Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi
ΩΨΦ
Founded	November 17, 1911 (1911-11-17) Howard University
Type	Social
Emphasis	Service
Scope	International
Motto	Friendship is Essential to the Soul
Colors	Royal Purple      Old Gold
Symbol	Lamp
Publication	Oracle
Chapters	750+
Nickname	Omegas, Sons of Blood and Thunder, Omega Men, Da Bruhz, Ques, Que Dogs
Headquarters	3951 Snapfinger Parkway Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
Homepage	Omega Psi Phi Fraternity website

Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) is an international fraternity with over 750 undergraduate and graduate chapters. The fraternity was founded on November 17, 1911 by three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman, and their faculty adviser, Dr. Ernest Everett Just. Omega Psi Phi is the first predominantly African-American fraternity to be founded at a historically black university.^[1]

History

Since its founding in 1911, Omega Psi Phi's stated purpose has been to attract and build a strong and effective force of men dedicated to its Cardinal Principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. Throughout the world, many notable members are recognized as leaders in the arts, academics, athletics, entertainment, business, civil rights, education, government, and science fields. A few notable members include Roy Wilkins, Benjamin Hooks, Vernon Jordan, Dr. Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr., Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Dr. Mack King Carter, William H. Hastie (U.S. Virgin Islands) and L. Douglas Wilder, Representative James Clyburn, Earl Graves, Bill Cosby, Tom Joyner, Charles Bolden, Ronald McNair, General William "Kip" Ward, Michael Jordan, Rayvon Walker, Shaquille O'Neal, Langston Hughes, Shammond Williams, Vince Carter, Steve Harvey, Rickey Smiley, Lieutenant Colonel Maury Williams, Ray Lewis, Stephen A. Smith, and numerous presidents of colleges and universities. Over 250,000 men have been initiated into Omega Psi Phi throughout the United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, South Korea, Japan, Liberia, Germany, and Kuwait.^[1] On the 2013 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, six players and GM Ozzie Newsome are members.^[2]

In 1924, at the urging of fraternity member Carter G. Woodson, the fraternity launched Negro History and Literature Week in an effort to publicize the growing body of scholarship on African-American history.^[3] Encouraged by public interest, the event was renamed "Negro Achievement Week" in 1925 and given an expanded national presence in 1926 by Woodson's Association for the Study of Negro Life as "Negro History Week."^[3] Expanded to the full month of February from 1976, this event continues today as Black History Month.

Since 1945, the fraternity has undertaken a National Social Action Program to meet the needs of African Americans in the areas of health, housing, civil rights, and education. Omega Psi Phi has been a patron of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) since 1955, providing an annual gift of $350,000 to the program.

Omega Psi Phi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which is composed of nine predominately African-American Greek-letter sororities and fraternities that promote interaction through forums, meetings, and other media for the exchange of information, and engage in cooperative programming and initiatives throughout the world. The (NPHC) currently represents over 2.5 million members.^[4]

Centennial Celebration

Omega Psi Phi celebrated its centennial during the week of July 27–31, 2011 in Washington D.C., becoming distinguished as only the third African-American collegiate fraternity to reach the century mark.^[4] The Centennial Celebration recognized the impact of the Fraternity in communities over the past 100 years, honored Omega Men for achievement in all walks of life, reiterated Omega Psi Phi's commitment to providing unparalleled community service and scholarship, and charted the Fraternity's future activities.

Internationally Mandated Programs

Each Chapter administers Internationally Mandated Programs every year:^[5]

Achievement Week – A week in November that seeks to recognize individuals who have made notable contributions to society. During the Achievement Week, a High School Essay Contest is held and the winner usually receives a scholarship award.

Scholarship – The Charles R. Drew Scholarship Program is to encourage academic progress among the organizations undergraduate members. A portion of the fraternity's budget is designated for the Charles R. Drew Scholarship Commission, which awards scholarships to members and non-members.

Social Action Programs – All chapters are required to participate in programs that uplift their society. Many participate in activities like: voter registration, illiteracy programs, mentoring programs, fundraisers, and charitable organizations such as American Diabetes Association, United Way, and the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation.

Talent Hunt Program – Each chapter is required to hold a yearly talent contest, to encourage young people to expose themselves to the Performing Arts. Individuals who win these talent contests receive an award, such as a scholarship.

Memorial Service – March 12 is Omega Psi Phi Memorial Day. Every chapter of the Fraternity performs a ritualistic memorial service to remember members who have died.

Reclamation and Retention – This program is an effort to encourage inactive members to become fully active and participate in the fraternity's programs.

College Endowment Funds – The fraternity donates thousands of dollars to Historically Black Colleges and Universities each year.

Health Initiatives – Chapters are required to coordinate programs that will encourage good health practices. Programs that members involve themselves in include HIV/AIDS awareness, blood drives, prostate cancer awareness, and sickle cell anemia awareness programs.

Voter Registration, Education and Motivation – Coordination activities that promote voter registration and mobilization.

NAACP – A Life Membership at Large in the NAACP is required by all chapters and districts.^[6]

Membership

Omega Psi Phi recognizes undergraduate and graduate membership. College students must be working toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution, have at least 36 semester credits, and maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average. For the graduate chapter, an applicant must already possess a bachelor's degree.^[7] The fraternity grants honorary membership to men who have contributed to society in a positive way on a national or international level. For example, Charles Young (March 12, 1864 – January 2, 1922) was the third African American graduate of West Point, the first black U.S. national park superintendent, the first African American military attaché, and the highest ranking black officer (Colonel) in the United States Army until his death in 1922.

