DEVAUGHN: RHODES SCHOLAR
to bear in a country hellbent on denying it. It was Douglass’ words that inspired a nation to abolish slavery. King’s words that moved a nation to dream. History is clear: rhetoric is our most powerful tool to begin the work of creating a better world. I became interested in rhetoric because injustice can only be mitigated if we are able to tell the stories of those who have suffered, inspiring people to action. The Journal: What inspired you to want to become a member of Kappa Alpha Psi? DeVaughn: On January 5, 1911 a group of men, downtrodden, marginalized, and brutalized, came together to create a space that modeled the world as it ought to be, unburdened by the world as it was. They created a Brotherhood rooted in love of God, family, school, and each other. They committed them- selves to uniting men in the name of patriotism; to achievement; to bettering their spiritual, social, intellectual, and moral welfare; to assisting in the aims of educational institutions; and to inspiring service in the public’s interest. These men made these commitments at a time when the country they inhabited did not respect their humanity. Yet, in the face of division, they chose unity. In the face of hate, they chose to love. In the face of injustice, they chose each other. They chose to be better than their real- ity. I joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. because I wanted to be a part of an organization that from its inception has modeled the world as it should be: that has always chosen unity, love, and comradery even in its darkest days. To be a Kappa man, to me, means to be forever in pursuit of a kinder world, a fairer world, a more just world. The ultimate achievement is defined by this pursuit, the unrelenting crusade to leave the world a little better than how you found it. The Journal: What do you want to do after you earn your Master of Philosophy Degree from Oxford University? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years after you graduate?
DeVaughn with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Musical, performing arts has been so central in my life. I’ve learned that some things are better sung than said, that dancing is an important form of expres- sion, and that storytelling is so critical to the work of changing minds and hearts. The Journal: How did you come to work with U.S. Senator Harris? DeVaughn: In hopes of learning more about myself and about how to cre- ate change, I worked for then-Senator Kamala Harris after my freshman year in college. Working for Vice President-elect Harris was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had. It was that experience that revealed to me that cities like Compton exist as they do not because of some inevitable succession of events, but because of deliberate choices—legislative and policy choic- es—made by those in power. Seeing
then-Senator Harris fight for Califor- nians back then revealed to me that if we choose to make different choices, we can in fact create a more just world. Vice President-elect Harris taught me that serving others for a living is a noble endeavor. The Journal: How did you acquire an appreciation for rhetoric and its use as a tool to combat injustice? DeVaughn: Deliberative rhetoric, that which Aristotle describes as using events from the past so to argue for a better future, is the rhetoric that has moved this country forward over the course of history. It was George Washington’s words in his “Farewell Address” that ensured our nation would be a republic and not a monarchy; it was Sojourner Truth’s words, “Ar’n’t I a woman?” that brought the humanity of Black women
118 | FALL-WINTER 2020 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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