Sigma Pi Phi

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Sigma Pi Phi is generally considered to be the first African-American Greek-letter organization. Sigma Pi Phi was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1904.[1] The founders included two doctors, a dentist and a physician [2] . They were Henry McKee Minton, Dr. Algernon B. Jackson, Dr. Edwin C. Howard and Dr. Richard J. Warrick. When Sigma Pi Phi was founded, black professionals were not offered participation in the professional and cultural associations organized by the white community. [3] Sigma Pi Phi has over 5,000 members and 112 chapters Throughout the United States and the West Indies.^[1]

Members of Sigma Pi Phi have provided leadership and service during the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and addressed social issues such as urban housing, and other economic, cultural, and political issues affecting people of color.

1 Membership
2 Famous members
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Membership

Membership to Sigma Pi Phi is exclusive [4]. It is often called "the boule," which means "a council of noblemen." [5] Founded as an organization for professionals, Sigma Pi Phi never established college chapters, and eliminated undergraduate membership during its infant stages. [6]. However, Sigma Pi Phi has historically had a congenial relationship with college Black Greek-Letter Organizations, as many members of Sigma Pi Phi are members of them both.^{[citation needed]} Sigma founder Henry McKee Minton and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were both members of Alpha Phi Alpha, while Arthur Ashe was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. Vernon Jordan is a member of Omega Psi Phi.

[edit] Famous members

Members of Sigma Pi Phi include co-founder of the NAACP [7] W. E. B. Du Bois, former United Nations Ambassador Ralph Bunche, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder, American Express President Kenneth Chenault, Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King, Jr., Bobby Scott, Ken Blackwell, Ron Brown, Vernon Jordan, Arthur Ashe, Mel Watt^[2], and Hank Aaron.^[3] Numerous other American leaders are among the men who have adopted the fraternity’s purpose of "creating a forum wherein they could pursue social and intellectual activities in the company of peers." [8]

[edit] References

^ University at Albany, SUNY (April 25, 2002). Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Supports Scholarships for UAlbany Students. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
^ Watt, Mel (February 28, 2006). "Honoring Black History Month". Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
^ Lavelle, Lydia E., Senator Leroy R. Johnson '57 - Our "Georgia Peach", North Carolina Central University, 2002.