The New Leaven of Self-Examination

Membership Intake Moratorium

2010-02-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

Pres. Skip Mason:

"Brothers, I know this is not festive news—and it is not fair to all of those who abide by the rules and have initiated some of the best men there are to offer to Alpha Phi Alpha—but it is a necessary prescription to cure a serious ailment. Next week I will be meeting with members of the Board of Directors in Phoenix where we will critically examine and discuss this and other pressing issues.

We must ensure the safe and orderly membership-intake process of the fraternity. I encourage each of you to support this moratorium, and to take the next several weeks to consider ways to help us make the process safer, more efficient and more rewarding to both the aspirants and the brothers."

The work of the New Leaven has just begun....we have engaged many brothers, and the founders of this site have been actively working on the ground to make sure that the "new MIP" is in the true spirit of the FRAT. Sorry for such a long delay in Posting but as you can see things have been moving quickly and our fears have now be realized. I suggest new readers go back and read early post, you will see that The New Leaven has been worried about the very things that President Mason is attempting to address with this Moratorium.

Partnering With Our Brother’s Killer

2009-08-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

From December 1963 until his death in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was the target of an intensive campaign by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to "neutralize" him as an effective civil rights leader. In the words of the man in charge of the FBI's "war" against Dr. King:

"No holds were barred. We have used [similar] techniques against Soviet agents. [The same methods were] brought home against any organization against which we were targeted. We did not differentiate. This is a rough, tough business."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., CASE STUDY

Leading up to our recent Convention and throughout our time in New Orleans, great emphasis was placed on the “tremendous opportunity” presented by a partnership between Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was stated that the partnership indicates the high regard that the FBI has for Alpha Phi Alpha. And, maybe there is a tremendous opportunity...maybe the FBI’s so-called “high regard” for Alpha is worth something: namely the answer to this question:

Are we partnering with our brother’s killer?

As taken from Wikipedia:

COINTELPRO (an acronym for Counter Intelligence Program) was a series of covert, and often illegal, projects conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at investigating and disrupting dissident political organizations within the United States. The FBI used covert operations from its inception, however formal COINTELPRO operations took place between 1956 and 1971...

According to FBI records, 85% of COINTELPRO resources were expended on infiltrating, disrupting, marginalizing, and/or subverting groups suspected of being subversive,[3] such as communist and socialist organizations; the women's rights movement; people suspected of building a "coalition of militant black nationalist groups" ranging from the Black Panther Party and Republic of New Afrika to "those in the non-violent civil rights movement" such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and others associated with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Congress of Racial Equality, and other civil rights groups...

The directives governing COINTELPRO were issued by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who ordered FBI agents to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" the activities of these movements and their leaders.

Are we partnering with our brother’s killer?

Maybe to some this question is of little importance. But, every family always wants answers and justice when it comes to the murder of a loved one. And clearly, as much as the General Organization rides on the back of Brother Dr. King’s accomplishments, he must be a loved one. Should we not want answers and justice? Should we be satisfied with a memorial on The National Mall in Washington? Would a statue in the town square make up for someone killing your brother?

Yes, this partnership could be valuable. But at what costs? Is there any price great enough that should allow us to forget justice, especially when it comes to the legacy of an Alpha Man who stood unequivocally for justice?

The FBI’s “high regard” for our Dear Fraternity should allow us to - as equals - have frank discussion and obtain truthful answers to lingering questions.

I know, some of us will say: “But, James Earl Ray was already convicted for the assassination of Dr. King.”

Here’s what columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson says to that:

The verdict of history stands that Ray killed King. But Ray's guilt, however, doesn't let the government off the hook, as the FBI wiretaps disgracefully show. Unfortunately, the other truth is that the House Select Committee on Assassination that investigated King's murder ordered the files sealed for fifty years. They are still sealed. So we don't really know what the FBI did or didn't do in the run-up to King's murder. The files just might answer many questions about the secret war the FBI waged against King from the late 1950's to his murder. 

Even if there’s no further evidence that the FBI had a direct hand in the assassination. The actions of the agency - even if in ignorance - gave a tacit approval to the climate of hate. To this day, there has been no formal apology from the FBI - let alone any steps to ensure that such policies and procedures are not followed ever again.

