Alternate Insert-Kappa Alpha Psi

The Kappa Alpha Psi ®

An Ocial Publication of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

84 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING Northeastern Province Polemarch Craig C. Chisholm, center, 84 th GCM Chairman Samuel Patterson, left, and Philadelphia (PA) Alumni Polemarch L. Douglas Harrell, Jr., right, Welcome You

A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY

FOUNDERS

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Historical Synopsis

Elder Watson Diggs 1883–1947

K appa Alpha Psi ® , a college Fraterni- ty, was born in an environment saturated in racism. The state of Indiana became the 19 th state of the Union in 1816 and it founded Indiana University in Bloomington four years later. This city was largely populated by settlers from below the Mason-Dixon line and therefore found many sympathizers of the Southern cause. Conse- quently, the few Blacks who took up residence in Bloomington in those early years were socially ostracized and encountered extreme acts of prejudice and discrimination. The state of Indiana became a stronghold for the Ku Klux Klan. Their intolerance toward Blacks fueled the negative mindset of other Whites residing there. Vig- ilante lynchings of Blacks were commonplace. This environment made day- to-day life for Blacks an arduous task and attempts to successfully achieve in school, nearly impossi- ble. Despite the growing hostility of Whites toward Blacks in Indiana, some Black students sought a college education at Indi- ana University, as it was a tuition-free university of the highest quality. However, few Blacks could remain longer than a year or so without having to withdraw in search of employment.

ers sought one another’s company between classes and dropped by one another’s places of lodging to further discuss the means of formulating the fledgling fraternity in an effort to relieve the depressing isolation. They found that through these close interactions, they had common interests and a close bond began to emerge. The organization was given the temporary name of Alpha Ome- ga , while they further developed the formation of the organization. Diggs presided as president, while Irvin was assigned as temporary secretary of Alpha Omega. Alpha and Omega, the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet correlate to Christ and the Founder’s relationship and connection to the church. The Founders were God-fearing, and serious-minded young men who possessed the imagination, ambi- tion, courage and determination to defy custom in pursuit of a college education and careers. The ideals of the church were an important foundation of the Fraternity. One of the five Objectives of the Fraternity is: “To promote the spiritual , social, intellectual and moral welfare of members.” Many aspects of the Fraternity’s rites are engrained in Christianity ideals and contain excerpts from the Bible. It was clear at the outset that the new fraternity would not warm over principles or practices of other organizations. Nor would the new Fraternity seek its members in the manner of other Greek organizations – from among the sons of wealthy families or fami- lies of social prestige. These men of vision decided the Fraternity would be more than another social orga- nization. Reliance would be placed upon high Christian ideals and the

Dr. Ezra Dee Alexander 1892–1971

ByronKennethArmstrong 1890–1980

Henry Tourner Asher 1892–1963

First Grand Chapter Meeting in 1911.

common interests, they decided that a Greek-letter fraternity would do much to fill the missing link in their college existence. Two of these men, Elder Watson Diggs and Byron Kenneth Arm- strong, had previously attended Howard University and had come into contact with men belonging to the only national Black Greek-Letter Fraternity currently in existence. Their experiences at Howard gave rise to the chief motivating spir- its which sowed of the seed for a fraternity at Indiana University and crystallized the idea of establishing an independent Greek-letter organi- zation. Consequently, eight other men met with Diggs and Armstrong for the purpose of organizing such a fraternity. The charter members were Elder Watson Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, John M. Lee, Henry T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Guy L. Grant, Paul W. Caine, George W. Edmonds, Ezra D. Alexander and Edward G. Irvin. The Found-

The campus of Indiana University at that time did not encourage the assimilation of Blacks. The admin- istration maintained an attitude of indifference, as Blacks slowly ma- triculated and were likewise swiftly forgotten. The percentage of Blacks on campus was less than 1%. Blacks could go weeks without seeing one another on campus. Blacks were not allowed to reside in on-cam- pus dormitories, were not afforded off-campus accommodations, and they were also denied the use of all other university facilities and were barred from participating in contact sports. Track and Field was the only sport which Blacks were able to demonstrate their athleticism. In the school years of 1910-11, a small group of Black students attended Indiana University. Most of them were working their way through school. The number of places where they might assemble was limited. Realizing that they had no part in the social life of the university and drawn together by

Marcus Peter Blakemore 1889–1959

Paul Waymond Caine 1891–1931

George Wesley Edmonds 1890–1962

Guy Levis Grant 1891–1973

Edward Giles Irvin 1893–1982

John Milton Lee 1890–1958

A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY

FOUNDERS

purpose of ACHIEVEMENT.

