Work degree from Fayetteville State University. A native of the Whiteville

and Elizabethtown communities in North Carolina, Baldwin writes his first story for The Sphinx in the SPECIAL REPORT on Haiti. He covers the need for outreach to the people of the earthquake-torn country.

JAMES E. BALL is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel residing in El Paso, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from South Carolina State College (University), where he joined Alpha Phi Alpha at Beta Delta Chapter. He also holds an M.B.A. degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. A 50-year brother and life member, Ball is chapter historian of Theta Delta Lambda Chapter. In NEWS he writes about the

first environmentally friendly “green” school in El Paso named for an Alpha man.

JEAN G. CELESTIN is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha’s Sigma Lambda Chapter in New Orleans, La. He joined Alpha in 1997 at Rho Iota Chapter at Tulane University in New Orleans at which he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in finance and marketing. He also holds an M.B.A. degree from the University of New Orleans. He is senior vice president of Dryades Savings Bank and serves on the board of the Urban League of

Greater New Orleans and the Regional Transit Authority. He is also the founder of Life After High School, a community-based initiative designed to encourage high school students to attend college. In our SPECIAL REPORT, he writes on the need for financial commitment and the money issues facing Haiti.

JEAN McGIANNI CELESTIN is a Haitian-born writer, poet and activist. A former varsity athlete, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Pennsylvania State University. He currently is responsible for business development in the investment banking division of a leading technology recruiting firm in New York City and is a contributing writer for The Watering Hole and Examiner.com. In this issue he reports on

the descendants of Haiti’s founders and how life has transformed since the establishment of the first black democracy.

JOSEPH GAMBRELL, M.D., is one of the many doctors who came to aid the wounded in Haiti after the earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha at Beta Chapter at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Gambrell earned a bachelor’s degree in 1968. He graduated from Howard University College of Medicine in 1972, and is a practicing pediatrician in Los Angeles, Calif. Gambrell was part of the

fraternity’s delegation to Haiti in February. He writes about the medical crisis facing the country in part one of our SPECIAL REPORT on Haiti.

LOWELL PERRY JR. is chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee and co-chair of the BBBS of America’s national African-American Community Engagement Roundtable. A native of Detroit, he is a member of Tau Lambda Chapter in Nashville, Tenn. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in administrative sciences at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. He joined Alpha in 1983 at Zeta Pi

Lambda Chapter in Seattle, Wash., while an executive in the Seattle Seahawks front office. In INITIATIVES he writes on how to save today’s at-risk young boys.

ALVIN REID is an Emmy-winning journalist in St. Louis who joined Alpha Phi Alpha at Upsilon Chapter, while a student at the University of Kansas (KU), in spring 1979. Currently a news and sports columnist for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat daily online newspaper globe-democrat.com, Reid is also a panelist on PBS affiliate KETC-TV’s “Donnybrook” program. Reid has held editing posts at the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal, and the Arkansas

(Little Rock) Gazette and served as senior editor of Emerge magazine after three years with USA TODAY Baseball Weekly. In the NEWS section he recalls Olympic memories and a glorious time in the KU Alpha house, when Americans truly believed in miracles.

ZOLLIE STEVENSON JR. is director of Title I and Title III programs at the U.S. Department of Education. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds degrees from Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Kappa Lambda Chapter in

Greensboro, N.C., in 1983. Stevenson is chairman of the fraternity’s Special Committee on Organizational Effectiveness, and is a member of Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter in Washington, D.C. and Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter in Largo, Md. In the OMEGA section, he recalls how much Alpha Brother Gregory Jackson gave in such a short life.

MICHAEL E.M. SUDARKASA, a commercial attorney by training, is involved in economic development consulting and project finance in Johannesburg, South Africa. He relocated from the States in January 1999. He was initiated at Epsilon Chapter at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history. He also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass. In

Alpha, he is a member of the fraternity’s International Region Task Force. He reports from Johannesburg on the efforts to establish the first Alpha chapter in Africa since 1974.

BRADLEY D. THOMAS is a licensed master social worker. In 2003, he established a collaborative with the YWCA and the fraternity’s Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter to prevent domestic abuse in Memphis, Tenn. The program, Alphas Against Abuse, provides mentorship to children and works to prevent the generational cycle of domestic violence. Thomas, a life member of Alpha, is president of Alpha Delta Lambda and

chairman of the fraternity’s Reclamation Committee. In INITIATIVES he writes on why men must speak out against domestic violence.

C O N T R I B U T O R S


Whilemany across the land celebrated a new health care law in March, there is still so much more work to do. The disparities in health care are massive. The educational gap for our young African-American boys continues to widen. The jobless rate is too high, and the job pool too low. Alpha is still needed for such a time as this.

And now we have Arizona, and its implementation of a new immigration law that puts people’s civil rights and their dignity at risk. It is a law that is likely to lead to racial profiling and discrimination.

The actions of the legislators and the governor in Arizona, despite calls to find another way to protect its borders and communities, forced the Board of Directors of Alpha Phi Alpha to move our General Convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas. The decision was the right one, despite the inconvenience, and the financial difficulty it may cause the fraternity and individual members.

As I have said before, our late Brother Martin Luther King, Jr. made it plain from a jail cell in Birmingham in 1963: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Alpha Phi Alpha’s decision to boycott Arizona continues that same fight fought during the Civil Rights era.

We will not only speak with our voices and our feet, we will speak with our economic clout; and we will not spend our money in Arizona, and urge all members of the Divine Nine and other groups and organizations to do the same.

While we battle this injustice out west, we should also not lose sight of what has happened in Haiti. Of all my travels on behalf of the fraternity this year, none has been more impressive than the Alpha Phi Alpha delegation visit to Haiti after the earthquake. I saw things I will never forget, and I learned how even when we have the worst of times in the U.S., it is still not as bad as those who suffer in poverty 24-7, 365 days a year. I’m happy we took a delegation and that we will continue to keep Haiti in our hearts and minds in the future.

During the last few months, I have stood in the front of The Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, where I read a passage from the History of Alpha Phi Alpha, written by our beloved historian and 14th General President Charles Wesley. I also fellowshipped with the kindred folks of Ethiopia and asked the question to the Jewels, “How did you know?” We know that both countries are extremely significant in the annals of this fraternity. My last international visit this quarter was to China. Along with members of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation Board, we paid a visit to check on the final progress of the King sculpture before it is shipped to the U.S. It’s gratifying to know that finally the dream of a memorial to Brother Dr. King is coming true.

Sadly, two of Alpha’s bright stars were both shot down in the prime of their lives due to this continuous vicious cycle of violence that plagues our country. We celebrate the short but well lived lives of Brother Michael Muchioki of New Jersey and Brother Steven Lee of Chicago.

Lastly, on the way to the Iota Centennial Celebration at Syracuse University, I was taken to Troy, New York, where I paid tribute to our beloved Jewel George Biddle Kelley. As I knelt at his grave, I was renewed in the spirit of brotherhood and also with the urge to return Alpha to its activist roots. The spirit of the Jewels permeated my soul, and I realized that we must remain believers in the 7!

FROM THE

GeneralPresident

Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.is the 33rd general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, [email protected]

A solemn moment at Jewel George Biddle Kelley’s final resting place in Troy, N.Y., April 24, 2010.

Agents of Change: At Home and Abroad


PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION WEEKENDN E W S

THENEWIMMIGRATIONBILLsignedintolawbyArizonaGov.JanBrewerinlateAprilhascausedabacklashunheardof sincethedaysof theCivilRightsMovement. Thelegislationisconsideredtobeamongthetoughestandharshestinthenation,anditordersimmigrantstocarrytheiralien-registrationdocumentsatalltimes.Itgivespolicebroadpowerstodetain,andrequiresthemtoquestionanindividualif thereisreasontosuspectheorsheisintheUnitedStatesillegally. Respondingtothestate’sdecision,onApril29,AlphaPhiAlpha’sboardof directorsvotedunanimouslytorescindthelocationof Phoenix,Ariz.,asthemeetinglocationof the104thAnniversaryConventioninJuly,andtodenouncewhatAlphacallsan“egregiousimmigrationact.” “Itwasthefullopinionof theboardthatwecouldnothostameetinginastatethathassanctionedalawwhichwebelievewillleadtoracialprofilinganddiscrimination,andalawthatcouldputthecivilrightsandtheverydignityof ourmembersatriskduringtheirstayinPhoenixArizona,”saidHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.,thefraternity’sgeneralpresident. Alphaishistoricallyblack,butitwasthefirstintegratedfraternityinthenation’shistoryandhasmanyHispanicbrothersamongthe200,000membersithasinitiated. Thelocationof theevent,whichisscheduledtotakeplaceJuly21-25,wasmovedtoLasVegas,Nev.ThelossforPhoenixcouldmeanasmanyas10,000visitorsandthehundredsof thousandsof dollarstheywouldhavespentandpumpedintotheArizonaeconomy. Thefraternity’sactioncreatedaneconomicdominoeffect.

Soonafteritsdecisionbecameheadlinenewsontelevision,writtenaboutontheWebandintheNew York Times,otherorganizationsfollowedAlpha’slead.TheNationalUrbanLeagueimmediatelypulledPhoenixfromconsiderationforits2012conference.TheBostonCityCouncilvotedtopullinvestmentsfromArizona;themayorof St.Paul,Minn.,bannedallcity-fundedtraveltoArizona;andOakland,Calif.,councilmembersvotedtoboycottArizonabusinesses.Onalargerscale,MajorLeagueBaseballisunderpressuretotakeits2011All-StarGameelsewhere,muchliketheNationalFootballLeaguedidin1993whenArizonarefusedtorecognizeMartinLutherKing,Jr.Dayasaholiday.BoththeDemocraticNationalCommitteeandtheRepublicanNationalCommitteearealsobeingpressedtoremovePhoenixfromconsiderationassitesfortheir2012nationalconventions.“WhowouldthinkthatAmerica,in2010,wouldresembleColdWar-eraRussiaorWorldWarII-eraNaziGermany—whereJewsandotherethnicminoritieshadto“carry

papers”andfearedbeingpickedupbypolice,“justbecause?”Masonsaid.“OurlateAlphabrothertheRev.Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.said,inaletterhewrotewhilesittingintheBirminghamJail,‘Injusticeanywhereisathreattojusticeeverywhere.’AlphaPhiAlpha’sdecisiontoboycottArizonacontinuesthatsamefight.Wewillnotonlyspeakwithourvoicesandourfeet,wewillspeakwithoureconomicclout;andwewillnotspendourmoneyinArizona,andurgeotherorganizationsandpeoplewhobelieveinequalityunderthelawtodothesame.”H

Alpha Phi Alpha boycotts Arizona Moves annual convention to Las Vegas

N E W S

Thompson‘s “loving’ it”McDonald’s Promotes Alpha Man to President and COO

“YOUDESERVEABREAKtoday,”atMcDonald’swasthesloganfortheworld’slargestfast-foodchainforyears.AndanAlphabrother,whodidnottakemanybreaksworkinghiswaytothetopatthehamburger-sellingmainstay,isnowrunningtheplace.

Earlierthisyear,OakBrook,Il.l-basedMcDonald’sCorp.namedDonThompsonpresidentandchief operatingofficer,withoversightof thecompany’s32,000restaurantsworldwide.

ThepromotionputsThompson,whowasnamedBlack Enterprisemagazine’sCorporateExecutiveof theYearin2007andatopBEExecutivein2009,asnextinlinetolikelysucceedMcDonald’sCEOJimSkinner,accordingtoanalysts.ThompsonreplacedRalphAlvarez,whoretiredinDecemberforhealth-relatedreasons. BrotherThompson,46,whowasinitiatedatGammaRhoChapteratPurdueUniversityinLafayette,Ind.,hasadegreeinelectricalengineeringfromPurdue.HebeganhiscareeratMcDonald’sin1990asarestaurantsystemsengineer.Sincethen,heexcelledinaslewof positionsthathaveonecommonthread:Theyperformedbetterfromabusinessandfinancialstandpointafterhisarrival.Hediditbyfocusingonqualitynotquantity,expandingmenuofferings,andimprovingcustomersatisfactionandefficiency. “DonThompsonhasdoneanoutstandingjobleadingourU.S.business,andIamconfidenthewillbringthesameenergyandinnovativethinkingtohisnewglobalroleaspresidentandchief operatingofficer,”saidMcDonald’sCEOJimSkinner.“Don’sU.S.leadershipexperience,combinedwiththegreatrecordhehadasexecutivevicepresidentof ourglobalrestaurantsystemsgroup,uniquelyqualifieshimforthisnextimportantresponsibilityatMcDonald’s.” Ironically,ThompsoninitiallyhadnodesiretoworkfortheGoldenArches.Aftergraduation,helandedajob,asanengineerspecialist,designingradar-jammingsystemsforfighterplaneswithNorthropCorp.inRollingMeadows,Ill.Butafterrebuffingthecompany,heeventuallywentforaninterviewandhasnowmadehistory.H


A Debt-Free America? Congressman Fattah: Legislation Could Eliminate National Debt

UNITEDSTATESREP.BrotherChakaFattah,D-Pa.,hasintroducedlegislationthatcallsforapennyoneverydollarontransactionsintheUnitedStateseconomytobedirectedtoeliminatingAmerica’snationaldebt. TheDebtFreeAmericaActoffersadramaticbutsimpleapproachtopayingoffthenation’sdebt,nowescalatingpastthe$12trillionmark.Thebreakthroughlegislationproposesaonepercentfeetobeleviedonallpaymentinstruments,includingcashtransactions,checks,creditcards,transactionsprocessedthroughtheFederalReserveBank,andtransactionscollectedatthepointofsale. “Interestonthenationaldebtisanextraordinaryburdenthatwillcrowdoutinvestmentsonourcriticalnationalprioritiessuchaseconomicdevelopmentandeducation,”saidFattah.“Thescopeofthischallengerequiresboldandfreshthinking,butitcanbedone.” TheU.S.economyregistered$750trillionintransactionsin2008,accordingtotheFederalReserve.TheDebtFreeAmericaActwouldplacethepenny-on-the-dollarfeeonthosetransactions,exceptstocktrades.Inaddition,taxpayerswouldreceivea1percenttaxcreditforgrossincomeupto$250,000tooffsettheimpactof thefeeonmiddleclass–working–andmodest-incomehouseholds. Fsttah’sbillalsoestablishestheBipartisanTaskForceforResponsibleFiscalActiontocontrolandlimitfederalspending.Inaddition,oncethenationaldebtispaiddown,thetransactionfeeopensthedoortobroad-basedtax-reform,thecongressmansaid. “Whenenacted,thetransactionfeeIamproposingwillgeneratesufficientrevenuetomaintainafiscallyresponsiblebudgetandallowthefederalgovernmenttomeetitsfinancialobligationswhilepayingdownandultimatelyeliminatingtheoversizednationaldebt,”saidFattah.“TheTaskForcewill,atthesametime,changethewaywedobusinessinWashingtonbyforcingmoreresponsible,fiscalactiononourlawmakersandtheexecutivebranch.” BrotherFattah,aneight-termmemberfromPhiladelphia,isamemberof theHouseAppropriationsSubcommitteeonFinancialServices.Hehasbeenalongtimeadvocateforpay-as-you-golegislation,knownas“Paygo,”forwhichhehasvoted.T

To review the Debt Free America Act, visit www.fattah.house.gov, the

congressman’s official website. H

U.S. Rep. Brother Chaka Fattah Brother Don Thompson

N E W S


T. Nelson Williams to Lead African Oil-Refining Company in Liberia

WHENITWASTIMEtoappointanewleaderof theLiberiaPetroleumRefiningCompany(LPRC),leadersinMonrovia,Liberia,turnedtoanAlphaman. InJanuary,herExcellencyPresidentEllenJohnsonSirleaf madeitofficial,namingAlphaBrotherT.NelsonWilliamsIImanagingdirectorof theonlypetroleumstorageterminalinthecountry.Williamswasappointedupontherecommendationof theboardof directors.Heisresponsiblefortherehabilitation,expansionandprofitabilityof LPRC.Inhisrole,heheadstheexecutivedivisionof thecorporationandservesaschief executiveofficerof thecompany.Williamsalsoservesassecretarytotheboardof directors,andaschief patronof theOilersSportsAssociation,thecompany’smanagementorganizationof theLPRCprofessionalsoccerteam.Priortohispromotion,Williamsservedfortwoyearsasdeputymanagingdirectorandchief

administrativeofficerof thecompany. A1983initiateof GammaPsiChapter,atSt.Augustine’sCollege,WilliamsearnedaBachelorof Sciencedegreeincomputersciencefromtheschoolin1986.HealsoholdsaMasterof PublicAdministrationdegreefromNorthCarolinaCentralUniversity. Williamswhoisleadingthere-

establishmentof achapterinMonroviaisamemberof theSocietyforHumanResourcesManagement,theBusinessExecutiveNetwork,andtheInternationalCustomerServiceAssociation. Williams,whoatonetimelivedinmetroAtlanta,ismarriedandafatherof twochildren.H

Walter Owens Now Heads National Dental Association

NASHVILLEDENTISTDr.WalterR.Owenswasrecentlyinstalledasthe86thpresidentof theNationalDentalAssociation.The96-year-oldassociationistheleadingvoiceandadvocateof oral-health-careconcernsforethnicminorities. Owens,amemberof AlphaPhiAlpha,tookovertheorganizationonDec.9,2009,afteraformalceremonyinhishometownof Nashville.OwenspracticeddentistryinTennesseefor

morethan25yearsbeforeretiringfromprivatepracticein2005.HecurrentlyservesasseniordevelopmentofficerfortheMeharryMedicalCollegeSchoolof Dentistry. OnhandfortheinstallationactivitieswasDr.RayGist,newly

electedpresidentof theAmericanDentalAssociation(ADA).GististhefirstAfrican-AmericantoheadtheADAinits150-yearhistory. “Iamhonoredtoserveasheadof oneof thenation’slargestprofessionalhealthcareassociationsduringthisimportanttimeforhealthcarepolicyinournation’shistory,”saidOwens.“TheNationalDentalAssociationhasbeentheleaderinrepresentingtheconcernsof ethnicminoritiesindentistry,andIlookforwardtocontinuingthatmission.” Owens,whosetermisforoneyear,isagraduateof TennesseeStateUniversity,atwhichheearnedaBachelorof Sciencedegreeinzoology.HeearnedhisDoctorof DentalSurgerydegreein1975fromHowardUniversityinWashington,D.C. AnArmyveteran,hewasaninstructorintheDepartmentofOralMedicineandRadiologyatMeharryMedicalCollege,from1978to1985. Inadditiontohisprofessionalaffiliations,Owenshasbeenactiveinthecommunity,includingworkwiththeBoysScouts.Hehasalsoplayedanintegralroleincreatingmanyprogramsforthestateof Tennesseeanditscitizens. Marriedandthefatherof twochildren,Owensistherecipientof numerousawardsandisalsoamemberof SigmaPiPhiFraternity.H

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (left) with Brother T. Nelson Williams II (center) n Monrovia, Liberia.

