Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. Fraternal Luncheon – September 30, 2023 Jackson, Ms.
OH, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS —- TO BE HERE IN THE HOUSE WITH MY GOOD
ALPHA BROTHERS ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!
AND WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS FOR ME TO SERVE AS SPEAKER FOR TODAY’S
FRATERNAL LUNCHEON.
FIRST, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LEADERSHIP. REGIONAL VP BROTHER
CECIL HOWARD; DISTRICT DIRECTOR BROTHER DR. JEFFREY KNIGHT, AND
ALL OTHER AREA DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT.
TO MY BROTHERS OF THE RHO XI LAMBDA CHAPTER, SEATED IN CANTON,
MS., THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR SUPPORT.
I CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE AND I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED TO SPEAK TO MY
BROTHERS OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. THIS AFTERNOON.
I AM INDEED HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY, AT THIS HOUR, ON THIS DATE, IN
THESE TIMES, BECAUSE AS AN ALPHA MAN I WELCOME THIS POSITION OF
RESPONSIBILITY.
OUR FOUNDERS WERE VISIONARY AND HAD MANY GOALS FOR OUR
ILLUSTROUS FRATERNITY. SERVICE AND ADVOCACY HAVE BEEN CENTRAL
TO OUR FRATERNITY SINCE DECEMBER 4, 1906. ALPHA PHI ALPHA HAS
ALWAYS SUPPLIED VOICE AND VISION TO THE STRUGGLE OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR BROTHER REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. STATED LONG AGO THAT
THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN
MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT
TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.
MY HERO BRO. JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, WOULD
BE TREATED IN AN EQUAL AND FAIR MANNER.
SO, IN RECOGNIZING OUR THEME TODAY, “RECLAIMING JUSTICE:
EMPOWERING VOICES IN THE WAKE OF CHANGE” ” LET ME SAY THAT
THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT WE CAN DISCUSS TODAY. WE HAVE SO
MANY STRUGGLES; THERE ARE MANY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WE
HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. THERE ARE MANY TRIALS AND
TRIBULATIONS OUR FOUNDERS AND ANCESTORS EXPERIENCED. AND IN
SPITE OF THOSE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO
MUCH AS A RACE OF PEOPLE.
BROTHERS, I AM ALSO REMINDED OF MY STRUGGLES FOR SUCCESS AND
HOW I AM CONTINUING TO STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF BROTHER DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR; MEDGAR EVERS, AND MANY OTHERS.
BECAUSE OF OUR ANCESTORS, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AS A
RACE OF PEOPLE. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS.
BUT WE HAVE TO RECLAIM JUSTICE AND WE HAVE TO EMPOWER VOICES IN
THE WAKE OF CHANGE. ALPHA PHI ALPHA HAS TO BE THAT VOICE IN THE
WAKE OF CHANGE.
WE HAVE HAD MANY RECENT GOVERNMENTAL ATTACKS ON AFRICAN
AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY. THE ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION; THE FAILURE TO ACCEPT FULL MEDICAID
EXPANSION SO THAT OUR PEOPLE CAN RECEIVE THE HEALTH CARE THEY
SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVE; THE ATTEMPT TO STOP AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY FROM BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS; AND RIGHT HERE IN
JACKSON THE ATTEMPT TO TAKE AWAY THE CITIZENS’ CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO ELECT JUDGES. THE LIST IS EVEN LONGER, AND THE ATTACKS
ARE NUMEROUS, BUT WE HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE
ATTACKS.
AGAIN, ALPHA PHI ALPHA MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF CREATING
CHANGE AND DEVELOPING A SOLUTION TO RESPOND TO THESE NUMEROUS
AND UNFORTUNATE ATTACKS.
BROTHER DR. W.E.B. DUBOIS STATED “NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME, NOT
TOMORROW, NOT SOME MORE CONVENIENT SEASON. IT IS TODAY THAT
OUR BEST WORK CAN BE DONE AND NOT SOME FUTURE DAY OR FUTURE
YEAR.”
SO, AS BRO. DUBOIS SAID, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW.
FIRST, WE MUST SPEAK UP, WE MUST RESPOND IN OPPOSITION; WE MUST
LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.