National Pan-Hellenic Council membership

In 1930, Omega Psi Phi became one of 5 founding members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Today, the NPHC is composed of nine international black Greek-letter sororities and fraternities and promotes interaction through forums, meetings, and other mediums for the exchange of information, and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.^[8]

Grand Basilei

Name	Order	Time in Office	Ref.
Edgar Amos Love	1st Grand Basileus	1911–1912	[9][10]
Oscar J. Cooper	2nd Grand Basileus	1912–1913	[9][10]
Edgar Amos Love	3rd Grand Basileus	1913–1915	[9][10]
George E. Hall	4th Grand Basileus	1915–1916	[9][10]
James C. McMorries	5th Grand Basileus	1916–1917	[9][10]
Clarence F. Holmes	6th Grand Basileus	1917–1918	[9][10][11]
Raymond G. Robinson	7th Grand Basileus	1918–1920	[9][10][12]
Harold H. Thomas	8th Grand Basileus	1920–1921	[9][10]
J. Alston Atkins	9th Grand Basileus	1921–1924	[10][13][14]
John W. Love	10th Grand Basileus	1924[a]	[10]
George L. Vaughn	11th Grand Basileus	1924–1926	[10][13]
Julius S. McClain	12th Grand Basileus	1926–1929	[10][12][15]
Matthew W. Bullock	13th Grand Basileus	1929–1932	[10]
Lawrence A. Oxley	14th Grand Basileus	1932–1935	[10][16]
William Baugh	15th Grand Basileus	1935–1937	[10][17]
Albert W. Dent	16th Grand Basileus	1937–1940	[10][17]
Z. Alexander Looby	17th Grand Basileus	1940–1945	[10][13][18]
Campbell C. Johnson	18th Grand Basileus	1945–1947	[10]
Harry T. Penn	19th Grand Basileus	1947–1949	[10]
Milo C. Murray	20th Grand Basileus	1949–1951	[10]
Grant Reynolds	21st Grand Basileus	1951–1953	[10][13][19]
John F. Potts	22nd Grand Basileus	1953–1955	[10][20][21]
Herbert E. Tucker, Jr.	23rd Grand Basileus	1955–1958	[10][22]
I. Gregory Newton	24th Grand Basileus	1958–1961	[10][16]
Cary D. Jacobs	25th Grand Basileus	1961–1964	[10][23]
George E. Meares	26th Grand Basileus	1964–1967	[13]
Ellis F. Corbett	27th Grand Basileus	1967–1970	[24]
James Avery	28th Grand Basileus	1970–1973	[23][25]
Marion Garnett	29th Grand Basileus	1973–1976	[26][27][28]
Dr. Edward Braynon, Jr.	30th Grand Basileus	1976–1979	[25][29][30][31]
Burnel E. Coulon	31st Grand Basileus	1979−1982	[25][30][32]
Dr. L. Benjamin Livingston	32nd Grand Basileus	1982–1984	[33]
Dr. Moses C. Norman	33rd Grand Basileus	1984–1990	[25][30][34]
Dr. C. Tyrone Gilmore, Sr	34th Grand Basileus	1990–1994	[9][25][30]
Dr. Dorsey Miller	35th Grand Basileus	1994–1998	[9][25][30]
Lloyd Jordan, Esq.	36th Grand Basileus	1998–2002	[9][25][30]
George H. Grace	37th Grand Basileus	2002–2006	[25]
Warren G. Lee	38th Grand Basileus	2006–2010	[30]
Dr. Andrew Ray	39th Grand Basileus	2010–Current	[35]

a. Finished unexpired term of Atkins^[10]

List of Omega Psi Phi Grand Conclaves

"Unofficial" practices

Like many fraternal organizations, Omega Psi Phi has a rich tradition of terminology and practices that are officially unsanctioned by their national leadership. While some traditions are naturally secret, many are freely expressed in public. A popular one is referring to members as "Que Dogs" or "Ques" for short.^[36] Another is the practice of members voluntarily undergoing branding of the letters, or variations and designs based on them (such as two linked Omega symbols), on their skin. The brands often are displayed in public as a matter of pride; some prospects first learn of the fraternity by seeing members bearing brands.^[37]

See also

• List of social fraternities and sororities

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omega Psi Phi.

External links

Organization websites

• Official website
• Fraternity's chapter locator
• Omega Psi Phi Centennial Page on Facebook
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Hymn sung at NYC's City Hall on YouTube (0.44 secs)
• Omega Psi Phi news feed

Omega Psi Phi districts

• First District - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut
• Second District - New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland
• Third District - Washington D.C. and Virginia
• Fourth District - Ohio and West Virginia
• Fifth District - Kentucky and Tennessee
• Sixth District - North Carolina and South Carolina
• Seventh District - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi
• Eighth District - Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota
• Ninth District - Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
• Tenth District - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
• Twelfth District - Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho
• Thirteeth International District - Canada, West Germany; South Korea; The Virgin Islands, Nassau, Bahamas; Hawaii, Monrovia, Liberia; Panama Canal Zone; and Okinawa, Japan

National Pan-Hellenic Council (in order by founding date) Alpha Phi Alpha 1906 Alpha Kappa Alpha 1908 Kappa Alpha Psi 1911 Omega Psi Phi 1911 Delta Sigma Theta 1913 Phi Beta Sigma 1914 Zeta Phi Beta 1920 Sigma Gamma Rho 1922 Iota Phi Theta 1963

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