JOURNAL NOTES
Kappa Alpha Psi: Born of a Bond as a Haven Against Injustice, Breaks Barriers and Builds Bridges
cus on Kappa’s growth and development, as well as some individual achievements of brothers, despite societal ills. These pages are designed to pique your inter- est to look back, to reflect and to be inspired to achieve in this moment, to continue the legacy of Kappa and for His name’s sake. For, as we know, “he who endures to the end will be saved.” When you consider the context of the times our Founders conceived of this Noble Clan, and laid the foundation for it to not merely survive but to thrive and compare it to what we are all enduring at every level and in every corner of our republic, it bears review. Mahalia Jack- son’s “How I Got Over” rings in my ears as I consider how our ancestors—indeed our grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and brothers turned the overt stumbling blocks and barriers of Jim Crow, redlin- ing, rejection, blackballing, passing over and other’s use of their privilege into op- portunities for us to realize our dreams. The Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shel- ton 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 who we must rely on to get to where we need to be. He charged our undergraduate leaders to uphold the mantle of courage and to never forget the struggle that has laid foundation for achievement we all enjoy. This country may be in a vast spiritual wilderness or desert right now (not unlike the Desert National Wildlife Range the brothers are pictured in on the cover) . But we know who led His people to the Promised Land and what the people had to do to get there. I can hear him say, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my com- mandments....” Junior Grand Vice Polemarch Evan R. Jackson and the Undergraduate Grand Board Members have worked mightily
to ensure all members are on one accord (see page 70) and all oars are pointed in the same direction as they steer the Good Ship Kappa with an international collaboration with Room to Read (see page 82), with the Brother to Brother COVID-19 Relief efforts (see page 87), and with graduating, transitioning to the workforce and inspiring the generations behind them to also not forget the sacri- fices of those who have come before. We celebrate the Centennial of one of our oldest chapters, the Detroit (MI) Alumni Chapter (see page 88) as well as one of our newest (see page 104). We provide a snapshot of the faces of Kappa Alpha Psi with Dr. Ralph J. Bryson lead- ing us off as a 70+ year member (see page 92), to a Kappa's and Kinsmen feature with Ryan M. Adkins (see page 96). A Gamma Delta initiate presents at the largest Supercomputing conference in the world and we feature a trainer of Kappa Leaders in Dr. John Cade. Kappa’s work was certainly not stopped by the worldwide pandemic. The com- missions, committees and taskforces of the 34 th Administration have been hard at work. We hear from some of the Province Polemarchs (see page 98) and chairs of those efforts who assisted undergraduates with job placement ser- vices and from Dr. William Meanes, our National Chaplain who provides daily exhortation to the brothers and weekly prayer calls. Who today is not “standing in the need of prayer”?! Just think, it was a few short years ago when critics decided to declare that we live in a post racial society. The roar- ing cry of injustice has ripped the wool from every eye, pulled every head out of the sands of delusion and has reached such a swell it has become impossible to ignore in any nation. Now is the time to not only speak the names of those who have had their lives ripped from them, but also to let your voices be heard through your vote at
Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq., Editor L ong before COVID-19, our Founders used achievement to inoculate against the virus of racism that has permeated the foundations upon which this country has functioned and its legal structure. How we deal with and overcome the mental, psychological, physical and physiological effects as individuals, families and communities is a lesson in faith, an unswerving fidelity to each other and perseverance. The negative intergenerational impacts of institu- tional and structural racism cannot be overstated or over-examined (see page 12). This issue of The Kappa Alpha Psi ® Journal seeks to provide a snapshot of how Blacks persevered and achieved in spite of the sin and stain of legalized racism in the United States of America. It does not attempt to cover every nook or cranny, every event or notable achievement. It does identify some of the institutions and barrier-breaking milestones that inure to the success of African Americans. Brother Earl Tildon reminds us that gaining a clearer understanding of all of this is helped by your not passing a Senior Kappa by (see page 14). As we know we have not come this far by our- selves, but this issue does reflect a fo-
6 | SPRING 2020 ♦ THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement for more than 105 years
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