Brother Walter R. Owens

Taking Court to the PeopleSatellite Sessions Provide Access to HomelessBy James V. Pierce

INANEFFORTTOpreventminorcriminalcasesfromstandinginthewayof “on-the-street”defendants’effortstoemergefromhomelessness,FloridaJudgeJamesPierceisliterallytakingcourttothepeople. Florida’sfirstHomelessCourtwasheldJan.30,2010,aspartof ProjectHomelessConnectinPinellasCounty,Fla.Thefirstof whatisaimedatbecomingmonthlysatellitecourtsessionsconvenedat9a.m.attheSt.PetersburgColiseum,withPinellasCountyJudgesLorraineKellyandPiercepresiding. Theofficialcourtsessionsaredesignedtoassisthomelessdefendantsinresolvingmattersinvolvingminormisdemeanorcharges,city-ordinanceviolationsandsimilaroutstandingwarrantsthatinvolvevictimlesscriminalmatters.AttorneysfromtheprivatesectorandthePublicDefender’sofficeareonsitetoadvisedefendants,andrepresentativesof theStateAttorney’s

officearepresenttohelpresolvethecasesinanonpunitivemanner.OfficialshopetheprojectwillenhanceandcomplementtheongoingassistanceofferedtothehomelessbythePublicDefender’soffice. “Ourhopeisthatdefendantscanbeconnectedtocommunityservicesandtreatmentprograms,ratherthanbeingsentencedtomoretraditionalsanctionssuchascustodyorfinestheysimplycannotpay,”saidPierce,amemberof AlphaPhiAlpha’sOmicronBetaLambdaChapter,inClearwater,Fla. “Doingthiswillcertainlyhelpbreakthecycleof gettingarrested,beingreleasedbacktothestreetsandthenbeingarrestedagainwhentheyfailtoappearincourt,oftenbecauseof transportationproblems.” ParticipationinHomelessCourtisvoluntary,soofficialswillhavetogaugeresponsetoseejusthoweffectivetheprogramwillbe. “Itprobablywilltaketimetobuilduptrustof thepeoplewearetryingtohelp,”saidPierce. Butmostagree,thatdisposingof manyof theminorcasesonthedocketwillbeabigbenefittothecourtsandtaxpayersof PinellasCounty,andtothepeoplewhomtheprogramaimstoassist.H

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IFEVERYTHINGINTEXASISBIG,thenitissurelyabigdealwhenaschoolgoesgreen—andit’snamedforanAlphaman. InElPaso,Texas,civic,business,communityandAlphaPhiAlphaleadersarecelebratingthehonor,nowthatChesterE.JordanElementaryhasbeendeemedthefirstLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesignLEED-certifiedschoolintheSocorroIndependentSchoolDistrictin

thecity.Thededicationof theschoolwasheldonNov.20,2009,andmarkedaturningpointforboththeschoolsystemandthefraternity. AlphaPhiAlphalaunchedanewinternationalinitiativecalled“AlphaPhiAlphaGoesGreen”earlierintheyear,designedtohighlightthecapital

andmoralinvestmentsthatAlphabrothersmakeintheirpublicandprivatelivestoward

natural-disaster-relief efforts.Theinitiativealsoaimstohighlightbrothers’effortstomitigategreenhousegasemissions;todevelopof weatherizationprojects;toreduceenvironmental-riskandtocreatesustainable-developmentandenvironmental-justicecampaigns. Uponcompletionof construction,JordanElementarythefirst“GreenSchool”inthecity. Jordan,amemberof OmegaChapter,wasborninHillsboro,Texas.In1952,heearnedhisBachelorof SciencedegreefromTexasSouthernUniversityinHouston.HesubsequentlyenlistedintheU.S.Armyandbeganastellar30-yearmilitarycareer. Alifememberof Alpha,BrotherJordan,alifemember,servedinseveralcapacities,includingpresidentof ThetaDeltaLambdaChapterinElPaso.HeisaninducteeinducteeintheTexasCouncilof AlphaChaptersHallof Fameforhisoutstandingworkinstateandregionalactivities. Thegreenschoolisnotthefirsttimehisnamehasbeenimmortalized.In2001,ElPaso’sChesterE.JordanParkwasdedicatedinhishonor.H

Brother Chester E. Jordan

Jordan Elementary School in El Paso, Texas

Green School Named For Chester JordanFirst Ever in El Paso, TexasBy James E. Ball

Georgia Law Enforcement Agencies Sign Pact with Alpha Members Aim to Stem Violence in Local CommunitiesBy Rick Blalock

LEADERSOFFOURMAJORlawenforcementagenciesinmetroAtlantajoinedmembersof AlphaPhiAlphaonDec.4,2009—theorganization’s103rdanniversary—inauniquepartnershipwiththegoalof reducingyouthviolenceandcrime. IndowntownAtlanta,Ga.—withthebackdropof theMartinLutherKing,Jr.CenterforNonviolentSocialChange’sreflectingpoolandthecryptof AlphabrotherKing—Alphamembersandtheofficerssignedapartnershipproclamation.OnhandforthesigningceremonywereFultonCounty,Ga.,Sheriff BrotherTheodore“Ted”Jackson;DeKalbCounty,Ga.,Sheriff TomBrown,AtlantaPoliceAssistantPoliceChief AlanDreher,andCobbCounty,Ga.,SafetyDirectorMickeyLloyd. “Ithinkthisisextraordinary,”saidJackson.“Withmorethan1,000brothersinthemetroareaavailabletohelpmentorandcounselinmates,thoseontheinsidewillseefirsthandthattheycanchangetheirlivesandbejustassuccessfulasthesecollegeandprofessionalmembersinAlpha.” Thehistoricpartnershipagreementwiththefraternitycallsformembersof its15-areacollegeandalumnichapterstobeginworkingwithlawenforcementagencies,throughavarietyof programs,toreduceviolenceinthecommunity.Thebrothersweretostartafterthememberstakeconflict-resolutioncoursestobeadministeredbytheKingCenterinearly2010. “Ourfraternitybelievesthatallof ushavearoletoplay,”saidJustinHarlow,Southernregionalassistantvicepresidentof thefraternity.AsanAVP,Harlow,asenioratEmoryUniversityinAtlanta,sitsonthenationalboardof directors. “Weknowthatwecannotspellbrotherswithoutalsospellingothers.Thisisourwayof helpingourcommunitiesandreducingviolenceatthesametime.” Thepartnershipispartof anoverallconnectiontothefraternity’snewestnationalprogramdesignedtosaveblack-Americanyoungboys,“fromthehighchairtohighereducation.” ThesigningceremonyandrelatedFounders’Dayeventsreceivedtelevisioncoveragefromallfourlocalmajornetwork-affiliatedTVstationsandthelocalnewspaper.TheweekendeventswerecoordinatedbytheMetroAtlantaFounders’DayCommittee,undertheleadershipof theMetroAtlantaCouncilof Presidents.TheCouncil,comprisedof themetroarea’sAlphachapterpresidents,overseesandcoordinatesjointeventsforthe15chaptersinmetroAtlantaandiscurrentlychairedbyBobLeandrasJonesII,presidentof EtaLambdaChapterinAtlanta.H

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DeKalb County, Ga., Sheriff Thomas Brown, with Brother Martin Luther King Jr.’s crypt in background.

Metro Atlanta Alphas and law enforcement officers at the King Center.

Joining to stop the violence. Pictured from left: Brother Bernard Lafayette of the King Center and Emory University; Fulton County, Ga., Sheriff Brother Theodore “Ted” Jackson; DeKalb County, Ga., Sheriff Thomas Brown; Alpha Southern Region Assistant Vice President Justin Harlow; Cobb County, Ga., Public Safety Director Mickey Lloyd; Atlanta Police Assistant Chief Alan Dreher; and Brother Carlton L. Haithcox Sr., president of Omicron Mu Lambda Chapter in Marietta/Cobb County, Ga.

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ASAMERICACELEBRATEDBlackHistoryMonthinFebruary,AlphaPhiAlphajoinedthepeopleacrosstheUnitedStatesandaroundworldinsalutingtheNationalUrbanLeague(NUL)onitscentennialanniversary. Formedin1910,theNULisanorganizationcreatedbyblackandwhitereformerstoaddresstheneedsof AfricanAmericansastheymigratedfromruralareastoAmerica’surbancenters.Akeypartof itsmissionistheongoingworktoachieveeconomicequityandempowermentasavehicleinwhichtoelevatethestandardof livinginhistoricallyunderservedurbancommunities. “AlphaPhiAlphahasalwaysplayedavitalroleintheUrbanLeague’ssuccess,”saidRoyLevyWilliams,alongtimeAlphamember,formerautoexecutive,andapastpresidentof theDetroitUrbanLeague.“AtnotimeistheLeaguemoreimportantthannow.YouonlyhavetolookattheeconomyinDetroitandMichigantoseeit’scriticalrelevance.CitieslikeDetroitwillneedtheUrban

Leaguetogetourcitybackonitsfeet,andgetourpeoplebacktowork. “Weareextremelyproudof ourfraternity’sroleintheUrbanLeaguenationallyandincitiesallacrossthecountry,”saidGeneralPresidentHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr. MasonpointedtothemanyAlphaPhiAlphamembers,suchasWilliams,whohavehelpedshapeanddeveloptheNULovertheyears.Fiveof thenineexecutivesof theNULareinitiatedmembersof Alpha.Thefraternity’sinfluencebeganintheearlydaysof theorganization,withAlphaPhiAlphafounderEugeneKinckleJones,whoservedthelongestasNULleader,from1918to1940.LesterB.Grangerservedfrom1941to1961.WhitneyM.YoungJr.servedfrom1961to1971.HughB.PricebecameNULpresidentin1994andservedthrough2002,untilformerNewOrleansMayorMarcMorialassumedthepost. Membersandstakeholdersof theNULwillformallycelebratetheanniversaryatitscentennialconferenceinJuly,withthetheme“EmpowermentTime:Past,Present&Future.”H

Alpha salutes Urban League for 100 years of service

Hugh B. Price Marc H. Morial

Eugene Kinckle Jones

Whitney M. Young Jr.

Again, all of us are dealing with yet another passing of one of the world’s greatest citizens. Dorothy I. Height, the longtime leader of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), died April 20 at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Height’s name is among the legends of the Civil Rights Movement.

She led the NCNW from 1957 to 1988, working with our brother the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and others in the fight for civil, voting and equal rights. Height was born in Richmond, Va., and lived to be 98 before “going home.” But even to the end, she was in the battle; she was among a handful of key African-American leaders who met with

President Barack Obama at the White House recently for a summit on race and the economy. Height was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by President Bill Clinton and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004—the two highest civilian honors in America. We, in Alpha Phi Alpha, are blessed that we had the opportunity to share in her experiences to make America—and the world—a better place. Along with Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, Height was among those we honored in 1978 at the Alpha Phi Alpha General Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., at which the fraternity honored women of the Civil Rights Movement. Personally, it was my pleasure to meet her several years ago in Atlanta, during the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority national convention; she was president of the sorority from 1947 to 1956. Her very presence exuded inspiration, and I knew at that very moment I along with all of our fellow young black men and women must honor her legacy. On behalf of all of the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, we offer our condolence to Height’s family and those who were close to her. And we offer our sincerest thanks for her contribution to our country and our people.

—Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.

Lester B. Granger

Brothers who have led the National Urban League to great prominence from inception to today.

NUL’sAlphaLeadersThroughtheYears

Dorothy Height (right) is shown here with Alpha’s 25th General President James R. Williams and Rosa Parks at the 1978 Alpha Phi Alpha General Convention.

Alphas Remember Dorothy Height

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“He who would be the greatest amongst us, must be a servant. Herman “Skip” Mason is such a servant. And we know he will be used in the future as he has been used in the past to provide the kind of leadership that is needed, whenever and wherever it’s needed in our chapters, our universities, in our nation and the affairs of the world in which we live.”

—Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN

From left: The Greensboro Four: Brother Ezell Blair Jr. (aka Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and David Richmond after the first Woolworth sit-in in Greensboro on Feb. 1, 1960.

Standing Up by Sitting DownNation Remembers Greensboro Sit-Ins By Bryan J.A. Kelly and Rick Blalock

THISYEAR,ALLACROSStheUnitedStates,Americansarecommemoratingapivotalmoment50yearsagointheSouth.ItwasFeb.1,1960,whenfourblackstudentsatNorthCarolinaA&TStateUniversity,includingAlphaBrotherEzellBlairJr.(akaJibreelKhazan)of BetaEpsilonChapter,satdownatawhites-onlylunchcounterattheF.W.WoolworthstoreindowntownGreensboro,N.C. Theyoungmenweredeniedservicebecauseof theirskincolor,buttheiractionsre-energizedtheCivilRightsMovementandthestrugglebymillionsof AfricanAmericanstoachieveracialequalityandjustice.InspiredbyAlphaBrotherMartinLutherKingJr.,thesecourageousstudentswalkedintothestore,tookaseat,andAmericawouldneverbethesame. Thecourageousacthasbeencommemoratedinanewlyopened,

30,000-square-footmuseumandteachingfacilitybuiltinsidetheoldWoolworthbuilding.Themuseumopened50yearstothedayafterthesit-in.ItfeaturesaHallof Shame,filledwithremindersof thelowestmomentsinAmericanracerelations,andaHallof Courage,whichfollowsthepathof theGreensboroFour.Thechairsandthelunchcounterhavebeenpreservedintact.Asectionof thelunchcounterisalsopreservedintheSmithsonianInstitutionNationalMuseumof AmericanHistoryinWashington,D.C. “Whattheseyoungstudentsdidatthetimechangedthecourseof theCivilRightsMovement,”saidHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.,generalpresidentof Alpha.“RefusingtoleavethatWoolworthcounterandtheresultingdemonstrationscausedthousandsinlostrevenueandcastanall-importantlightonthesituationblacksintheSouthfacedatthattime.” “AlphaPhiAlphaproudlyjoinstherestof thecountryinhonoringtheworkof theseAmericanheroeswiththeopeningof anewcivil-rightsmuseuminGreensboro,”Masonsaid.H


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Black-Fraternity Brothers Bond with Big Brothers Develop Plan to Help Black Boys Succeed

NEARTHEENDOF2009,BigBrothersBigSistersandleadersof theblackfraternitiesmetinAtlantatodevelopaboldstrategyandadetailedplanaimedatgivingAfrican-Americanboyseveryopportunitytosucceed. Leadersof thenation’slargestdonor-supportedvolunteermentoringnetworkandtheirfraternitypartnerssaytheywillsignificantlyincreasethenumberof African-AmericanBigBrothersin2010.AlphaGeneralPresidentHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.wasjoinedbyleadersof KappaAlphaPsiandOmegaPsiPhiFraternities,forapaneldiscussionontheissue. TheAfrican-AmericanMentoringSummit,sponsoredbytheArby’sFoundation,isthesecondstepinBigBrothersBigSisters’announcementof itsunprecedentedcollaborationwithblackGreekfraternities.Together,AlphaPhiAlpha,KappaAlphaPsiandOmegaPsiPhiareaimingtogetmoreblackmenengagedinlong-termmentoring. Recognizingthatchildrenof color,particularlyAfrican-Americanboys,disproportionatelyrepresentchildrenwaitingtobematched,BigBrothersBigSistersanditsAfrican-AmericanRoundtable—comprisedof internalandexternaladvisors—havemadeengagingblackmenasmentorsapriority. “AlphaPhiAlpha,ourfirstfraternitypartner,aswellasKappaAlphaPsiandOmegaPsiPhiknowourtrackrecord—thatchildreninourprogramsaremorelikelytoimproveinschool,stayoutof troubleandhavepositiverelationshipswiththeirfamilies,”saidKarenMathis,BigBrothersBigSistersof AmericapresidentandCEO. “Attheendof theday,wewillhaveaspecificstrategyforjoiningforceswiththefraternitiestosupportthegrowingnumbersof parents—mostof them,singlemothers—wholooktoBigBrothersBigSisterstohelptheirsonssucceed,”shesaid.H

Working together to help black boys. From left: Alpha General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.; Kappa Alpha Psi Executive Director Richard L. Snow; Omega Psi Phi Grand Basileus Warren G. Lee Jr;. and Archie Burks, Kappa Alpha Psi’s BBBS chairman.

March for Babies begins in S.C.Brothers Partner with Zeta Phi Beta

INACOMMITMENTTOthefraternity’songoingpartnershipwiththeMarchof Dimes,theSouthCarolinachaptersof AlphaPhiAlphaandZetaPhiBetaSororitykickedoff theirannualMarchforBabiescampaignonJan.30,2010,atBrooklandBaptistChurchinWestColumbia,S.C.

Morethan250AlphasandZetasattendedtheseventhannualevent,coordinatedbyBrotherLewisHicksandZetarepresentativeMahoganyGraham.BarbaraMoore,pastZetaPhiBetainternationalpresidentandnativeof Columbia,S.C.,attendedalongwithMarionGary,paststatepresident,andDonWeston,chief of staff toAlphaGeneralPresidentHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr. SouthCarolinaDistrictDirectorAdrianWestandZetaPhiBetaSouthCarolinaStateDirectorGianna“G”Gardnerchallengedeachorganizationtoraise$20,000forthe2010MarchforBabies. Aspartof theprogram,the2009topthreefundraisingchaptersof AlphaPhiAlphawereacknowledged.FirstplacewenttoSigmaTauChapterattheUniversityof SouthCarolina-AikensecondplacewenttoGammaGammaLambdaChapterinGreenville,S.C.;andthirdplacewenttoIotaEtaLambdaChapterinDenmark,S.C. “NotonlyaretheAlphasandZetasincrediblefundraisersforSouthCarolina’sbabies,buttheyarealsoastrongvoiceforspreadingtheMarchof Dimesmessagesaboutprenatalcare,prematurebirthandthestepstotakeforahealthybaby,”saidErinGalloway,executivedirectorof theMidlandsDivisionof theMarchof Dimes.H

Brother Wayne Farmer and his son enjoy the kickoff of the March for Babies in South Carolina.

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IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE of “United we stand, divided we fall,” the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents spent part of the last holiday season—together—spreading cheer from coast to coast. The presidents attended the BET Networks ‘Celebration of Gospel’ in Los Angeles, and also came together at the White House for a holiday celebration in Washington, D.C. The ‘Celebration of Gospel,’ held Dec. 12, 2009, at Los Angeles Orpheum Theatre, started the holiday season with a spirit-filled and entertaining salute to the 10th anniversary of this BET mainstay of special presentations. Soror Sheryl P. Underwood, international president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, who is also part of the BET family of entertainers, extended a personal invitation to members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents to attend the musical gala. The presidents of the “Divine 9” black Greek-lettered organizations joined other national leaders and celebrities to show support for the event, which helps build the spirit that uplifts, encourages and empowers communities across the nation and the world. “We felt that it was important to show our support for the message of this event and the spirit of faith that has sustained our communities,” said Underwood. “Gospel music has been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration,” said Stephen Hill, BET president of music programming. “We thank the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents for coming out in force to support BET’s ‘Celebration of Gospel.’ It was a wonderful, inspirational show and we look forward to providing even more great programming.” Hosted by comedian-actor Steve Harvey, the program performers included Fred Hammond, Donald Lawrence, Donnie McClurkin, Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp, Yolanda Adams, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, Kelly Price and others. The activities continued on Dec. 15, with the presidents attending a special holiday celebration, hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. H

United as one, Black-Greek Presidents Spread Holiday Cheer

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents attend BET’s Celebration of Gospel.

INAUNIQUEDISPLAYof unity,membersof theNationalPan-HellenicCouncilmadehistoryduringBlackHistoryMonththisyear,byappearingtogetherforthefirsttimeonanationaltelevisiontalkshow.RepresentativesfromallninehistoricallyblackGreek-letteredorganizations(BGLO)wereguestsonthehighlypopularBETprogram‘TheMo’NiqueShow’February18.TheshowtapesatTurnerBroadcastingStudiosinAtlanta. Theprogram,hostedbyAcademyAward-winningactress/comedianMo’Nique,alsoincludedcastmembersof thenewTVrealityshow‘TheFamilyCrews’andR&BgroupTheWhispersasthemusicalguest.Mo’NiquealsointerviewedfellowcomedianSherylUnderwood,theinternationalgrandbasileusof ZetaPhiBetaSorority.EachBGLOpresidentsharedafewwordsabouttheirorganization’shistoryandcurrentserviceprogramswhiletheirmembersstoodtogether,wearingtheirorganization’scolors.GeneralPresidentHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.,invitedMo’Niquetotheupcomingdedicationandopeningceremonyof theWashington,D.C.MartinLutherKing,Jr.NationalMemorial. ShowproducerRobWilkinssaidMo’Nique’svisionforthisepisodeof herlate-nightshowwastocreateanoutlettohighlightthepositiveaspectsof African-Americanlives. “Therearenottoomanyshowsthatwouldhighlighthusband-and-wifeteamTerryandRebeccaCrews,aHollywoodcouplemarried20years(thestarsof BET’snewrealityseries‘TheFamilyCrews’);musicalgroupTheWhispers,togetherfor40years,andblackorganizationsthathaveservedourcommunityfor100years,”saidWilkins.H

The sassy and sultry “Queen of Late-Night Television,” Mo’Nique, hosts leaders of the “Divine Nine” historically black fraternities and sororities on ‘The Mo’Nique Show.’ Seated from left: Joann Loveless, Sigma Gamma Rho; Mo’Nique; Sheryl Underwood, Zeta Phi Beta; Ella Springs Jones, Alpha Kappa Alpha; and Beverly Smith, Delta Sigma Theta. Standing from left: Richard L. Snow, Kappa Alpha Psi; Jimmy Hammock, Phi Beta Sigma; Warren G. Lee Jr., Omega Psi Phi; Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., Alpha Phi Alpha; and Karl Price, Esq., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity. Photo by Glenn A. Loveless III.

“Divine 9” Make History with Mo’Nique on BET

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Alpha Board of Directors Meets MIP, Finances, 2010 convention Highlight Agenda

ALPHAPHIALPHA’StopleadershipteamconvenedinJanuaryatthewinterboardof directorsmeetinginPhoenix,Ariz.Thegoalof theboardmemberswastotacklethemajorissuesfacingthefraternityin2010.Specifically,theboardmembersdiscussedthefraternity’sMembershipIntakeProgram(MIP)andnewwaystoinductprospectivemembers. Priortotheboardmeeting,anationwidemoratoriumonmembershipactivitieswasimplementedastheresultof ahazingincidentinvolvinginactivemembersof thefraternitynearaGeorgiacollegecampus. Aspartof theirdeliberationsonthetopic,boardmembersheardfromPastSouthernAssistantVicePresidentBrotherWalterKimbrough,nowpresidentof PhilanderSmithCollegeinArkansas.Kimbrough,anexpertonblackGreek-letteredorganizationsincollegiatelife,conductedapresentationonthehistoryof pledgingandtheevolutionof fraternalorganizations. Itwastheconsensusthatbecauseof thepotentialchangesinAlpha’scurrentintakeprogram,itwasnecessarythattheGeneralConventionbecalledintosessionthissummer.Previouslytheboardhadplannedanonlegislativeconferencefor2010,takingplaceinPhoenixinJuly(nowbeingheldinLasVegas).Themoratoriumonmembershipintakewastostayinplaceuntilatargetedintakeprogram,withtougherparticipationcriteria,couldbeimplementedforspring2010. Amongotheritemsdiscussedatthemeetingwerethefraternity’sfinancialstatusandupcomingSummitontheAfrican-AmericanMale.Also,thegeneralpresidentadministeredtheoathof officetoBrotherJamelJones,thenewassistantvicepresidentof theSouthwesternRegion.H

Brother Walter Kimbrough addresses the Alpha board.

26th General President Charles C. Teamer Sr. makes a point, as 28th General President Henry Ponder (left) and 25th General President James R. Williams (right) look on.

General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. presides, as Executive Director William Douglass Lyle makes a point. At right are fraternity fiscal officers Hyacinth C. Ahuruonye, general treasurer and Frank Jenkins, comptroller.

Regional officers participate (from left): Midwestern Assistant Vice President Thomas Flynn; Southwestern Vice President Roderick Smothers; and Southwestern Assistant Vice President Jamel Jones.

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Going GlobalBrothers Step Up Efforts to Form Chapter in South Africa

THEEDITORIALTEAMat

The Sphinx recentlyinterviewed

BrotherMichaelSudarkasa,

aninitiateof EpsilonChapter

attheUniversityof Michigan,

nowpracticingcommerciallaw

andbusinessinJohannesburg,

SouthAfrica.Sudarkasaand

severalotherAlphamenare

hopingtonotonlyestablish

achapterinSouthAfrica,

butpossiblyhostaGeneral

Conventionthereinthefuture.

The Sphinx: Why are the Alpha men in South Africa trying to start a chapter?

SUDARKASA: Wehave15brothershereinSAand17altogetherthatweknowof,intheregion(twobrothersareinZambia)andwantedtofellowshiptogetherasAlphamen.Alsotheideaof plantingachapteronthecontinentasthenewmillenniumcommenceswasalsoexciting.Lastly,wefeltthattheprinciplesof Alphawouldresonatehereandthroughoutthefraternity—providingusthechancetoincreasetheimpactof ourcontributionstothecommunityinwhichwelive.

The Sphinx: Will a chapter there have impact on the local community? If so, how?

