The following is from Brother Roderick L. Smothers, a candidate for Southwestern Regional Vice President. The email was sent in light of our fraternity anniversary, and he asked to share with others. For more info about Bro. Smothers, please click here.
December 4th, 1906...
Over the past 102 years, many have marveled while others have stood in total amazement at the intellectual fortitude and ingenuity that formed the foundation for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Today, we study the past of our illustrious organization, to apply to our present, to form our future, and to shape our destiny.
It was on a cold winter night at an upstate New York Ivy League university when several, not seven, brave 18-30 year old young men made the official motion and vote to turn their social study/literary society into the first collegiate fraternity founded for scholarly gentlemen of color. Little did these gentlemen know, that a single motion, laced with the optimism of some and the uncertainty of others would manifest into a brotherhood that would transform America and indeed the world through leadership, scholarship and service.
Founder’s Day celebrates the great evolution of the motion made over 102 years ago by young men who were largely unacquainted with fraternal structure but cognizant of the need to fill a void. Tuesday, December 4, 1906, holds much significance for any Alpha Man because it causes us to reflect (1) on the internal and external struggles associated with starting such a great organization, (2) on the young men who were well ahead of their time, (3) on the service and educational arm of the Fraternity, and (4) on the vision and mission of our great fraternity and how we honor it today.
Many of us find ourselves at a crossroads – reflecting on the catharsis of the struggle of one side ready for greatness and one side content with the status quo. Let us use the founding of our Fraternity as a source of “self-examination” and “revival” as we look at the lives and contributions of Jewels Callis, Chapman, Jones, Kelley, Murray, Ogle, and Tandy. Are we living the values that our founders espoused? What can we do to further the vision of our founders?
Allow this founders day to serve as the impetus for unlocking the power of our history and spirit of those implicit within it to overcome our challenges of today. Take time to revisit the Fraternity’s history book written by Bro. Charles Wesley; read books, such as The Talented Tenth written by our President-elect, Herman “Skip” Mason, The Divine Nine, by Brother Lawrence C. Ross, Jr., Black Greek 101 by Brother Walter Kimbrough and Jewels by Brother Darrius Jerome Gourdine. These readings and even online Historical Moments give us our framework and purpose to go on, but more importantly, the power to change our future and shape our destiny. Happy 102nd Brothers!
Posted by carterbedford 
