I recently read an article in the December issue of EBONY Magazine concerning the increase of all male Black schools in the US. If you did not read it I suggest you get a copy of the issue(the cast of the movie “Dream Girls” is on the cover). The article made me ponder where the Founders and Charter members would have liked to see Sigma at the 100 year point in our history.<\/p>\n
While I truly believe they could not have imagined the growth Sigma has experienced over this time. I also strongly believe they would be deeply disappointed in what Sigma has become. They would be frustrated at our inability to take advantage of the resources at our disposal. These men opened a library and art museum to the public in the early 1900’s. How would you explain to these men that you had a brother in education’s highest position in the country and failed to take advantage of it? They would be disgusted at our utter silence on issues concerning our communities. These men proposed anti-lynching legislation at a time when voting, access to public facilities and other rights and privileges; we take for granted today, where not available to them. How would you explain to these men of our silence on every issue concerning our communities today? They would abhor our elected officers, their dirty politics and total lack of integrity while serving in those positions. How would you explain to these men the re-election of a national president after a large sum was taken from our treasury? These actions, due in part, to his neglect of duty? Then you would need to explain how this member was inducted into the DSC before the matter was fully investigated. They would be ashamed of the loss of the vision Sigma was founded upon and the total absence of brotherhood. They would be perplexed at the blatant destruction of our Constitution & By-Laws for the purpose of pushing the agenda of the “chosen few”. How would you explain to these men that the membership sat back and allowed this document to be manipulated in such a way? How would you explain to these men how the membership has been totally removed from the decision making process of this Fraternity? The Conclave model was chosen for a reason. They would be embarrassed at the way in which members carry themselves in public while representing Sigma. Take a look at the individual, chapter, conclave and conference photos from Sigma years ago and look at what we see today. How would you explain to these men the images we now see on flyers, chapter websites, personal pages, e-mail groups and the like?
\nHow would you convince these men that this is the organization they helped to found and nurture in the early days?<\/p>\n
We all agree there is much that needs to change in Sigma. To prepare for the future success of Sigma we must all get on the same page as to where we hope to take Sigma. The fact that we want to follow the vision of our Founders is understood. I will assume this is a major reason why we are all members of Phi Beta Sigma today. We all know what is wrong with Sigma, but my question is what is right? While we have many problems, we are doing some things right and those things are probably what is keeping us from total destruction. However, as we attempt to move forward in a positive direction we should have some goals in mind. Both short term, which would be many of the necessary fixes, and long term goals.<\/p>\n
I am sure most of you have read the letter circulating the net concerning the self inflicted ills of the Black community. The letter is said to have been written by a Caucasian and it was read on a NYC radio station. The following is a piece from the letter. Notice how it speaks to our situation and that of most Black organizations.<\/p>\n
SELFISHNESS<\/strong>, ingrained in their minds through slavery, is one of the major ways we can continue to contain them. One of their own, Dubois said that there was an innate division in their culture. A “Talented Tenth” he called it. He was correct in his deduction that there are segments of their culture that has achieved some “form” of success. However, that segment missed the fullness of his work. They didn’t read that the “Talented Tenth” was then responsible to aid The Non-Talented Ninety Percent in achieving a better life (SOUND FAMILIAR Bros.?<\/strong>). Instead, that segment has created another class, a Buppie class that looks down on their people or aids them in a condescending manner. They will never achieve what we have. Their selfishness does not allow them to be able to work together on any project or endeavor of substance. When they do get together, their selfishness lets their egos get in the way of their goal. Their so-called help organizations seem to only want to promote their name without making any real change in their community. They are content to sit in conferences and conventions in our hotels, and talk about what they will do, while they award plaques to the best speakers, not to the best doers. Is there no end to their selfishness? They steadfastly refuse to see that TOGETHER EACH ACHIEVES MORE (TEAM)<\/strong><\/p>\n So, I ask you to answer the question below honestly. I do not want the first thing popping into your head, but I want you to think about it before replying. The question relates to the article I mentioned as I opened this correspondence. I believe the Founders and Charter members would have liked to see us operating institutions focusing on the education of young males at this point in our history. What better way to take the knowledge obtained at institutions of higher learning back into the community than to teach, mentor and mold young minds?<\/p>\n The Question:<\/strong> Where do you see Phi Beta Sigma and what type of programs do you vision for our future(nationally) 25 and 50 years down the line? (NOTE: I want you to think in terms of a Sigma without the internal political struggles existing today. Suppose we were following the vision without any internal friction or personal agendas)<\/p>\n As with the Founders Day address sent in 2005, by Bro. G. Smith, and the one I sent in 2006, some will view this address as negative and bitter. My Brothers, it is neither. It is nothing more than the reality they fail to admit to in an effort to make you see the Fraternity through royal blue colored glasses. Don’t believe the hype!!!<\/p>\n As Bro. Gerald often says, “If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that barks is the one that got hit.<\/em>” We will wait for the barking.<\/p>\n As Minister Malcolm said, “I came here to make a speech, to tell the truth. If the truth is anti-American, then blame the truth, don’t blame me<\/em>.” So, to those who might catch feelings from these addresses, do not get angry and try to discredit the author. Take time to look within and see if in fact you are part of the problem.<\/p>\n Let me leave you with a few quotes. They are more than words, but messages to live by. Think of these words when you decide who you will choose to represent you in elected office as we try to move forward. Can those currently in office past the test? Even the bones cried NO!!!<\/p>\n “A truly fulfilled life is one which is spent in the service of all humanity.<\/em>” “No Legacy is as rich as Honesty.<\/em>” “It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.<\/em>” “A man has to act like a brother before you can call him a brother.<\/em>” “To do something together without a whole lot of jealousy or envy, we’ve got to keep our eyes on something bigger than us<\/em>”<\/p>\n “You can’t lead our people if you don’t love our people. You can’t save our people if you won’t serve our people<\/em>” I recently read an article in the December issue of EBONY Magazine concerning the increase of all male Black schools in the US. If you did not read it I suggest you get a copy of the issue(the cast of the movie “Dream Girls” is on the cover). The article made me ponder where the … Read moreFounders’ Day 2007<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,14],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluephi.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nA. L. Taylor<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCharles I. Brown<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nGeorge Washington Carver<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMalcolm X<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCornel West<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"