By DaQuan Lawrence, AFRO Worldwide Author, DLawrence@afro.com
Because the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (MOW) returned to the nation’s capital for its sixtieth anniversary, fraternities within the Nationwide Pan-Hellenic Council (NHPC), a gaggle of 9 historic Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs ; D9) adamantly referred to as for social justice.
“The lads of Alpha stand aligned with the opposite D9 presidents and D9 organizations to be sure that we increase the extent of consciousness in America and all over the world, that fairness and equality are essential components of excellent citizenship,” Dr. Willis L. Lonzer III, normal president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, stated to the gang gathered on the Lincoln Memorial.
“Very similar to our good brother Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the lads of Alpha have arrived to boost the conscience of the USA,” Lonzer defined.
King is a broadly recognized brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, who joined the group in 1952 as a member of the Sigma Chapter for the Boston Metropolitan space. He moved to town as a graduate pupil and finally earned his Ph.D in theology at Boston College.
King would go on to change into one of the crucial influential religion and civil rights leaders on the planet, setting an instance for a lot of to return after him. All through the day on Aug. 26, 2023, audio system on the sixtieth anniversary of the March on Washington invoked King’s identify and implored attendees to push for the rights King advocated for till his demise.
“As we go away you right this moment, we proceed to carry on to the torch of enlightenment and empowerment as we transfer ahead as residents on this nation,” Lonzer stated.
Through the occasion, individuals from all walks of life and across the nation heard from varied audio system and a number of other organizations that addressed the significance of human rights and civil liberties for Black Individuals and different marginalized communities.
Whereas most of the attendees on the 2023 March on Washington consider the event is important, the recurring theme from a lot of America’s Black fraternities was that Black Individuals are marching for rights and justice wanted six many years in the past.
“Actually, there isn’t a query that we’re nonetheless marching for a similar issues,” Robert L. Jenkins Jr. Esq., senior grand vice-polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, advised the AFRO.
“Sadly, most of the struggles and points that we had been confronted with 60 years in the past, we nonetheless cope with right this moment,” Jenkins Jr. defined.
The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity had been additionally current on the march, and expressed their discontent with the social, political and financial situations Black Individuals expertise within the U.S.
“On this very spot, a person by the identify of A. Phillip Randolph [one of the] authentic organizers of the March on Washington in 1963, a Phi Beta Sigma man as soon as stated ‘we will return to Washington time and again till freedom is ours,” Chris Rey, the worldwide president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, stated throughout his remarks to the Lincoln Memorial crowd.
“[Congressman] John Lewis, a Phi Beta Sigma man as soon as stated ‘American politics is dominated by politicians who construct their careers on immoral compromise and ally themselves with political, financial and social exploitation…’,” Rey stated throughout his remarks.
Rey, the president of Barber-Scotia Faculty, a non-public traditionally Black faculty and college (HBCU) in Harmony, Nc, additionally referred to as consideration to the significance of the nation’s HBCUs throughout his remarks.
“Traditionally Black faculties and universities matter, they may all the time matter. Till this nation acknowledges the contributions of the melting pot we name humanity, we’ll march and protest as a result of this isn’t the wrestle of the day or month, it’s the wrestle of a lifetime,” Rey declared.
Persevering with the requires social justice, different fraternities additionally echoed this sentiment.
“As we glance again on the footsteps which have walked these very streets we can’t assist however draw inspiration from the pioneers of the Civil Rights Motion together with…our personal beloved fraternity brother, Brother Bayard Rustin” First Vice Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Mark E. Jackson spoke forward of the anniversary march.
“Right this moment is a name to motion. The combat for civil rights, justice and equality isn’t a spectator sport. We want all fingers on deck if we’re going to transfer the needle of social justice,” Jackson stated to the attendees on the morning of the march.
Jenkins additionally emphasised the significance of unity amongst Black Individuals throughout his remarks.
“The necessity nonetheless stays the identical and the wrestle continues…We should always draw from our historical past…as we go away right here right this moment, we’d like all people, teams and organizations right here right this moment to construct partnerships,” Jenkins Jr. advised the Washington D.C. crowd.
The brothers of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity shared a profound and shifting message with march attendees.
“Like this march, Iota Phi Theta is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this 12 months,” stated Walter Fields, the chairman for Brown and Gold PAC, the nationwide political motion committee of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
“Our brotherhood was based only one month after the 1963 March on Washington, and 4 days after 4 little Black ladies had been murdered within the bombing of the sixteenth Road Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama,” stated Fields.
The sixteenth Road Baptist Church bombing is now often known as an act of terrorism espoused by perpetrators who had been racist White supremacists. Eleven-year-old Carol Denise McNair and 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson had been killed throughout the bombing.
“We’re the fraternal expression of the Civil Rights Motion,” Fields stated, of his group. “What we do right this moment is essential and symbolic, however the query is: what is going to you do tomorrow whenever you return dwelling?”