What are we receiving through this partnership? What is the FBI receiving? We know there is no such thing as something for nothing. So, if the FBI is forming special websites for Members of Alpha and ushering the resumes of Alpha Men to the tops of their application stacks, what are they gaining in return. After COINTELPRO and their war against our esteemed Brother, Dr. King, are we naive enough to believe all they want is talented - college educated - Black men?

Certainly, they have an agenda for this partnership. What is our agenda? Is it simply to get jobs? Please tell me there’s more...

Again I ask, “Are we partnering with our Brother’s killer?”

And, that’s an important question if we are to uphold the Aims and Ideals of Alpha. Are we still in the business of leading and defending our community and people? Or, are we satisfied to simply get what we can get at the expense of our integrity? We criticize the Sigma’s recently for making Fmr. Pres. Bill Clinton an Honorary Member of their ranks and everyone’s is on fire. Yet, we celebrate as a great accomplishment that Alpha Phi Alpha may be partnering with our Brother’s killer.

We cannot allow the General Organization to sell us out. We must ensure that this partnership is used to advance our Aims in defense of the Brotherhood and our community. We must be able to ensure that no Brother will be victimized as Brother King was. We must ensure that the hopes and aspirations of our people are not thwarted by the FBI’s motivation of "protecting national security, preventing violence, and maintaining the existing social and political order."

We - Men of Alpha - were made to change the existing social and political order...to advance it, perfecting our Union. We should not be found as agents of destruction, upholding the status quo.

Let us not be found to be partnering with our Brother’s killer.

Always onward...ever upward...I dedicated this to you!

Arm in arm

2009-07-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

None praised his unceasing effort

None Knew of his wondrous plan

for the temple the builder builded

Was unseen by the eye of man.

-Barton

In the book H.A.C. Life and Legacy, Wesley wrote "The vision of Henry Arthur Callis and of the founders was being achieved as each convention came and passed into history, for continuously there were foward steps being undertaken." More then a week has passed since our last convention, do we still feel the continuous foward steps of our past? Have we settled into our programs to the point that they have lost purpose? Do we still think as Bro. Wesley wrote that we are meeting for others and not for ourselves? Our past tells us how we should be thinking and not what we should be thinking. As "mature" brothers do we come out of our areas of personal contentment and devote our time and effort to the creation and development of purposeful goals.....in our communities and on our campus are we still using the ideals of Alpha or have we settled with the ideas of Alpha men.

We are not looking to reinvent the wheel, nor are we a Poindexter. The leaven is made up of people that want to do more or expand on the ideas of Alpha men. We must lead by example, wear your pins and tee-shirts in public and not just at our events. If you had a process and you are proud of your chapter show it off, now is the time.

The title of this post is taken directly from Bro. Wesley "Arm in arm the graduates and the undergraduates faced the future undivided in purpose and action, united by the bonds of brotherhood under words and slogans through Alpha Phi Alpha." If you notice what we notice in this very profound quote you are on the right path. We don't think it was done on purpose by brother Wesley, but our problems today stem from a need to be spoon feed the knowledge. We are stuck on bringing the ideas to life and not living the ideals. What we took from this passage was what was not said, the INC. was not included when speaking of brotherhood. Brotherhood is the only thing that unites, membership is what keeps the ideas alive, brotherhood is the ideal way to achieve better ideas.

Until next time.....Why shoot the breeze about it, when you can be about it. Peace -Beoutyo

Reclamation Now!

2009-07-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

If we never take another Brother in, we have enough Brothers in our community...
- Bro. Herman “Skip” Mason, General President

I don’t know if Brother Mason intended on saying it how I took it, but I see that statement as a clarion call...

Reclamation Now!

In the third Business Session, Brother Mason indicated that there was a little under 18,000 active members of Alpha. He also indicated that there was more than 47,000 inactive members. There are roughly 2.6 times as many inactive brothers than those who are active. Or, to put it another way, for every two active brothers there are at least five inactive ones out there.

Now, I can clearly see how they acquire the number of active brothers. It’s clearly indicated by the membership rosters. What isn’t too clear is how they determined the number of inactives. I’m willing to bet that number is hyper-deflated.

