Article: "SAC Votes to Support New Black Fraternity"
Dublin Core
Title
Article: "SAC Votes to Support New Black Fraternity"
Subject
Alpha Phi Alpha organizes on W&L campus after initial dissolve.
Description
Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically black Greek letter organization, was established in 1906 at Cornell University. The Alpha chapter of the organization was initially founded as a support organization used to bond men of African descent with one another against the racial prejudices that they faced at their university. Through its expansion, Alpha Phi Alpha has been driven to use their resources, scholarship and service to uplift their communities and combat social injustices, serving as civil rights leaders and driving factors behind the education of young black people.
Young black students faced a similar difficulty at Washington and Lee as their founders did at Cornell. At a predominantly white institution, black men found it difficult and often impossible to be recognized in the same social circles/organizations as their peers. In order to find community and support amongst themselves, they founded a chapter at W&L in the 70s which dissolved. Trying again in the 90s, they faced both support from the Student Activities Committee and backlash from their peers who viewed the manifestation of Alpha Phi Alpha as separatist and harmful to the movements W&L attempted to make towards a more diverse student body. However, Alpha Phi Alpha's establishment as a representative of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) changed what a fraternity's purpose could be, shifting from merely participation in a social organization to an active (physical and mental) engagement with the community, a love for their brothers and a richly infused culture to be inherited. This RTP article contains both the SACs and a peer’s response to the formation of the chapter.
Young black students faced a similar difficulty at Washington and Lee as their founders did at Cornell. At a predominantly white institution, black men found it difficult and often impossible to be recognized in the same social circles/organizations as their peers. In order to find community and support amongst themselves, they founded a chapter at W&L in the 70s which dissolved. Trying again in the 90s, they faced both support from the Student Activities Committee and backlash from their peers who viewed the manifestation of Alpha Phi Alpha as separatist and harmful to the movements W&L attempted to make towards a more diverse student body. However, Alpha Phi Alpha's establishment as a representative of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) changed what a fraternity's purpose could be, shifting from merely participation in a social organization to an active (physical and mental) engagement with the community, a love for their brothers and a richly infused culture to be inherited. This RTP article contains both the SACs and a peer’s response to the formation of the chapter.
Creator
Joshua Manning
Source
Ring-tum Phi
Date
1991-09-14
Rights
This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source.
Format
PDF
Language
en_US
Type
Newspaper Article
Files
Collection
Citation
Joshua Manning, “Article: "SAC Votes to Support New Black Fraternity",” Black General, accessed April 19, 2024, https://blackgeneral.omeka.wlu.edu/items/show/25.