SUDARKASA:Definitely.Webelievethatwecansupportthelocalcommunitythroughdevelopingandlendingsupporttowardentrepreneurshipdevelopmentinitiatives,programstoaddresstheHIV/AIDspandemicandthroughtheestablishmentof academic-andprofessional-exchangeprogramsbetweentheUnitedStatesandSouthAfrica.Wealsofeltachapterherewouldbeabenefittothefraternity,aswewouldbeinapositiontohelpAlphasintheU.S.expandtheiracademicandprofessionalthinkinginternationally

The Sphinx: How will a chapter in South Africa benefit brothers in the United States?

SUDARKASA:Inseveralcriticalways.Thenetworkof Alphamenwillexpandtothiscontinentandaffordbrotherstheopportunitytoexplorebusinessopportunitieshere.Internshipandprofessionalopportunitieswouldalsobedeveloped.Itwouldbeparticularlyimpactfulif wewereabletodevelopaprogramthroughwhicheveryAlphachapterintheU.S.wasabletoscheduleachaptertripsomewhereinAfricatoconnectwithbrothersontheContinent.The Sphinx: Do brothers in South Africa feel like they are “out there” alone? Is building a chapter a way to connect to homeland(s) and brothers around the world?

SUDARKASA:ThereisactuallyarelativeylargeAmerican(estimatedatplusorminus10,000)communityandasignificantAfrican-Americancommunityhere,soIthinktherealreadyexistssomecommunitysentimentthatbrothersherecanbuildonbeyondthefraternity.

Thatsaid,IdonotbelievethereisanyalternativeforblackmenhereinSouthAfricathatreplicatesorprovidesthekindof fraternalsupportthatAlphaPhiAlphacan.Sofellowship,mentorship,andcamaraderiearemotivatingfactorsinourdesiretodevelopthechapterhere.

BuildingachapterforthebrothershereinSouthAfricaismoreaboutbeginningtoestablishabridgebetweenAlphasintheU.S.andbrothersontheContinentthananythingelse.Theimageof AfricaoftengetsdistortedintheU.S.mediaandbycreatingavehicleforAlphamenandtheirfamiliestoseeandlearnaboutAfricaforthemselves—andthroughacontextwithwhichtheycanidentify—webelievethatwewouldbedoingaservicetobothAlphaPhiAlphaandtheContinent.The Sphinx: Will you populate the chapter with local men in Johannesburg, as opposed to just brothers from elsewhere who live in South Africa? If so, is there a need for Alpha there?

SUDARKASA: OuraimistobuildAlphainAfrica.CommencingwithanefforttoidentifyandengagewithbrotherswhowereinitiatedintheU.S.—someof whomarelikelytobeAfrican-American,whileothersarejustaslikelytobeAmericanAfricans.ThelattergroupcomprisesthosebornontheContinentwhostudiedintheU.S.,orarechildrenof first-generationAmericanswhohavereturnedtotheContinentforprofessionalorfamilialreasons.

Weactuallybelievethatthereareprobably1,000Alphasacrossthecontinent,incountriessuchasLiberia,GhanaandNigeria,whereyouhavesignificantnumbersof dual-nationalityAfricanswhohavestudiedintheU.S.TherewellmaybeasmanyblackSouthAfricanbrothersof whomwearenotaware,giventhesignificantnumberof blackSouthAfricanstudentswhohavebeeneducatedinAmericaovertheyears.Hopefully,the

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The working group of the brothers in South Africa pause to take a snapshot of history in the making. This image was captured following one of their monthly planning meetings in Johannesburg. It marked the first time there was a quorum of seven brothers in attendance. From left: Brothers Reginald Shaver, Sean Walker, Herman Warren, Michael Sudarkasa, Gerald Sherman, Eric Wright and Linston Terry.

fraternitywillhelpuscombtheregistryandidentifythesebrothers.

Continent-wide,wearealsoconvincedthatAlphahasaroletoplayinpromotingacademicexcellence,manlydeeds,communityserviceandrespectforwomen,andinpromotingeconomicdevelopment.Alpha,asaDiasporainstitution,couldmakeverysignificantcontributionstotheContinent’sdevelopmentinthe21stcenturyif wearesuccessfulinthisendeavor.H

Alpha Jewel’s Daughter Dies Brothers Salute Helen Ogle Atkins

INTHEMAGNIFICENTcathedralof St.PeterRomanCatholicChurch,nearCapitolHill,brothersintheWashington,D.C.,areajoinedGeneralPresidentHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.,EasternRegionVicePresidentSeanMcCaskillandAssistantVice

PresidentTaureanBranchonDec.31,2009,tobidfarewelltothedaughterof aJewel,HelenOgleAtkins. BornonFeb.14,1908,inIthaca,N.Y.,AtkinswastheseconddaughterborntoRobertHaroldOgleandhiswifeHelenFreemanMooreOgle.AfterreceivingherchildhoodeducationinIthaca,AtkinsmovedtoWashington,D.C.,wheresheattendedtheCapital’shistoricDunbarHighSchool.ShegraduatedfromtheMinerTeachersCollege(nowtheUniversityof theDistrictof Columbia)andtaughtformanyyearsintheDistrictof ColumbiaPublicSchoolssystem. Anaccomplishedpoet,Atkinswasknownforherlovingandgenialspirit.In1999,sheassistedMasonwithresearchforhisbookThe Talented Tenth: The Founders and Presidents of Alpha.SheissurvivedbyherdaughterDr.MelanieAtkinsBrownandotherfamilymembers,includinganephew,BrotherJulianConwayWilson,amemberof MuLambdaChapterinWashington,D.C.H

Above, Alpha General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. (center, right) and brothers join the granddaughter of Helen Ogle Atkins and grandson Brother Julian Wilson (center left), at the funeral mass. At right, pallbearers carry the casket of Helen Ogle Atkins from the cathedral after the service.

Helen Ogle Atkins

N E W S


Remembering a Miraculous Night at the Alpha House Thirty Years Ago, It Seems Like It Was Only YesterdayBy Alvin Reid

WHENTEAMUSAopeneditspursuitof amen’shockeygoldmedalattheVancouverWinterGamesinFebruary,witha3-1winagainstSwitzerland,Iwasremindedof theOlympicmomentthatmanyAmericansrememberandcherish. IthappenedFeb.22,1980,almost30yearsago.Iwas19,astudentattheUniversityof Kansasandaresidentof theAlphaPhiAlphaFraternityhouse.Itwasthereonasmallblack-and-whiteTVthatIwatched“TheMiracleonIce.” Manyofourfun-filledFridaynightsbeganwithfratbrothersgatheringatthehouse.We’dheadoutlatertoapartyoncampusorsomeone’shouseandthenreturnto“our”houseforanafter-party.Itwastheusualdark,coldFridayeveningthatyougetusedtoinLawrence,Kan.,andwhenIgothomefromcampusIknewIwasheadedstraighttoaTVtowatchtheUSAtakeontheUSSR.Americavs.Russia.I’msureitwasjustasdarkandcoldinLakePlacid,N.Y.,homeofthe1980WinterOlympics. Thebestteamintheworldwasabouttotakeonabunchofcollegekids;guysmyagewereskatingagainstseasonedveterans.Theyhadnochance. TheRussianteamhaddominatedateamofNHLAll-Starsayearearlier.IthadalsoblastedtheyouthfulAmericans10-3inanexhibitiongameinrecentmonths. Thiswassupposedtobenocontest. Heck,theAmericansweren’tevensupposedtobeinasemifinalgame.Iwatchedthe2-2tieagainstSwedenthatstartedtheAmericans’run.Ittookalategoaltodraweven,andIthoughtthatwasagoodstart. ButthenextdayIreadinthenewspaperthatSwedenwasawfulandtheAmericanswereluckytogetthetie.Isuddenlydoubtedthisteamcouldwinamedal.IguessIshouldnothavelistenedtotheso-calledexperts. Ididn’trememberthescoresortheteamsthatcamenext,butIdorememberthatAmericagotthingsrollingwithabigwin.Ilookeditupanditwasa7-3victoryoverCzechoslovakia.ThencamewinsoverNorway,RomaniaandGermany.ThetotallyunexpectedwinagainsttheGermanspropelledTeamUSAintothesemifinalgameagainsttheRussians. SohereIwasaloneinasecond-floorroomintheAlphaHouse,shortlyafterthegamebegan. “HeyReid,whatyoudoin’?”somebodyyelledfromthefirstfloor. “Watchingthehockeygame,”Iholleredback. Itwasquietforawhile,andthenIheardfootstepsonthestairs.ItwasEugeneDavisanditwasabouthalfwaythroughthefirstperiod.Nowthereweretwoofuswatchingthegame. HaditnotbeenforgoalieJimCraig,IthinkIwouldhavebeenchanging

clothesandgettingmypartyonalotearlieronthatnight.Heheldoff waveafterwaveof Russianattackers.ItlookedliketheRussianswouldwineasily.ButAmericaheldittogetherand,shockingly,tiedthescoreat2-2withjustonesecondleftinthefirstperiod. Andbythistimeitwasn’tjustmeandEugenewatchingthegame.Acoupleof otherfratbrothershadmadetheirwayintotheroom,probablybecausetheyhearduscheering. “Whaty’allwatching,”wasusuallythefirstquestionasguyswalkedin. Andalmostinunisontheanswerfromeveryoneintheroomwas“thehockeygame.” ThesecondperiodwasnowunderwayandtheonlylightintheroomwasfromthelittleTV.Bynow,thereweresixorsevenguyswatching. Somehadneverwatchedfiveminutesofahockeygameintheirlife,letaloneseenoneinperson.Butwewereallhockeyfansforthenexthourorso. TheRussiansscoredthelonegoalofthesecondperiod.Bythistime,thepre-partyfortheeveningwasusuallywellunderway.Butasguyscameintothehouse,theyendedupinthatroom.Asthethirdperiodstarted,thereweremorethan10of us. Wecheeredsoloudtheycouldhearusablockaway.Itwaslikeweknewwewerewitnessingmorethanapossibleupset.Itwaslike

Team USA defeats the USSR in the hockey semifinal at the Lake Placid, N.Y., Winter Games, Feb. 22, 1980.

N E W S


AFTER MONTHS OF PREPARATION and performances, Alpha Phi Alpha’s Delta Xi Chapter at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, won it all at the Sprite Step Off, the Sprite-sponsored international step competition. The final competition was held in Atlanta on Feb. 20, 2010. Regional competitions were held beginning in January in Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, New York City, Houston and San Francisco. All teams had to step their way into the tournament by competing in a qualifying event in one of the regions. The top four sorority and

fraternity step teams from each qualifying event received an invitation to join the tournament. The first-place team from each qualifying event received a bye and advanced directly to the regional final. The second-through-fourth-place teams competed in the first round of regional competition through the regional semifinals. Delta Xi lists its mission as making improvements and enhancements to the campus of Central State University and surrounding communities through hard work and dedication as a step team. Alpha Phi Chapter at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta won second place in the competition. Its mission is to serve the Atlanta community as well as the CAU campus. Alpha Phi’s team included Brothers Richardson Pierre, Cameron Fulford, Siergio Larry, Isaac Harris, Christopher Hendricks, Steven McKenzie, Charles Wilson, Cafabian Heard, Brandon Mitchell and Raheem Manning. In partnership with Greek-lettered organizations from around the country, and with more than 30 events in over 20 cities and a $1.5 million prize pool, the Sprite Step Off is billed as the largest national step competition in history. The Sprite Step Off premiered January 31 on cable channel MTV2. Hosted by singer-songwriter Ludacris, the six-part series followed six teams as they performed community service and competed to win scholarship funds. Delta Xi is also the reigning Alpha Phi Alpha national step show title-holder, having won at the fraternity’s General Convention in 2009 in New Orleans.

—Bryan J.A. Kelly with Rick Blalock

somethinghistoricwasabouttohappen.Beingcollegekids,Ithinkwewerealsowiseenoughtoknowthattheworldarounduswaschanging.AmericanhostageswerebeingheldinIran;theColdWarcontinued;justfiveyearshadpassedsinceNorthVietnamesetroopsmarchedintoSaigonandtookoverSouthVietnam. ThiswasmorethanAmericavs.theRussians.Itwasusagainstthem,usagainsttheworldinmanyways. Nowremember,manyof theguysintheroomweren’tknowledgeableabouthockey.Sotermslikepowerplayhadtobeexplained.TheUSAwentonapowerplayabouthalfwaythroughthethirdperiod.Onceguysknewwhathadjusthappened,everyonegotclosertotheTV. MarkJohnsonscoredapower-playgoalandtheroomwentcrazy.Itwas3-3.We,ohyes,we,hadachancetopulloff thismiracle. Laterinthethirdperiod,captainMikeEruzionefoundthepuckonhisstick,andhefiredittowardthenet.Icanstillseethatnetbulgeasthepuckhithome.Wealmosttoretheroomapartincelebration.

Westoodandcheeredtherestof thegame.Asthefinalsecondstickedoff,thissmallroomintheAlphaHousewasthundering.Itwassoloudthatnoneof usactuallyheardAlMichaelssaythewords“Doyoubelieveinmiracles?Yes!” Ahalf hourlatertherewasstillabuzzinthehouse.Oncewegottotheparty,wewerestilltalkingaboutit.Butveryfewpartygoerswereinterested. Iwatchedthegold-medalgameonSundaywithmygirlfriend(whoisnowmywifeof 26years)andherroommate. Itwasn’tasloud,butweallcheeredwhentheUSAdefeatedFinlandtowinthegoldmedal. TheinterestingtidbitaboutmystoryontheMiracleOnIceiseveryoneinthatroomthateveningattheAlphaHousewasblack.Allof uswithanewappreciationforhockeyandateamspiritthatenablesmiraclestohappen.AndtheSports Illustratedfromthenextweek—thatsimplyhadaphotoof theon-icecelebration—stayedontheAlphaHousemantletherestof theschoolyear.H

Alpha brothers celebrate winning the Sprite Step Off by toasting with cans of Sprite. The winning team, comprised of Delta Xi Chapter members, included Teddy Block, Terris Brooks, Jazmen Turner, Ramon Thomas, Jacob Fairbanks, Brandon Bates, Antoine Veale, Darnay Wade, Benzack Cooper, Frederick White, Ned Butler and Artis Olds.

Delta Xi Wins Sprite Step-Off

N E W S


Eddie G. Robinson Museum Built at Grambling StateHonors Legendary Football GiantBy Rick Blalock

WHENVISITORSANDSTUDENTSstrollthecampusof historicGramblingStateUniversity(GSU)inGrambling,La.,theywillnowforeverseeashrinededicatedtotheNCAADivisionI’swinningestcollege-footballcoachof alltime—thelateAlphaBrotherEddieG.Robinson. AmuseuminRobinson’shonorisbeingestablishedthatwillbeatestamenttohislegacyasateachercoach,andworldcitizen.TheEddieG.RobinsonMuseum,locatedintheheartof theGSUcampus,wasauthorizedbytheLouisianaStateLegislaturein1999.ItisherewhereRobinsonachievedlegendarystatusbywinning408gamesduringacareerthatstretchedfrom1941to1997. Duringhisillustriouscareer,RobinsonwonnineBlackCollegeNationalChampionshipsand17SouthwesternAthleticConference(SWAC)championships.HewasinductedintotheCollegeFootballHallof Famein1997.Robinsonisthenamesakeof theFootballWritersAssociationof America’sNationalCoachof theYearAward. “Formanyof usonthecampus,bothAlphamenandGramblingstudentsingeneral,thisisawelcomeeventandevokesgreatpride,”saidAlonzoS.Blalock,aGramblingseniorandAlphamember.“Everydaywewillhavealivingrepresentationof allBrotherRobinsondidforusasstudents,andforourcommunityandthefootballworldtoo.” State,localanduniversityofficialsmadethepre-openingannouncementaboutthemuseumtheweekendof February12.MikeTomin,headcoachof thePittsburghSteelers,deliveredthekeynoteaddressatthepre-openingbanquet,whichfeaturedanumberof celebritiesanddignitaries,includingNotreDameHeadFootballCoachBrianKelley. Thefacility,fundedbystatedollars,isexpectedtobefullyopenforvisitorslaterthisyear. Robinsonwasknownforstrivingforexcellencebothonandoff thefield.Notonlydidhemakehisplayersstandoutathletes,butheinsistedtheygraduateandhaveabackupplanif theNFLdidn’tcomecalling.Hespent57seasonsconsistentlyfieldingstellarfootballteamsandguidinghisyoungplayerstosuccessfulpersonallivesaftercollegeandsuccessfulprofessionalcareersintheNFL.Hesawover

80percentof hisplayersgraduateandsawmorethan200of hisathletesplayintheNFL,includingseveralbeingenshrinedintheProFootballHallof Fame. “BrotherRobinsonwasknowntobeahumbleman,buthelivedalifesoproudthatithasmadethenameEddieRobinsonsynonymouswiththebestthatcollegefootballhastooffer,”saidHerman“Skip”Mason,Jr.,generalpresidentof Alpha. Robinson,whowasborninJackson,La.,diedonApril3,2007,at88.H

Top: Grambling State University student Brother Alonzo Blalock at the Eddie G. Robinson Museum. Bottom: The museum is scheduled to open for visitors later this year.


SPECIAL REPORT: PART I

Haiti’s Ground ZeroTHIS IS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-PART SPECIAL REPORT ON TEAM ALPHA’S HUMANI-

TARIAN EFFORTS IN HAITI AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE TORE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE, LEAVING

DEVASTATION IN ITS WAKE.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRYAN J.A. KELLY


“Iwantthefraternitytostandoutintheaffairsof thenation.”—Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy, December 1937

Alphas in Haiti. Why? Why not?The Alpha delegation with the Haiti Minister of Education Joel Jean-Pierre (center, in white shirt).

S P E C I A L R E P O R T


By Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.

hyAlphainHaiti?Whynotjustsendourcontributionstosomeof theworthwhileorganizationslikeCARE,RedCross,USAID?

Why?Becausethereisalineinapoem“HeAin’tHeavy,He’sMyBrother,”byBrotherFreemanMontagueJr.,thatIoftenquote:“thereisnothinginthiswholewideworld,wewouldn’tdoforoneanother.” Asthegeneralpresidentof AlphaPhiAlphaanda28-yearmember,Ihavealwaysknownthatwehadbrotherswhowereof Haitiandescent.Whenitwaslearnedmanyyearsagothatmywife’sfamilywasfromHaiti,IbegantoseeandmeetevenmoreAlphabrothersfromHaiti.

TheearthquakethatoccurredonJanuary12impactedmeandmyfamilydirectly,asmymother-in-lawwasvisitingherhomecountryatthetimeof thequake.Ourliveschangedinstantly.Thoughafewdayslater,welearnedthatshewasfine,Icouldnothelpbuttothinkaboutthefamiliesof allourbrotherswhohadfamiliestherewhowere not fine. Isentane-mailtoBrotherLucienMettelusinNewYork,whosefamilyisfromHaitiaskinghimtohelpmecompilealistof namesande-mailaddressesof AlphabrothersthatheknewwhohailedfromHaiti.Withinhours,Ihadalist,andIknew

“Iwantthefraternitytostandoutintheaffairsof thenation.”—Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy, December 1937

Alphas in Haiti. Why? Why not?

W

>



thatwewoulddomorethanjustraisefundsandwishthemwell.Iknewthatthebelovedfoundersof thisfraternitywouldexpectustodomorethanjustwatchfromadistance.WewouldhavetogotoHaitianddemonstrate—face-to-face—“loveforallmankind.” Ididnotknowif therewasaprecedentof thefraternity’stakingadelegationonaninternationalmission,butlikeonDec.4,1906,thereisalwaysafirsttimeforeverythingthathappens. Thecallwentouttoourbrothers,andmembersof theSpecialCommitteeonHealthandWellnessbeganengagingAlphameneverywheretohelp.Aseriesof phoneconferencecallsopenedupthechannelsof communicationforustoorganizethe“LoveforAllMankindTour.” “TeamAlpha”wasbeingorganized,fundswerebeingcollected,appealswerebeingmade,andatriptoHaitiimminent.BrotherSamuelDarguinof NewYorksteppeduptotheplateandassumedtheleadershipandplanningof thiseffort. ThisiswhatIloveaboutmyfraternity.Itisfilledwithleaders—menwhoareunafraidandwillingtotakecharge.Afterall,inourmissionstatementitisclearthatwedevelopleaders,notsteppers.Leadersonthecollegecampuses,leadersintheirchosenprofessions,leaderstotackleworldissues.Fromthissmallbandof brothershavecomemayors,congressmen,corporateexecutives,academics,scientistsandothers. TherewasnoformulaforselectingwhowouldmakethetriporhowmanywewouldorcouldtaketoHaiti.Atroopof 11of usmadethemission.Initially,wewantedtotakewithusmorebrothersinthemedicalprofession.ThereweremanychallengestravelingtoHaiti,butweexpectedthat.Forexample,unabletotraveldirectlytoPort-au-Prince,wehadtoflyintothepicturesqueislandof theDominicanRepublic—quiteageographicalcontrasttoHaiti,aswewouldsoonfindout.

TravelingfromSantoDomingototheborderof Haitiwasquiteaneye-openingexperience.Thelushtropicalforests,mountainside,scenicoceanviewallwentawayattheheavilymilitary-armedborder.CrossingintoHaitimeantfurtherinspectionof ourpassports,andwehadtoexplainanddisplayaletterfrommeasthefraternity’spresidentstatingourreasonsforcomingintothequake-tornHaiti.Finally,aftersomenegotiatinganddiscussion,wewereadmittedandheadedintoa“taleof twoislands:”theDominicanononesideandHaitiontheother. Oncewearrivedinthetownof Croix-des-Bouquetsandsettledintoourcompound,Iknewthatourjourney,ourmissionandourpurposeforbeingtherewouldbemadeclear.Withassembly-lineworkmanshipthebrothersunloadedthepackedbus,filledwithsuppliesandluggage,andbegantostakegroundforouroutdoorsleepingarrangements.Yes,forthenextfourdays,store-boughttentswouldprovideourshelter.Ithadbeenover35yearssinceIsleptinatent,letaloneputonetogether.Asitturnedout,thebrotherscreateda“presidentialtent”equippedwithhanginglantern,airmattressandallof accoutrementsaffordedageneralpresidentonamissioninHaiti. Onourfirstday,weateaheartymealpreparedbytwotothreecooks,andreadiedforourfirstjourneytoviewthedevastationanddamageof manyof thetowns.Aswedrovefromstreettostreet,uphillsandaroundcurvestoanareahospital,wesawtheinjuredandobservedthepoorinunsanitaryconditionsandinneedof medicalservices. Thedestructionwasalmosttoomuchforonetobear.Allof thiswasfurtherexacerbatedwhenwesawahangingleg—indeedthelegof amanonwhomawallhadfallen,crushinghimtodeath.Thestenchof deathandrealityof beinginHaitiwasalsooverbearingandemotionalforallof us.Wewenttoahoteltodiscusswhatwehadseen,toreleaseverballyandemotionallyandtoregroupandgearupforournextfewdaysinHaiti.

