This submit was initially printed on The Washington Informer
By James Wright Jr.
Louis Williams, a member of the Colorado Spring, Colorado alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., is concerned by what’s going on politically within the nation and desires to play a task to get extra Black males voting and within the political course of.
Williams, 30, flew from Colorado to the District to take part within the third annual Nationwide Panhellenic Council Fraternity Days on the Hill, with programming primarily happening on the Salamander Washington DC in Southwest.
“I got here right here to see what we plan to do from a broad perspective,” he mentioned. “We’re on the point of the destruction of democracy.”
Williams’s fraternity management was joined by leaders and members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta on the convention. In the course of the convening, which befell from March 10-12, members listened to audio system on how Black Greek fraternities can work collectively to extend African American male voter turnout.
The Black Male Vote
The convention befell as information has emerged that this yr Black folks might not be as smitten by President Biden versus 2020.
A New York Occasions-Siena ballot in late October discovered that 22% of Black voters in six battleground states, together with the important thing swing state of Michigan, would vote to re-elect President Trump whereas 71% mentioned they might help Biden. Biden gained 92% of the Black vote in 2020, in accordance with the Pew Analysis Middle.
A Pew voter examine revealed Black males are extra probably than Black ladies to vote for Republicans. In 2016, 14% of Black males voted for Trump, in contrast with 4% of Black ladies. In 2020, Pew reported 12% supported Trump, in contrast with 5% of Black ladies.
Black Frats Unite
On the voter rally that occurred on March 12, leaders of the fraternities have been unanimous within the want for Black males to go to the polls all year long.
“We have to embrace the fact we face,” mentioned Dr. Willis Lonzer, normal president of Alpha Phi Alpha, on the position Black males are taking part in in getting out the vote. “We’re coping with apathy. We aren’t carrying our weight.”
Lonzer mentioned the Black fraternities coming collectively and tapping into their distinctive, collective energy is vital.
“We can not do what the sororities do,” he mentioned. “They’re engineered in a different way from us. They’re going to do what they do. We have to embrace our position as Black males.”
Lonzer mentioned every of the fraternities has some kind of voter registration and schooling marketing campaign. Alpha Phi Alpha’s marketing campaign is “A Voteless Individuals is a Hopeless Individuals.”
“We have to coordinate our totally different campaigns, so we’re not stepping on each other,” he mentioned.
Richard B. Mattox serves because the Japanese Province polemarch for Kappa Alpha Psi. Mattox famous that Trump as soon as mentioned he would “be a dictator for a day” and referenced a quote from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie saying, in essence, that Trump would droop elements of the Structure if reelected.
“The Structure comprises the thirteenth Modification, the 14th Modification and the fifteenth Modification,” Mattox mentioned. “If that occurs, slavery can be authorized. You’re a slave once more.”
Mattox mentioned the Black fraternities have the instruments to tell folks concerning the penalties of election and “we now have to return and inform the story.”
Mark E. Jackson is the primary grand vice basileus for Omega Psi Phi. Whereas he complimented the Black fraternities coming collectively, he mentioned he wished there had been higher communication concerning the occasion happening.
“Subsequent yr, we must always have actions at Howard College and on the College of the District of Columbia,” Jackson, 57, mentioned. “We also needs to contain the excessive faculties on this metropolis.”
Jackson really useful the members method their religion leaders and “ask for 5 minutes to speak concerning the significance of voting and to move out info.”
Sherard Cooley is an energetic member of Alpha chapters within the D.C. metropolitan space. Cooley, 43, gave the convention excessive marks.
“It’s nice to see the Divine 9 fraternities collectively,” Cooley mentioned. “More often than not, we’re depicted going in opposition to one another. However we try to work collectively.”
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