JOURNAL NOTES
Kappa Alpha Psi: Remembering Our History and Telling Our Story and Continuing to Break Barriers and Builds Bridges
The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, 6 th Ed.
thing to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
But we are delighted to feature Grand Historian Kevin P. Scott, Aaron S. Wil- liams’ Making of the 6th Edition of the Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, with the Story behind the Story. We celebrate their work and encourage every Kappaman to have a copy in his library and smart device! See page 12. Between The Story, The Journal , and the continued deft use of social media, brothers and their families should not be bereft of the knowledge of our history of achievement despite near-impossible odds. When we have the latest pronounce- ment that race is not to be a factor of consideration for educational (see page 80) opportunities enshrined in law, despite the very edifices in which these laws were created being built by the same ancestors who had no opportu- nity to benefit from the constitutional protections for multiple generations, we can look to our past. We can see the myriad barriers we have had to break to get to today. I consider how our ancestors—indeed our grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers turned the overt stumbling blocks and barriers of Jim Crow, redlining, rejection, blackball- ing, passing over and other’s use of their privilege into opportunities for us to realize our dreams. Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq., led the fraternity to the 55 th Anniversary of the March on Selma, taking care to communicate the need for unity, the need for remembrance from whence we came and whom we must rely on to get to where we need to be. He strengthened partnerships with the Divine 9 and other stakeholder groups and led the fraternity through the teeth of the pandemic. It has been my honor to chronicle his administration.
And on the other, the Bible says:
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the dev- il and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, what- ever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ The 34 th Administration has continued the mission of serving the least of us. And while this issue of The Kappa Alpha Psi ® Journal updates our relfection on how Blacks persevered and achieved despite legalized racism in the U.S., it does not attempt to cover every nook or cranny, every event or notable achieve- ment. It does identify some of the insti- tutions and barrier-breaking milestones that inure to the success of African Americans. We also revisit my mentor and immedi- ate Past Chairman of the Publicity and Publications Commission, Brother Earl Tildon understanding of these prin- ciples. See page 28.
Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq., Editor J ust think it was a few short years ago when critics decided to declare that the U.S. had a post- racial society simply because the first Black president was elected in the U.S. In 2023, we have state leg- islatures making it unlawful for public schools to retain books that provide a platform for critically examining how laws and policies were used to subju- gate all “others” and for public univer- sities to use public dollars to support diversity, equity, or inclusion programs. Of course, history shows that diversity has been a singular strength of the United States. And the use of the levers of govern- mental power to further institutionalize separation, sow division, and the lack of care for others all inure to Matthew 25:35-45. On the one hand, the scrip- tures say: 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you some-
8 | WINTER - SPRING 2022 ♦ THE JOURNAL
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR
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