Weweretreatedtoafullmeal,andthenclearedthetabletobegindividingthemassivesuppliesandseparateitemsaccordingtotheidentifiedneedsof thebrothers’familiesfromwhomwehadheard.Overthenexttwodays,wespentourtimelocatingthefamiliesof brothers,deliveringtothemanassortmentof supplies,tentsandcash.AteachvisitweconnectedwiththebrothersbackintheStatesaswestoodwiththeirfamilies.Onalloccasions,thebrotherswerebothshockedandsurprisedthatwewereactuallyinHaiti—standingwiththeirfamilies—deliveringon

ourpromisetohelp,ourpromisetobeour“brothers’keeper.” Again,somehavequestionedourtraveltoHaiti:“Whynotjustsendthemoneytoanestablishedsocialagency,”they’veasked.Ihavealwaysbelievedthatif Ishouldeverfindmyself inatruebindorpositionwhereIneedhelp,thatsomehowmyfraternity,mybrotherhood,wouldbethefirsttostepinandsay,“HereIam,brother.” OurworkinHaitiisnotfinished.Thisisnotaone-timedeal.ItisourhopethatAlphawillsendtoHaitianotherteamof

brotherscomprisedof medicaldoctorsandpractitionersinthenearfuture.WehavealsoadoptedaHaitianschoolthatweplantohelprecover.Wewillsendafewof ourarchitectsandbrothersintheconstructionarenatoascertainwhatitwilltaketohelpreconstructthebuilding.Wewillthensupportit,donatingsuppliesandfurniture.Theownerof theschoolhasalreadyagreedtorenameitAlphaAcademy. WhyAlphaAcademyinHaiti?WhenaskedwhatthegreatestneedinHaitiis,

itsministerof educationsaid“education.”Therefore,ourfraternitywillaidinhumanitybyrebuildingthisschoolandgivingyoungwomenand—especiallyinourcase—youngmenanopportunitytogetagoodeducation.WemusthelpidentifytheyouthinHaitiwhoaremarchingonwardandupwardtowardthelight. WeshallsupportHaitiwithourtalents,ourresourcesand,of course,ourprayers,sothattherewillbeabrighterandbetterdayinthisfiercelyindependentcountry,whoserootsinAfricanhistoryandculturerundeep.H


hepurposesforimplementingsocialoutreachtofamilymembersof ourbrotherswhowerevictims

of theearthquakesinHaitiwassimplytoaddressthebasichumanneedsthatweredisruptedanddisconnectedandtoconductanassessmentof theneedsof thepeople.Reconnectingfamilieswiththefollowingbasicneeds—food,waterandclothing—wasrecognizedasakeycomponentforthesefamiliestobeginahealingprocessphysically,mentallyandemotionally. The“spirit”of thethirdaimof AlphaPhiAlphaFraternity,“LoveforAllMankind,”becamethedrivingforce

thatcatapultedthe“tireless”effortsof outreachof “TeamAlpha.”Theteammatriculatedthroughoutthecommunitiesof Haitifromsunuptosundownwiththesolepurposeof servingthepeopledespitetheobstacles.TheSocialOutreachcomponentof themissionwasdesignedtobegin“nation-building”andtorevealthedynamicsof theHaitianpeoplewithinHaitiandglobally;toidentifyresourcesandsystemsexistingwithinthecountry;tointroduceinterventionstrategiesandtechniquesandtoaddresssocialissuesinaconstructive,creativeandculturallysensitivemanner.“TeamAlpha”gatheredinformationtoassistHaitianpeoplewith

thefuturedevelopmentof culturallysensitiveservices,toassistthecitizensof Haitiwithimprovingthequalityof theirlivesinareassuchashousing,healthcare,agriculture,andtobuildupontheirstrengthsandresiliencyfromacollectivegroupperspectivetoaddresstheirownindividualneeds. Thenationaldelegationof brothers,personallyandstrategically,deliveredseveralhundredpoundsof supplies,suchasmedical,hygiene,food,tents,andclothingformen,womenandchildren.Thesegoodsweredeliveredbythedelegationdespitetheroughandintenseterrainintheruraland


22 THE SPHINX H Summer/Fall 2009

SocialOutreachFromBrothertoBrotherBy U. Grant Baldwin Jr.

T


Brother Ralph Thomas (right) reviews a medical supply pack while Brother U. Grant Baldwin and Haitian Red Cross workers look on.


mountainousareastothehomesof brothers’relatives.Monetarygiftswerealsoissuedtothefamiliesaswell.Medicalexaminationswerealsoissuedtomen,womenandchildreninthecityandruralareasof Haiti,notedas“tentcities”thatdidnotreceivemedicalattention,careorfood.Thesefamiliesalongwithmanyotherswereforgottenbyother“missions.”Eachfamilywasconsoledbybrothers,allowingfamilymemberstheopportunitytoprocessvariousanxietiesandfearsduetothelossof homes,familyandsecurity.Thedelegationwasgreetedwithwarmembraces,kisses,heartfeltthanksandamazementthattheirchildren,senttheir“brothers”totheirdoorstepstoassurethattheywerecomfortedandprovidedwithrelief fromthousandsof milesaway.Hundredswereissuedhotmeals,andbrotherswalkedthecountrysidetodelivermealstotheelderlyanddesolate. Medicalsuppliesthatbrotherspurchased,andthosethatweredonated,werealsogiventotheRedCrossof Haitiduetotheextremeshortageof supplies.“TeamAlpha”alsoassistedtheUnitedSheiks,anationaldisasterrelief group,withloadingitstruckswithwaterandseveralhundredplatesof hotfood. Deliveringservicesinsuchconditionsrequires,firstly,theimportanceof integratingwithandbeing“present”withthepeople.Humaninteractionandrelationshipsarekeyvariablesindeliveringgoodsandservicesinanysocialoutreachmission.Thekeycomponentrecognizedby“TeamAlpha”isrootedinthefoundationof social-workpracticeandcorevalueswhenprovidingservicestoothers.Organizationsmustrecognizethedignityandworthof peopleandtheimportanceof “beingamongstthepeople”inordertodeliveranimpactfulandculturallysensitiveserviceinasuccessfulmanner.H

Alpha Phi Alpha in Haiti: (top) delivering goods; (middle) surveying school damage; (above) tents and supplies; (right) preparing meals for distribution.




hereisanAncientproverbthatAfricansandNativeAmericansadheretothatteaches,we don’t inherit

land from our ancestors,we borrow it from our children.Theinheritanceisbutaloangivenontheconditionthatitwillbehonoredandprotectedforthosewhowillcomeafterus,andisthecreedthatcontinuouslyconnectsourpasttoourfuture. BeforeIheardabouttheearthquakethatstruckHaitionJanuary12,IwassittinginmyofficeinMidtownNewYork,finishingalongworkdayandthinkingof nothingmorethanmytrainridehome.ButasIreadtheCNNheadlinemyheartracedwithemotionsasmymindspuninconfusion.Ithoughtaboutmyfather,myauntsandthemanyfamilymembersIhavelivingontheisland.IthoughtaboutourhouseinDelmas,ourfamilybusinessinthedowntowncommercialdistrictof LaVilleandconjuredupchildhoodmemoriesof whenIwasayoungboyrunningdownthestreetsof Port-au-Prince.ItwasanaturalreactiontothetraumaIfeltfortheuncertaintyof thelivelihoodof mylovedones,anditconsumedmeformanydaysafter. Butaswesearchedandday-by-dayrecoveredthem,whatbeganasason’semotionalreactionforthesafetyof hisfatherturnedintoason’semotionaloutcryfortherebuildingof hisnativeland.RecentlyasIreturnedtoHaitiintheaftermathof thequake,theadageof theindigenouswasprophecycomingtofruition.Itseemedfittingthatit’sontheheelsof AlphaPhiAlpha,thefirstfraternityfoundedforAfricanAmericans,thatIwouldcarryoutthisundeniabledutytothefirstindependentblackrepublicintheWesternHemisphere.Itisasif thestarshadalignedandtheforefathersof AyitiandtheSevenJewels

rolledoverintheirgravesasacallingcryforustorisetotheurgencyof themoment. Butforthoseof uswhowerebornonthismajesticsoil,oncedeemedthePearl of the Antilles,thistripwasn’tjustabouttheearthquake.Thispilgrimagebackhomewasreallyaboutthepoliticalandeconomicearthquakethatstruckthenationmanydecadespriorandrendereditintothedesolateconditionithasbeeninthroughoutmodernhistory.Weallknew

of thishistory;manyof uswereshelteredfromit;someof usgrewupinit.Buttoseetheresultsof itdecadeslaterwasheart-wrenching,andthedevastationithascausedeveninthemidstof thisnaturaldisasteristhebiggesttragedyof itall. AsIroamedthroughthestreetsof Port-au-Prince,throughthebackroadsof Croix-des-Bouquetsandupthesteepandruggedhillsof CarrefourandSavannePistache,itwasinthetearsof the

Descendantsof ToussaintBy Jean McGianni Celestin

Brothers spend time with an Alpha members’ Hatian family.

T

CNN CORRESPONDENT JOE

JOHNS (LEFT) EXCHANGES

INFORMATION WITH

HAITIAN-BORN BROTHER

SAMUEL DARGUIN, AS

BROTHER FERREL BON-

NER LOOKS ON. JOHNS

WAS COVERING THE

RESCUE-AND-RECOVERY

OPERATIONS FOR THE

CABLE NEWS NETWORK

WHILE ALPHA BROTHERS

WERE CONDUCTING THEIR

HUMANITARIAN MISSION

ON THE ISLAND.

Making Headlines in Haiti

MONEY AND AID: The Economic Redevelopment of HaitiBy Jean G. Celestin

IN THE AFTERMATH of the earthquake in Haiti on Jan.12, 2010, many around the world have made monetary donations for the aid and relief of the millions of survivors who are now in need. Others have donated goods, and some took time from their jobs to donate something much more valuable than the dollar—sweat equity. But while these humanitarian efforts will help in the days and months immediately following the devastation, it will require a long-term, self-sustained systematic economic model to redevelop Haiti for the long run. Although it is the first and only country to become independent as a result of a successful slave revolution, Haiti has long been in slavery economically. Haiti’s economic crisis began the day it gained its independence from the French in 1804. Economic embargos imposed by the international community as punishment for the successful rebellion, coupled with payment demanded by France in order to be recognized as an independent nation, all played major roles in today’s economic crisis. Haiti has been robbed on all fronts, and in order for the country to be self-sufficient, there needs to be government policies, on both the local and national level, that create mechanisms that help jumpstart the Haitian economy in the public and private sectors. The rebuilding effort is the perfect opportunity to incorporate this plan. While there aren’t many Haitian-owned construction companies equipped to meet the challenges of this massive reconstruction, a policy that earmarks a large share of this rebuilding pie for Haitians rather than foreign companies will create jobs and provide the island with the strong economic infrastructure it has lacked for decades. While the earthquake was a tragic event that destroyed millions of lives, the rebuilding phase that will follow is an economic opportunity that can’t be missed. It will not be through foreign aid that Haiti will become profitable again, it will be through grassroots economic models like this one that the first independent black nation in the world will become economically independent.H



thousandsof survivorswemetthatthiscatastrophecanonlybemeasured.Itisintheunlimitedpotentialof thechildrenwhomakeupnearlyhalf of theisland’spopulationthatyoufeelthedespair.Itisthedefeatonthefacesof theoldandinthewearinessof thehomelessthatyouseethatHaitihadbeenanearthquake-ravagednationwaybeforetheeventsof January12.Yet,inthemidstof theruins,therewasasenseof solace.Astrangebutbeautifulironythatthiswasgoingtobethebeginningof prosperityforanationthat,morethananycountryintheWesternWorld,deservesitaspaymentforanunjustsentenceof alifetimeof poverty.Theresiliencyof thepeoplewhocontinuetosmileandlendahelpinghandtellsyouthisandmakesitimpossibleforyounottolovethislandandfeelresponsibleforitsupliftmentinsomeway. Itiswhattheindigenousknewandthatwesometimelosesightof.Becausewhilelifecanendasquicklyasitbegins,ourlandandthecertaintyof ourchildren’sfuturesshouldremainwayafterwe’regone. AsIlookbackatthishistorictrip,IfeelblessedthatIwasabletohelpleadAlphaPhiAlphatotheplacewhereblackpeoplestoodunchainedbyslaveryforthefirsttimeinhistory.Whatsomeorganizationsdeemserviceandahumanitarianeffort,wesawasdutyandnation-building—areclaimingof ourbirthrighttobepasseddowntograndsonsandgranddaughters.Iwishedmanymorebrotherscouldhaveexperiencedit.Allonewouldhavetodoistolistentothespiritof theyoungandfeelthetouchof theoldtounderstandthatitisonlyonthestrengthof thisgenerationof Haitians,throughouttheDiaspora,thatHaitiwillbecomeaprosperousnationagain.Thebatonhasbeenpassed.H


30 THE SPHINX H Winter/Spring 2010a

AftertheQuake:ADoctor’sPerspectiveBy Joseph Gambrell, M.D.

hadtheopportunitytobeinHaiti19daysaftertheearthquake.Thesearchandrescueandemergencymedicalserviceshadbeenrenderedbutthecapitalwasfar

fromhealed.Collapsedbuildingsstillheldundiscoveredandunrecoveredbodies.Thesanitationsystem(water,sewerage,garbageandpower)didnotexist.Acutemedicalcarewasscarceandnotreadilyavailableoraccessible.Follow-upcarewasquestionable. TheUnitedNationsandorganizationsfrommanycountrieswerepresentprovidingaidandassistance.DoctorswithoutBorders,theRedCrossorganizationsfrommanynations,stand-aloneorganizations,volunteersandreligiousorganizationswerealltheretohelp.Unfortunately,itappearedthattheaiddeliverywasnotcoordinated,andthusalotof aidwasnotgettingtothepeopleinthecommunitiesinareasonablemanner. Haitianhospitalswereoverwhelmedwithpatientsneedingcareforacute,sub-acuteandchronicconditions.Medicalofficeswereclosedasaresultof beingdestroyedordamagedbythequake.Theneedforinterpreterswashuge.Ifounditimpossibletobeacceptedandfunctionwithout“locals”tointerpretandtranslatehistories,examfindingsandinstructions.

Youdon’thavetobeanM.D.toknowthattheresultingpsychologicalproblemsabound.Thelossof familyandfriends,worldlypossessions,homes,etc.,withuncertaintyof thefuture,hastakenamassivetollonthecountryanditspeople. Despiteallof this,Ilearnedthepeopleof Port-au-Princeareresilient.Theywentabouttryingtoprovidefortheirfamiliesandsurvive.TheHaitianpeople,areonthesurface,perhapscavalier,butbelowthereisdeeppain,depression,uncertaintyandevensomeangertowardthemany“visitors”nowintheircountry. Butallof thiscanchangeforthebetterinthelongrunif wekeepoureyesandheartsonHaitiinthefuture.Agood,workingpublichealth-sanitationsystemisagiven.Goodhealthandmedicalcarethatisaccessiblewithprimary,secondaryandtertiarycareareprofoundlynecessary.Inspiteof thequake,weallnowhaveachancetocreateamodelsystem. ThereisagreatopportunitytoimproveHaitiasaresultof thisdisaster.TheHaitiangovernmentandtheinternationalcommunitymustgetitright.Wehaveachancetoreversetwocenturiesof mismanagement,greedandinternationaloppression,andproviderealhopeforthepeoplewhosodesperatelyneedit.Ihopethisis“nation-building”time.H

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Brother Gambrell examines an injured women in Port-au-Prince.



C H A P T E R N E W S


ALPHA Cornell University

BROTHERS at the founding chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., are working in conjunction with other student organizations to assist with relief efforts in Haiti. On Jan. 28, 2010, the members of Alpha Chapter, along with the Haitian Student Association, the Kappa Xi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, hosted a candlelight vigil at the University’s Sage Chapel to remember those who lost their lives in the earthquake and its aftershocks. Cornell University President David Skorton welcomed the congregation and spoke of the Cornell community’s responsibility, as a part of the human family, to reach out and be active participants in the relief efforts that are sorely needed in Haiti. Alpha members and students from the groups are raising money to “help heal Haiti” by selling red-and-blue wristbands for two dollars, in support of the Haitian relief effort. H

ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDANewark, N.J.

ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDA held its biannual Evening of Elegance on Dec. 11, 2009. In addition to the chapter’s recognizing Carlisle Parker as its Brother of the Year, it also presented a leadership award to Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Evening of Elegance is a major scholarship fundraiser. Brothers at AAL honored Booker for his work in reviving the city of Newark. The mayor—often referred to as a future presidential candidate—has undertaken several initiatives to deal with urban blight and fully employs the support of the community to realize better outcomes. In the spirit of Alpha Phi Alpha’s historical mission, AAL is seeking ways to partner with government and civic leaders like Booker to improve overall quality of life in Greater Essex County, N.J. Also attending the festive event were Wayne Smith, mayor of Irvington, N.J., Newark Councilman Brother Ron Rice, Alpha Phi Alpha New Jersey District Director Duane Malone and General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. H

Celebrating in New Jersey, from left: Brother Mark Hassell, president of Alpha Alpha Lambda Chapter, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.

ALPHA DELTA LAMBDAMemphis, Tenn.

CHAPTER MEMBERS celebrated Founders’ Day 2009 with two major events. The 2nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Breakfast kicked off the celebration on Dec. 5, 2009, at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tenn. The event, co-chaired by Brothers Willie Byrd Jr. and Christopher Liddell, garnered $1,000 for the Washington D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. Special guests at the breakfast included Boy Scout Troop #143 from St. Augustine Catholic Church, sponsored by Memphis Mayor Brother A.C. Wharton, Jr. and his wife Ruby. Brother Lee Miller serves as the scout master for the troop. The following day, the103rd Founders’ Day Celebration was held at First Baptist Church-Broad in Memphis, Tenn. The guest speaker was Southern Region Vice President James L. Crumel. H

Celebrating at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Breakfast are members of Boy Scout Troop 143. From left: Scout leader Andre Wharton with son Andrew, Trey Love, Scout leader Brother Lee Miller, Terreal Ueal, Marktavius Littles and Nicholas Nabors.

ALPHA LAMBDA Louisville, Ky.

ALPHA LAMBDA CHAPTER concluded its Canned Good Drive on Nov. 21, 2009, donating to The Healing Place—an organization which provides food, shelter and uplift for recovering substance-abusers. In addition to donating canned goods, chapter members also helped serve lunch. One month later, on Dec. 17, 2009, brothers concluded their 2009 Clothing Drive by donating to Lost Sheep Ministries, an organization which provides food, prayer and clothing for Louisville’s homeless. H



BETA CHI, Philander Smith CollegeKAPPA PSI, University of ArkansasPI LAMBDA, Little Rock, Ark.

ON A WINDY, BONE-CHILLING MORNING last fall, excitement filled the air as hundreds of women dressed in pink decided to undergo a few hours of discomfort—for a good cause. The women participated in the 16th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for Cure: Arkansas in the fight against breast cancer on October 17. Members of Beta Chi Chapter at Philander Smith College, Kappa Psi Chapter at the University of Arkansas, and Pi Lambda Chapter in Little Rock, Ark., added a sprinkle of black and old gold to the sea of pink, as Alpha men lined a downtown Little Rock street, showing their support. The brothers were a part of 3 Miles of Men, a male component of the race, in which fathers, sons, uncles, brothers and friends line the race course to show their suppport. H

Brothers cheer on the women in pink, racing for a cure for breast cancer, in Little Rock, Ark. DELTA BETA

Bethune-Cookman University BROTHERS OF DELTA BETA CHAPTER spent the month of October 2009 targeting issues affecting women and girls. Throughout the month, the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., “went pink” with ribbons, signifying the observation of breast-cancer awareness. The chapter also joined forces with the University’s chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and the University’s Department of Speech Communication to host “Take Back the Night.” The event, held on October 26, was an all-day affair at which Alpha brothers and NCNW members provided free information on domestic violence, while pinning purple ribbons on students, faculty and staff to signify the fight against domestic violence. H

Delta Beta Chapter joins forces with Bethune-Cookman’s National Council of Negro Women Chapter to raise awareness of domestic violence.

EPSILON PI, Norfolk State UniversityTHETA NU, Old Dominion University ALPHA PHI LAMBDA, Norfolk, Va.

BROTHERS IN NORFOLK, VA., from Epsilon Pi Chapter at Norfolk State University, Nu Theta Chapter at Old Dominion University, and Alpha Phi Lambda Chapter, joined with the Salvation Army in the annual holiday-bell-ringing activity during the 2009 holiday season. H



DELTA ETA Savannah State University

BROTHERS OF DELTA ETA CHAPTER at Savannah State University in Savannah, Ga., hosted an event to congratulate Brother Marcus Stallworth for placing second in the men’s 60-meter hurdle competition, in the 2010 Dick Taylor Carolina Classic. Stallworth finished with a time of 8.31. The chapter is also celebrating its recent honor, from the Tara Nursing Home, for its community-service endeavors during the month of January. H

DELTA GAMMA Alabama A&M University

BROTHERS AT DELTA GAMMA CHAPTER at Alabama A&M University in Normal, Ala., are working to raise money to help rebuild the home of one of the chapter’s founders. Brother Harold W. Tapscott, who helped establish Delta Gamma on April 13, 1948, still lives across the street from the campus. His home was destroyed by fire in January. In the midst of that challenge, brothers started off 2010 marking a milestone for alumnus Brother Wiley Henderson. Henderson, the chapter advisor, was initiated at Delta Gamma on April 13, 1954. This year marks 56 years of his active membership. What makes this so fascinating is that while most chapter advisors are in their 20s to 40s, Henderson is well in to his 70s. He and a carload of college brothers rode to the annual Southern Region Convention, held in Jackson, Miss., earlier this spring, just as if he were going as a neophyte some 56 years ago. “He inspires us, as I believe we inspire him,” said chapter member James Patterson III. Henderson, a native of Grove Hill, Ala., was Delta Gamma’s chapter president in his senior year, before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology; he later earned a master’s degree. He retired from full-time teaching at A&M in 1998, and has since taught in an adjunct-type capacity. H

Delta Gamma brothers surround their longtime advisor Wiley Henderson (center).