Fraternity in the United States once granted a charter by the Indiana Sec- retary of State on May 15, 1911. Born out of the vestiges of racism, Kappa Alpha Nu encountered anoth- er metamorphosis, partially related to action of bigotry. One day as one of the Fraternity members, Frank Summers, was running the hurdles, Founder Diggs overheard a White student state, “He is a member of Kappa Alpha Nig”. There was an additional misunderstanding being attributed to the acronym of the Fra- ternity’s Greek letters, KAN. Some confused the abbreviation of the letters to refer to the state of Kansas. The name of Fraternity and the image it portrayed was of paramount importance. These incidents caused the Founders to change the name of the Fraternity. The Greek Letter Ψ was chosen in place of N and the Fraternity acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and Kappa Al- pha Psi ® thereby became an indis- tinguishable Greek-letter Fraternity. The name was officially changed to Kappa Alpha Psi on a resolution adopted at the Grand Chapter Meet- ing in December 1914. This change became effective April 15, 1915. Kappa Alpha Psi ® was the first to Black Greek Lettered Organization to issue a monthly publication. The inaugural edition of the Kappa Alpha Nu Journal debuted April 1914 and has printed uninterrupted since with the exception to 1918 and 1919, due to WWI. Since the beginning, every endeavor was directed toward establishing the Fraternity upon a strong foun- dation before embarking on plans of expansion. Careful consideration was given to ensure the organization established a firm foundation the first year before efforts to expand were attempted. Five chapters were chartered from 1913-1915, centered in the Midwest; with the first chap-

ter being established in the East in 1915. Except for the years of World War I and II, when some Grand Chapter Meetings were suspended, Kappa Alpha Psi ® has grown and prevailed with unabating impetus. Kappa Alpha Psi ® , now comprised of functioning Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the coun- try, is the crystallization of a dream. It is the beautiful realization of a vision shared commonly by the late Revered Founders that enabled them to sow the seed of a fraternal tree whose fruit is available to, and now enjoyed by college men everywhere, regardless of their color, religion or national origin. It is a fact of which Kappa Alpha Psi ® is proud that the Constitution has never contained any clause which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from mem- bership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin. Kappa Alpha Psi ® is the second oldest existing collegiate histori- cally Black Greek Letter Fraternity and the intercollegiate Fraternity incorporated as a national body. It remains the only Greek letter organization with its Alpha Chapter on Indiana University’s campus. The Fraternity has over 125,000 members with 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters in nearly every state of the United States, and international chapters in Nigeria, South Africa, the West Indies, the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea and Japan. Through its worldwide prominence, Kappa Alpha Psi ® has had a global impact on events which affect our local communities as well as places around the globe. Local chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi participate in com- munity outreach activities to feed the homeless, provide scholarships to young people matriculating to

college, serve as mentors to young men, participate in blood drives and serve as hosts of seminars for public health awareness to name a few. Nationally, Kappa Alpha Psi ® has provided summer enrich- ment camps and provided funds for St. Jude Med- ical Research Center to assist in the fight against childhood catastrophic diseases by raising more than $1 Million. Interna- tionally, Kappa Alpha Psi ® members have answered the call to service by proudly serving our mil- itary in wars since WWI and raising funds to assist those in need following natural disasters around the world, including hurricanes, tornados, ty- phoons and earthquakes. who epitomize the very essence of Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor. Some of these members include: Ralph Abernathy, Wilt Cham- berlin, Montell Jordan, Benjamin Jealous, Oscar Robertson, Cedric the Entertainer, Arthur Ashe, Kappa Alpha Psi ® proudly boasts of members Robert S. Abbott, Bennie Thompson, Donald Byrd, Johnnie Cochran, Ed Gardner, Smokie Norful, John Singleton, Tom Bradley, Bob Johnson, John Conyers, Alcee Hastings, Lerone Ben- nett, Jr., Kwame Jackson, Bill Russell, Tavis Smiley, Marvin Sapp, and Colin Kaepernick to name a few. Mike Tomlin, Gayle Sayers, Adrian Fenty,

The Fraternity would seek to raise the sights of Black youths and stimu- late them to accomplishments higher than might otherwise be realized or even imagined. On January 5, 1911, the Fraternity then became known as Kappa Alpha Nu , possibly as a tribute to the Black students of 1903 (the Alpha Kappa Nu Greek Society) who preceded them at Indiana University. These men of vision decided Kappa Alpha Nu would be more than another social organization. It would be the only Greek-letter organization found- ed with the concept of achievement. Kappa Alpha Nu began uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a Bond of fraternity. Primarily, under the efforts and leadership of the calm, methodical, and philosophical Elder W. Diggs and the critical, and scholarly Byron K. Armstrong, the Kappa Alpha Nu Fraternity was founded. Through their combined labors, the frater- nity’s ritual and ceremonial forms, constitution, hymn and motto were created, and insignia and emblems were fashioned. Taking careful attention to detail and to ensure the fraternity was rooted in authenticity, these Founder Diggs took courses in Greek heraldry and mythology and applied their combined knowledge to the development of these articles. The idealist, John Milton Lee also contributed significantly to the fledg- ling organization. For their works to establish the fraternity, Diggs was named permanent chairman, Lee was designated as secretary and Armstrong as sergeant-at-arms. These three Founders are credited with guiding the infant Fraternity through the most perilous years of its life. Able assistance provided by each of the remaining Founders fur- nished necessary sustenance for the embryonic group. Kappa Alpha Nu became the first incorporated Black

