L E G A C Y The Alpha fire kindled sixty years ago is still aglow. The visible flame might have been low at times, but the bed of coals has always been alive. It was in September of 1922 that Dr. Leonard Stovall, my physician, and I were at the same time initiated into Alpha Delta, the newly established chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha (late 1921) on the campus of the University of Southern California. All of the charter members of Alpha Delta were good friends of mine, but especially James W. McGregor who was my sponsor. Unfortunately, I n e v e r had the pleasure of association with the Alpha Delta Chapter, because of my leavby James ing Los Angeles shortly after my initiation for a teaching position at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. At Rust, A. Julian Lee and I were the only Alpha men there. In December, 1922 the Fifteenth Annual General Convention was held in St. Louis. Brother Lee and I decided to attend this convention. There I joined my good friend and Brother, James McGregor, where the two of us represented Alpha Delta as delegates. It was at this convention that I caught the true Alpha spirit. It was the sincerity, dedication, and hard work of the leading delegates that impressed me. I had the privilege at this convention of meeting and being associated with such national officers and leading Alpha men as Brothers S. S. Booker, Lucius L. McGhee, Norman McGhee, Raymond Pace Alexander, Raymond W. Cannon, Joseph H. B. Evans, Carl J. Murphy, Charles H. Wesley, H. L. Dickason, and others. I left that convention with a deep feeling of fraternal fellowship that has lived across the span of six decades.
and for the Fraternity. Eta Lambda through this group reflected something new, wholesome, and challenging in Atlanta social life. So this fraternal spirit and the sincerity of purpose became the stimulants for attacking the kinds of programs that were being promoted by the Fraternity, which were beginning to develop roots and unfold in strength and importance. The main purpose of the educational program of Alpha Phi Alpha in the mid-twenties, of course, was the "Go to High School — Go to College" p r o g r a m . This program was initiated from the need for encourP. Brawley President Emeritus, Clark College aging and helping Negro youth to conGeneral Convention in St. Louis. The tinue their education at the secondary Alpha Mu membership was small, but and college levels. Because of the large during my two years there we had number of drop-outs before reaching excellent fraternal relations, enthushigh school and in the early years of iastic and fruitful work in promoting high school, and because of the small the interests and educational program number of Negro youth enrolling in of the Fraternity. college, Alpha Phi Alpha recognized On leaving Evanston in September this as a serious social problem, and 1925, three of us, Wendell Bolton, resolved to do something about it; thus Samuel B. Taylor and I, who were this significant emphasis upon educamembers of Alpha Mu, came to Clark tional and vocational counseling. Eta University, Atlanta, and subsequently Lambda seized the opportunity to projoined Eta Lambda. From that time to mote this educational program of the the present my membership has been in Fraternity. The chapter later became this chapter. engrossed in the second major social It was exciting and inspiring to be problem of Negro people — the political associated with that great group of problem, trying to help remove the Alpha men in Eta Lambda at that time, obstacles to registration and voting. some of whom were: James Arnold, Charles Arnold, A. M. Carter, For a period of some twelve to fifteen Thomas Henry, J. H. Evans, C. Wayyears, from my joining Eta Lambda, it mond Reeves, B. T. Harvey, C. W. was my great joy to serve, first as Green, M. S. Davage, S. B. Taylor, director of the educational program, E. Luther Brookes, W. H. Bolton, and then as President of the chapter. W. H. Smith, W. T. Cunningham, The chapter then being relatively Harold Cunningham, John Hope, small, the monthly meetings were held David D. Jones, Fred D. Hall, Harold in homes of the Brothers, who took D. West, etc. turns in entertaining. Everyone looked forward to the monthly fellowship, In 1925 Eta Lambda was only five and no one missed a meeting if he years old. The chapter reflected a new could possibly be there. A delightful spirit, a new fraternal spirit within an dinner was enjoyed, and then the enthusiastic group of members who serious business of the meeting and were, for the most part, young in age deliberation on some aspect of the and definitely young in their outlook Continued on Page 18 on life and future hopes, for themselves
YEARS AN ALPHA MAN
In the fall of 1923 I entered the Graduate School at Northwestern University, and became identified with the Alpha Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha on that campus. One of my Brothers and a lasting friend, Fred D. Jordan, later Bishop Jordan in the A.M.E. Church, I had met at the 1922 The Sphinx / Spring 1983
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