WHEN THEY SAY GET RID OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, WE MUST STAND WITH
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OF GOODWILL AND OPPOSE THE ABOLISHMENT OF
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.
WHEN THEY SAY WE SHOULD NOT TEACH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN
OUR SCHOOLS, WE SHOULD SPEAK OUT AS LOUDLY AS BROTHER DR. MLK
AND PROTEST THAT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SUCCESS IS PROFOUNDLY
GROUNDED IN THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IF NOT FOR MEDGAR EVERS, NAT TURNER, HARRIET TUBMAN, ROSA PARKS,
MALCOLM X AND MANY OTHER BOLD AND COURAGEOUS WARRIORS, WE
WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. SO OUR CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW OUR
HISTORY AND WE HAVE TO DEMAND THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT
OUR HISTORY IN SCHOOL.
WE HAVE TO BE EMPOWERED BY OUR FOUNDERS AND OUR ANCESTORS.
WE HAVE TO BE STRONG AND COMMITTED JUST LIKE OUR FOUNDERS AND
OUR ANCESTORS. AND WE HAVE TO RELY UPON OUR FAITH TO DEAL WITH
THESE PROBLEMS.
AGAIN, I MUST SAY THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
PROGRESS IN THE AREA OF RACE RELATIONS. THINGS ARE NOT THE WAY
THEY WERE SOME 50 YEARS AGO.
YET THINGS ARE NOT FULLY THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE.
BUT AS WE DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, LET ME DIGRESS FOR A MOMENT AND
BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT A TRAGEDY HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ALPHA PHI ALPHA DOES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK WITH OUR
YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES. BUT WE MUST DO MORE. WE ARE
LOSING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EVERY DAY —— TO THE JAILS AND TO
MURDER.
SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FILLED WITH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SOME OF OUR JAILS HAVE MORE YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES
THAN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CHURCHES.
SO THAT LEADS TO THE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE FIX THE PROBLEM?
HOW WOULD OUR FOUNDERS AND OUR ANCESTORS ATTEMPT TO SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM?
IT IS IMPERATIVE WE FIND WAYS TO KEEP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOL,
RATHER THAN IN JAIL. WE MUST TRY TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE LOVE AND EMBRACE ONE ANOTHER MORE.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN NOT OBTAIN SUCCESS ALONE. IF WE ARE TO
HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GROW UP TO BE LIKE MLK, THURGOOD
MARSHALL, MEDGAR EVERS, AND BARACK OBAMA, THEN IT WILL BE UP TO
US TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THEM LIKE MANY OTHERS LAID THE
FOUNDATION FOR US.
IN MY ROLE AS CIRCUIT JUDGE HERE IN OUR CAPITAL CITY, I HAVE THE
AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESIDE OVER CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURT.
WHAT IS SO DISHEARTENING ABOUT MY ROLE AS A JUDGE ARE THE
CRIMINAL MATTERS THAT COME BEFORE MY COURT. MANY, MANY YOUNG
AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES COME BEFORE ME CHARGED WITH VERY
SERIOUS CRIMES AND ARE SENTENCED PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF OUR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT IS A SAD, SAD PROCESS BECAUSE WHEN I
AM RENDERING THOSE SENTENCES, I AM ACUTELY AWARE THAT SOME OF
OUR PRISONS AND JAILS HAVE MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES THAN
OUR CHURCHES AND OUR SCHOOLS.
WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM AND HOW WE CAN KEEP OUR YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES
OUT OF JAIL AND MAKE THEM PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.
WHAT MUST WE DO AS ALPHA MEN TO FIX THE PROBLEM? THAT IS INDEED
A VERY TOUGH QUESTION. A VERY TOUGH QUESTION.
I SEE MANY EXAMPLES EACH AND EVERY DAY WHERE OUR CHILDREN AND
YOUNG FOLK ARE BEING DESTROYED.
IN MY COURT, I PRESIDE OVER MATTERS WHERE INDIVIDUALS OVER THE
AGE OF 17 ARE CHARGED WITH FELONY CRIMES. FAR TOO OFTEN, I
PRESIDE OVER MATTERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 17 BECAUSE
THEY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME OF VIOLENCE AND ARE CHARGED AS AN
ADULT.