Moreover, there is an average of 1425.4 initiates per year. Considering that number, it would take over 33 years to initiate enough new brothers to equal the 47K+ brothers who are inactive. Surely, it would be quicker and more advantageous for us to spend efforts reclaiming those Brothers already made.

Reclamation Now!

Brothers, behold the window of opportunity. Many of us have become disgruntled with our Dear A Phi A because of the direction in which it is heading. It’s drifted so far away from it’s legacy as “A Development in College Life.” Its emphasis seems to be on maintaining money and partnerships, rather than maintaining the bonds of brotherhood and the purposes for which we were founded. It has abandoned the “better making of men,” in favor of any kind of member (man or not) who is willing to pay Grand Taxes.

I remember my Dad always feared the affects microwaving had on food. He still only uses it for popcorn. And, I know fear is a mind-killer and a little death that brings total obliteration. But, we must asses what microwaving men has done to our brotherhood, don’t you think?

Reclamation Now!

It’s time to reclaim our fallen Brothers; it’s time to reclaim our Fraternity! Things have gotten truly out of hand.

As Redman said, it’s “Time 4 Sum Aksion!” If we are willing to do the work of reclamation, we can reclaim our Fraternity. If those of us who care about the Aims & Ideals of Alpha, commit ourselves to the work of Alpha, we can awaken the sleeping giant - Ethiopia.

If we are truly to save our young Black boys, they must see and interact with positive role models. The brothers we need our out there, waiting to be reinvigorated in their love for Alpha. We can acquire the votes necessary to chart a new course. We can redirect Alpha to it’s proper purposes, and uphold authentic manhood.

The numbers don’t lie. There are more of us, than there are of them. As Marcus Garvey would say, “We are not outnumbered, only out-organized.” So - let’s get organized...
 Reclamation Now!

Always onward...ever upward...I dedicated this to you!

A Development in College Life

2009-07-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

When we read the title of our history, it is clear that the legacy of Alpha Phi Alpha is inextricably tied to the development of brothers in college life. Can we still claim this as our focus? Are our college chapters and college brothers as valued and important to us as they should be? Or, are we saying that college life has been developed to it's fullest extent?

We must again commit to a development in college life.

This is not a new problem, but one faced by our brotherhood for decades. Yet, seemingly we have neither the will nor desire to tackle this problem. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful. With Brother Mason's admonition to "remember the Seven," maybe we might find the muster to recommit ourselves and our Fraternity to the cause of developing our brothers in college.

While at General Convention, I hope that brothers will strive not to simply protect the facade of "the House." Rather, we ought protect its foundations - college men.

We must again commit to a development in college life.

Always onward...ever upward...I dedicated this to you!

The Role of Alpha Phi Alpha in the Obama Era

2009-07-05T13:16:00.001-07:00

“The election of the first black president does not mean we can all now close up shop and go home. Instead, it’s more important than ever that...organizations and individuals committed to positive change work even harder to lift up our communities and move this country forward.”

- Brother Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President and CEO

When on our journey through the three stages of development, it was said that after we arrive into the House of Alpha the real work begins. Many of us are delighted that Barack Obama has been elected as the first (undeniably) Black man to ascend the ranks of the US Presidency. Many of us have acquired a sense of “arrival.” Well if what was taught to us as we journeyed toward the light is right, then we know the real work is about to begin.

Once initiated, there are those of us who acquire a false sense of “arrival.” We commence to rest on our Fraternal laurels, preferring to be “couch potatoes” within the House as opposed to builders: renovating, expanding and otherwise improving the property bequeathed us by the Beloved Jewels. May we not see the Obama Presidency in the same light!

With this “arrival,” we must realize that now the real work begins. Where does Alpha Phi Alpha stand in this work? Where should we stand?

In the Obama era, we cannot become complacent. Nor, can we become so caught up in the rapture that we flat out ignore the work before us. Certainly, we cannot expect - much less allow - President Obama (on behalf of the US Government) to do the work that will truly “lift up our communities and move this country forward.”

Alpha Phi Alpha must be the new leaven that calls the Talented Tenth to account and spurs it on to higher achievement. We who march onward and upward toward the light must heed St. Paul’s directive in Ephesians:

Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called (4:1). For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (5:8). See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil (5:15&16).

