Brother Les Matthews
Psi Chapter, Clark Atlanta University
I write this article to my Brothers and Sisters fresh from Conclave '97. I would first like to say to those of you who attended G.O.M.A.B, and for those of you who did not attend, you missed something powerful. With all of the talk of eliminating undergraduate intake, and the so called liabilities that undergrads represent for their organizations it is time to wake up and empower ourselves. We are the future of this grand organization, and we need to have more of a say in our future. You have all heard that power comes in numbers, and that is exactly what we have as undergrads, we have the numbers, but if we are not financial the numbers count for nothing.
Think back to the time that you came became a Sigma or a Zeta or any greek letter organization at that. I was like a proud father with visions for the future. I promised to dedicate my life and time to nurturing and assuring the growth and stability of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. I refuse to stand by and let my passion be taken away from me because individuals do not want to be accountable for their actions. We all know that within every organization there are renegade T-shirt wearers that walk around with a paddle in hand trying to hurt as many people as they can. We need to stand up to these individuals and stop them from killing our credibility. As we move into a new century we have many challenges ahead of us as African-Americans, and as leaders in our communities, we the greeks need to band together for the cause. I say this because we all know that the world that surrounds us is in a state of emergency and blacks are worse off now than we have been in years. We walk around with our letters pasted to our puffed out chest, and we represent the best way we know how. I know that my love for Sigma may be equaled, but it cannot be surpassed. However I must remember why I wanted to be a Sigma. Yes I wanted to wear those letters, but more than that I saw it as a vehicle to do work, and isn't that what are Fraternities and Sororities are here for; TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY!!!!! If we are not doing that, then everything else we do is all for nothing.
As I said earlier, we are the future leaders of our perspective organizations, and we need to step up and lead, but we need not wait for the future. However, we cannot lead if we are not in a position to anoint our leaders of the future. I have much respect for the older members of my organization, for without them, I would not be here. They have led us well and continue to do so, but why do our brother have to wait until they are middle aged to get into a position to lead.
I say they don't.
Collegiates make up the most of our organizations, but yet we have the least power!! That can all be changed by living up to your commitment and paying your dues. I say that if undergraduate intake stops, black Greek letter organizations will die. We are the heart and the soul of our organizations. We were all started as undergraduate chapters and it will be as undergraduate chapters that we will move forth into the future. So it is with these preceding words that I send out a challenge. A challenge to my collegiate brothers and sisters to become financial if you are not, because if we are not financial we are only t-shirt wearers. A challenge to accomplish and to strive for the community. A challenge to hold accountable the renegades who are trying to discredit our grand organizations.
To my Distinguished Alumni brothers and sisters I send out a challenge to support and nurture the collegians. Show us how to lead, and stand by our sides not in front of us. We are all facing the same future, and we must come together to assure that it is a bright one. Empowerment is the key to defining that future, not only within our organizations, but also within our communities. We can make a future for ourselves or we can let someone else make it. With that I leave you with the immortal words of the Most Honorable A.M. Walker:
"I believe in all that Phi Beta Sigma represents, and I will herald and defend it, even against the world."
E-mail:lmatthew@tri.com