DR. KING DID NOT DREAM OF, NOR COULD HE HAVE EVER IMAGINED A 14
YEAR-OLD CHILD CHARGED WITH MURDER, WITH ARMED ROBBERY OR
WITH CARJACKING.
THE COMMON FACTOR IS:
POVERTY; DRUG ADDICTION; LACK OF AN EDUCATION; NO FAMILY
SUPPORT; NEVER MET THEIR FATHER; SOME INDIVIDUALS SIMPLY NOT
KNOWING RIGHT FROM WRONG.
WE MUST ATTEMPT TO FIND WAYS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. OUR PAST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS WOULD WANT US TO SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS.
HOPEFULLY, OUR ROLES AS ALPHA MEN CAN BE A SHINING EXAMPLE FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY CAN OVERCOME MANY
OBSTACLES.
TO SHOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT IF THEY WORK HARD, THEY CAN GROW
UP TO BECOME WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BE.
AND TO SHOW OUR YOUTH THAT IF YOU HAVE FAITH, YOU CAN SUCCEED.
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET
INTO TROUBLE.
WHEN A YOUNG PERSON HAS THE BASIC NECESSITIES IN LIFE, SUCH AS
FOOD, CLOTHING, A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET
IN TROUBLE.
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS SHOWING AN INTEREST IN
THEM AND TRYING TO MOTIVATE THEM, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET IN
TROUBLE.
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE LOVED, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO
GET IN TROUBLE.
MY BROTHERS, ALPHA MEN, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO MENTOR, EDUCATE AND TEACH OUR YOUNG
MALES THAT IT IS COOL TO BE SMART. THAT IT IS COOL TO DO THE RIGHT
THING.
WE HAVE TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE DO THE
RIGHT THING BECAUSE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE EXAMPLES
OF HOW TO ACT IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.
I AM GETTING READY TO SIT DOWN IN A MINUTE, BUT LET ME SAY
SOMETHING ALL OF YOU ALREADY KNOW. ALPHA MEN DO A LOT OF WORK
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT
WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
WE MUST NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO MENTOR AND WORK WITH YOUNG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES, BUT WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO
ABOLISH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ALPHA PHI ALPA MUST SPEAK OUT IN
OPPOSITION.
WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO HIDE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY FROM OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ALPHA PHI ALPHA MUST SPEAK OUT IN
OPPOSITION.
WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT IS DERELICT IN ITS DUTY TO FULLY EXPAND
MEDICAID, ALPHA PHI ALPHA MUST SPEAK OUT IN OPPOSITION.
YES, MY GOOD ALPHA BROTHERS, WE MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
CHANGE. WE MUST ALWAYS BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE; AND
WE MUST EMPOWER OTHERS TO BE STRONG ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE.
PLEASE RECALL THAT SERVICE AND ADVOCACY HAS ALWAYS BEEN
CENTRAL TO OUR DEAR FRATERNITY.
AGAIN, LET ME SAY THAT AS ALPHA MEN, WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK. BUT WE HAVE TO DO
MORE; MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE. BECAUSE “FIRST OF ALL, SERVANTS
OF ALL, WE SHALL TRANSCEND ALL.” SO WE HAVE TO DO MORE THAN
EVERYONE ELSE. WE HAVE TO DO IT BETTER THAN EVERYONE. WE HAVE
TO BE THE TRENDSETTER. WE HAVE TO SET HIGH STANDARDS.
I THANK GOD FOR OCCASIONS LIKE TODAY WHERE WE UTILIZE MOMENTS
LIKE THIS TO CELEBRATE THE GOOD OF OUR DEAR FRATERNITY AND TO
REFLECT ON HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR SOCIETY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL.
BROTHERS, WE MUST BE INSPIRED TO DO MORE; WE MUST INSPIRE OUR
BROTHERS TO DO MORE. WE MUST BE MOTIVATED AND WE MUST HAVE
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE TASKS WE FACE AHEAD. AND THE POEM “INVICTUS”
GIVES US MOTIVATION AND ENTHUSIASM.
BROTHERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND MAY GOD
BLESS YOU ALL. 06
BY AN ANONYMOUS BROTHER