A memorial first installed in 2008 to mark the spot where 14-year-old Emmett Till was recovered from the Tallahatchie River in 1955 has been repeatedly vandalized shot through with bullet holes. More than 30 years before he was elected to lead 211 of his fellow Democrats in Washington, Hakeem Jeffries was tapped to lead a dozen young men in upstate New York. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Thompsons unpretentious persona may have allowed him to largely escape the wrath of the committees critics. Throughout my public service career in Congress, I have always put service above self and principles above politics. Jeffries was only a college sophomore at Binghamton University when he was elected president of the schools fledgling chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. Thompson spent his time as mayor determined to improve infrastructure for the towns Black residents: Streets were paved, housing renovated, and a new City Hall constructed. There was an additional misunderstanding being attributed to the acronym of the Fraternitys Greek letters, KAN. Some confused the abbreviation of the letters to refer to the state of Kansas. Its a real joy working with him, said Katko, who is retiring at the end of the year. When the Mississippi State Highway Patrol set up roadblocks to harass Black citizens during voter registration drives while he was in office, Thompson recalled to me, he took them to court. He is well-known among his colleagues, but not necessarily a nationally recognized figure. "What happened to Emmett Till, it's awful, it's sickening, turns my stomach every time I think about it, but it's a part of our history. David Cingranelli, a political science professor who became one of Jeffries favorite teachers, remembers that the future Congressman never hid his opinions, despite being one of the few Black students in his course. Notable Members: US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Founded in 1914 on the campus of Howard University, Motto: Culture For Service and Service For Humanity, Service Programs: Education/Scholarship, Health/Wellness, and Business Development, Founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University, Motto: A community-conscious, action-oriented organization, Service Programs: Education, Health/Wellness, and Elder Care, Founded in 1922 on the campus of Butler University, Slogan: Greater Service, Greater Progress, Service Programs: Youth Education/Mentoring, Womens Health/Wellness, and Water Safety/Swim Programs, Founded in 1963 on the campus of Morgan State University, Motto: Building A Tradition, Not Resting Upon One, Service Programs: Mens Health/Wellness, Voter Registration, and Abuse/Bullying Awareness. Avid hunter. Ratings: 14 Grade: 67% Rate This Fraternity. A "private property" sign posted out front is barely visible. "And for people to come along and shoot it up is to say that's not the story we want to tell. However, few Blacks could remain longer than a year or so without having to withdraw in search of employment. Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irvin, and Sgt. His 43 years of public service is a testament to his "Kappa Alpha Psi", "KA", and the Coat of Arms of Kappa Alpha Psi are registered trademarks of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Since the beginning, every endeavor was directed toward establishing the Fraternity upon a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Except for the years of World War I and II, when some Grand Chapter Meetings were suspended, Kappa Alpha Psi has grown and prevailed with unabating impetus. WebRate This Fraternity. For a long time, Thompson says, people didn't talk about Till's lynching. The college provided him with the framework to understand the structural racism that underpinned life in Mississippiwhy his side of town had no sidewalks or spaces for recreation, why his schools textbooks were secondhand and out of date. Copyright 2022 The Brooklyn-Long Island Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You know when you are in college, and there are just some people that seem like grown-ups, more than the other students? ), When Espy was selected by President Bill Clinton to serve as secretary of agriculture in early 1993, Thompson ran in the special election to fill the vacant seat. The 122-page Summary of Investigative Findings, which was obtained and posted by the Washington Post, analyzes testimony from employees and documents received from tech companies including Twitter Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. He was very good at it. That included accounts of the impact of Trumps Dec. 19 tweet, but the panel mostly focused on the conduct of Trump and his associates. "There was a lot of pushback not only from the white community but from the black community also," says Jaynes-Diming. Even now, when hell face relentless demands on his time as House Minority Leader by lawmakers, lobbyists and donors, Jeffries stays in touch with many of his frat brothersboth his classmates and others from the wider network of Black fraternities. It Doesnt Always Make It Easy for Them to Lead. WebBennie Thompson - US Congressman William Clay - US Congressman Louis Stokes - US Congressman Marshall Pitt, Jr. - Mayor of Fayetteville, NC Michael Coleman - Mayor of Columbus, Ohio Sports & Athletics Arther Ashe * - Tennis Kenny Lofton - Baseball J.J. Birden - Football Wilt Chamberlain - Basketball Gayle Sayers - Football Jon Drummond - Politics | When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Judge: Former California GOP Rep. Devin Nunes not defamed by Esquires Iowa farm story The administration maintained an attitude of indifference, as Blacks slowly matriculated and were likewise swiftly forgotten. Till, a black teenager visiting from Chicago, was brutally killed in Mississippi after allegedly violating Jim Crow social norms. Grace Segers is a staff writer at The New Republic. The center is supporting efforts by Thompson and the Till Memorial Commission to have Bryant's Grocery and other sites associated with Till's lynching protected as part of the National Park Service. His net worth is estimated to be around $1.6 million US dollars. WebOne of the 5 Objectives of the Fraternity is: To promote the spiritual, social, intellectual and moral welfare of members. Many aspects of the Fraternitys rites are engrained in In fact, all twenty-three counties in the Second District are medically under-served and many citizens are unable to afford health coverage. In what capacity would you like to participate? Troy Carter of Louisiana got to Congress in 2021, he and Jeffries joked about how they would work on growing their ranks in Congress. In 1986, Mike Espy became the first Black man elected to Congress from Mississippi since Reconstruction. He served in that capacity for six years. