Happy 101st Birthday!

It was on this date, December 4th, in 1906,  that seven men in Ithaca, New York formalized their previously collegial academic, and social ties into what has become the largest organization of college-educated men, founded by and for African-Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

With the aims of Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind, The Fraternity has been a dynamic and vital force in the promotion of racial equality, education, and social progress throughout its storied history. As a testament to that legacy, the membership is a veritable Who's Who among African-American men, including among its most famous brothers Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and civil rights pioneer Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

From those humble beginnings with Seven, up through the present day, in excess of 175,000 men of all colors, races, religion and geographic location, myself included, have been initiated into The Fraternity, through over 700 chapters worldwide. It is without question that the history of Africans in America would be radically different, absent the contributions made by many an Alpha man back then, and now.

One will certainly understand my dismay at recent suggestions that black fraternities -- Alpha Phi Alpha, included -- and sororities are of no further relevance to our communities. We've been declared, in some circles, an anachronism, out of step with the new mainstream. In fact, some have gone so far as to suggest that there is no remaining purpose for such organizations and that they should be disbanded, and disallowed on college campuses.

While I readily admit there are issues that need to be addressed with regard to the conduct of some members and/or chapters of all these bodies, declaring these brother- and sisterhoods irrelevant in total is throwing the baby out with the bath-water.

So, how do we "rehabilitate" our collective image, you ask?

I can't speak for other organizations; I can only give my views on my beloved Fraternity, and it that light, my prescription for what is needed, is very simple. Rather than dissolution, what is required is reinvention.

The challenges for the next 101 years of Alpha Phi Alpha are going to be fundamentally different than those faced in the first century. Whereas race was the overriding issue in the 20th century, class and the ever-widening gap between haves and have-nots is going to be the new battleground. Technological disparities in these same communities will place youth at a disadvantage to their more wired peers, and health care (or the lack thereof) is an increasing issue across all economic strata.

My organization and those like it should be tasked with spearheading and putting "boots on the ground" with solutions to these emerging issues. Clearly, Alpha (and other fraternal organizations and sororities) were largely successful in substantially removing race as a obstacle to success. Now, it's time to step to the plate, even more than before, to develop comprehensive plans to alleviate some of the issues touched on previously.

That means continuing our existing educational and outreach programs, but expanding their breadth with new and innovative strategies.

What I'd love to see is a program with the following prongs, a kind of "Fraternal Marshall Plan:"

1. Computer/Technology Literacy: on an organizational or chapter basis, we should be donating laptops or desktop computers to either schools or individual students, so that students can take advantage of the wealth of information contained online. Systems professionals should donate time and resources so that those who want the skills can begin to acquire them. We already sponsor literacy programs at the primary and secondary level, so this is a natural evolution, to fit the times.
   
2. Financial Education: Organized by the many financial analysts and money professionals in our body, to explain the importance of investments, either individual or company-organized, the importance of credit, and entrepreneurship. Also, we need to do better in the explanation of the dangers of sub-prime mortgages, and payday loans, just to name two pitfalls, so that members of under-served communities are not victimized as they attempt to advance economically. We shouldn't be pleased with persons in our communities just "staying afloat." We all need to be assisting ourselves and others to thrive. Also, we should bring pressure to bear on large financial institutions, forcing them to bring banking and financial services to those who need them most.
   
3. Health Outreach and Education: Complimenting existing programs like Project Alpha, we should be organizing the doctors and dentists in the Fraternity to donate as much time as they can to free exams and seminars for at risk communities: parents with young children, and those without health insurance and the under-insured, so that they may get a better idea of their health risks and strategies to mitigate those risks.
4. Housing Advocacy: Just as Alpha spearheaded the construction of senior housing in Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, we need to spearhead another campaign to reduce homelessness, by providing shelters or transitional housing for those without permanent homes, the goal being to move those persons to self-sufficiency and permanent residences.
   

Ambitious? Sure. Of course, there are hazards to these new approaches. And yes, there is a large financial commitment necessary, so perhaps we need to partner with others to fully leverage our capabilities. But these things have to be done and it takes time, money, and commitment to be successful at such a transformative process. I'd propose that this "Fraternal Marshall Plan" needs to be a national priority, organized by the General Organization, and funded from dues, at least in part. To be sure, there are some individuals and chapters already undertaking these types of leadership roles, but expansion is necessary.

If there is any question of our relevance, let us prove to everyone observing that, yes, we're still absolutely necessary by virtue of our evolving deeds. As we move to tackle new objectives, we prove everyday that leadership and action are always in vogue, and it is timeless.

That's Relevance, and it's dictated on how well one adapts to changing times. Frats and Sororities have adapted some, but what is needed now is a radical transformation.

And as usual, it's time for Alpha (and our Greek Letter Organization cousins) to lead the way. The Old Gold and Black was a democratizing force in college life, civil rights, and politics before, and now it stands ready to be that force again, going deeper into the Second Century of service. Our collective resume proves it. Now, we can add more qualification to that impressive community c.v.

I'm surely a bit biased, but who better to lead than Alpha Phi Alpha?