Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

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Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service. Its motto is "Culture for Service, Service for Humanity."

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is also the only fraternal organization constitutionally bound with a sorority. In 1920, with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, was formed.

Members of Phi Beta Sigma include:

  • Bro. Nnamdi Azikiwe: Past President, Nigeria
  • Bro. Ben Brown: Deputy. Dir. of Democratic Party
  • Bro. Benjamin Chavis: Organizer, Million Man March
  • Hon. Bro. Terry L. Clark: First African American Judge of the 70th District Court of Saginaw, Michigan.
  • Bro. Major Milton Dean: Colored Troupe Commander World War I. One of three Negro Officers of this rank in the U. S. Army.
  • Bro. Dr. Melvin Evans: Governor and Congressman of the U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Bro. Lafayette McKeene Hershaw: One of the twenty-nine founders of the Niagara movement, the forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • Bro. Dr. Georg Iggers: A German born native and possibly the first white member initiated into Phi Beta Sigma. Dr. Iggers was also instrumental in the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.
  • Bro. Hulan Jack: First black borough President of Manhattan New York
  • Bro. Dr. Joseph H. Jackson: Religious leader and Former President of the six million member National Baptist Convention, USA. ( largest black organization in the world).
  • Bro. Fleming Jones, Jr.: First black Democratic member of West Virginia House of Delegates from 1935-1941 and 1945-1947
  • Bro. John Lewis: U.S. Congressman & Civil Rights Activist
  • Hon. Bro. Daniel Lewis: State of New York, Queens County Supreme Court Judge
  • Hon. Bro. Arthur W Mitchell: First African American Democrat elected to the U.S Congress, 6th Past National President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Served longer than any other President (1925-1934)
  • Bro. Huey P. Newton: Co-founder, Black Panther Party
  • Bro. Kwame Nkurumah: Past President, Ghana
  • Hon. Bro. Morris Overstreet: First African-American elected by popular vote to a statewide office in the history of Texas. First African American to sit on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Bro. George A. Parker: Dean of the Terrell School of Law, and the 1964 Republican National Convention Delegate to San Francisco, who on National TV, publicly challenged Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater on his record for civil rights. Past National President of Sigma
  • Bro. A. Philip Randolph: Founder, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
  • Hon. Bro. Robert H. Terrell: First black Municipal Judge in Washington, DC
  • Bro. William Tolbert: Past President, Liberia
  • Bro. Edolphus Townes: U.S. Congressman
  • Bro. Harold Washington: First Black Mayor of Chicago
  • Bro. Armstrong Williams: Syndicated Columnist and Political Talk Show Pundit
  • Bro. Major General Bennie Williams: Commanding General, 21st Theater Support Command
  • Bro. Hosea Williams: Civil Rights Activist
  • Bro. Herman Williams, Jr.: 1st Black fire chief of Baltimore Maryland and a major U.S city. Father of famed talk show host Montel Williams
  • HON Bro Alexander Wright, Jr.: Associate Judge, Baltimore County Circuit Court, 3rd Judicial Circuit
  • Bro. George Washington Carver: World Famous Scientist
  • Bro. James Weldon Johnson: Author, Black National Anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
  • Bro. Rod Paige: First Black U.S. Secretary of Education, Bush Administration (2000-2004)