African American Orginizations

Notice Ive been starting my posts inspired by programs at school? This one is inspired by CWPOST's Meet The Cultural Greek program/forum

Lets start by my recognition that theres such a big open emphasis on the differnce. Last week's school's newspaper stated that Post has x amount of sororities and fraternities as well as some cultural organizations. Isnt that similiar to saying something like "My class has 5 white girls and a bunch of other cultural girls" ... but anyways, this post is about the presence of HBCUs, Divine Nine orginizations and the NAACP and orginizations like it. Are they still worth it? Its pretty much common knowledge that these organizations were started to advance colored people who at the time they were created were being oppressed, treated unfairly and or being kept separate. The beginining of these institutions were essential then to any development and were helpful to African Americans, and they still are.



HBCU (Historically Black Colleges/Universities) Were created when African Americans were not allowed in white universities. Today most of those universities/colleges are still predominantly African American. Now Ive heard people express digust in HBCU's, they feel like it keeps African American students down. I don't.I have particular and specific reasons why I did not attend an HBCU for my undergraduate degree/experience BUT i seriously admire the culture that these institutions embed in their students and communities. These instituions have their students endure well rounded college experiences while learning and exploring their own culture and their roots. These schools host topics, classes, curriculums and programs that expose the beauty embeded in African Culture, they even make the effort to incorporate African american traditions such as step/stroll in their everyday campus life; these are things that most "multicultural" or predominantly white learning institutions do not see the need to institute into their schools. The learning and cultural experience that graduates of HBCU acquire is beautiful and admirable. HBCUs cultivate and inspire people to go out into their own communities and the world to make a difference.
Some notable HBCU Graduates are:

Oprah Winfrey, a graduate of Tennessee State University; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, a graduate of Lincoln University and Howard University College of Law; Martin Luther King Jr. from Morehouse; poet Nikki Giovanni (Fisk), and Langston Hughes (Lincoln); Jesse Jackson from North Carolina A & T; James Weldon Johnson* Clark Atlanta (Writer of Negro National Anthem);Spike Lee Morehouse College; Rosa Parks* Alabama State University ...... Trust me I can go on and on.

The Divine Nine are the nine historically black greek letter orginizations under the National Pan Hellc Council. those organizations are: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc (1906), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc (1908), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc (1911), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc(1911), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc(1913),Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc (1914), Zeta Phi Beta Soroity Inc(1920), Sigma Gamma Rho sorority Inc (1922) and Iota Phi theata Fraternity Inc.

These orginizations were all created along the morals of a positive brother/sisterhood that would better their perspective college communities and their experiences and to act as support systems through the jorney of getting a college education, something that was most difficult at those times. Many of the founders were 1,2,3,4 generations from slavery and their courage and ambition lead them to not only go to college but to back sure they were productive experiences.Each one has different particular goals and projects that their organization works towards. Although they are considered social they are known for their selectivity and their dedication to serving the schools and communities they are a part of as well as doing charitable work toward many operations. "NPHC promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions"
One of the things I personally admire the most about African American greek culture the most is their life-long comittment to their respective organizations. Although many traditional greek organizations are for the duration of college, d9 organizations are life long. Graduates students and post graduates may (and most do) still be active in their organizations way after they have complete schooling. These organizations create various programs throughout the nation and internantionally serving many people. These organizations are also admirable for embracing and practicing rituals that keep african american ancestry and culture alive. They also produce and inspire many prominant people in African American culture.

Notable members of Divine Nine Organizations:
Alpha Phi Alpha: W.E.B. Dubois, Writer, Historian, Civil Rights Activist, Philosopher; Frederick Douglass - Anti-slavery activist; Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil rights activist; Thurgood Marshall - Civil Rights Activist, Supreme Court Justice; Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Civil Rights Activist; Paul Robeson, Actor/Athlete/Activist

Alpha Kappa Alpha: Jane Adams, Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, Althea Gibson, Star jones, Coretta Scott King, Toni Morrison, Rosa Parks,Phylicia Rashad, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ntozake Shaunge, Jada Pinkett Smith,