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., testifies before the House Rules Committee on Dec. 14, 2021. The city halls are no longer places our black folks fear to come, Thompson told The New York Times in a 1979 article. Bennie G. Thompson, (born January 28, 1948) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993, and the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security since 2011. It is a fact of which Kappa Alpha Psi is proud that the Constitution has never contained any clause which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin. Politics | "And the story never got told from an African American perspective.". The Kappa Alpha Psi Legislative Conference, as it was originally named, was established by Congressman John Conyers (Gamma Eta, 1951) in 2002. Read More: America Loves to Celebrate Firsts Like Hakeem Jeffries. As fraternity president, Jeffries coordinated and emceed the Mu Kappa chapters fashion show fundraiser. AP The Fraternity has over 125,000 members with 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters in nearly every state of the United States, and international chapters in Nigeria, South Africa, the West Indies, the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea and Japan. A New York Times article detailing Thompsons victory said he was regarded as far more confrontational than Espy, noting that he made no overtures to white voters.. During this secret ceremony, we learn, in the words of our founders, the principles and ideals upon which our fraternity was built more than a century ago. It can demonstrate to young people, Thompson said, that somebody who was not born on the right side of town, somebody who didnt go to the best schools, somebody who basically by all indications is lucky to be alive, that properly encouraged can make it.. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Hes all about getting the job done, said Representative Ritchie Torres, the vice chair of the Homeland Security Committee. "The people in Tallahatchie County are to a great degree tired of Emmett Till," says former county prosecutor John Whitten. His district encompasses A bullet-riddled sign that once marked where Emmett Till's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River is now housed at the Till Interpretive Center in Sumner, Miss. "By letting the trees and so forth grew up around it, and letting the walls fall down, it's a way to let history fade into invisibility," says Reilly Morse, president of the Mississippi Center for Justice. Thompsons supporters delineate a clear path from Thompsons upbringing, education, and career as a Black man in Mississippi, a state riven by the domestic terrorism of white supremacists in the decades between Reconstruction and the civil rights movement. The name was officially changed to Kappa Alpha Psi on a resolution adopted at the Grand Chapter Meeting in December 1914. Pi Kappa Phi is the only Greek organization which owns its own philanthropy. "This is justice for our family," says Till's cousin Airickca Gordon-Taylor who runs the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation in Chicago. The obligation to become engaged in the college or university community. Debbie Elliott/NPR Based on the evidence we have in our possession, I feel very confident with inviting her to the committee, and if she refuses, issuing a subpoena, Thompson told reporters on Monday, after the committee voted to recommend that the full House hold former Trump aides Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro in contempt of Congress for refusing to respond to subpoenas. I dont do a lot of talking, Thompson told me, because I like encouraging others to be engaged with whatever the process is. That focus on collaboration has served him well for the select committee, which includes two other committee chairs among its high-profile members: Lofgren, the leader of the House Administration Committee, and Representative Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Farmer Walker Sturdivant owns the land where Till's body was removed from the river. His congressional colleagues describe him as even-tempered and levelheaded, able to command respect without shouting for attention. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Serving his 13th He was a force to be reckoned with, Joseph Cordero, who was two years ahead of Jeffries and a fellow Nupe, recalls of the man who would go on to be the first Black lawmaker to lead either party in Congress. (WLBT) - Two Congressional committees are looking into what they say is a, On Thursday, Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice Chairwoman Liz Cheney of the House select committee, U.S. Capitol Police said Tuesday they were investigating a letter with "concerning language" that was. Find out more. A commitment to Pi Kappa Phi that transcends any personal selfishness. And the chairman of the January 6 committee, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, warned on CNN that no one is off limits in terms of being compelled to But the local chapter president has reached out to Memorial Commission Executive Director Patrick Weems, who welcomes a dialogue. Let me tell you, stepping is not easy, especially when you have to learn to twirl canes, Cordero says. