ISSUE I
VOL. I
AUG 2013
AN ELECTRONIC NEW S
PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF
PHI
BETA
SIGMA
FRATERNITY,
INC.
Sigma International President and Zeta
Grand Basileus Invited to the White House
O
n Tuesday, August 27, International President Jonathan
Mason accepted an invitation to attend a reception in honor of the 50th
Anniversary of the March on Washington, hosted by President Obama and
First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. President Mason invited
Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Mary Breaux Wright to attend as his
guest. In addition to meeting the President of the United States, they met
many icons of the Civil Rights movement. The reception featured Bro.
Congressman John Lewis (GA) and President Obama, both of whom provided reflections on the past and shared their respective charges for the
present and future of civil rights and economic justice in the United States.
“Sigma and Zeta will be a part of both the charge and the vision. We will MOBILIZE and make a positive difference in the communities we serve!” proclaimed Phi Beta Sigma International President Mason.
To see the video of President Mason on his way to visit the White
House click here: http://youtu.be/mIaGE_BPKbU
To see Congressman Bro. John Lewis speak at the White House
click here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f775hlgf906f4lm/2013-08-27%
2019.49.07-1.mov
FRAT, DID YOU KNOW?
I
n 1941, Hon. Bro. A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin began to organize a march to Washington to protest against discrimination in the defense industries. In May 1941, Bro. Randolph issued a "Call to Negro America to March on
Washington for Jobs and Equal Participation in National Defense on July, 1, 1941".
By June estimates of the number of people expecting to participate reached
100,000. President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to persuade Bro. Randolph and
Rustin call off the demonstration. When this failed, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 barring discrimination in defense industries and federal bureaus (the Fair
Employment Act). As a result of this action Bro. Randolph called off his proposed
march. Years later, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was heavily influenced by Hon. Bro.
A. Randolph and his ideals, a Sigma Man.
International President Speech Reminds all
the Fight for Equality is Far From Done
S
cans, promises upon which America had
defaulted.
aturday, August 24, the day
“When Trayvon Martin can be shot
beginning the commemoration of the down and the perpetrator can go free,
March on Washington, the 34th President there’s some interest owed; and so we
of Phi Beta Sigma Fratermarch.
When the Sunity reminded the world of
preme Court can dismantle
the reasons why the strugthe Voting Rights Act in
gle for civil rights, equality
front of our eyes, there’s
and justice must continue:
some interest owed; and
“I stand before you today
so we march.” Mason statto let you know that in the
ed.
fifty years since the origiAs he brought his
nal March on Washington,
brief address to the world
America made a small
to a close, President Madown payment on the debt
son told listeners as the
that is owed to African
struggle for justice and
American people.
But
equality goes forth, people
there’s
some
interest
should be encouraged.
owed—and so we march!”
As the only repreQuoting an old Baptist
sentative of the National
hymn,
Bro.
Mason
Pan-Hellenic
Council
summed it up saying: “Be
scheduled to speak, Presinot dismayed, whate’er bedent Jonathan A. Mason,
tides. God will take care of
Sr. honored the memories
you! And so, we march!”
of two of Sigma’s own:
Brother A. Philip Randolph, who organized
the 1963 March on Washington to empha- To watch President Mason click here:
size the need for civil rights and an end to http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/
legalized segregation in the United States;
MarchR
and Brother John Lewis (U.S. Congressman, GA), who was the youngest person —Bro. Kent L. Poindexter, Co-Editor, The
to speak at the historic event.
Crescent Extra
He reminded the crowd gathered on
the mall and those watching from their
homes of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King’s speech, during which he spoke of a
promissory check, given to African Ameri-
MOW Town Hall Forum: Where do we go from here?
Civil Rights Icons & Sigma and Zeta Leaders Discuss
Changing Our
Communities
T
he commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the March
on Washington for
Jobs and Freedom began on Friday with a
town hall forum, sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma and featuring our International President Bro. Jonathan Mason, Congressman Bro. John Lewis, and
Zeta Phi Beta Grand Basileus Mary Breaux Wright. Rounding out the panel
were Freedom Rider Henry “Hank” Thomas and Honorable Brother Anthony
A. Samad.
Moderator Bro. Ivory Lyles (International Director of Social Action) led
an insightful and informative discussion on the subject of where do we go
from here as a people and how do we continue to be an agent for change in
our communities. Representative
Bro. John Lewis (D-GA) shared his
experiences in helping to organize
the 1963 event.
The town hall discussion was moderated by International Director of Social
Action Bro Ivory Lyles.
Other panel members included
Freedom Rider Henry “Hank” Thomas,
and Hon. Bro. Anthony Samad.
To watch the recorded broadcast
please click here:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Lewiso
—Bro. Carlos Williams, Co-Editor, The Crescent Extra
50th Anniversary of the
March on Washington
PHOTOS:
 Sigma Brothers including International
Officers and Past Presidents, march for
jobs, justice, peace, and freedom.
 Zeta Phi Beta Sorors Representing and
Showing Love during the march.
 Crowd shot of the thousands of people
of all races who attended the march.
International President Mason
White House Visit
PHOTOS:
 International President Mason
and former Senator Joe Lieberman.
 President Obama and the First Lady
greet the guests during the White
House reception.
 Congressman Bro. John Lewis speaks
during White House reception.
 Martin Luther King III speaks during
White House Reception.
 International President Mason, Zeta
Phi Beta Grand Basileus Mary Wright
and Omega Psi Phi Grand Basileus Dr.
Andrew Ray are all smiles.
I Got On The Bus!!!
A Brother’s Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington
A
s I boarded the bus bound for Washington, D.C. in downtown Atlanta, I had an excitement level
as a Sigma I hadn’t felt since I was an undergraduate
brother about to embark on a “road trip”. We said a
prayer for a safe voyage, and we were on our way
northbound on I-85.
Not soon after departing, we began fellowshipping amongst the cadre of brothers seated in the rear of
the bus, we shared the refreshments and snacks we all
brought for the journey, and it was then that the gravity
of the situation fully set in. PHI BETA SIGMA is going to
the March on Washington. Not simply myself, but the
FRATERNITY was bringing its brothers to a moment in
history, as ONE SIGMA. We were assembling as brothers, not to debate, decide policy, or elect officers, but to
ensure that the community knew that PHI BETA SIGMA
is part of the fabric of the struggle for equality.
As we arrived in the metro area, after a trip of
12 hours, we changed clothes and proceeded to the TriSigma Chapter Breakfast. There we were in the presence of living legends in the struggle for equality, Congressman Bro. John Lewis, and Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian;
and from there it was on to the national mall.
To be one of hundreds of my brothers carrying
our signs, marching under our banner, and signing our
marching song truly moved me to reflect on eighteen
years of being a Sigma man. Our marching army
spanned generations, including brothers who, themselves, could remember the original March On Washington. The people in the crowd took notice of the pres-
PHOTOS:
 (Above) Southern Region Brothers, Sorors,
and guests on the bus.
 (Upper Right) Southern Region Brothers
gathering in Washington, DC.
 (Right) The brothers getting on the bus in
Atlanta.
ence of SIGMA men. We were the
only Historically Black Greek Organization I saw marching nationally under one banner. It became
obvious to others what we already
knew:
THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING ON IN PHI BETA
SIGMA!!!
Afterwards, we assembled at the International Headquarters Building, where we had
the opportunity to fellowship and
be fed. Our Headquarters staff received us well, and I
got to sit and talk with great men of Sigma, like Hon.
Demetrius C. Newton, the 24th International President –
recently restored to health. I got to see every part of
what Bro. President Mason calls “The People’s House”.
The experience was that of True Brotherhood.
I am forever thankful to Phi Beta Sigma for
making this weekend possible.
—Bro. Mark E. Cornelius
International Director of Technology
Xi Chi Sigma Chapter, Atlanta, GA