Elder Watson Diggs 1883–1947

Dr. Ezra Dee Alexander 1892–1971

ByronKennethArmstrong 1890–1980

Henry Tourner Asher 1892–1963

Marcus Peter Blakemore 1889–1959

Paul Waymond Caine 1891–1931

George Wesley Edmonds 1890–1962

Guy Levis Grant 1891–1973

Edward Giles Irvin 1893–1982

John Milton Lee 1890–1958

THE OCCASION: WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT CROWN HILL CEMETARY, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

W e are assembled here today to pay homage to our Revered Founders Elder Watson Diggs, Ezra Dee Alexander and Guy Levis Grant as well as our venerable Second Grand Polemarch Irven Armstrong. It is through the extraordinary and visionary efforts of our principal Founder Elder Watson Diggs, that our Noble Klan was formed. Founder Diggs, whom we have affectionately referred to as ‘the Dreamer’, ex- pended much of his finances, time and contemplation to form of our dear fraternity. His soft spoken demeanor, balanced by his unrelenting pursuit for perfection is exemplified in our fundamental purpose. Founder Diggs’ unyielding quest for academic achievement was reflect- ed by him leading by example; being the first African American to re- ceive a degree from Indiana University’s School of Education in 1916. Founder Diggs was supported by an exceptionally proficient cast of men, including native Bloomingtonian Ezra D. Alexander and fellow In- diana Hoosier Guy L. Grant. Both of those Founders contributed might- ily to the establishment and longevity of the fraternity. They further epitomized achievement against all odds by earning their MD and DDS

degrees at Indiana University in 1919 and 1920 respectively.

Our Second Grand Polemarch Irven Armstrong was an iconic figure who served Kappa in various capacities. He led the fraternity as Grand Polemarch while serving the country in WWI. He faithfully contributed and served Kappa for 85 years. We stand on the shoulders of these great men. We join together in the heartland of America, in the state where our fraternity was con- ceived. We have come to lay wreaths at their final resting places to celebrate the lives they lived and as a symbol of the undying spirit of Phi Nu Pi. We give tribute to Founders Diggs, Alexander and Grant and Past Grand Polemarch Armstrong; 22 years after the last of them crossed the River Jordan into the Chapter Invisi- ble. Let us reflect on their journey of achievements and have them to inspire us to accomplish the very best within us. This is the occasion.

—Kevin Scott, Grand Historian

THE OCCASION: WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT CROWN HILL CEMETARY, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

A view from Downtown Philadelphia, PA looking at City Hall. Photo by Michael Hume. P hiladelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love (and Sisterly Af- fection). It is also known for some of the most diverse and historic attractions in the country--some with wide open vistas situated near incredible parks and recreation space. Not too far from the heart of downtown, is the Avenue of the Republic. Along the avenue is Memorial Hall. Accessible by Regional Rail, four bus routes and the Phlash Shuttle, any traveler to the 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting can find himself and his family at the Please Touch Museum. Open seven days and focused on children, the Please Touch Museum features the century-old Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel and two floors of interactive fun. One spring day in May, L. Douglas Harrell (Delta Theta 1977) fresh off of reelection as Polemarch of the Philadelphia (PA) Alumni Chapter the evening before, gathered a group of distinguished brothers—Senior Kappas—for an afternoon celebration. What follows are interviews with the "oldest" Senior Kappa, Tarleton D. Wil- liams (Lambda 1949) with 70 years in the Bond, and one of the "youngest" Senior Kappas The Honorable Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode (Philadelphia (PA) AL 1996).

Nearly 800 years of Kappa Alpha Psi are represented by these 17 brothers on the steps of the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, PA. Opposite page — bottom row, from left: Graynle D. Edwards (Alpha Gamma 1955), Robert E. Murray (Gamma Omega 1954), Tarleton D. Williams (Lambda 1949), Kenneth L. Woodson (Alpha Phi 1967), Alvin Tucker (Delta Zeta 1958). A total of 310 years in Kappa Alpha Psi! Middle row, from left: Junious R. Stanton (Gamma Omega 1966), L. Douglas Harrell, Jr. Polemarch (Delta Theta 1977), W. Wilson Goode, Sr. (Philadelphia (PA) AL 1996), Barrington W. Lessene (Gamma Omega 1966), Melvin E. Garrison (Delta Eta 1969). A total of 221 years in Kappa Alpha Psi! Top row, from left: Darryl Stephens (Gamma Omega 1972), Charles N. Keith, III (Gamma Delta 1968), Rodney Whitmire (Philadelphia (PA) AL 1988), Vernard W. Trent (Wilmington (DE) AL 1976), James E. Andrews (Delta Eta 1970), Dennis B. Butler (Philadelphia (PA) AL 2011), Stanley A. Simpkins (Philadelphia (PA) AL 1980). A total of 266 years in Kappa Alpha Psi!

Grand Polemarch Thomas L. Battles, Jr., seated center, led a delegation to 2322-24-North Broad Street for the Province Flag Dedication held in May 2019. Photo by Justin Tyson.

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