It is time for a “new leaven.”

When a definite program was decided upon, in the early days of our Dear Fraternity, it was urged that, “through the organized fraternity a dynamic instrument could be forged that would be of incalculable power in advancing the interests of the Negro group along all lines of endeavor.”

Certainly, we have in our possession a dynamic instrument of incalculable power. Shall we not use it to advance the interests of the Black Community? Shall we not pick up the mantra espoused by Brother Morial and work to “Close racial disparities?”

President Obama is not an arrival at “the place for which our fathers died.” Rather the Obama Presidency is an opportunity. And, Alpha Phi Alpha must lead the way. We must seize the day. What would you choose?

Always onward...ever upward...I dedicated this to you!

The New Leaven: A Manifesto

2009-07-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

A small group insisted that the fraternity was not measuring arms with its possibilities. They would have the fraternity examine itself...Some goal must be established or Alpha Phi Alpha would end only in making pleasure the summum bonum of fraternity life. This small group of thinkers became the leaven that ultimately leavened the whole.

- The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, pg. 101

It is time for a "new leaven."

Alpha Phi Alpha was founded "in order to promote a more perfect union among College men," yet we see far more activity amongst the graduate brothers than those on the undergraduate level. Our very history is subtitled: "A Development in College Life," yet we are largely disconnected from college campuses, college aged men and those who are college-bound. What is our Supreme Aim?

It is time for a "new leaven." And as defined, leaven is “an influence that produces a gradual change.” The goal of this blog is to promote that gradual change.

So many are disgruntled. So many are inactive. Did anyone of us pursue initiation in order to become inactive? Did any of us go through the process not hoping to make contributions that express our love for all mankind? Why then should any of us allow our Dear Fraternity to become a place where those who gave themselves to a worthy cause no longer feel as though they have anything in common with the organization?

It is time for a “new leaven.”

Brother General President Dickson told us to “Think Alpha Phi Alpha, talk Alpha Phi Alpha, promote Alpha Phi Alpha, and labor for the broad principles of idealism for which Alpha Phi Alpha was created, so that humanity shall look on us as a body worthwhile.”

Does humanity look on us as a body worthwhile? Do the communities within our local Chapter jurisdictions consider us to be a body worthwhile? Do the non-Alphas within the Collegiate communities of our Nation view Alpha Phi Alpha as a body worthwhile? With any of them, is Alpha Phi Alpha the first of all organizations to come to mind as being a source of upliftment for our communities? In a time when the NAACP is honored as the “oldest Civil Rights organization,” can we as men of Alpha Phi Alpha be satisfied?

It is time for a “new leaven.”

Truly, our beloved A Phi A has contributed much to society. I cannot begin to imagine where the United States of America would be as a country had it not been for the founding of Alpha Phi Alpha and the Brothers called to serve amongst her ranks. Yet as Jewel Brother Callis said, “Still we await and must be mindful of the past only as an inspiration, not as a sufficiency in itself.”

Yes, we have been blessed to have “100 Years of Leadership and Service.” But, what are we as a Fraternity doing to put our mark on this present age and inspire subsequent generations of college men to answer the call to “Manly Deeds, Scholarship and Love for All Mankind?”

It is time for a “new leaven.”

With racial disparity run amuck, should we of the Talented Tenth become bogged down throwing parties and events? Should we relish in our own personal sense of arrival? Should we be satisfied that we were able to remain unbowed by the bludgeoning of chance when others are forced to watch the things they gave their life to broken, lacking the ability to build them up with their worn out tools?

Truly, as Brother Roscoe C. Giles stated, “We must arouse the slumbering giant, Ethiopia.” When focused, our Fraternity was able to provide leadership for many facets of the Civil Rights Movement. Don’t you agree that if we urge each other to adhere “to the ideals of the fraternity” and emphasize a commitment to combatting racial disparity that Alpha Phi Alpha would have dramatic impact?

As the Obama Campaign would say, “Yes we can!”

It’s is time for a “new leaven,” and the true Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha will answer the clarion call.

Always onward...ever upward...I dedicated this to you!