FEATURE
“Among this group, the name of C. C. Poindexter deserves special mention. He may be regarded as the precursor of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.”
F
or the living members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the name C.C. Poindexter is a familiar one. Since 1929 members have been taught that he was a “precursor” to the organization becoming a fraternity. For some, he is as acceptable as Benedict Arnold in American history. For some others, the mention of his name reminds them of a fraternal mystery. And for a few, such as this writer, the speaking of his name wasn’t permitted during the membership process. With that information as a backdrop, the enigma of Charles Cardoza “C.C.” Poindexter in the annals of the history of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is a matter that can now receive greater understanding. The intention is to provide recent research to uncover information that more accurately reflects his involvement at the inception of the fraternity. From there the plan is to receive input from the General Brotherhood, positive and negative and then have the fraternity’s Historical Commission determine whether any changes or updates would be justified. Both Poindexter and original history book author, Bro. Dr. Charles Harris Wesley, were from what is now the Midwestern Region of Alpha. Poindexter was born in Pennsboro, W.V. and Wesley in Lexington, Ky. As Midwestern Regional Historian and a member of SPRING/SUMMER 2015
the National Historical Commission, I was asked to assist in revising our national history book. That work led to uncovering anomalies in what information and what details were included in the history book dialogue. It was determined that a review of what was learned should be shared prior to an analysis of what was found. Following are excerpts of what has been reported to fraternity members since the first printing of The History of Alpha Phi Alpha – A Development in Negro College Life in 1929. Poindexter had been dead for 16 years at the time of the printing and no documentation, to date, has been found validating assertions he ever opposed the fraternal idea prior to that publication. According to Wesley’s The History of Alpha Phi Alpha – A Development in College Life, in Chapter I, The Origin of Alpha Phi Alpha, during the meeting of December 4, 1906, “(C.C.) Poindexter was now absent. He was an older student than the others and had led them from the first meeting. They had respected his opinions and did not desire to oppose his preference. He had a faculty relationship, as secretary to one of the professors, which was unique among them and he was therefore regarded in a different light. However, with his resignation before them, a measure of freedom was felt which had not been actively present before. Individual opinions were expressed freely.” 29