GAMMA ETA Indiana University

GAMMA ETA CHAPTER brothers at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Ind., have adopted the slogan—“onward and upward”—and turned it into a mantra. So evident is the conversion that the saying has become the lens through which the chapter scrutinizes its programs, community-service efforts and public persona. Last fall, the chapter stamped “onward and upward” on nearly everything it accomplished. Its latest achievements include: increasing the scholarship award given for the Miss Black & Gold Scholarship Pageant, from $2,000 to $3,500; increasing the chapter’s semester grade-point average by 10 percent; and having a graduating brother speak at the Minority Commencement Ceremony for the fifth consecutive semester. Gamma Eta brothers are also taking pride in placing Alpha members in positions of influence on the IU campus, including the Indiana University Student Association Funding Board, the Indiana University Union Board, and the Residence Halls Association. Topping all that, earlier this year brothers dug deep to raise and donate money and supplies to local organizations in support of Haitian-relief efforts. H

Brothers of Delta Eta Chapter.

Brother Marcus Stallworth



EPSILON TAU LAMBDAWaller, Texas

THANKS TO THE BROTHERS of Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter in Waller, Texas, hundreds of children are using a new mode of transportation to get around town. In December, students in the Hempstead and Waller, Texas, school districts were surprised when the charity Elves & More and the chapter unloaded 13 trucks filled with bikes at the Hempstead football stadium. In all, the charity, founded by David Moore, donated 1,327 new bikes to students in grades four through eight. H

Standing with students are, from left: Brother Mark Spivey, Sr.; volunteer Juliette Spivey; Brother Frank Jackson, mayor of Prarie View, Texas; Eric Potts of Elves & More; and Michael Wolfe, mayor of Hempstead, Texas. Photo courtesy of HISD Public Information.

GAMMA IOTA LAMBDABrooklyn, N.Y.

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for brothers in the Brooklyn, N.Y., area. Last June, the New York Senate honored the chapter with Senate Bill J2720 for the chapter’s community service, highlighting Gamma Iota Lambda’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Summer Formal. The Senate, by resolution, noted that the chapter was dedicated to serving the community and to preserving the community’s rich ethnic heritage through its ongoing work. The Senate specifically acknowledged the chapter’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brooklyn on voter-registration and mentoring students to encourage academic excellence. H

IOTA RHO LAMBDA Pontiac, Mich.

BROTHERS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN recently celebrated the legacy of the Rev. Brother Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Iota Rho Lambda Chapter, seated in the northern-Detroit suburb of Pontiac, Mich., joined over 2,200 participants in the 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Peace Walk Celebration, held on Jan. 18. The Walk is the oldest and largest event honoring King in the state of Michigan. The one-mile walk, from Hope United Methodist Church to the Southfield Civic Center in Southfield, Mich., concluded with a program of motivational speakers, musical performances and the third annual Celebration of Diversity Taste Fest. Iota Rho Lambda brothers also raised funds for the Washington D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, currently under construction. H

Iota Rho Lambda brothers meet Southfield, Mich. Mayor Brenda Lawrence at Peace Walk Celebration.

MU ZETAThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

THE BROTHERS OF MU ZETA Chapter at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continued their legacy of being “servants of all” by hosting the 3rd Annual MLK Jr. Potluck Unity Dinner at the University recently. The event, cosponsored by the Student Government Association, the NAACP and the Women’s Center, brought together many of the on-campus cultural and religious organizations to engage in fellowship and a meal, while reflecting on the legacy of the Rev. Brother Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The occasion sought to join diverse groups of individuals who would not normally interact with each other on a regular basis. Moderators were placed at various tables positioned across the facility floor and engaged the students with questions on race, equality and the struggle to continue King’s dream. H

Mu Zeta brothers serve food at the 3rd Annual MLK Jr. Potluck Unity Dinner at UNC-Chapel Hill.



OMICRON LAMBDA ALPHA Washington, D.C.

IN AN EFFORT TO ENGAGE in the national debate on healthcare, and to create the opportunity for a productive discussion, brothers of Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in Washington, D.C., hosted a National Healthcare Reform Forum last October. More than 200 people participated in the forum, including nearly 100 attendees who viewed and submitted questions and comments during the live-streamed online event. Panelists included members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Council of La Raza and the National Medical Association, and Alpha Brother Lt. Cmdr. Dr. Mill Etienne, a neurologist with the U.S. Navy. Etienne is immediate past president of Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter in Harlem, N.Y., and recently relocated to Washington, D.C., and served aboard the USNS Comfort during the relief mission to Haiti. The chapter’s partner organizations for the event were the NAACP and the Young Professional Network of the Greater Washington Urban League. H

PI ALPHA Clemson University BROTHERS OF PI ALPHA CHAPTER at Clemson University continue to accept the charge of keeping the dream of Brother Martin Luther King Jr. alive. They did so at the top of this year, playing a key role on the University’s MLK Enhancement Committee, which presented the University’s 28th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration – “Dare To Dream.” On Jan. 14, Pi Alpha kicked off the five-day Celebration as sponsors of the Oratorical

Contest for high school students. Competing students spoke on their understanding of King’s “Dare to Dream” speech: what it means to them and how best to achieve the dream. They were selected from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens County, S.C., high schools and were judged primarily on the basis of originality, relevance and presentation. This year’s first-place winner was D.W. Daniel High School senior Devleena Kole, who was awarded a $300 savings bond. The second-place winner received a $200 savings bond; and the third-place winner was awarded a $100 savings bond. H

THETA IOTA Virginia Tech and Radford Universities

ON THE HISTORIC campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., Theta Iota Chapter members are continuing the remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Each year the chapter hosts its Keynote Celebration during the King Day observance. The event was created and initially instituted to allow the community to recognize the life of a humble leader and share in his ideology and practice of nonviolence and tolerance. The program began in 1982 in the city of Blacksburg. In the early years its keynote address was held at local churches and in the War Memorial Chapel on Virginia Tech’s campus. The chapter has been hosting the event for more than 25 years, and in 2006 Theta Iota officially partnered with the University in implementation of the program. This year’s speaker was Brother Cornel West. Over 1.500 people packed Burruss Hall to hear the legendary academic and author. H

The panel at Omicron Lambda Alpha’s National Healthcare Reform Forum.

Brothers of Theta Iota Chapter at Virginia Tech with Brother Cornel West (direct center) at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Celebration on Jan. 18, 2010.

Pi Alpha Chapter President Christopher Jenkins (left) and Oratorical Contest Coordinator Brother Marque Macon (right) with Devleena Kole (center), first-place winner of the 2010 Oratorical Contest, sponsored by the chapter, during Clemson University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.



ETA TAU LAMBDAAkron, Ohio ON JAN. 17, 2010, the brothers of the Eta Tau Lambda Chapter in Akron, Ohio, along with the Akron Summit County Public Library, cosponsored their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the annual event. The lecture was special this year because the featured speaker was retired judge Brother James R. Williams, 25th general president of Alpha Phi Alpha. Williams’ topic was ‘Education and Racial Progress in the 21st Century.’ Though the program has featured many notable speakers over the years, and draws hundreds of people from the community each year, Williams is the first member of Eta Tau Lambda to deliver the lecture at the annual event. H

IOTA ALPHA LAMBDAAberdeen, Md.BROTHERS AT IOTA ALPHA LAMBDA Chapter in Aberdeen, Md., are proving that black Greek-lettered groups can—and should—work together. Last year in September, members of the Greek Letter Organizations of Harford County (GLOHC) hosted a Sharing Table meal. The Sharing Table is a program through which local churches and organizations work together to prepare and provide free weekly meals to anyone in need. GLOHC has participated in Sharing Table since 1998, under the leadership and direction of Brother William Starke. The Sharing Table provides a brief haven from daily stresses faced by families. Although these families have few material assets, Sharing Table allows volunteers to meet their needs in a manner that respects the dignity of each person in attendance. On this particular Saturday, fraternity members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi and sorority members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta cooked and served food for more than 75 people. H

IOTA UPSILON LAMBDASilver Spring, Md.BROTHER MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. was also honored in the Baltimore suburb of Silver Spring, Md., during the 34th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast, sponsored by Iota Upsilon Lambda Chapter. This year, the event was held on January 18 at the Bethesda North Marriott and Conference Center in Bethesda, Md. The breakfast has become quite popular in Montgomery County, Md., and serves as one of the premier events honoring King in the Baltimore area. Lesli Foster, news anchor at WUSA9-TV, emceed the event, and Montgomery County Executive Brother Isiah Leggett, was the keynote speaker on the theme “Transform the Dream into Action through Service.”

XI NU LAMBDABaton Rouge, La.

Xi Nu Lambda Chapter in Baton Rouge, La., decided to do more than just spread holiday cheer during the 2009 Christmas holiday season. The chapter combined the spirit of giving with an opportunity to serve as exemplary examples of manhood to a family struggling with domestic-violence issues. Recognizing the family’s need, the chapter decided to adopt that family for an entire year. To begin the relationship, the chapter provided the family with individual holiday gifts and ones for their home. Brothers worked with a school teacher, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, to identify a family in critical need. H

SIGMA BETAEast Tennessee State University

Members of Sigma Beta Chapter at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., were recently featured on the front page of the Johnson City Press daily newspaper for their contribution to the 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Storytelling Celebration. Hosted by and held at Carver Recreation Center, children of all ages from the surrounding community gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to learn more about the slain civil-rights icon and his legacy through storytelling and other activities. Sigma Beta brothers volunteered to facilitate the various workshops in which the children participated. Chapter brothers also participated in a walk honoring King hosted by the Center. H

East Tennesesse State University student Brother Steven Templin works with children during craft time at Carver Recreation Center during Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities. Photo by Lee Talbert/Johnson City Press.

Xi Nu Lambda Brother Kelvin Jones helps deliver holiday cheer to a family in need in Baton Rouge, La.



Proceeds from the breakfast go to the chapter’s scholarship endowment and to the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, under construction the nation’s capital. H

KAPPA PHI LAMBDALaurel, Md.THE HOWARD COUNTY Board of Education has recognized the volunteer contributions of Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter in Laurel, Md. The chapter was nominated earlier this year and chosen in April as one of three recipients. The school board cited Kappa Phi Lambda brothers for significant contribution to the success of Howard County’s African-American students Since 1982, Kappa Phi Lambda has been conducting intervention programs and recognition programs focused on eliminating the achievement gap between black students and their peers. The chapter’s two educational outreach programs—the Ellington-Adderley African-American Community Jazz Ensemble and the Alpha Achievers program—have been highly successful in making progress toward this goal. The Ensemble, founded in 2001, capitalizes on research that shows the study and performance of music enhances student achievement in other academic areas. The Alpha Achievers program was founded in 1997, with 20 young men; now more than 400 students in seven local high schools are members. To remain in good standing, Alpha Achievers members are required to maintain a 3.0 grade-point average. Participants perform community service and participate in student-leadership opportunities. H

PI RHO Temple UniversityBROTHERS AT PI RHO CHAPTER at Temple Universtiy in Philadelphia hosted a special program last fall, titled “Daddy, Where Have You Been?” The program, which was awarded “Program of the Month” honors by the fraternity’s Eastern Region for September 2009, attracted 200 students. The program highlighted the effects of fatherless youths who are troubled, underachieving, negatively influenced, and/or are simply unmotivated as a result. H

RHO PI LAMBDACarrollton, Ga. AFTER JUST A YEAR-AND-A-HALF existence, Rho Pi Lambda Chapter in the western Atlanta suburb of Carrollton, Ga., was honored as Georgia Chapter of the Year. The chapter earned the honor because of its work in the community. Since its founding, Rho Pi Lambda

has developed several innovative programs. The members developed the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series, created a benefit-musical fundraising event to raise money for the poor and instituted the African-American Health Symposium, to help facilitate better health in the local community. Additionally, this chapter has completed every national program. H

SOUTH FLORIDA AREA On January 30, the South Florida area chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity held a Haiti relief drive to help the people of Haiti, who continue to be in desperate need of assistance, following the country’s catastrophic earthquake. Response to the need for aid was widespread, with all nine chapters in South Florida contributing cases of food, water, medicines and providing financial donations. Chapters participating included Beta Beta Lambda in Miami; Delta Delta Lambda in West Palm Beach; Delta Psi at Florida Memorial University in Opa Locka; Eta Delta at the University of Miami; Eta Kappa Lambda in Fort Pierce; Iota Pi Lambda in Richmond Heights; Omicron Upsilon Lambda in Delray Beach; Tau Delta at Florida International University in Miami-Dade County; and Zeta Alpha Lambda in Fort Lauderdale. The life-saving food, water and medicines were provided to Food for the Poor, an interdenominational Christian relief and development organization; its goal is to provide $20 million in relief to Haiti’s earthquake victims. Alpha Phi Alpha set up its own disaster relief fund as well, and sent a delegation to the island in February. For more on that mission, see the SPECIAL REPORT in this issue of The Sphinx on page 21. H

XI IOTAUniversity of Central FloridaXI IOTA CHAPTER AT THE University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., hosted its annual Sydney Danielle Baroulette Cancer Benefit Dinner on Nov. 8, 2009. The night was filled with entertainment, laughs, food, valuable information and personal testomonies from survivors. Representatives from the American Cancer Society were on hand for the event. During the program, the chapter also honored a member of the Delta Xi Lambda Chapter in Orlando for his battle against cancer. H

XI KAPPA LAMBDA Missouri City, TexasTHE BROTHERS OF XI KAPPA Lambda in Missouri City, Texas, did not let a rare snowfall in the metro Houston area stop them from celebrating the fraternity’s 103rd anniversary. Despite the inclement weather more than 200 brothers and guests attended the chapter’s 16th Annual Founders’ Day Breakfast on Dec. 5, 2009. The event was held in the Jesse H. Jones Conference Center at the Power Center, in Southwest Houston. With the theme “A Charge to Keep,” the event not only recognized the seven Jewels, but also highlighed the achievements of African-American elected officials in the metro Houston. The celebration, chaired by Brother Byron Cobbin, also included the chapter’s community partners: Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and March of Dimes. The keynote speaker was Democratic U.S. Rep. Brother Al Green of Houston. H

ZETA DELTA Michigan State UniversityON JAN. 18, 2010, THE MEN of the Zeta Delta Chapter at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Mich., led the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March at the campus. On what was a chilly afternoon at the MSU Student Union, Brothers Brandon Gandy and Vincent Davis kicked off the program with a short skit on modern-day issues that plague African-American students at Michigan State. Following the skit, Brother Victor Robinson delivered a speech on the history of marches during the Civil Rights era and the impact of the movement around the globe. Brother Thomas Collins then paid tribute to collegiate civil-rights activists who gave their lives in the fight for equal rights, especially Michael Schwerner, a former MSU student murdered in Neshoba County, Miss., in June 1964. The Zeta Delta brothers then led nearly 500 students, faculty members, the University president, provost, other campus officials, and members of the greater Lansing community on a commemorative march honoring Brother King and his legacy. H


I N I T I A T I V E S

WillAlphaPhiAlphaandOtherBlackGreekFraternitiesBeRelevantintheFuture?By Lowell W. Perry, Jr.

InAugust2008, I submitted the original “Old Gold Paper,” which Alpha Phi Alpha 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews Sr. referred to when he issued a call for 10,000 Alpha men to step up and become a Big Brother to a young boy through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). Many Alpha men responded and helped show our most vulnerable young boys what a man should look like. We still have a long way to go—and that road will ultimately determine how relevant Alpha and other black Greek-lettered organizations will be in the future. General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. took up the mantle in 2009, and he is taking the partnership with BBBS to the next level, with a renewed call for Alpha

“Our members are committing to become Big Brothers. We are recruiting other black men, like ourselves, and others who, more importantly, have the heart to serve.“

STAYING RELEVANT: Members of Zeta Theta Lambda Chapter in Harrisburg, Pa., along with Big Brothers Big Sisters participants, bring attention to the need for increased recruitment of mentors by participating in the Harrisburg City Holiday Parade. In 2009, the chapter expanded its partnership with BBBS of the Capital Region to include fundraising activities such as Harrisburg’s Kipona Festival and Bowl for Kids’ Sake program.


men to become mentors and even board members at local BBBS agencies. Most significantly, the fraternity has also executed an historic collaboration with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to mentor young black boys through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. In a joint letter to USA Today, Mason, Kappa Grand Polemarch Dwayne Murray and Omega Grand Basileus Warren E. Lee said the following in response to President Obama’s national call to service: “Our members are committing to become Big Brothers. We are recruiting other black men, like ourselves, and others who, more importantly, have the heart to serve. As members of the nation’s largest fraternities, we are often leaders in our communities, workplaces and houses of worship. It would be shameful not to utilize our influences in our communities.” Throughout history, members of our beloved fraternity, in particular, have been at the forefront of nearly every major movement to advance the cause of our people. Make no mistake—we are in the midst of what amounts to this generation’s Civil Rights Movement. Young black boys are disappearing from the landscape, threatening not only the future of our fraternal system, but also the very survival of the black community. We are witnessing before our eyes a form of cultural genocide that is killing off families and threatening our existence as a people. We are losing a generation of young black men to the criminal justice system in an insidious intergenerational cycle of incarceration, as we witness grandfathers, fathers, and sons spending the wrong kind of time together behind bars. This is unacceptable. I may be speaking metaphorically, but consider the fact that if a young man has a felony on his record, he cannot get a decent job, cannot vote in many states and finds it hard to buy a home or car. So, as an American citizen, his “American Dream” is effectively dead. Alpha must take the lead in reclaiming our young men. As Brother Charles H. Wesley so eloquently stated, “Where leadership was required in these

past years, an Alpha man could be found to furnish it. Where ideas were needed to call out the best within the group, Alpha Phi Alpha has been equal to the emergency. Our march has been ever onward and upward toward the better life.” There is certainly a moral imperative to get involved, but perhaps an even more compelling economic reason for today’s African-American men to make this a priority. Dr. Mark Cohen of Vanderbilt University and Dr. Alex Piquero of the City University of New York have done extensive research to put a monetary value on diverting a high-risk child from a life of crime, substance abuse, or school failure (New Evidence on the Monetary Value of Saving a High Risk Youth, Vanderbilt Law & Economics Research Paper No. 08-07, December 2007). Taking into consideration the lifetime costs associated with a career criminal, drug-abuser, or high-school dropout, Cohen and Piquero estimate the monetary value of saving one high-risk youth at $3.2 to $5.7 million for a career criminal, $1.15 to $1.3 million for a drug-abuser, and $675,000 to $1 million for a high-school dropout. That’s for just one youth. Mentoring a young man through BBBS costs approximately $1,000 per year to support that same one youth. You do the math. What would the founders of our dear fraternity do? They would take action, of course. Many of you across the country are already in the fight by finding ways to make a difference in a young man’s life. However, there are still too many of us sitting on the sidelines. Now is the time to “get in the game”—the game of saving our young boys—and ultimately their lives. If we fail to act now, Alpha Phi Alpha, along with our fraters from Kappa, Omega, and the others, will go the way of the dinosaur and become, well, irrelevant. What are you going to do? H


For more information, go to www.mentorakid.org or www.bbbs.org

The long-term societal impact

of Big Brothers Big Sisters

mentoring was recently validated

in a 2009 national Harris

Interactive research survey.

BBBS ALUMNI NON-ALUMNI CATAGORY

42% 33 % COLLEGE DEGREES OR HIGHER

46% 33% INCOMES OF $75,000 OR MORE

64% 35% SATISFIED WITH THEIR LIVES

THE BBBS DIFFERENCE

40 THE SPHINX

Eachmorning that I awake I still cannot get out of my mind the phone call I received on Sept. 25, 2009. On the other end of the line was news that there had been yet another victim of domestic violence in my hometown of Memphis, (Shelby County), Tenn. This time the victim was a 36-year-old, eight-months pregnant, third-grade elementary school teacher, and police have charged the woman’s boyfriend with her murder and the killing of her unborn child at her home. The killing was senseless, to say the least, and I began to ponder how this could happen to yet another teacher. It was almost three years ago, on Thanksgiving Day in 2006, that a high-school instructor was killed by her husband. How in the world did this happen—again—and what can we do to stop it? Victims of domestic violence are caught up in a vicious cycle that does not discriminate on the basis of race, education or class. The best way to stop domestic violence is for everyone, especially men, to become involved in educating women about the importance of recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship. Women, including young ladies in high school, often look up to their fathers or father figures in their lives, for guidance in making decisions about life. Men should, therefore, make a concerted effort to provide leadership and direction to their daughters, goddaughters, sisters and

friends about what a good relationship with a man should and should not be. This message must constantly be reiterated in all aspects of a woman’s life—at home, church, school and the workplace, as well as in social settings. My daughter Blair is five and she is definitely a “daddy’s girl.” Blair looks to me for direction and seeks my opinion regularly about matters that are important to her at this stage in her life. I love her for her unconditional love for, and devotion to me. I feel special because she looks up to me. I cannot imagine not making sure that she and her cousins Michaela and Rachelle, and the other little girls with whom she plays, are aware that they do not have to be in an abusive relationship at any point in their lives. I want Blair to know that real men do not hit women, nor do they kill the women they say they love. I want the very best in life for Blair, and that means that I must frequently tell her that she does not have to settle for a man who would physically or mentally abuse her. I am going to take advantage of the fact that Blair is a daddy’s girl and make sure that she knows the signs of domestic violence—tension in a relationship that leads to physical or emotional abuse, followed by the abuser’s begging for forgiveness. Next comes the abuser’s buying of gifts during the “honeymoon phase,” followed by tension rebuilding in the relationship and more physical and/or emotional abuse. It is a never-ending cycle of abuse for many women who

live in fear in such relationships and are often afraid to leave their abuser. Domestic violence must be eradicated. Men can begin to break the vicious cycle of abuse by speaking out and having open and honest conversations with other men and women about what is happening in their relationships. I hope that more men will join the many members of Alpha Phi Alpha who began this dialogue as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October of last year. Men must continue to speak out against domestic violence at their workplace, at the barber shop, at the gym, at church and in their communities. We cannot afford to lose anymore teachers, scientists, attorneys, social workers, sisters, friends and mothers to domestic violence. My daughter is counting on me to stand up and speak out in the fight against domestic violence, for her sake. I believe that other daughters are counting on the men in their lives to do the same. H


MenMustSpeakOutAgainstDomesticViolenceBy Bradley D. Thomas

Brother Bradley Thomas, holding his daughter Blair, is making sure she and other girls are educated about domestic violence.


