NEWS
The Simon Alexander Haley By Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.
HOSE WHO HAVE KNOWN me for any length of time are not surprised that one of my initiatives as general president of Alpha Phi Alpha would be to engage the brothers in becoming more knowledgeable about their family history and their African ancestral ties. It was author Alex Haley, the son of Alpha Brother Simon Alexander Haley that inspired my passion for history and family research beginning in 1977. Brother Haley was a graduate of Cornell University and it was in Ithaca, N.Y., where Alex Haley was born one of three sons. Another son, George Haley, resides in Silver Springs, Md., and is a member of the fraternity. Now some 34 years later, I have researched the maternal side of my family to the Bemilike Tribe of Cameroon and my paternal side to the Temne Tribe of Sierra Leone, both located in West Africa. These tribunal ties were made possible by the ground-breaking technology that allows DNA testing to determine possible tribes. The fraternity has developed a unique partnership with
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African Ancestry, founded by Gina Paige with Rick Kittles, to allow brothers around the world to find out where they come from. Thousands of people have been tested and the results revealed have created a strong sense of emotion and pride in all recipients. The quest to uncover and learn more about who we are and where we come from, is as great as it was when Roots: The Saga of American Family was published by Alex Haley and developed into a television miniseries. Paige has traveled to all regional conventions assisting in the reveals and offering DNA testing kits to brothers. Many brothers took advantage of this unique opportunity and the renewed interest continues today. Last year, members of the fraternity’s board of directors and most of the past general presidents swabbed their cheeks and took the test. Throughout regional conventions board members results were revealed and past general presidents results were revealed in Las Vegas. Here, in The Sphinx, we proudly publish some of these results in our official journal of record, for all to see, for all time to come. Enjoy! H
General Presidents African Ancestry Results Revealed at the 104th Anniversary Convention ONE OF ALPHA’S most exciting partnerships culminated in the revelation of the DNA results from some of the living past general presidents and General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. The reveals occurred in August, during the last General Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. During the regional conventions the results of regional vice presidents, regional assistant vice presidents and the other general officers were revealed. Many brothers across the country have taken advantage of the offer to purchase a DNA kits and learn of their ancestral heritage. Efforts are still underway to locate male descendants of the Seven Jewels, the fraternity’s founders to ascertain their lineage. Kits can be ordered by contacting African Ancestry online. See the advertisement announcement on page 22. A portion of the proceeds benefit fraternity initiatives. Alpha Phi Alpha’s General President Herman “Skip” General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. Mason, Jr. receives the flag of Sierra Leone from Temne in Sierra Leone (Paternal) Gina Paige, co-founder of African Ancestry.
Bamileke in Cameroon (Maternal)
18 THE SPHINX H Winter 2011
Part of Brother Mason’s heritage: his maternal grandfather is pictured top; Brother Mason’s parents are pictured below.