ZPBSTimes | In Focus

Less Than 20 Questions with The Honorable Brother Marvin "Doc" Cheatham

The Honorable Brother Marvin "Doc" Cheatham is the current National Director of Social Action for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. The interviewer is Bro. Kerry Gilliard.

KG: A lot of younger brothers in the organization may not be familiar with you. Give us a little background on yourself and your office in the Fraternity.

DOC:I became a Sigma on August 1, 1970 on the charter line of Delta Psi with the line name that I gave us "Sardonic Sixteen." God has blessed me with never having been unfinancial nor inactive for 30 consecutive years. I pride myself on the tremendous amount of relationships that I have built with our future leaders. I have held more elective positions (5) in the Eastern Region than anyone and I have served as a voting longer than anyone in the history of the Eastern Region (18 years). I have received the highest award any Sigma can be bestowed the DSC through number 124. I founded Club 100 in the Eastern Region, founded the Regional Director's Advisory Council, co-founded the PBS Award; created all of the following Awards: A. Phillip Randoph Social Action Award; James Weldon Johnson Award, Nnamdi Azikiwe Award, Kwame Nkrumah Award, Eastern Region Parlett Moore & Richard Ballard Education Awards, and the Edgar B. Felton Award. I also founded Project SATAP, SADA, Sigma I.D. Day. I could go on but I won't. In short, I LOVE SIGMA AND HAVE TRIED TO LEAVE MY MARK.

KG: It looks like you have done so, indeed. How's your current term in office been treating you?

Doc: I believe I have been 85% successful. I am displeased with the number of Press Release that were promised to be issued that were not and the broken promises to effectuate certain project that were also not effectuated. Lying and micromanagement must end!

KG:What significant things have you accomplished this time around?

Doc: Glad you asked. First, this is my fourth term as Social Action Director 1987-1989, 1989-1991, 1997-1999 and now 1999-2001. The successes that I can personally take credit for in this this term include the Flood Relief for North Carolina; American Red Cross Blood Drive; Support of the Boycott of the South Carolina Confederate Flag; Flood Relief for Mozambique, Dr. Alain Leroy Locke Stamp Initiative; Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive, etc.

KG: You were regional director when I became a Sigma (5 years of as of April 30th, 2000). What challenges did you face as regional director and what challenges do you face now as National Director of Social Action? How would compare both positions against each other?

Doc: Now you are getting me to tell my age. I was Director for three terms 1994-1997. I remember when you were made and I adopted you as one of my many sons during that period of time. The biggest challenge that I faced as Regional Director was keeping us out of court due to hazing. I had, thank God, NO LAW SUITS WHEN I WAS DIRECTOR! My biggest challenge as Social Action Director is being 80-90% successful with $0.00 in program funding. I literally spend thousands of my own dollars, because we have yet to see the importance of Programs as our Founders did!

Being a Regional Director is great, but it takes it toll on you if you are successful and I was! Social Action Director is a pleasure because I love this position and I wish the members change the constitution and let the best Social Action Director ever continue in this position. Yes, I tell it like it is. I'm straight up!

KG: What can every brother do to help you out in office?

Doc: If brothers would realize that "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity" coupled with Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service are benchmarks for our Programs. We should do all that we can to help and serve others through our Programs as our Founders would want and God expects.

KG: It's Spring- you know neophytes are popping up left and right. What words of wisdom and advice can you pass on to them, this being your 30th year in the frat?

Doc: My first advice is for them to put God in their lives, their hearts, mind, body and spirit. Give more than you receive and be patient.

KG: So what's been the highlight or highlights of that 30 year period?

Doc: DSC and Regional Director were the highlights and through Service, Humanity and working for Sigma.

KG: What is the one significant issue you feel facing the fraternity in the new millenium?

Doc: I think Leadership is and will be our problem!

KG: Really? Could you expound on that for the reading audience ?

Doc: We must first hold leadership accountable which our present representation has failed miserably. We must significantly improve upon the leadership that we select and groom, not train, future leaders, but not with the junk we have called Leadership Conferences! Also, many brothers seem to need a course in Political Science 101 because so many brothers so ignorantly state that they are not political and hate politics, but lie to us and themselves (in the presence of Almight God) because they participate in it and cry like you know what when they lose. I only know of a handful of Sigma's that are not. Politics can be controlled and can be in the best interest of Sigma. I wrote a Position Paper in college, on a similar subject matter and received an A+ and I have issued a similar document within Sigma.

KG: I'm not gonna touch that one with a ten foot paddle. What are you future plans for yourself in Sigma? What's next?

Doc: I have grown weary of the lying and backstabbing. While I would like to be able to serve in a higher capacity, I will most likely retire from elective office in Sigma and just help groom future leaders and serve my chapter.

KG: One issue facing all black greek letter fraternities is the constant 'gap' between 'older' brothers and undergraduate/collegiate brothers. Knowing that you are a known advocate for undergraduates, what are some of your solutions to bridging this gap?

Doc: Alumni brothers must try harder to understand our future leaders. Collegiate brothers should consider adopting some of the elders. Though I may be one of the hardest critics, I am also one of the strongest supporters of collegiate brothers. There will always be a divide, we just need to work on not letting it get too wide. Programs are an excellent vehicle to help us to work with one another and better understand each other.

KG: Thanks for the interview, Doc! To wrap up, what words would you like to leave the reading audience with?

Doc: First is my personal motto: Be Concerned, Get Involved & Stay Committed. More important is a quote from Hon. Bro. George Washington Carver, in part - It's not the style of clothes one wears, nor the type of automobile one drives, nor is it the amount of money one has in the bank that count. These things mean nothing - IT IS SERVICE THAT MEASURE SUCCESS!!!

KG: Thanks for your help and encouragement on the Times, Doc!

You can visit the National Director of Social Action's website at http://www.afamerica.com/sigma .
Doc currently has 8 large e-mailing lists of Brothers across the globe. If you are not on any of his distribution lists, please e-mail him at pbsdsc124@webtv.net and request to be added. Doc regularly sends out information on current events in Sigma, service projects, employment information and much more.