HORACE DUKESLeading the youth onward and upward is the mission of Brother Horace Dukes. A member of Nu Mu Lambda Chapter in Decatur, Ga., Dukes recently was the subject of a television interview on ABC’s Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV. The program, “People to People,” highlighted the work of the self-titled Dukes Foundation, which Dukes created in metro Atlanta in 2002. The foundation works to mentor boys and adolescent-aged young men. It is structured to provide the tools, opportunities and support to help talented at-risk young men dream, achieve, and become healthy, successful adults. The foundation recently received a proclamation from the City of Atlanta for its efforts. Dukes, initiated in 1981 at Gamma Psi Chapter, earned his

bachelor’s degree from St. Augustine’s College, and earned a master’s degree from Clark Atlanta University in 1989. For more information about the Dukes Foundation go to www.dukesfoundation.org. H


B R O T H E R S O N T H E M O V E

LARRY C. ARMSTRONG JR.Alpha men in Jackson, Miss., are celebrating the promotion of

one of their own in the name of Larry C. Armstrong Jr. Brother Armstrong, a 2003 initiate and current member of Alpha Epsilon Lambda, recently earned a promotion as head of school of Siwell Middle School in Jackson. This position places him in an elite group of international administrators within the International Baccalaureate World Middle School (www.ibo.org). Armstrong’s school is just one of three middle schools in the state that offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program in the state of Mississippi. Armstrong holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss., and he earned

a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss.

KENGIE R. BASS You can now call him Doctor Bass—now that Brother Kengie R. Bass has earned his Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership and policy, from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to his degree, during an award ceremony at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education, Bass received the Arville V. Wheeler Prize. That award is presented to a graduate student who has excelled in the Peabody doctoral program, with preference given to a student in the area of secondary-education administration. Bass is a fall 1999 initiate, made at Eta Nu Chapter at East Carolina University. He is currently active at Phi Lambda Chapter in Raleigh, N.C. Bass is a high-school administrator and has the distinction of being the youngest administrator

holding a doctorate in the Wake County Public Schools system, the nation’s 18th-largest school district.

BRANDON BATTSProving yet again that members of Alpha Phi Alpha lead on every campus,

Brother Brandon Batts, a senior education and behavioral science major, has won the presidency in the Middle Tennessee State University Student Government Association (SGA) election. Batts, the president-elect, carried 1,543 votes, a landslide victory of more than four times higher than any of the other candidates. “I decided to run for SGA president because it was a great opportunity for me to be the voice of the students of the largest college in the state of Tennessee,” said Batts.

Batts becomes only the third African-American—in 98 years—to be SGA president at the predominantly white university. Ballots were cast March 2-4, and the winner announced on March 5. Batts, who learned of his victory while away in Jackson, Miss., at the Alpha Phi Alpha Southern Region Convention, will lead the SGA for the 2010-2011 school year.

KENNETH D. DAVIS In Texas, Alpha Phi Alpha member Kenneth D. Davis

took top honors as the best principal of 2009. Brother Davis, principal of McNeill Elementary in the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, was formally named the Texas 2009 Elementary-Level National Distinguished Principal. The announcement came

Metro Atlanta youth participate in the Dukes Foundation mentoring program.



during a conference meeting of 2,300 educators at the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association last summer. Davis received a check for $10,000, and represented Texas at the National Distinguished Principals program held in Washington, D.C., last October. Davis was initiated in Spring 1989 at Alpha Mu Chapter at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Rockford College in Rockford, Ill. He also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas, in Houston, Texas.

DAVID HANKERSONFor his many years of service to the people of Cobb County, Georgia, Brother David Hankerson is the Marietta Daily Journal’s 2009 Citizen of the Year. Hankerson, a member of Omicron Mu Lambda Chapter in Marietta, Ga., was first appointed county manager in 1993. He became the first African American to manage a major suburban county in Georgia. During his tenure, Cobb County has earned a triple-A bond rating since 1997. In 2001, Cobb became the first county in the nation to have its water system earn a triple-A bond rating. Last May, Hankerson spent two weeks in Beijing, China, teaching Chinese

university students how county government works in America. He was also one of several leaders invited by Vice President Joseph Biden to a daylong White House conference in March 2009 to discuss ways to help the economy recover. Hankerson is a graduate of Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga., and earned a law degree from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta, Ga.

RONALD C. GREENAfter again offering himself to the people of Houston,

Texas, Brother Ronald C. Green was elected Houston’s city controller on Dec. 12, 2009. A native Houstonian and active community partner, he was first elected to public office as a member of the city council in an at-large post. Brother Green has earned a reputation for common-sense fiscal policies that safeguard vital public services. His work has helped improve city programs, from competitive bidding and capital projects to pension protection and customer service. A 1988 graduate of the Houston Independent School District, Green earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from

the University of Houston, as well as a law degree from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Green is a founding partner of his own law firm and a member of Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter in Houston.

CHARLES HASTONInitiated into the fraternity Dec. 15, 1934, at Beta Kappa, at Langston University, Brother A. Charles Haston is celebrating 75 years in Alpha. Members of his chapter, Alpha Eta Lambda in Houston, Texas, of which he was president 42 years ago, recently presented him with a proclamation on the historic occasion. The brothers honored him for, among other attributes, becoming a life member (#503) in 1969, earning his 50-year pin in 1985, and being the voice which lead to the ‘Brother’s Keeper Program,’ in 1999. Haston, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and mathematics from Langston University and furthered his education by earning a master’s degree from Texas Southern University in Houston. He served in World War II as a first and second lieutenant before becoming a school superintendent in Nowata, Okla. Haston and his wife, Doris, who married in December 1941, are setting another noteworthy record of their own—69 years and counting. They are proud

parents of another Alpha man, son William.

BILLY J. HILLFor many students, graduating with a bachelor’s degree

or master’s is considered a milestone, but not for Brother Billy J. Hill. A member of the U.S. Navy residing in Memphis, Tenn., Hill just recently completed his third master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, and is pursuing a doctorate in business administration at Columbia Southern University in Orangeburg, Ala. Hill, a member of Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter in Memphis, was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha at Kappa Chi Lambda Chapter in Waukegan, Ill., in fall 2003. In the Navy, he is human resource manager of more than 700 senior enlisted personnel at Navy Personnel Command Headquarters. Brother Hill is a proud member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Memphis and serves as a positive role model and mentor to a “little” brother.

JOHN H. JACKSONNBC News and theGrio.com recently chose Brother John H.

Jackson of Boston, Mass., as



one of “TheGrio’s 100: History Makers in the Making.” Jackson, president of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, was initiated at Beta Tau Chapter, at Xavier University in New Orleans, La., in 1991, and holds five degrees; after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Xavier, he obtained a Juris Doctor degree and a master’s in education from the University of Illinois, in Champaign, Ill. He then earned a master’s and a doctorate in education at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Jackson was the chief educational officer at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), before taking

the top job at Schott in 2007. The Schott Foundation works to improve public education in New York and Massachusetts. To honor the future of African-American history, theGrio.com, NBC’s African-American-themed news website, is highlighting 100 individuals selected as the next generation of black history makers and industry leaders. The selections come from ten fields, including business, education, sports, science and the environment, media, service and activism, politics, health, pop culture and the arts.

DITU KASUYIInitiated at Alpha at Delta Tau Chapter in 1991 at St Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Va.,

Brother Ditu Kasuyi was recently elected international president

and CEO of Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC). The organization was formerly known as the National Association of Urban Bankers. Kasuyi, a past president of Xi Delta Lambda Chapter in Richmond, Va., is the co-founder of the Life Leadership Institute and a national award-winning motivational speaker. In his new role at UFSC, Kasuyi will be responsible for determining the strategic direction of the banking coalition and ensuring the equitable participation of minorities on all levels of the

financial services industry.

ROBERT P. MADISONAn internationally known architect, Brother Robert P.

Madison was highlighted in Ohio’s largest daily newspaper, Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer. Madison’s efforts as a U.S. Army second lieutenant were featured as part of the newspaper’s coverage of the famous Buffalo Soldiers 92nd Infantry Division in World War II. He attended Howard University’s School of Architecture, at which he was initiated into Alpha in 1941 at Beta Chapter. Madison left Howard to serve his country

THARON JOHNSON N JOHNSON In late April 2009, Georgia State Sen. Kasim Reed, D-Atlanta, knew that when he named Tharon Johnson campaign manager for his mayoral campaign that victory wasn’t too far off. In December, Alpha Brother Johnson led Reed’s team to the winner’s column and Reed to the Atlanta mayor’s office. Johnson, 31, previously was a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. In his role with Reed’s team, he directed every facet of the campaign, including field outreach, communications and fundraising. Reed’s campaign is not the first time Johnson has helped politicos make it into office. Before working for Lewis, he was deputy chief of staff for Georgia Congressman John Barrow. In 2002, he served as campaign manager for Georgia State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond’s statewide re-election campaign. Most recently, Johnson was selected by entertainment guide MetroMix.com as one of the “30 People to Watch in 2009.” A featured leader in 2006’s “Who’s Who in Black America”, Johnson has demonstrated leadership and

commitment to his community through service in several organizations. Johnson currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia and has been elected by a powerful group of young leaders to serve on the board of directors for the Red Clay Democrats. Johnson was initiated into Alpha at Alpha Phi Chapter at Clark Atlanta University in 1998. H

Brother Tharon Johnson (right) steered the successful campaign of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (left) in 2009.

Team—thefirst-everAfrican-AmericancombatunittofightinfantrymeninEurope—wasaconsultantonLee’sfilm,“MiracleatSt.Anna.”Theepicwasa2008warfilm,directedbyLeeandwrittenbyJamesMcBride,basedonMcBride’snovelofthesametitle PerrywasfeaturedinCleveland’sdailynewspaperThe Plain Dealeraspartofitscoverageofthecriticallyacclaimedfilm.Perrysaidheandtheotherblacksoldierswerecalled“BuffaloSoldiers”becauseatthetime,manywhitessaidtheythoughttheblacksoldiers’curlyhairanddarkskinresembledthatofabuffalo. Afterservinginthemilitary,Perryreceivedanhonorabledischargein1946andenrolledatWesternReserveUniversity(nowCaseWesternReserveUniversity)inCleveland,Ohio.HejoinedAlphaatPiChapterwhilemajoringincommercialart. Beforeretiring,Perryhada30-yearcareerinvariouspositionswiththeClevelandpublic-schoolssystem.

CLIFTON EDWARD REEDOnthedaythefraternitywascelebratingits103rd

anniversary,BrotherCliftonReedwascelebratinghis60thyearinAlphaPhiAlphaFraternity,Inc. ReedwasinitiatedatAlphaPsiChapteratLincolnUniversityinJeffersonCity,Mo.HeisamemberoftheTuskegeeAirmenandaformerfighterpilotwiththeU.S.AirForce.Inaddition,ReedisaretiredbureaudirectoroftheMassachusettsDepartmentofEducation. ReedisamemberofEpsilonGammaLambdaChapterinBoston,Mass.,atwhichheservesashistorian.Hispriorservicetothechapteraspresident,recordingsecretary,financialsecretary,treasurer,andincorporatorofthechapter’seducationalfoundationisindicativeofhisdedicationtohisoathofallegiancetaken60yearsago.


46 THE SPHINX H Winter/Spring2010

andwaswoundedinactionduringtheItalianCampaign,forwhichheearnedthePurpleHeartandthreebattleribbons. Madisonlaterearnedabachelor’sdegreeinarchitecturefromCaseWesternReserveUniversityinCleveland,Ohio,andamaster’sinarchitecturefromHarvardUniversityinCambridge,Mass.,atwhichheservedasclasspresident.HealsostudiedhiscraftasaFulbrightscholarinParis,France. In1954,MadisonbecamethefirstAfricanAmericanregisteredtopracticearchitectureinthestateofOhio.Oneofthemostdistinguishedarchitectsinthenation,Madison’slongandillustriouscareerincludesworkonbuildingprojectssuch

astheUnitedStatesEmbassyinDakar,Senegal,andtheEngineeringandNuclearfacilityatTuskegeeUniversityinTuskegee,Ala. HealsoplayedkeyrolesinthedesignanddevelopmentoftheClevelandBrownsStadiumandtheRockandRollHallofFameandMuseuminCleveland,Ohio.

ALBERT WILLIAM PERRYWhenSpikeLeewasreadyinghimselftomakeafilmaboutAfrican-AmericansoldiersintheItalianCampaignofWorldWarII,heturnedtoAlphamenforadvice.OneofthemwasBrotherAlbertWilliamPerry,amemberofDeltaAlphaLambdaChapterinCleveland,Ohio. Perry,whoservedasaninfantrysoldierinCompanyK,370thRegimentalCombat

DWAYNE A. MURRAYTheU.S.ArmyhaspromotedBrotherDwayneMurrayfromcaptaintomajor.Murray,a2001initiatemadeatThetaThetaLambdaChapterinFrankfurt,Germany,iscurrentlyamemberofKappaPhiLambdaChapterinColumbia,Md.H

Brother Albert William Perry (left) with Spike Lee and a fellow veteran.

CARL LEE RICHARDSOhio’s largest African-American newspaper The Cleveland Post recently profiled Brother Carl Lee Richards, an organizing member of Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter in 1947, on his life and legacy—and there is plenty to tell. The thirteenth of 15 children, after high school he enrolled at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio, but midway through his matriculation, his father died. He dropped out, to work, in order to take care of his mother. A few years later, he gained an interest in the military after “Uncle Sam” sent him a letter about the launch of the first “black” aviators program. Soon after, in 1943, Richards was off to the U.S. Army, in the 14th Air Squadron in Selma, Ala. Though the Army was segregated at the time, and the practice offensive to black people, Richards brought tremendous value to his unit during World War II as an interpreter in Europe. None of the white soldiers in his unit spoke French, but he did. He had studied the language in high school and college, learning to speak it fluently. After being honorably discharged from the Army in November 1945, Richards re-enrolled at Wilberforce, joined Alpha Phi Alpha at Xi Chapter, met the love of his life, wife Barbara, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then earned a master’s degree at Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) in Cleveland and began a three-decade career with the public schools there before retiring. H



GORDON C. MURRAY, ESQ.Saluted for his outstanding commitment to providing more than 500 hours of free legal service, Brother Gordon C. Murray Sr., Esq., a member of Beta Beta Lambda Chapter in Miami, Fla., was recently presented with the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award. Murray, a 25-year legal expert, received the honor at the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2010. He was recognized by the bar for exceptional dedication to representing those who could not afford to represent themselves in the (Miami) 11th Judicial Circuit. Murray was one of the 22 attorneys recognized throughout the state, which has more than 85,000 practicing lawyers. A former prosecutor, Murray is now a solo practitioner at Gordon Murray, P.A. in Miami, where he specializes in criminal, corporate, family and immigration law. The first in his family to earn a college degree, Murray earned both his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami, where he joined Alpha Phi Alpha at Eta Delta Chapter in 1981. H

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince honors Brother Gordon C. Murray.

DARRYL RILEYThe Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg Company has tapped Brother Darryl Riley to lead its quality-control efforts in North America. Riley, initiated at Iota Rho in 1980 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and most-recently active with Kappa Psi Lambda Chapter in Kalamazoo, Mich., had been vice president of the company’s Global Quality and Technical Operations, and is now assuming the role of vice president, Research, Quality & Technology (RQT), Kellogg North America. Riley joined Kellogg from Kraft in 2004 and was promoted to vice president in 2007, providing leadership and support for the cereal company’s global quality program, as well as for food safety, consumer affairs and specification management.

Brother Carl Richards, then and now.



LEO ROSS Xi Delta Lambda brothers say they have a long history of upholding the ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha and are pointing to chapter Brother Leo Ross as their latest example. Ross recently received the Compassionate Care Award from the Cross Over Ministry of Richmond, Va. Initiated at Xi Chapter in 1966, Ross earned his first bachelor’s degree at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio. He earned his second bachelor’s in pharmacy, at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1973. In 1985, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. In the past, he has served Alpha as district director, national Alumni Brother of the Year, Eastern Region treasurer and

president and a founder of Xi Delta Lambda Chapter. He remains active today, even while serving on the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, at which he was instrumental in assisting the Cross Over Ministry with establishing a pharmacy program for the uninsured residents of Richmond, Va., who receive care at one of their three free clinics.

SAID SEWELLA Fort Valley State University (FVSU) associate professor

is receiving praise from a national magazine focused on higher education. Diverse Issues in Higher Education named Brother Said Sewell III a member of “Emerging Scholars: The Class of 2010.” Sewell, initiated in 1992 at

Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter in Houston, Texas, and currently a member of Rho Pi Lambda Chapter in Carroll County, Ga., is associate professor and executive director of FVSU’s Academic Success Center. In the magazine’s January issue, he was profiled for a program aimed at reaching African-American male students. According to the article titled, ‘The Black Men’s Ministry,’ the Houston native seeks to reshape the conversation about black men and the public policies that affect them—especially criminal justice. Sewell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.. He holds a master’s degree from Texas Southern University in Houston, and earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2000 at Clark

Atlanta University. He has completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard University at both the Divinity School and the Kennedy School of Government.

DENNIS WINSTONInitiated at Epsilon Pi Chapter in 1967 at Norfolk State University, in Norfolk, Va., Brother Dennis Winston recently won a Print Award in the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition. The award was presented by the African-American Museum in Dallas, Texas. Winston, a Virginia artist and educator, continues to keep a busy schedule with his exhibits throughout the country and remaining active with Xi Delta Lambda Chapter in Richmond, Va., at which he is one of the chapter’s founders. H

ANDREW A. VENABLERetirement life is good for Cleveland’s former top librarian. Brother Andrew A. Venable Jr., of Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter, in Cleveland, Ohio. Last June he celebrated his first anniversary of retirement, after serving as director of the nation’s third-largest public research library; he makes the two-year retirement marker this June. It was 1999 when Venable assumed the position as head of the Cleveland Public Library, becoming the first African American to hold the post. In his position, he directed a major metropolitan library system with more than 750 employees. During his tenure, Venable was credited with the successful growth of the system, including 28 branches, a regional library for the blind and disabled, and the CLEVENET automation consortium. Venable was initiated in 1966 at Beta Gamma Chapter at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va. He earned his master’s degree in library science at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1978. H


O M E G A : Chapter of Sweet Rest

By Rick Blalock

lphamenhavebeenbreakingbarrierseversincethedaysof

itssevenfoundersattheturnofthe20thcentury.BrotherDaleRaymondWrightcontinuedthatlegacyintheall-importantareaof journalismduringhiscareer.Itisof specialnotebecauseif informationispower,thenBrotherWrighthelpedprovidehiscommunitywithpower.Thepowertoadvance,powertomovethesocietyforward,powertohealwheretherewasdivision. SowhenWright,86,diedinBronx,N.Y.,andenteredOmegaChapteronDec.13,2009,itwasnosurprisethatthebrothersof AlphaGammaLambdaChapter,includingformerNewYorkMayor,BrotherDavidDinkins,proclaimedhislegacyasoneof profoundgreatness. Hemaynothavebeenwhat

somecallthe“giantsof Alpha,”butheclearlywasoneof thefootsoldierswhohelpedpavethewayformanyof us—especiallyforblackjournalists,whoearnalivingbytheirwrittenandon-airwork. BorninPennsylvaniainthesummerof 1923,BrotherWrightmovedwithhisfamilytoCanton,Ohio,asateenager.Aftergraduatinghighschool,likemanyAfrican-Americanmenof hisgeneration,hejoinedthewareffort.HeservedhiscountryintheMarineCorpsduringWorldWarIIintheCentralPacificTheater.AfterStaff Sgt.Wrightwashonorablydischarged,hetookfulladvantageof theGIBill,matriculatingatHowardUniversity,andgraduatedwithhonorsin1950fromTheOhioStateUniversity(OSU)Schoolof Journalism. ItwasontheBuckeyecampuswherehewouldbreakhisfirstbarrier.

NotlongafterhisApril26,1947,initiationintoAlphaPhiAlphaatKappaChapterWrightjoinedSigmaDeltaChi,becomingthefirst“Negro”everadmittedtoOSU’sSocietyof ProfessionalJournalistschapter.ThefeatwascapturedintheuniversitystudentnewspaperThe Lantern. WrightfurtheredhisacademiccareerinNewYork,withcourseworkincommunicationsandbusinessatColumbiaUniversity,NewYorkUniversity,andtheStateUniversityof NewYork. Asaninternationallycelebratedjournalist,Wrightbrokeevenmorebarriers.Whileastaff writerfortheNew York World-Telegram and Sun,hebecameoneof thefewblackAmericansnominatedforthePulitzerPrize.In1961,hewontheNewspaperGuild’sHeywoodBrounAwardforhisgroundbreakinginvestigativeseriesontheconditionsof migrantfarm

A

DaleWrightWrotetheRightStuff attheRightTime

Brother Dale R. Wright (foreground) in the New York World-Telegram and Sun newsroom, circa 1961.