Kappa Alpha Psi: William Johnson CEO of Black Entertainment Television, Inc.; John Singleton Director of Boyz N The Hood, Poetic Justice, and Higher Learning
; Joe Clair Host of BET's Rap City; Montell Jordan Recording Artist; Cedric the Entertainer Comedian; Mark Adkins Sinbad's Manager/Brother; Played "Grady" on the "Sanford and Son" sitcom; Johnny L. Cochran, Jr. Attorney; Dr. Rev. Ralph Abernathy Civil rights leader and former President of SCLC; Thomas Bradley Past Grand Polemarch Former Mayor of Los Angeles, CA; Carl Stokes Frst Black Mayor of a major US city (Cleveland, OH);Rep. John L. Conyers Congressman, D-MI; Intoduced legislature to make Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday a National Holiday; Rep. Alcee Hastings Congressman, D-FL; Elihu Harris Mayor, Oakland, CA; Rep. Albert R. Wynn Congressman, D-MD;Rep. Walter E. Fauntroy Congressman, D-D.C.; Michael White Mayor, Cleveland, OH Zeta Chapter; Rep. George W. Crockett, Jr. Congressman, D-MI;

Omega Psi Phi: Langston Hughes – Famous Poet; Edward Lewis - Chairman and CEO of Essence Communications; Bill Cosby – Comedian, actor and author; Steve Harvey – Comedian and radio host; Charles F. Bolden, Jr - Astronaut; Roscoe Robinson – First Black Four Star General – U.S. Army; Vince Carter – Orlando Magic Shooting Guard; Michael Jordan – NBA Legend ;Steve McNair – Former NFL player, Rev. Jesse Jackson

Delta Sigma Theta: Kim Coles, Adrien-Joi Johnson, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Nikki Giovanni, Adrienne Watson Carve, Shirley Caesar, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Daisy Bates, Fannie Lou Hamer, Mary McLeod Bethune, Betty Jean Sanders-Shabazz, Camille Cosby

Phi Beta Sigma: George Washington Carver,Blair Underwood, Al Joyner, Andrew Valmon, Eric Williams, Rod Paige, Rick James, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Morris Chestnut,Al Sharpton, A Philip Randolph,Huey P Newton, Ben Chavis Muhammad, Malik Yoba, Quincy Jones

Zeta Phi Beta: Vanessa Bell Armstrong,Zora Neale Hurston,Esther Rolle, Sheryl Underwood, Violette Anderson - First African American attorney, Violette Anderson,

Sigma Gamma Rho: MC Lyte, Kelly Price, Hattie McDaniels - First African-American Actress to win an Oscar- Best Supporting Actress in Gone with the Wind, Judge Joyce Williams Warren - The First African-American Judge in Arkansas, Mary Washington - First African-American CPA, Ruth Whitehead Whaley - First African-American woman to actively practice law in the U.S.,Tonya Lee Williams - Actress, The Young and the Restless

Iota Phi theta: T.C Carson, Desi Arnez Hines II,

... and MANY, MANY More....

Civil Rights Organizations and organizations that empower African Americans and promote unity and awareness such as the NAACP (Nationally) and BSU (college campuses all over the country).






The NAACP was started in 1909 to start the active rebellion and civil rights movements/demonstrations against lynching and other violent acts against African American people. NAACP makes strides to ensure social, economic and political equality for African Americans.Over 100 years later NAACP has national head quarters as well as chapters all over the country and in many states, cities and college campuses. Do we still need it? Yes! We do. NAACP is not only still active in making sure african americans are equal but also makes efforts to strengthen the African american communities, encourage unity and highlight strides made by prominent black people in America.

I could start a list of notable people from the NAACP but most of the names you have heard associated with civil rights movements as well of the names listed above would all make up the list along with many, many more.


Another organization that is nationwide (although not united by a head quarters or one mission) is BSU. On many college campuses across America you can find a campus club called BSU. While at my current school it stands for "Black Students United" it also stands for "Black Students Union" on most campuses. Other names for these clubs are "Black Student Association, African Americans Associated and many other variations of that name. Although each is different the main goal of these campus organizations is to bring the black-american students together to discuss issues in the afro-american community, make strides to improving our communities and to provide campus awareness about afro-american culture and customs. Isn't that like separating ourselves? No. There are still white people who do not respect or pay much attention to black people. If we dont take the time to get together to try teaching them about us who will? How do you expect someone to respect something they know nothing about? If we cant collectively better our own communities... who will?

This was long enough though. So.... until next time.

NOTE: I am not a student at an HBCU nor am I a member of an NPHC organization. I am an active member of a campus chapter of NAACP and the CWPOST BSU.