The Morning After

*Author's Note: This is my first written piece I put on the web. I wrote this the night after I crossed into the land of Phi Beta Sigma. I thought it would be a good read.

enjoy

TLT*

On April 3, 2002 at 3:18:12am, a six-year journey was completed. This was a journey that took me on several twists turns and dead ends. However utilizing rule #3, I was able to over come these obstacles and become a brother in what is easily without question the greatest fraternity in the history of man PHI BETA SIGMA. Yup boys and girls I FINALLY made it. To date this has to be up there with the birth of my sons. It is truly a happy time for me right now.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Every time I type that I get the chills. Every time I look at those words my eyes swell up. I do not think there has ever been a more perfect fit than I coming into the frat. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. is more than these words would imply. Look at those words. Look at these letters. What you see before you is 88 years of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. What see is 88 years of Culture for Service, and Service for Humanity. What you see before you is 88 years of doing for the inclusive we instead of the exclusive we. What you see is 88 years of being the trendsetters and movement makers, community activists. There is nothing fancy or glamorous about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. What you see is 88 years of great men who strived to make the community, the downtrodden a better place. You see men like our founders The Most Honorable A. Langston Taylor, The Most Honorable Leonard F. Moore and the Most Honorable Charles I. Brown, who wanted a fraternity that included the common man, not the just the so-called talented tenth. You see men like our Alain Leroy Locke, who spoke about a New Negro, and sparked an entire renaissance. You see men like A Philip Randolph, who organized Blacks into a progressive social force a decade before the New Orleans Movement of 1953, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 respectively. You see men like John Lewis, who gave the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee is earliest strength. You see men like Dr. Huey P. Newton who realized that the southern civil rights movement had yet to make its impact or mission vital to the northern ghettos and founded The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. You see men like Benjamin Chavis Muhammad, who had the courage to challenge the jewish control over the NAACP, and the later make the switch of a lifetime, join the Nation of Islam. This unheralded move gives us the Million Man March. (Go back and play the tape. Farrakhan thanks us personally.) It is truly a grassroots organization in a fraternity outfit. Yes our cause speeds on its way!

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. legacy is not present only in America. We are present even on the mother continent. Some of the men who would later help through off the shackles of colonial were men of SIGMA. Kwame Nkrumah, William Tolbert, and Nnamdi Azokiwe helped their countries grown and prosper. Indeed while other Blacks of the era (except men like Marcus Garvey of course) shunned the mother continent, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. embraced her, welcomed her, loved her. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. was a radical 88 years ago, and it is radical today.

The greatest testament to its commitment to the community is not found in the things I mentioned above however. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.s greatest greatness can be found it realization that in order for the Black Community to rise, we must raise as a whole. We must do it together, or fail. Enter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. The bond that exists between Zeta Phi Beta Sigma is unmatched. To quote a popular saying we have been Often imitated, never duplicated. Our bond is not only constitutionally (and make no mistakes boys and girls, we are the only legally, constitutional bound organizations out there) but also spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. I do not care where you go in this world; if there are SIGMAS and ZETAS present they are working together. Can anybody else say that? Honestly? I thought not. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc represents the ultimate in Black Womanhood. 83 years of woman who have stood their ground, upheld their communities, and upheld Zeta. Women like Zora Neal Hurtson, who warned us against beggin joints and warned us integration would assist, if not hasten our demise. Now ask yourself are we really better off than we were before. Sorrows like Ester Rolle, who gave up millions because of the images portrayed on Good Times (there was a reason Florida Evans was off the set yall!) Women like Soror Janet Dubois who made sure the above show didnt go totally crazy when Ester Rolle left. (Remember Walona Woods character got serious?) Soror like Minnie Rippleton, Sarah Vaughn and Dionne Warrick who all helped shaped and define the ethos know as Black Music. Truly Finer Womanhood Indeed!

Now can you see why I pursued this for 6 long years? It has been worth it. Before I bounce. I would like to send a shout out to the brothers of Alpha Gamma at Fisk University. I know it did not originally work. That is one of my rare regrets. But do know you all introduced me to Zeta Phi Beta Sigma and helped me appreciate its light. Delvin, John, Miz, Cee, Gran, and even Mo-Mar, know brothaz I truly appreciated every moment of I spent with you cats. G.O.M.A.B

Now boys and girls allow me to present to you:

The Men of S.S. S.I.L.V.E.R.

Seven Individuals Linked Via Everlasting Relationships

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Iota Nu Sigma Chapter

Chicago Illinois



#1-Bro.Kamau Kadirifu aka Captain Flash

#2-Bro.Chaunteney Pritchett aka Deuce Drama

#3-Bro.Tremayne Whitney aka Gravity

#4-Bro.Terrance L. Thomas aka Public Enemy

#5-Bro.Derrick Bey aka Speech

#6-Bro.David L. Franklin Sr.-Ghost

#7-Bro.Lucius Shaw-The Rock

IN THE SPIRIT OF PHI BETA

G.O.M.A.B.