this email came across my inbox today
Salam Aleykum and Hotep Brothers:
I was totally moved and inspired by the experience at Kansas State University. Words can not describe the way it uplifted and rejuvenated my spirit. They truly rolled out the carpet and treated us like Nubian Kings. More great things will be uncovered from the KSU experience, which I hope will become the new Mecca of Sigma.
It’s unfortunate that the Kansas State Director, the other General Board Members, and our self-serving National President Paul Griffin tried to sabotage the Charles I. Brown Symposium. These individuals will never understand the importance of history, because they have never been taught and have missed the critical period of their development to learn history. Growing up as a child in Somalia, my family made sure I understood the importance of preserving my own family history.
They taught me the names of each of my grandfathers and where our tribe originated from. Here are the names of my ancestors: 1. Abby (me) 2. Yussuf (Joseph-European name) 3. Elmi (Raymond Damn European name given to my grand father from the British. 4. Ahmed 5. Abtidoon 6. Sherri 7. Ali 8. Mohamed 9. Abdi 10. Adaawa 11. Jibril 12. Adan 13. Essa 14. Musa 15. Suber 16. Isaaq 17. Bin-Isaaq. I have been very fortunate to know the names of my grandfathers that can be traced down to 17 generations. My great grandfather Bin-Isaaq came from Iraq. Most Africans passed their history orally from generation to generation.
I apologize for bringing you the bad news, but all of your chapter history and records are sitting in mice & rat urine/feces. What a great way to preserve your historical items! The next time you see Paul, ask him where chapter records are stored and how are they being preserved. Also ask him the meaning of “The Power of One”. There is no correlation between “The Power of One” and “Culture for Service, and Service for Humanity”. Please, explain to me how they relate?
Most of these self-serving individuals are genetically deficient in my eyes. They may be physically mature, but they are cognitively delayed. Often their thoughts are disorganized and they suffer from paranoia. They are willing to sell their souls to the dark side to hold key offices and positions. They are supposed to serve the brotherhood and not themselves. Hey, Paul, whose little boy are you this week?
One thing they realize is that our history will be used to cultivate brothers in the fraternity. The revolution has started, and it is a matter of time that the brotherhood will push these narcissistic, histrionic[…]individuals to the side…
…The old guard and the blue & white team have been fighting each other for years before I joined Sigma in 1994. Over the years, they have both become weak so they consolidated their powers based on convenience at the Conclave LA. They are on their last leg! Our founders wanted us to serve our people, not ourselves.
Your history items have been neglected since 1989-2006. We do not hold Bro. Donald Jemison responsible for the neglect, but those presidents who served themselves during those years.
The Sigma Historical Society and KSU would never allow our history to be neglected in that fashion. Our President and his boys basically told Mallet that he was not qualified in preserving our history and have blocked him from displaying the Sigma Museum at next Conclave. In the past 7 years, Mallet and The Sigma Historical Society have never had any historical items damaged, lost, or stolen. I live 5 blocks from our headquarters, and it turns my stomach to see the conditions of our fraternity and headquarters. If you zoom in close, you might see some rat urine stains and feces. Shame on Sigma!!!!!!!!!
The Struggles Continues and Ma Salam,
Abby Yussuf Raymond Elmi
My titles:
A Somali
A Man
A Father
A Muslim
A Husband
A Concerned Sigma-Tri Sigma Chapter Member
Disappointing. Mallet has done a great job and to remove this brother is unfortunate. Paul wont be re-elected and if so…shame on Sigma
Hotep Brothers:
When I pledged into Sigma, I was told that the Founders gave us an eternal motto; namely, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity”.
My question:
Why are we allowing transitory presidents to replace what the Founders gave us with something designed only to highlight themselves???
Seems to me that the tail is wagging the dog.
I am deeply Sadden to be reading this message! I did not know that this has happened. Since the late 1980s, I was a Sigma Beta, and I love Sigma so much that in Alabama and Pledged Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, which holds some Significant History as well. To know that My Fraternity’s Founder’s Legacy and History is been “Pissed” on, in every since of the word, is very gut wrenching.
Since 1998, I have been having frequent conversations with Mallet about our History. From Learning our Hand-Sign History to the Masonic Order of how we a derived. We have a Lot of History to Discover and Little time! The Alphas, Kappas, and Omegas have gained momentum and copied alot of tradtional things Phi Beta Sigma has done!
“If we don’t USE our History, we will LOOSE our History” by: Leon “Magic” Moody