>



workersonLongIsland,N.Y.,andFlorida.HealsowonthePaulTobenkinMemorialAward,thehighesthonorbestowedbyColumbiaUniversity’sJournalismSchoolforcoverageof race,bigotryanddiscrimination. Itwashisundercoveraccountsof themiseryof thosemigrantfarmworkers’plightandhisfirst-handexperienceasa“stoopworker”thatsparkedcorrectivelegislativeactiontakenbythestatesof NewJerseyandNewYork.Poolingtogetherhistalents,hebecameanextraordinarycombinationof journalist,entrepreneurandcommunityadvocate.Asassociateeditorof EbonyandJetmagazines,Wrightprovidedofficeoversight,conceived,planned,wroteandeditednewsstoriesandfeaturearticles. Wrightworkedtirelesslyasamemberandleaderof ahostof civicandsocialorganizations,andhealsoledasuccessfulbusinesscareer.HewasasenioraccountexecutiveatHillandKnowlton,oneof thenation’slargestpublicrelationsagencies.Andfor20years,heownedandoperatedDaleWrightAssociates,apublicrelationsfirmservingneedsof NewYork-areablackbusinesses. Healsobrokebarriersinthepublicsector.Hewasanadvisorandpresssecretarytoseveralpoliticalluminaries,includingformerNewYorkMayorEdwardKoch,thelateSen.JacobK.Javits,andGov.NelsonA.Rockefeller. Alongtheway,BrotherWrightmarriedandfatheredtwochildren,whotodaycontinuehisfootsteps;hisson,DaleJr.isaninformation-technologyprofessional,andhisdaughterKimberlyWright-KingisadiplomatintheU.S.StateDepartment.H

tisnoexaggerationtosaythatHowardUniversity(HU)in

Washington,D.C.,isthemajorworldwideresearchinstitutionthatistodaybecauseof James E. Cheek. BrotherCheek,77,diedinGreensboro,N.C.,afteralongillness,enteringOmegaChapteronJan.8,2010.

Butthelegacyof hisworkandhisaccomplishmentsareeternal. DuringhistenureatHU,theuniversity’senrollmentincreasedby6,000students,anditsbudgetsoaredfrom$43millionto$417million.DuringCheek’stimethere,theschoolfoundedthenation’sfirstblack-ownedpublictelevisionstation,createdWHURradio,establishedabusinessschool,andbuiltHowardUniversityHospital.CheekalsoexpandedHoward’sdivinityandlawschools. HowardUniversityPresidentSidneyRibeausaidof hispredecessor,“Dr.Cheek’svisionandpassionfortheUniversityandhisviewof Howardasanationaltreasureledtoboldaction,whicheventuallyresultedinadramaticboostinourbudget,withincreasedfederalsupport.” BeforecomingtoWashington,Cheekwaspresidentof hisalmamater,ShawUniversity,whichappointedhimtothatpositionattheageof 30.Previously,hewasaprofessorof NewTestamentTheologyatVirginiaUnionUniversityinRichmond,Va. CheekwasbornonDec.4,1932,inRoanokeRapids,N.C.HeservedintheU.S.AirForceduringtheKoreanconflictbeforepursuinghisacademiccareer. In1952,hewasinitiatedintoAlphaatBetaRhoChapter,whilepursuinghisbachelor’sdegreeatShawUniversityinRaleigh,N.C.In1958,heearnedaMasterof DivinitydegreeatColgateRochesterDivinitySchoolinRochester,N.Y.,andheearnedadoctorateinphilosophyatDrewUniversityinMadison,N.J.,in1962. Cheek’sphenomenaleffortsonbehalf of thestudents,facultyandstaff of Howard,andtheresultingimpactontheUnitedStates,wererecognizedbytheWhiteHousein1983.ThatyearPresidentRonaldReaganpresentedhimwiththePresidentialMedalof Freedom,thenation’shighestcivilianhonorbestowedbytheexecutivebranch. Cheek,whoissurvivedbyhiswifeCelestine,twochildrenandfourgrandchildren,willlongberememberednotonlyasanAlphamanof distinction,butasaworldcitizenwhomadetheworldabetterplace.H

CheekBroughtHowardUniversityIntotheNewAge

I

Brother Dale R. Wright’s shingle (above); and new story in Ohio State Univ. student newspaper.



anyAlphabrotherswillrememberGregory Troy Jacksonforhisworkinthefraternitywhenhewasdirector

of membershipservices.Butitwashisworkoutsideof thefraternitytowhichhemadehisgreatestimpactonsociety. AsadeputydirectorattheU.S.Dept.of Education,BrotherJackson,39,wasresponsibleforprogramoperations,whichannuallyhelpedmorethan57,000publicschoolsshareinmorethan$28billioninfederalgrants. “ColleaguesfromthestatesalwayscommentedonGreg’swonderfulsmileandhisabilitytogetthejobdone,”saidBrotherZollieStevenson,whowasJackson’simmediatesupervisorattheDepartmentof Education.“IcouldalwaysdependonGregasmy‘numberone’tobehonestwithmeindealingwithwork-relatedissuesandIknewhealwayshadmyback.Thattypeof supportiscriticalwhenyouworkintheFederalgovernmentinahigh-profileposition.” JacksonlosthisbattlewithTTP,alife-threatening,rare,blood-clottingdisorder(onlyonepersonoutof fourmillioneachyearwillcontractthedisease),anddiedinWashington,D.C.,enteringOmegaChapteronJan.4,2010. HewasbornMarch3,1970,inPlaquemine,La.Heattended

publicschoolsinIbervilleParishandgraduatedfromWhiteCastleHighSchoolin1988.WhileastudentatSouthernUniversityinBatonRouge,La.,JacksonjoinedAlphaPhiAlphaatBetaSigmaChapter.Heearnedabachelor’sdegreeinagriculturebusinessfromtheschoolin1993. Immediatelyaftercollege,JacksonjoinedtheU.S.AirForce,assignedtotheAirIntelligenceAgencyasanintelligenceanalyst.HealsoworkedattheNationalSecurityAgencyinMaryland.UponleavingtheAirForcein1997,Jacksonjoinedthestaff of AlphaPhiAlpha,quicklyrisingtobecomethedirectorof membershipservices,apostheheldforsixyears. In2004,hereturnedtothefederalgovernmentasaprogrammanagerfortheImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE)agencyintheDept.of HomelandSecurity.HealsoservedasaprojectmanagerwiththeAmericanRedCross.There,hehelpedmodernizetheRedCrossdatacollection,storageandsharingprocessbetweenitsnationalheadquartersandmorethan700RedCrosschapters. FromhistimeatBetaSigma,Jacksonwasamemberof severalchaptersovertheyears,mostrecentlyPiUpsilonLambdaChapterinPrinceGeorge’sCounty,Md.Helivedalifeof dedicationandservicetothisfraternitythatinspiredbrotherseverywhere—andwillcontinuetoinspirethoseforgenerationstocome.H

GregoryJacksonGavePlentyinjust39YearsBy Zollie Stevenson, Jr.

M

rother James D. Jefferson,65,initiatedin1994at

GammaChiLambdaChapter,inSanFrancisco,waswellknownforhisbusinesssavvyandphilanthropyinnorthernCalifornia. Anativeof Mansfield,La.,JeffersonearnedaBachelorof Sciencedegreeinmathematicsfrom

SouthernUniversityinBatonRouge,La.HealsopursuedgraduatestudiesattheUniversityof SanFranciscoandSanFranciscoStateUniversity. HebeganhiscareerattheUniversityof California,Berkeley.In1971,heformedJeffersonCompany,andin1996,transitioneditintoPrimusIndustries,Inc.,aconstruction-management-servicesbusinesswithadiverseclienteleof privateandpublicentities.Thesuccessof hisfirmculminatedinitsacquisitionbyParsonsCorporationin2004.In2007,Jeffersonfoundedanothercompany,AptusLLC,aglobal

developmentcompany. Inadditiontohisbusinessbackground,JeffersonwasacloseandtrustedadvisortofourSanFranciscomayorsovera20-yearperiod.Healsowasacourt-appointedrepresentativeof theU.S.DistrictCourttohelpendracialandsexualdiscriminationintheSanFranciscoFireDepartment. Hiscivicinvolvementinthe“CitybytheBay”includedtenuresonthePublicTransportationCommission,PublicUtilitiesCommission,andtheSanFranciscoFireCommission.Hewasalsothefounderof theAfricanAmericanChamberof Commerce.Inadditiontobeingalifememberof Alpha,hewasamemberof SigmaPiPhiFraternity. JeffersonsufferedfromaheartattackoutsideOaklandCityHall,andenteredOmegaChapteronNov.16,2009. Tohonorhismemory,abustof hislikenesswasunveiledbyformerSanFranciscoMayor,BrotherWillieBrownduringapublicmemorialheldintherotundaof theSanFranciscoCityHalllatelastyear.H

BJeffersonStoodOutinCaliforniaBusiness,CivicCircles

Rufus Bostic, Jr.,85, of High Point, N.C., was a member of Kappa Lambda Chapter in High Point. He was initiated at Alpha Omicron Chapter at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) in

Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 5, 1946. Brother Bostic served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 24th Infantry Regiment and ended his tour of duty in the South Pacific. He was a graduate of JCSU, where he received a degree in political science and economics. Following college graduation, he became the first African-American disc jockey to be employed in the High Point-

Winston-Salem, N.C., radio market. He also worked as an insurance agent, and later became a juvenile-probation officer with the Domestic Relations Court and the District Court of North Carolina. Under his leadership as the manpower and economics development specialist with the Model Cities Commission of High Point, a group of minority businessmen constructed the area’s Brentwood Shopping Center. Bostic also worked as center coordinator with the South Side Community Center, and he retired as executive director of the Carl Chavis YMCA. Bostic was a member of the Greater First United Baptist Church, where he served as the first chairman of the board of trustees, and helped guide the church through its formative years and building

stage. In addition to Alpha, his other civic and fraternal memberships included NAACP; the former Business and Professionals Men’s Club; Furniture City Elk’s Lodge #282; and High Point Human Relations Commission. He was also the executive committee chairman of the African American Heritage Society. He entered Omega Chapter on Dec. 14, 2009.

Ezekiel W. Bryant, 78, was a member of Upsilon Lambda Chapter in Jacksonville, Fla. A life member of Alpha, he was initiated at Delta

Beta Chapter at Bethune-Cookman



BarkerInfluencedGenerationsof TopPolicy-MakersBrother Twiley Barker, 83, was a member of Mu Lambda Chapter in Washington, D.C., and was initiated at Beta Sigma Chapter at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., on April 28, 1947. He was a founding faculty member of the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he taught 32 years and became known for his knowledge of public law. Many of Barker’s students became world-renown leaders in political and civic life, including former U.S. senator and ambassador Carol Moseley Braun. “He motivated and inspired students by his example. We were given a chance to live up to his high expectations,” said Moseley Braun, a 1969 graduate in political science. “I did the best I could to make him proud.”

A native of Louisiana, Barker

attended Tuskegee University before joining the U.S. Army Air Corp. After serving in the military during World War II, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Southern University. He earned a master’s degree at UIUC. After several years on the faculty at Southern University, he was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship that enabled him to earn a doctorate at UIUC. Later he became a research associate with the Illinois Legislative Council and a faculty member at UIUC, before joining the faculty at the

university’s Chicago campus (UIC) in 1962, where he remained until his retirement in 1994. Upon retiring from UIC, Barker continued his service to the field of political science by taking on a visiting professorship at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He received the first UIC Silver Circle Award for teaching and the E. Harris Harbison Prize for excellence in undergraduate teaching from the Danforth Foundation. Barker served on the executive council of the American Political Science Association and was an initial member of its committee on the status of African Americans in political science. With his brother Lucius Barker, a fellow professor, Barker wrote the textbook Civil Liberties and the Constitution, published by Prentice-Hall in eight editions from 1970 to 1999. A ninth edition, published this March, is dedicated in his memory. Barker entered Omega Chapter on July 20, 2009, after a long respiratory illness. H

Brother Twiley Barker with former student, former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, on Oct. 25, 2006.



College (now University) in 1952. Brother Bryant, an educator for four decades, was president of the Florida Community College at Jacksonville-North Campus; it a post he obtained in 1974, becoming the first African American to be named president of a campus in the Florida community college system. In 1996 the college named the administration building in his honor. Born in Jacksonville, Bryant worked his way through college as a clothing salesman, cook, waiter and painter at the shipyards. He earned an associate’s degree from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville in 1951, a bachelor’s degree from Bethune-Cookman in 1953, and a Master of Education degree from Boston University in 1963. He also studied at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, before earning a Doctor of Education degree from Nova University in Davie, (Broward County) Fla., in 1975. His teaching career began in 1955 as a junior and senior high school social studies instructor. Bryant was also very active in the community, serving on the boards of local YMCAs for more than 50 years and being a founding member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He entered Omega Chapter July 26, 2009, after battling cancer.

John Garvey Bynoe, 82, of Roxbury, Mass., was a life member and a 1955 initiate of Sigma Chapter in Boston, Mass. Brother Bynoe

attended Boston University for a time, before earning a Bachelor of Law degree from New England School of Law in 1957. Between his high school and college graduations, he completed a tour of duty

with the U.S. Army during World War II. He returned home poised to fight for civil rights, fueled by the discriminatory treatment he had endured as a black soldier in a racially-segregated Army. He then became one of the youngest veterans to lead the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 953 in Boston in 1947. Bynoe collaborated in the late 1940s with fellow Alpha brother and future U.S. senator Edward Brooke to end the public degradation and dismissal—known as “cashiering”—of black military officers, who were stationed in small numbers at Fort Devens, Mass. His fighting would carry on for more than six decades, building a legacy of political activism that included a NAACP-Boston-branch committee chairmanship; his work on the campaigns of former Mass. Governor Michael Dukakis; service as the New England district manager of the Social Security Administration; and service as the longtime director of the Boston Regional Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, a position he held until his retirement in 1982. He was the founder and director of Boston’s first black-owned bank, Unity Bank and Trust Company (now Boston Bank of Commerce). Bynoe also served on the board of directors for the Boston branch of the NAACP, the Boston Legal Aid Society, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists; and the Boston chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and served as the chairman of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. An active member of Alpha, Bynoe served as Sigma Chapter president and was co-chair of the fraternity’s 57th national convention in Boston in 1963. Bynoe was also a 33rd-degree Prince Hall mason, a past grand master of Prince Hall Grand Lodge

of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, serving in that capacity through 2000. For his humanitarian work, the Boston native was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree, conferred by New England School of Law, his alma mater, in 1987. He entered Omega Chapter on Aug. 13, 2009, following a lengthy illness.

Willie Cantey of Orangeburg, S.C., was a member and past president of Delta Zeta Lambda Chapter in Orangeburg. A native of Camden, S.C.,

he attended South Carolina State College (now University) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance. Cantey worked in shoe-repair shops in Rock Hill, Camden and Orangeburg, SC. He and his brother James co-owned Cantey’s Shoe Services in Camden, where he worked until the day he died. Cantey taught shoe-repair at Denmark Technical College (formerly South Carolina Area Trade School) in Denmark, S.C., where he coached girl’s basketball until being appointed dean of students there. He also conducted ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) testing in local-area high schools. In addition to Alpha, his civic, fraternal and other memberships included Orangeburg Elks Lodge No. 1627—where he also served as grand district deputy, supervising local lodges; Orangeburg County Development Commission; national and local chapters of the Denmark Technical College Alumni Association, of which he was past president; Orangeburg South Carolina State University (SCSU) Alumni Chapter; Mystics Social Club; SCSU S.T.A.T.E. (Strive Through Athletics To Excel) Club;



“Street Committee” Club of Orangeburg; and Trinity United Methodist Church. Cantey entered Omega Chapter suddenly on Jan. 1, 2010.

William Clay Childers, 81, of Washington, D.C., was a member of Mu Lambda Chapter in Washington, D.C., and initiated at Beta Delta Chapter on Dec. 1, 1948, at South Carolina State College (now South Carolina State University) in Orangeburg, S.C. A native of Westminster, S.C., Brother Childers earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from South Carolina State in 1951. He also pursued postgraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C. Childers served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal—with two Bronze Service Stars—and the United Nations Service Medal. After relocating to Washington, D.C., he worked as a chemist at the National Bureau of Standards for many years. He later worked at the Dept. of Transportation and Safety, from where he retired. He was an avid golfer who won many medals participating in golf tournaments throughout the Washington, D.C., area. He was also an active member of the SCSU Alumni. Childers entered Omega Chapter on Oct. 12, 2009.

Corey Kevin Cox, 34, of New York, N.Y., was a member of Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter in New York City. He was initiated in 1995 at Eta Chapter, the metropolitan New

York college chapter. Brother Cox earned a degree from City College of the City University of New York. After college, he headed to Wall Street and had a burgeoning career as an equity trader and later a financial advisor. Cox went on to earn his real estate license in 2009. Cox entered Omega Chapter on Oct.18, 2009.

Reuben K. Davis, 89, of Rochester, N.Y., was a charter member of Eta Rho Lambda Chapter, which is seated in the city of Rochester.

Brother Davis was born in Columbus, Miss., and grew up in Chicago, and spent a lifetime in the courtroom as an attorney and a judge. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Boston University. Following his admission to the bar in 1950, Davis practiced law in Brooklyn, N.Y., until 1955—the year he moved to Rochester, becoming one of the few black lawyers in private practice in the city at that time. A trailblazer, he was a deputy city attorney for the City of Rochester from 1966 to 1967. In 1968 he was appointed the city’s first African-American City Court judge. He was elected outright to the city bench in 1974 and to state Supreme Court in 1982. New York Governor Mario Cuomo appointed Davis to the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division in 1987 at which he served as an associate justice until his retirement in 1996. A scholarship, in the late justice’s name, has been established in his honor. Davis entered Omega Chapter on March 9, 2010, following a brief illness.

Willie E. Green, 74, of Toledo, Ohio, was a member of Alpha Xi Lambda Chapter in Toledo. A life member of the fraternity, he was initiated on

Founders’ Day, Dec. 4, 1965. A native of Jackson, Miss., Green served three years in the U.S. Army. After an honorable discharge, he enrolled at the University of Toledo, where he earned a Bachelor of Education, Master of Education, and Education Specialist degrees. Green became one of the most notable educators and administrators of Toledo Public Schools. His career included teaching American history, serving in administrative positions within the school system, including director of social studies, executive director of curriculum, and assistant superintendent of administration. He participated in workshops and other programs, including the Harvard University Graduate School of Education-Programs in Professional Education (Institute on Thinking, Critical and Creative). He became the first African-American Boy Scout to earn Eagle ranking in Toledo in 1953; the first African-American teacher at Toledo’s Robert S. Rogers High School; and was the first African-American male docent (tour guide) at the Toledo Museum of Art. Brother Green established Alpha Xi Lambda’s Growth Fund, Green Legacy Fund, and Band of Brothers Fund. He entered Omega Chapter on Jan. 12, 2010, after battling cancer.

William F. “Bill” Hayes, Jr., 64, of Columbus, Ohio, was a member of Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter in Columbus. He was initiated into



Alpha Phi Alpha at ARL in 1983. After 37 years of working as a teacher and as an administrator in the Columbus City Schools system, Brother Hayes retired. After his retirement, he worked briefly as a as a test prompter at the electronic testing company Pearson Vue, in Ohio. Hayes entered Omega Chapter on Jan. 30, 2009.

Kenneth L. Higgins, 57, of Dumfries, Va., a member of Mu Lambda Chapter in Washington, D.C. was a life member of the fraternity,

initiated at Mu Lambda on Feb. 6, 1994. Higgins earned an associate’s degree at Kittrell College in Kittrell, N.C. in 1973, and a Bachelor of Science from Morris Brown College, in Atlanta, Ga. in 1976. He earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Troy State University (now Troy University) in Troy, Ala. in 2001. A professional human resources professional, he served in the U.S. Army, until his retirement as a sergeant first class. He entered Omega Chapter on Jan. 18, 2010.

Richard Jordan, 74, was initiated Feb. 3, 1956, at Beta Upsilon Chapter, Alabama State University, in Montgomery, Ala. He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees there. He later joined Alpha Upsilon Lambda Chapter and became life member number 650. Jordan was a natural charismatic, leader whose joy in life came through serving others. He played an active role with the Montgomery Civil Rights Movement, and provided numerous tours of local historical landmarks. Additionally, he faithfully served Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church as a deacon and also was an avid supporter of the YMCA.

Jordan will always be known as a dedicated educator impacting countless students over the course of his 22 years in the Montgomery County Public Schools system. He also had a long career with the State of Alabama’s Department of Youth Services as an administrative superintendent. He entered Omega Chapter, Jan. 27, 2010. A scholarship foundation has been established I his honor. Contributions can be made to the Richard and Viola Jordan Scholarship Fund, c/o ASU Foundation, P. O. Box 271, Montgomery, Ala. 36101

Lathon Lauderdale, 89, initiated in 1968, was a member of Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter in Columbus, Ohio. A native of Leeds, Ala., Brother Lauderdale was

drafted into the U.S. Army immediately after high school graduation and served in Europe during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946, leaving Alabama to move to Columbus, Ohio. He utilized the GI Bill to attend Franklin University in Columbus, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. Lauderdale was a federal employee of the Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DCSC) and retired as a contracts/procurement officer in 1982. As a member of Second Baptist Church for over 60 years, he participated in the New Alpha Omega Sunday School class, the men’s ministry, usher board, and trustee board. Lauderdale entered Omega Chapter on Jan. 27, 2010.

Vernon Malone, 77, of Raleigh, N.C., was a member of Phi Lambda Chapter in Raleigh. He was initiated at the chapter in 1966.

Brother Malone was born in a rural area outside Wake Forest, N.C. He served two years in the U.S. Army, then enrolled at Shaw University on the GI Bill, graduating in 1957. He took a job at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, where he taught math and science and later became superintendent of the school. Malone led the unification of the Raleigh and Wake County school systems, which helped build the system’s consistently strong reputation and fuel the county’s rapid growth. In more than 35 years of public service, Malone, a Democrat, served as chairman of the Wake County school board, chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, and in 2002, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate. He also served as vice chair of Shaw University’s board of trustees, as well as a trustee for North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Museum of Art and Wake Education Partnership. In the business sector, Malone was a director of Capital Bank, a community bank headquartered in Raleigh. Most recently, his passion for education focused on lowering the state’s dropout rate. In addition to serving as Phi Lambda Chapter’s chairman of its million-dollar capital campaign, Brother Malone was a longtime member and deacon at his church, Martin Street Baptist. He entered Omega Chapter on April 18, 2009, of natural causes.

Vernon Polite, 61, of Canton, Mich., was a member of Gamma Lambda Chapter in his hometown of Detroit, and was the highly-regarded dean of

the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. Initiated at Sigma Chapter, while a student at Boston University, Brother



Polite earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1971. He held a master’s degree in secondary education and social studies from (now-defunct) Boston State College, and a doctorate in educational leadership and sociology from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. A lifelong educator, Polite had served as the dean of the College of Education at EMU, since 2005. Polite led two statewide conferences at EMU, “State of the African-American Male in Michigan: A Courageous Conversation” and “Nurturing Our Future as African-American Females: A Courageous Conversation.” During his career Polite served as a principal with Oak Park Schools in Michigan, specializing in research focused on organizational change, leadership in higher education, urban-school leadership and minority educational issues. He was the founding dean of the School of Education at Bowie State University in Prince George’s County, Md., from 2001 to 2005. Prior to his time at Bowie State, Polite was the Dr.

