Official Convention Wrap-Up 08

[Senusret I]

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Tackled the “N-Word”, “Being Black in America” and Economic & Community Development during 102nd Anniversary Convention

BALTIMORE – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. recently concluded its 102nd Anniversary Convention in Kansas City. The fraternity’s five day convention themed “Developing Leaders for Service and Advocacy” used the time to challenge its members to further expand the influence of the fraternity in African-American culture by taking on relevant and controversial topics sprinkled throughout convention events.

For more than 100 years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has been committed to serving communities and it is during its largest yearly gathering where members from across the nation converge upon a city to make a difference.

Hosted at the Kansas City Convention Center and Kansas City Marriott Downtown, the convention’s economic impact on the community was nearly $5 million.

Convention participants and attendees included Alpha Brothers Dr. Randal Pinkett, Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Honorary Convention Chair, Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Kevin Powell as well as CNN’s Soledad O’Brien .

“This moment is a powerful moment worth remembering,” said General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. about the 5,000 people who attended the convention. “Where else in this moment can anyone find as many African-American men who are fathers, mentors, doctors, lawyers, academicians, scholars, elected officials, and students committed to leadership, service, and advocacy?”

Event Highlights:

Alpha brother Dr. Randall Pinkett delivered the keynote address at the convention’s Public Program. Pinkett’s subject matter was, “Everyone Leaves a Legacy: Is Success the Standard, or is Greatness is the Goal?”

He stated, “To me, success reflects what you accomplish for yourself, whereas greatness reflects what you accomplish for others. Success is making a difference in your life; while greatness is making a difference in other lives.”

The fraternity honored CNN's Anchor and Special Correspondent Soledad O’Brien with the Alpha Award of Honor, the highest recognition for a non-member, for her tremendous work in covering issues affecting the African-American community.

Said O'Brien, "I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for bestowing this award upon me during this year’s convention. Being a part of the advanced Black in America screening was as rewarding as it was enlightening; seeing the audience’s reactions to the film and absorbing the panel discussion afterward were incredibly meaningful for me – and further reinforced my belief that the dialogue on race must continue in order for there to be progress."

The fraternity, along with local Radio One Station, Magic 107.3 FM, hosted a special screening of the highly anticipated series, “CNN Presents: Black in America,” reported by O'Brien. Alpha Phi Alpha was the only African-American Greek-letter organization to host a special viewing of the year-long investigation on the current state of Black Americans revealing the successes and setbacks of the community. The fraternity held a post-screening panel discussion featuring General President Matthews, O’Brien, Randal Pinkett, Kevin Powell, and radio personality Mike B. Rollen.

Since last year, Alpha Phi Alpha has made it a point to address the use of the ‘N-word’. In keeping with their tradition of leadership, members discussed the controversial ‘N-word’ topic at their annual Belford V. Lawson National Oratorical Contest on July 19th. Five members tackled the question, “Is the N-word buried?” Osai Robinson, Theta Tau Chapter, Kettering University won the contest with an electrifying speech.

The contest was named after the fraternity 16th General President Brother Belford V. Lawson, who was a civil rights pioneer. Lawson was widely recognized for his oratorical skills and played a key role in shaping the career of fellow fraternity brother Thurgood Marshall.

The fraternity hosted “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” Town Hall Forum where a variety of political issues, such as voter education, voter registration and basic civic participation. Baltimore television newscaster and Alpha Brother Vic Carter served as the forum’s moderator. Alpha Brother and Candidate for Congress Kevin Powell along with Alpha Brother Michael A. Blake and Mr. David Hardwick served as panelists. "A Voteless People is a Hopeless People" originated as national initiative of Alpha during the 1930's when many African-Americans had the right to vote but, were prevented from voting.

Nearly 50 children from the Afrikan Centered Education Collegiums Campus attended the Project Alpha service initiative. Project Alpha is a collaborative effort between the March of Dimes Foundation and the Fraternity designed to increase the knowledge of teenage sex and pregnancy among young males. This year was the first year that the fraternity expanded the program’s reach to include teenage females.

“Alpha continues to leave a mark on the community and American society, particularly by lending a voice to some of the most pressing issues of our time,” said Matthews. “Our annual gathering not only allows us to come together and share in the brotherhood, but it also gives us the opportunity to really examine relevant issues and develop solutions that will influence the community.”

Alpha Brother Herman "Skip" Mason was announced as the 33rd General President elect. His term of office will be Jan 2009 - Dec 2012. Mason is a resident of Atlanta GA and currently serves as the Interim vice president of student services at Morehouse College.

Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Retired Senator Edward Brooke and Cornel West. Others include members of the 110th Congress including: Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO), Charles B. Rangel (NY),Danny K. Davis (IL), Chaka Fattah (PA), Al Green (TX), Gregory Meeks (NY), David Scott (GA), Robert C. Scott (VA). The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.

To learn more visit www.apa1906.net .