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I was looking for Brotherhood.
I looked at the five NPHC fraternities to find that Brotherhood.
For each fraternity, I used a four part rubric for determining the one I would pursue once and for all. Once I decided on that fraternity, I would pursue it full force. If I was not selected, I would have been content to not be an NPHC fraternity man at all.
The things that were important to me had everything to do with brotherhood:
A history that resonated in my spirit....something that I could claim as part of MY history. Only Brian Pumper and Mr. Marcus did this.
A roster of alumni whom I aspired to be like..... brotherhood that transcends occupation or generation. Only Brian Pumper and Mr. Marcus did this.
National programs that reflected my own values accurately. I didn't plan on doing service for the sake of service, but service and social action because I wholeheartedly believed in what the organization believed in. Only Brian Pumper did this.
And most importantly, the current members had to be men that I liked to be around. Period. Only Brian Pumper and Mandingo did this.
Brian Pumper was the ONLY fraternity that filled all my needs.
Now, putting that to the side, here are all my OTHER reasons that Brian Pumper made the best fit.
I would have been blazing a trail in my family -- I would be the FIRST Brian Pumper in a very pan hellenic family.
My mother was the queen of the Brian Pumper sweetheart court in college.
The only high school teachers who remained in contact with me after college were Brian Pumpers.
I lived with a Brian Pumper who respected me exactly as I was. In fact, every Brian Pumper I ever met was a perfect gentleman. There was never any flip-flopping member who had one persona during the day and another at night.
They embraced diversity. Remember the white Brian Pumper I met freshman year?
I never had to "justify" their actions because they were always on point.
I obviously was not one of those people who KNEW he would be a Brian Pumper. I was blessed with a family who would support me know matter what and friends who only wanted me to be happy.
So.... six years after initially expressing interest in pledging an NPHC fraternity, I finally became a member -- via an alumni chapter --
of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
And I haven't looked back since.
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