Central Florida Kappas Celebrate 103 years, Phi Beta Sigma its Centennial

Karsceal Turner – I Got Next!

For a long while I have desired to author a Greek unification piece of some sort. If nothing else, I desire to provide some insight into the lives of thousands of fraternity and sorority members the world over.

We’ll call this series: Not your Mama and Daddy’s Divine Nine

Since this is the beginning of the Year, let us explore those organizations formed in the month of January: Kappa Alpha Psi- 1911, and Phi Beta Sigma -1914

Yo BABY YO!!!

Founded in 1911 on the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington Indiana which at one time was a HOT SEAT for Ku Klux

Klan activity in the Hoosier State. Jim Crow laws were as common as a lynching party. Nationally, Indiana was said to have the most powerful Ku Klux Klan and counted a high number of members statewide. It was in such an atmosphere that 10 men who were fed up with the segregated conditions on the campus of Indiana University decided to form their own social club.

Fast-Forward through 103 years of Achievement chock full of historic firsts: General Daniel Chappie James, 1^st Black Four-star General, Elbert Frank Cox, 1st Black to earn a Doctorate in pure mathematics, Eugene K. Pettis, 1st Black president of the Florida Bar, Bernard A. Harris Jr., 1st Black to walk in space, and Notables, Johnnie Cochran, John Chaney, Cedric The Entertainer, and yours truly (had to throw that in there so you’d realize I am good company of known Kappamen as author of this piece).

It was necessary to balance this out and not allow it to be lop-sided. That being said, I shall devote equal space to each organization because I simply kool like that. I meant to spell it with a “K”.

In the beginning of the 103rd year of Kappa, we descended upon the campus of historic Bethune-Cookman University where members of that fraternity’s Southern Province came together for the Central Florida Founder’s Day Celebration.

Well over 100 Kappa men from all walks of life celebrated over a century of achievement. Attendees also took a hard look at destroying the scourge of hazing incidents, which have plagued the fraternity at different times in its history. It is a problem not limited to the death of a band member Robert Champion.

The celebration was hosted by the Daytona Beach Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi where Scottie Miller is Polemarch (president).

Joyours “Pete” Gamble served as MC for the event, Stephen Graham of Winter Park alumni performed the invocations followed by the occasion by Lyndon Cater of the Orlando alumni chapter.

Dinner and a Video

Dinner was served. I ate last as I was busy taking photos and shaking hands. I had the honor of carrying the plate and accompanying an older brother to his seat. As we weaved our way to his table, I maintained a stoic, humble demeanor, on the inside it felt good. He happened to be the eldest Kappa amongst over a hundred in the room.

By the way, dinner was accompanied by a video presentation of the fraternity, which brought yours truly to tears, thanks to Kofi Jack of the Daytona Beach Alumni chapter. Not to be outdone, the brothers of the Xi Beta Chapter at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach put on an equally excellent presentation as did Larry Mack of the DB alumni chapter.

After an introduction by Frank S. Emanuel of Jacksonville alumni, the Senior Grand Vice-Polemarch of the fraternity Thomas L. Battles Jr., gave an account of the legacy enthralled to attendees.

“The founders had a vision, purpose and character, they left a legacy for us to expound upon. It is imperative that undergraduate and alum must not compete with each other but complete each other.”

Battles, serves as Regional Director, Southeast Region with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service in Atlanta, Georgia. His region encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

I was two-years old and tearing up stuff when he became a Kappa but as the next Polemarch of the fraternity, we can be sure those words will echo again and again.

I’m in Sir!

Blue PHI !

Founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, withstudents with nine other Howard students as charter members. The fraternity’s founders wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would exemplify the ideals of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service while taking an inclusive perspective to serving the community as opposed to having an exclusive purpose.

Phi Beta Sigma responded to a “Call to Arms” in 1917 as the United States entered the First World War.

Phi Beta Sigma is in the process of celerating its centennial as we speak. A Founder’s Day Gala was held Jan 11 at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown in Washington D.C. However, members of this clan will celebrate throughout 2014, you can bet that!

Personally, although I am Phi Nu Pi, I have a strong ties with Phi Beta Sigma. My first interaction was as a member of Upward Bound at Langston University. ALL my counselors were Sigmas, and the Director of Upward Bound was a sister of Zeta Phi Beta. As a college graduate I can credit the “scholarship” portion of their motto. Vincent Adejumo can do one better, The eight year member serves as Faculty Instructor at University of Florida African American Studies Program and at Santa Fe College in the Political Science Department and gave an account of the pride he has in his fraternity.