Euphemia Lofton Haynes Professor of Education at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from 1996 to 2001. In that position, he coordinated all graduate educational administration programs. He also was an assistant professor at The Catholic University of America from 1991 to 1995, and an associate professor there from 1995 to 1996. During his career, he also taught in Boston Public Schools and worked in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the U.S. Dept. of Education. Polite entered Omega Chapter, on March 8, 2010, following complications from pancreatic cancer.

John H. “Jack” Ruffin, 75, of Atlanta, Ga., was initiated at Alpha Rho Chapter at Morehouse College, in Atlanta, in 1955. Brother Ruffin became the 62nd

judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals in 1994, after 33 years of practicing law. He was appointed a superior court judge of the Augusta Judicial Circuit

in 1986, becoming the first African American to hold that post, and was elected to the seat in 1988. He also holds the distinction of being the first African-American member of the Augusta Bar Association, and first black chief judge to serve on the Georgia appellate bench. A native of Waynesboro, (Burke County) Ga., Ruffin graduated from Morehouse in 1957 and earned his law degree at Howard University in Washington, D.C. In addition to his membership in the State Bar of Georgia, Ruffin was a member of the bars of the Supreme Court of Georgia, United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Georgia. Ruffin retired in 2008. That same year, he joined the political-science faculty of Morehouse College, as a visiting professor—a position he held until the day he died. Ruffin entered Omega Chapter, Jan. 29, 2010, as a result of heart disease.

Schooler,104,wasOneof OldestAlphasJames M. “Jerry” Schooler Sr., 104,

was a member of Beta Theta Lambda Chapter in Durham, N.C., of which he was a charter member. He was initiated on May 1,

1927, at Xi Chapter at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Brother Schooler earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio in 1927. He later received a Master of Arts degree from North Carolina College in Durham, N.C.

Throughout his career he held various positions with Durham City Schools, including principal at elementary, middle and junior high schools. Upon retirement, he served as director of public information with Durham City Schools. Schooler was an active participant in the Durham community, serving in various board and leadership positions. He received the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award for his years of leadership and service, including his tenure as the first Cubmaster of Pack 55 in Durham. He was also the divisional chairman of the African-American Scouts in Durham. He also served on the board of trustees of the Stanford L. Warren Library. A longtime active member of Alpha,

Schooler served one term as Beta Theta Lambda Chapter’s secretary and two terms as its president. Several years ago, the Association of North Carolina Alphamen honored Schooler, bestowing to him the titles “dean” and “oldest living brother.” He was also honored with an award, presented by 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., during the Life Member Luncheon at the Alpha Phi Alpha Centennial Convention in 2006. As a member of White Rock Baptist Church for 79 years, James Schooler served as a superintendent and a teacher of Sunday School, a trustee board member, and a chairman of the deacon board. Schooler entered Omega Chapter on Jan. 1, 2009. H

Brother Schooler



Oscar S. Smith Jr., 79, of Raleigh, N.C., was a member of Phi Lambda Chapter in Raleigh. He was initiated at Gamma Psi Chapter in Raleigh in 1951,

while a student at St. Augustine’s College. Brother Smith had a multi-faceted career in journalism and communications. In 1972, he became the first black reporter for WRAL-TV, (then the ABC affiliate, now CBS) in Raleigh. He covered politics and law before leaving the station in 1977. He later held positions in the North Carolina state government, including a directorship with the North Carolina Department of Insurance. During his varied and colorful career, Smith also worked as a director of public relations with Shaw University in Raleigh, and as a director of public affairs and marketing with St. Augustine’s. He was a photographer

for the now-defunct U.S. Information Agency. He covered the White House, photographing presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Most recently, Smith wrote a weekly column for The Carolinian–the twice-weekly, African-American newspaper based in Raleigh. He entered Omega Chapter on Feb. 9, 2010.

Edward David Thompson Jr., 63, was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he was a veteran of the

U.S. Army; he served in the Vietnam War, and later in the U.S. Army Reserves for over 20 years. Brother Thompson was a former program director of the Neighborhood House in Columbus, Ohio, and former president and chief executive officer of Victory

Neighborhood Services in Cincinnati. He was also an active board member of the United Way and many other organizations in Columbus and Cincinnati. Thompson was a member of Flintridge Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as an elder. He entered Omega Chapter on April 26, 2009.

Richard E. Thorpe, 97, of Carbondale, Ill., was initiated at Beta Eta Chapter at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill,. on

Oct. 22, 1937. Before matriculating Brother Thorpe served in the U.S. Army Air Corp in World War I. After earning a college degree in education from Southern Illinois in 1947, he became a school instructor. Thorpe taught art with the

SmithwasVetsAdvocate

Brother John A. Smith, 62, of Spring Valley, Calif., was a member of Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter in San Diego, Calif., at which he was initiated on March 4, 2000. A native of New York, N.Y., Smith grew up in Brooklyn and joined the Army in

1966. He attended the Army Medical School in Houston, Texas, and served as a medic with

the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam. During his tour of duty, he was wounded three times, and was medically retired as a disabled veteran in 1972. He earned a degree in psychology from Long Island University in Brookville, N.Y., in 1976 and attended graduate school at Columbia University in New York City. In the early 80s, his

family relocated to San Diego. He worked at the U.S. Postal Service more than 20 years before retiring in 1999. Brother Smith was a highly-active member of Alpha, including serving as chapter secretary, chapter vice president and a regular attendee at regional and national conventions. In the larger community, Smith spearheaded the founding of San Diego’s annual ‘Stand Down’ event, which provides services—medical, clothing, counseling and more—to homeless veterans. He was instrumental in raising money for the Veterans Village of San Diego (formerly Vietnam Veterans of San Diego). He also served on the San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council and was a special representative for the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Among other tasks Smith testified before Congress on veterans affairs and he also assisted many fellow Alpha brothers who had issues and concerns related to the Veterans Administration (now Dept. of Veterans Affairs). He entered Omega Chapter on Jan. 31, 2010, after sudden heart failure.. H

Brother John Smith at San Diego ‘Stand Down’ event.



school system of Ullin, Ill., and in the Murphysboro Township (Jackson County, Ill.) School District 186. He retired in 1974. Thorpe also taught during summer’s at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. He was a member of the Murphysboro Rotary Club and the Southern Illinois Earth Science Club in Benton, Ill. He also held memberships in the Illinois Education Association, National Education Association, Jackson County Retired Teachers Association, American Legion Post in Carbondale and Southern Illinois University Alumni Association. Thorpe entered Omega Chapter on October, 24, 2009.

DeMarcus Woodard, 33, of Danville, Ill., formerly of Atlanta, Ga., was a life member who was initiated on April 24, 1996, at Eta Tau Chapter at Illinois

State University (ISU) in Normal, Ill. Brother Woodard earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in design from American Intercontinental University in Atlanta in 2004. Growing up in Danville, Woodard was an active high-school student and participated in activities such

as marching band—in which he was drum major—track and field, and the Principal Scholars Program until he graduated from Danville High in 1995. In his hometown, he was an active member of St. James Freewill Baptist Church, and later at New Life Church of Faith. He was also an active participant in Sunday School at Allen Chapel AME Church. After moving to Atlanta, he joined New Mercies Christian Church and sang in the men’s choir. Woodard entered Omega chapter on Jan. 7, 2010, following a battle with cancer. H

OMEGA CHAPTER LISTINGBelow is a listing of members of Omega Chapter, for whom limited information was submitted to The Sphinx. For each member, we list the name; the life member number if applicable; the last-known chapter of membership and its location; the chapter of initiation, its location, and the year of initiation; and the date the member entered Omega Chapter. Corrections or additions may be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or via U.S. mail, using the magazine’s postal mailing address.

Leroy Anderson, LM # 1580 Last-known chapter: Beta Kappa Lambda – Charleston, SCChapter of initiation: Alpha Chi – Fisk Univ., Nashville, TN

Elton B. BellamyLast-known chapter: Epsilon Pi Lambda – Ocala, FLChapter of initiation: Epsilon Pi Lambda – Ocala, FL, 1977Date of death: May 30, 2009

Edward T. ChaplinLast-known chapter: Kappa Iota Lambda – Willingboro, NJChapter of initiation: Alpha Rho – Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA, 1951

Herbert S. ColemanLast-known chapter: Epsilon Pi Lambda – Ocala, FLChapter of initiation: Epsilon Pi Lambda – Ocala, FL, 1957Date of death: November 3, 2009

Steven C. Collins Sr.Last-known chapter: Zeta Sigma Lambda – San Diego, CAChapter of initiation: Zeta Sigma Lambda – San Diego, CA, 2005Date of death: March 8, 2008

Mazola Crossley, Life MemberLast-known chapter: Mu Lambda – Washington, DCChapter of initiation: Beta Kappa – Langston University, Langston, OK, 1938Date of death: December 14, 2009

Nathaniel Davis, LM #3660Last-known chapter: Upsilon Lambda – Jacksonville, FLChapter of initiation: Delta Beta – Bethune-Cookman Univ., Daytona Beach, FL, 1948

Douglas J. DePriest, LM #9086Last-known chapter: Delta Beta Lambda – Hampton, VA Chapter of initiation: Gamma Iota – Hampton Univ., Hampton, VA, 1964Date of death: October 12, 2009

Brian Dillard Last-known chapter: Mu Lambda – Washington, DCChapter of initiation: Sigma – Boston Univ./Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA, 1966 Date of death: September 28, 2009

Leroy DucksworthLast-known chapter: Delta Epsilon Lambda – East St. Louis, ILChapter of initiation: Beta Eta – Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL

Louis “Mike” DuckworthLast-known chapter: Alpha Xi Lambda – Toledo, OHChapter of initiation: Kappa – The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH, 1963Date of death: August 8, 2009

TO ALL OUR BROTHERS IN OMEGA CHAPTER ...

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE



John Dukes Jr., LM #556Last-known chapter: Nu Eta Lambda – Gainesville, FLChapter of initiation: Beta Nu – Florida A&M Univ., Tallahassee, FL, 1952Date of death: March 8, 2007

Ecolia A. Dunn, LM #6267Last-known chapter: Kappa Sigma Lambda – Killeen, TXChapter of initiation: Kappa Sigma Lambda – Killeen, TX, 1981Date of death: May 5, 2008

Robert C. EubanksLast-known chapter: Delta Epsilon Lambda – East St. Louis, IL

Timothy L. Evans Sr., LM #1014Last-known chapter: Alpha Psi Lambda – Columbia, SCChapter of initiation: Epsilon Gamma Lambda – Boston, MA 1961Date of death: June 25, 2008

Curtis A. Flood, LM #6583Last-known chapter: Delta Nu Lambda – Danville, VAChapter of initiation: Beta Gamma – Virginia State Univ., Petersburg, VA

Matthew FogleLast-known chapter: Omicron Tau Lambda – Aiken, SCChapter of initiation: Delta Alpha – Claflin Univ., Organgeburg, SC, 2000

Archie Lee Hightower, LM #5164Last-known chapter: Theta Psi Lambda – Somerset, NJChapter of initiation: Delta Xi – Central State Univ., Wilberforce, OH, 1956Date of death: May 26, 2008

James O. Jackson Sr., LM #1813Last-known chapter: Alpha Psi Lambda – Columbia, SCChapter of initiation: Delta Kappa Lambda – Florence, SC, 1951Date of death: January 28, 2010

Arnold Jones Last-known chapter: Mu Lambda – Washington, DC Mu Lambda – Washington, DC, 1978Date of death: May 10, 2009

Jefferson W. Jones, LM #8435Last-known chapter: Nu Eta Lambda – Gainesville, FLChapter of initiation: Delta Psi – Florida Memorial Univ., Jacksonville, FL, 1954Date of death: January 14, 2010

Richard Marshall, LM #2164Last-known chapter: Beta Kappa Lambda – Charleston, SCChapter of initiation: Beta Kappa Lambda – Charleston, SC, 1968Date of death: May 1, 2009

Andrew M. MeltonLast-known chapter: Kappa Iota Lambda – Willingboro, NJChapter of initiation: Kappa Iota Lambda – Willingboro, NJ, 1996

Charles Simmons Jr., LM #2027Last-known chapter: Upsilon Lambda – Jacksonville, FLChapter of initiation: Nu – Lincoln Univ., Oxford (Chester County), PA, 1936

Wade M. SimmonsLast-known chapter: Kappa Iota Lambda – Willingboro, NJChapter of initiation: Delta Eta – Savannah State Univ., Savannah, GA, 1951

Arthur Smith IIILast-known chapter: Omicron Tau Lambda – Aiken, SCEChapter of initiation: Eta Iota – Voorhees College, Denmark, SC

William K. TylerLast-known chapter: Kappa Iota Lambda – Willingboro, NJChapter of initiation: Kappa Iota Lambda – Willingboro, NJ, 1977

Lewis M. UppermanLast-known chapter: elta Nu Lambda – Danville, VAChapter of initiation: Eta Mu Lambda – Gastonia, NC, 1984 Date of death: February 2, 2010

Leroy White Jr.Last-known chapter: Omicron Tau Lambda – Aiken, SCChapter of initiation: Omicron Tau Lambda – Aiken, SC

TO ALL OUR BROTHERS IN OMEGA CHAPTER ...

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE

OMEGA CHAPTER SUBMISSION GUIDELINESIf you know of any brother who has transitioned to Omega Chapter within the last year, please forward the information to The Sphinx via your chapter’s associate editor. Associate editors or other members should e-mail a high-resolution image along with text of no more than 125 words about the brother. Text should include: member’s name, year and chapter of initiation, current chapter, academic and career information, outstanding achievements and awards, fraternity activities, date of death, cause of death (if published), and city in which the brother resided.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

General PresidentHerman “Skip” Mason, [email protected]

Immediate Past General PresidentDarryl R. Matthews, [email protected]

General TreasurerHyacinth Ahuruonye [email protected]

ComptrollerFrank A. Jenkins, [email protected]

Regional Vice President - EastSean McCaskill [email protected]

Regional Vice President - MidwestMark [email protected]

Regional Vice President - SouthJames L. Crumel [email protected]

Regional Vice President - SouthwestRoderick [email protected]

Regional Vice President - WestAaron [email protected]

Regional Assistant Vice President - EastTaurean [email protected]

Regional Assistant Vice President - MidwestThomas Flynn [email protected]

Regional Assistant Vice President - SouthJustin [email protected]

Regional Assistant Vice President - SouthwestJamel [email protected]

Regional Assistant Vice President - West Jarvis Givens [email protected]

General CounselKeith A. [email protected]

Executive Director and Chief Operating OfficerWilliam Douglass [email protected]

APPOINTED OFFICERS

HistorianRobert L. Harris, Jr. [email protected]

Director of General ConventionsJustin [email protected]

GENERAL CONVENTION OFFICIALS

ParliamentarianAnderson C. Elridge, [email protected]

ChaplainWilliam E. Flippin, [email protected]

Sergeant of ArmsRon [email protected]

GENERAL CONVENTION COMMITTEES CHAIRMEN

RULES & CREDENTIALSDesmond M. [email protected]

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTHerman Clifton [email protected]

GRIEVANCES AND DISCIPLINEHervery B. O. Young, [email protected]

STANDING COMMITTEES CHAIRMEN

CONSTITUTIONRicky L. [email protected]

ENDOWMENT & CAPITAL FORMATIONRobert Wright

BUDGET & FINANCEFrank [email protected]

ELECTIONSThomas A. [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP, STANDARDS & EXTENSIONMelvin M. Stroble, [email protected]

PUBLICATIONSJames W. [email protected]

HISTORICAL COMMISSIONNorman E.W. [email protected]

PUBLIC POLICYTyson [email protected]

HUMAN RESOURCESAntonio I. M. Johnson, [email protected]

RACIAL JUSTICE (COMMISSION)Derrick Pope, [email protected]

COLLEGE BROTHERS AFFAIRS (COMMISSION)Maurice D. [email protected]

BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (COMMISSION)Cecil Howard, [email protected]

LIFE MEMBERSHIPCharles P. Loeb, [email protected]

SPECIAL COMMITTEES CHAIRMEN

ALPHA PHI ALPHA GOES GREEN INITIATIVESacoby [email protected]

ALPHA LITERACY INITIATIVEVacant

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETYAnton C. [email protected]

ALPHAS IN THE ACADEMYM. Christopher [email protected]

BELFORD V. LAWSON ORATORICALGregory L. [email protected]

BIG BROTHERS & BIG SISTERSDale H. [email protected]

BOY SCOUTSVerdree [email protected]

BLACK AND GOLD PAGEANTAndre [email protected]

HHenry Arthur Callis HCharles Henry Chapman HEugene Kinckle Jones

Alp

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HGeorge Biddle Kelley HNathaniel Allison Murray HRobert Harold Ogle HVertner Woodson Tandy

COLLEGE BROTHER AFFAIRSMark [email protected]

COLLEGE LIFE TO CORPORATE LIFENicholas B. Fletcher [email protected]

COLLEGIATE SCHOLARS BOWLJames “JI” [email protected]

HOUSINGJerryl E. [email protected]

HEALTH & WELLNESSMichael A. [email protected]

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIESJamil Omar [email protected]

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL INTERNAL FUNDRAISINGFrank Russell, [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRSAndre A. Moss [email protected]

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Brandon [email protected]

MEDIATION & ARBITRATIONEdwin D. Givens, [email protected]

MILITARY BROTHERSLangston D. [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP INTAKE TASK FORCEWalter [email protected]

MIS / TECHNOLOGYWendell D. [email protected]

NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES ADVISORY COUNCILDarryl [email protected]

NEW FRATERNAL PROGRAM INITIATIVESRonald J. [email protected]

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESSZollie J. Stevenson, [email protected]

POLITICAL ACTIONArthur [email protected]

RECLAMATIONBradley D. [email protected]

PROJECT ALPHAByron D. [email protected]

RITUAL & CEREMONIESRussell E. [email protected]

SENIOR ALPHA AFFAIRSSylvester L. [email protected]

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTAudrey L. [email protected]

TIME AND PLACEMaurice [email protected]

WALK AMERICA-MARCH OF DIMESWilbert L. [email protected]

WORLD POLICY COUNCILHorace G. Dawson, Jr. [email protected] FOUNDATIONS CHAIRMEN

EDUCATION FOUNDATIONWaldo [email protected]

BUILDING FOUNDATIONRobert “Bob” Leandras Jones, [email protected]

GENERAL PRESIDENT’S CABINET OFFICIALS

Assistant to the General President and Chief of Staff Don [email protected]

Assistant to the General President and Deputy Chief of Staff Keith [email protected]

Assistant to the General President and Senior Advisor James A. [email protected]

SPECIAL ADVISORS TO THE GENERAL PRESIDENT

Charles [email protected]

Calvin [email protected]

Elvin [email protected]

L. Sidney [email protected]

Joseph E. [email protected]

NATIONAL ARCHIVISTJerome Offord, [email protected]

DEPUTY ASSISTANTS TO THE GENERAL PRESIDENT

Governmental and International AffairsMarc [email protected]

SPECIAL ASSISTANTS TO THE GENERAL PRESIDENT

M. Cole [email protected]

Robbie StokesAdministrative Assistant [email protected]

Marques J. [email protected]

GENERAL PRESIDENT’S ADVANCE TEAM

ChairmanWarren [email protected]

Ian [email protected]

James [email protected]

Solomon [email protected]

VIP, Protocol and Logistics ChairmanRobbie [email protected]

Protocol and LogisticsAnthony C. [email protected]

Transportation ChairmanKen [email protected]

PAST GENERAL PRESIDENTS

32nd General PresidentDarryl R. Matthews, [email protected]

31st General PresidentHarry E. Johnson, [email protected]

30th General PresidentAdrian L. [email protected]

29th General PresidentMilton C. [email protected]

28th General PresidentHenry [email protected]

27th General PresidentCharles C. Teamer, [email protected]

26th General PresidentOzell Sutton1640 Loch Lomond Trail, SWAtlanta GA 30331(404) 344-0370

25th General PresidentJames Williams1733 Brookwood DriveAkron, OH 44313(330) 867-7536

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Corporate Office 2313 St. Paul St.Baltimore, MD 21218(410) 554-0040(410) 554-0054 Faxwww.apa1906.net

88 THE SPHINX H Summer/Fall 2009

HOW DOES IT WORK? Brothers will be able to get a discounted DNA testing kit from AA, to test their DNA to possibly determine their African heritage. The regular price for the test is $500, but financially-active brothers will get a discount at the cost of $299.

PROOF POSITIVE. All participating regional vice presidents and assistant vice presidents will take the swab test and will reveal their African matches at the regional conventions and at the national leadership conference in Phoenix. Brothers can also look to see the past general presidents and General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. lead by example. Each participating general president will take the test and reveal their African matches in Phoenix. We are also releasing the Jewels Family Tree on our Web site and will identify their male descendants to test their lineage as well.

For more information, go to www.apa1906.net. Author Alex Haley and General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., then a college brother.

IN 2010 ALPHA WILL BE Celebrating our roots

BEGINNING IN 2010 Alpha Phi Alpha members will have the unique opportunity to trace their roots with African Ancestry, Inc. (AA). Using DNA testing, brothers will be able to learn more about their family tree than ever before. It is a new partnership with AA to help celebrate the ancestries of the fraternity and its phenomenal members through connecting them with, and documenting, their ancestral family history.

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.

2313 ST. PAUL ST.

BALTIMORE, MD 21218-5234

www.apa1906.net

The

W I N T E R / S P R I N G 2 0 1 0 I S S U E

COMING NEXT ISSUE . . . Alpha’s 2010

distinguished collegians: Leading

by example on and off campus

The Arizona immigration debate: The impact of the boycott

Haiti’s Ground Zero: Part II of The Sphinx’s

special report

Alpha addresses gun violence after death of two young brothersMICHAEL MUCHIOKI STEVEN LEE

Documents

The SPHINX - 2010 Winter/Spring Edition