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Alpha and Omega, the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet correlate to Christ and the Founders relationship and connection to the church. Kappa Alpha Nu began uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a Bond of fraternity. He plans to donate a long-term lease to better protect the site. All rights reserved. These men of vision decided the Fraternity would be more than another social organization. Thompson had three children: BendaLonne, Jeanna, and Thomas. Members of Greek letter organizations also get the opportunity to participate in numerous philanthropic and community service events. Despite the growing hostility of Whites toward Blacks in Indiana, some Black students sought a college education at Indiana University, as it was a tuition-free university of the highest quality. Miguel Correa finds parallels to events today. Major cities like Detroit and New York donated firetrucks and garbage trucks. Former members of Congress who were Kappas include Alcee Hastings of Florida, Don McEachin of Virginia, and Louis Stokes of Ohio, who helped lay the foundation of the Congressional Black Caucus. You would be hard-pressed to find somebody whos a member of a Black Greek letter organization who talks about it in the past tense.. Thompson defeated the Republican candidate for the seat in a runoff election, mobilizing the districts Black voters. And the one person who can manage it, who is uniquely equipped to manage it, is Bennie Thompson.. Sixteen years before the insurrection, on January 6, 2005, Thompson voted against certifying the electoral victory of President George W. Bush, objecting to the election results in Ohio. A spokeswoman for Representative Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the panel, didnt respond to a request for comment or confirm the authenticity of the document. READ MORE: Rep. Bennie Thompson, leading the public Jan. 6 hearings, has long worked to protect democracy. As far as replacing the sign, Weems is getting help from a fifth-generation local farmer, Walker Sturdivant, who owns the property and plans to donate a long-term lease to better protect the site. Consequently, eight other men met with Diggs and Armstrong for the purpose of organizing such a fraternity. Politics | Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 8:20AM. Representative John Katko, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, said he and Thompson have a terrific partnership, stemming from an understanding of the bipartisan importance of the committees purview. Other Kappa Alpha Psi alumni include famed NBA center Wilt Chamberlain, civil rights activist and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, lawyer Johnnie Cochran, and New York Times columnist Charles Blow, as well as Mandela Barnes, the former Wisconsin lieutenant governor who nearly flipped a U.S. Senate seat last year. Blacks were not allowed to reside in on-campus dormitories, were not afforded off-campus accommodations, and they were also denied the use of all other university facilities, and were barred from participating in contact sports. The town reevaluated its real estate, revealing that many white residents had been undervaluing their property. Today, the building is in ruins, overtaken by trees and vines. Congressman Thompson is and has been a consistent supporter of our armed fighting forces and veterans, making sure that these 22.6 million heroes get the services they deserve. Tougaloo helped me make the connection of how that develops. Debbie Elliott/NPR He clearly understands that when you have domestic terrorism that goes unaccounted for, you can be guaranteed that you will have more acts of domestic terrorism. Its a committee of bosses, Torres said, a committee of the most powerful personalities in Congress. Tougaloo was probably that point in my life that convinced me to stay in Mississippi, to choose public service as a lifelong occupation, and just to try to make, in my own way, a difference in the lives of my state and my community, Thompson said. Today, the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. celebrate 110 years of Achievement in Every Field of Human Milam (left) and Roy Bryant sit with their wives, Juanita Milam (second from left) and Carolyn Bryant, in September 1955. The story begins in Money, Miss., at Bryant's Grocery, where Till allegedly flirted with a white woman. "Every day, somebody's dragging up the race card. Some of these members include: Ralph Abernathy, Wilt Chamberlin, Montell Jordan, Benjamin Jealous, Oscar Robertson, Cedric the Entertainer, Arthur Ashe, Mike Tomlin, Gayle Sayers, Adrian Fenty, Robert S. Abbott, Bennie Thompson, Donald Byrd, Johnnie Cochran, Ed Gardner, Smokie Norful, John Singleton, Tom Bradley, Bob Johnson, John Conyers, Alcee Hastings, Lerone Bennett, Jr., Kwame Jackson, Bill Russell, Tavis Smiley, Marvin Sapp, and Colin Kaepernick to name a few. Founded in 1906 on the campus of Cornell University, Motto: First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All, Service Programs: Voter Engagement, Youth Mentoring/Education, and Elder Care, Founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University, Service Programs:Education, Womens Health/Wellness, and Economic Empowerment, Founded in 1911 on the campus of Indiana University, Motto: Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor, Service Programs: Youth Education/Mentoring, Literacy, and Military/Veterans Affairs, Founded in 1911 on the campus of Howard University, Motto: Friendship is Essential to the Soul, Service Programs: Health/Wellness, Youth Education/Mentoring, and Literacy, Founded in 1913 on the campus of Howard University, Motto: Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom, Service Programs: Economic Development, Educational Development, and Physical/Mental Health. JACKSON, Miss. He attended a public school in the heart of the borough, and he later recalled the culture shock of arriving at Binghamtons campus in 1988. The historic marker was taken down after three white fraternity brothers from the University of Mississippi were pictured holding guns next to the sign. Bennie Thompson has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. hide caption. Notable Members: Attorney, Johnnie Cochran, US Congressman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, and Athletes, Arthur Ashe and Colin Kaepernick Omega Psi Phi "And it's not just about replacing the sign, but it's what do they teach there? We will continue to monitor and enforce our policies across the platform.. Senior Director of Business Development at Favorite Healthcare Staffing, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Spring 93. Emmett Till's killers J.W. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (Gamma Rho Tougaloo College) and a lifetime member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton. J. Scott Applewhite/AP State: Mississippi, 2nd District. Why don't y'all let that die?' The Bennie Thompson Affair. He lives in Sumner, Miss., where the two men who killed Till were tried and acquitted by an all-white jury, only to confess to the killing when they sold their story to Look Magazine months later. Copyright 2022 Bennie Thompson for Congress. Thompson, who grew up in a small Mississippi community in 1971, sympathized with the group known as the Republic of New Africa, participating in a news conference blaming law enforcement for instigating clashes with the group which led to a dead police officer and a wounded FBI agent. For Thompson, one of the honors of his committee chairmanship is in showing that the son of man who never votedwho couldnt vote in the apartheid state of Jim Crow Mississippican lead the investigation uncovering the truths of a dark day in U.S. history. "Emmett was murdered because of racial hatred," says Gordon-Taylor. After becoming mayor of Bolton, Thompson helped organize the Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors, which successfully lobbied for federal funds to aid the region. Born in a state with a unique history of racial inequality, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson draws inspiration from the legacies of Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry and Henry Kirksey. The Bolton, Mississippi native considers it an honor to walk the path Mississippi civil rights icons paved decades ago. Nor would the new Fraternity seek its members in the manner of other Greek organizations from among the sons of wealthy families or families of social prestige. In 2006, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. Mississippi social justice consultant Susan Glisson, who has also been working with the Memorial Commission, says the persistent vandalism sends a clear message. Kappa Alpha Psi proudly boasts of members who epitomize the very essence of Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor. One day as one of the Fraternity members, Frank Summers, was running the hurdles, Founder Diggs overheard a White student state, He is a member of Kappa Alpha Nig. It was kind of an icebreaker, Thompson, now a member of the U.S. House, told me more than five decades later. The expectation that you live both your personal values, as well as those espoused in the Fraternitys Ritual of Initiation. Since their inception, each organization has contributed countless hours of community service, donated millions of dollars toward educational scholarships, and have provided leadership to communities around the country. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The panels investigators interviewed technology industry executives and law enforcement and intelligence officials, along with Trump aides and Republican election officials. The towns white population revolted, and an unsuccessful lawsuit to prevent the three from taking office ultimately died in a federal court of appeals. Careful consideration was given to ensure the organization established a firm foundation the first year before efforts to expand were attempted. That was a very different and liberating feeling as compared to the neighborhoods of central Brooklyn in the 1980s in the midst of the crack-cocaine epidemic.. All Rights Reserved. Over time, white students came to watch, too. All of a sudden, there was a part of the campus that just didnt know that we even existed, and then we were like the Beatles on campus, Cordero says. Thompson thrived in this atmosphere, joining the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and volunteering for civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamers ultimately unsuccessful congressional campaign. In a video posted last year to his Kappa Alpha Psi chapters Instagram, Jeffries said he was grateful to Cordero for appointing him president of his pledge classwhich preceded his eventual election to lead the whole chapter. One of the 5 Objectives of the Fraternity is: To promote the spiritual, social, intellectual and moral welfare of members. Many aspects of the Fraternitys rites are engrained in Christianity ideals and contain excerpts from the Bible. Congressman Thompson is committed to working to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). He loved stepping and I just remember him constantly harassing me to teach him different moves.. Somebody saying we have racial disparity here. Kappa Alpha Psi, a college Fraternity, was born in an environment saturated in racism. Thompson has been the lone Democrat in Mississippis congressional delegation since 2011. But it also gave me the way forward of how you work toward institutional change in a community, Thompson said. What do they teach their fraternity members? Whitten sees no reason to commemorate Till's slaying. Do you have a blog? The event was originally conceived by James T. Carter Jr. (Xi, 1948), a retired teacher from the DC public school system, who became an aide to Congressman Conyers.
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