“Even before I pledged the Mu Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Sigma in spring ’06, I always strove to live by the principles of brotherhood, scholarship, and service. Pledging the fraternity only enhanced what was already there.As I continue progress in my career as an educator, I have no doubt that Phi Beta Sigma will continue to not only serve as a valuable resource, but also serve as an extensive network to service the needs of others,” Adejumo said.

The Tie that binds a Kappa to a Sigma = Masonry

Again, personally, I owe a lot to the brothers who served as my Upward Bound counselors because I was somewhat of a knuckle-head. I recently contacted my old counselor. He was pleased with my progress but was sad I am a Kappa instead of a Sigma, I can only be me sir. During my collegiate years, I became a Master Mason.

My cable-tow (mason speak for person I became a Mason with) Darien Armstrong, is a brother of Phi Beta Sigma from the Beta Upsilon chapter at Bethune-Cookman University. Together, the two of us rose through every level in freemasonry, including the Mystic Shrine. We are brothers of Boaz Lodge #212, PHA, chartered in 1901. We trump ALL fraternities in terms of age.

I am God-father to the son of a Sigma…how ya like me now? As students we often attended Sigma parties together and it was nothing but love. I still carry that with me today. You see, as Masonic brothers. That is the way it goes. With regards to our different social frats, we know the lodge ties are stronger. We respect one another’s contributions.

This is something each of our respective fraternities must work at or we will continue to be perceived as another variation of Bloods and Crips. There ain’t no gangsters paying tuition at college, come on now!

Long list of firsts

Back to the Fraternity as a whole, Phi Beta Sigma is not without its own historic firsts and notable members. Theirs was the first Fraternity to have Presidents of other countries in its membership (Hon. Bros. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Nelson Mandela).

Theirs is the ONLY Black Greek-Letter Fraternity to have one of its members on the face of a U.S. Coin. (George Washington Carver: The 1951 Half Dollar), and the first Fraternity to hold a joint International Convention with another African-American Fraternity (Omega Psi Phi).

Phi Beta Sigma is the first and ONLY Fraternity to establish a constitutional bond with a Sorority (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.). Oh how I love me some ZETA Doves!!! Just want to throw that in there!

Some of yours (and mine) favorite actors in Terrance Howard, Blair Underwood, and Malik Yoba, (I met him once, cooler than a fan) are members of Phi Beta Sigma. Off the top of my head Al Sharpton, Al Roper, and Bill Clinton are members too. Hey, Honorary membership is still membership. My good masonic brother and Sigma David Scott Anderson would scold folks about clowning about it. BTW, Let us not forget Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, and Hines Ward are Sigmas too. A personal favorite, the honorable Huey P. Newton is also of that organization.

Notably the sixth president of Bethune-Cookman University Dr. Edison O. Jackson is a brother of Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. Early on, I verified this fact with the president personally.

“Of COURSE I am a proud brother of Phi Beta Sigma and I identify with my young brothers who are members at Bethune-Cookman. It must be something great to know the president of the university is your fraternity brother,” he said.

Dr. Jackson also had to briefly acknowledge the hazing epidemic. ‘It simply can’t be tolerated,” he said. He had the look your dad gives you when he means business, you know the look. I knew he wasn’t playing and that’s all I have to say about that.

Off the top of my head, I was able to list some notable brothers of Phi Beta Sigma right here Central Florida, specifically Daytona Beach. I’ve already listed Dr. Jackson, but also Donovan Wells, Director of Bands at Bethune-Cookman University, and Donald Cooper Head Track & Field coach. The B-CU family of Sigmas is DEEP, others include longtime professors John Douglas Jr. and Dr. Robert Williams (both were my instructors in college). Many fellow Wildcats will be able to identify with those last two.

Here is where I tie all of this together, BOTH these fraternities were born before or during the Jim Crow Era from enterprising young Black men. This was during a time when it was considered damn near a crime for Blacks to organize in any fashion. The threat of annihilation due to hazing is very real to both of them. I really can’t say how the deaths of aspiring members is the way to pay homage to the founders of our respective organizations.

Lord what has the world come to? here is a Kappa writing about Sigmas. With all respect, It was written with love and I pray I did it justice. Happy Centennial Phi Beta Sigma, and Happy 103rd anniversary to my brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi.