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PERSPECTIVE ...
On June 12th, Medgar Evers, NAACP field secretary and civil rights leader, was assassinated outside of his home in Jackson, Mississippi by a segregationist. On August 28th, 250,000 people participated in the historic "March on Washington" and heard Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his historic "I Have a Dream" speech
...Three weeks later and less than 50 miles away, in Baltimore, Md, another group of men would make a different kind of history. BEGINNINGS ... On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), 12 students founded what is the nation's fifth largest,predominately African-American social service fraternity: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated The founders of Iota Phi Theta were: Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill, Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Louis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey, Jr., and Michael Williams.
This group of men was unique for several reasons. First of all, many were long-time friends. Spruill, Coakley, Dorsey, and Gregory had known one another since grade school, and Spruill and Coakley's friendship extended to when the two were pre-schoolers.GROWTH ...
The Fraternity functioned as a local entity until the first interest groups were established in 1967 at Hampton Institute (Beta Chapter) and Delaware State College (Gamma Chapter). Further expansion took place in 1968 with chapters being formed at Norfolk State College (Delta Chapter) and Jersey City State College (Epsilon Chapter). The Fraternity was officially and legally incorporated on November 1, 1968 as a National Fraternity under the laws of the State of Maryland.SUMMARY ...
As Iota Phi Theta continues to grow and strengthen, so will its commitment to make meaningful contributions to society in general, with particular emphasis in the African-American community. Throughout America, Iota Phi Theta has come to represent excellence in all areas. The Fraternity is, and shall forever remain dedicated to its founders' vision of "Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One!" For more information, please visit: |