THE BIRTH OF THE FRATERNITY
"The truth may hurt, but it shall set you free" The history of black greek letter organizations are, in fact, interwoven with the history of America. Assuredly, if it has not been for some of the events that transpired in America, the the birth of these minority founded organizations would have taken place much later, if at all. This section is not only about the development of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., but also to give a view of the events that surrounded- and subsequently led, to the beginnings of our beloved fraternity.African Americans were always in an inferior position on America's soil ever since we were forced to arrive. Originally slaves, we were denied the rights given to free born Caucasians. Although our blood has been spilled to found this country, the credit for the framework of America has been given to Freemasonry. The influence of fraternal societies and Freemasonry worked its' way into American culture. Therefore, the first greek-letter organization on American soil was Phi Beta Kappa Society (12/1776- William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA). PBK laid the foundation for honor societies based upon scholarship. Because the founding of subsequent fraternities and sororities failed to fully include African Americans, coupled with the racism we were facing in the school systems, we were left with no alternative. With this spirit within them, the first negro greek organization was founded. Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (now boule') was born in Philadelphia, PA, 1904. Soon after, seven young collegiates succeeded in founding the first negro social fraternity,Alpha Phi Alpha(12/06 Cornell U.). This began the trend of black fraternities and sororities to be founded on American soil- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.(1/08 Howard U.), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.(1/11 Indiana U.), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.(11/11 Howard U.),Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Inc.(1/13 Howard U.),Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity,Inc.(1/9/14 Howard U.), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,Inc. (1/16/20 Howard U.), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.(11/22 Butler U.),Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.(9/63 Morgan State U.). As the idea of Black Greek Organizations became rooted in American colleges, they had lost the ideas they were founded upon, and became, to an extent, exclusive and snobby. Phi Beta Sigma was born to return us to our historic ideas and values.
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index
History of Phi Beta Sigma
History of Zeta Phi Beta
