Omega Psi Phi – John H. Williams Historical Museum

OMEGA THROUGH THE DECADES

Volume 1

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

From the beginning, Omega Men have stood on the From the beginning, Omega Men have stood on the front lines of Civil Rights and have been the front lines of Civil Rights and have been the

vanguard of Social Change.vanguard of Social Change.

Members of Omega Psi Phi have achieved many Members of Omega Psi Phi have achieved many historical 1historical 1stst’s and continue to be recognized as ’s and continue to be recognized as

world leaders. To date, Omega’s have received 23 world leaders. To date, Omega’s have received 23 of the 94 Spingarn Medals.of the 94 Spingarn Medals.

An account of every son of Omega, who has made a An account of every son of Omega, who has made a contribution to human progress, would be contribution to human progress, would be

impossible. This presentation hi-lites a few but impossible. This presentation hi-lites a few but represents all.represents all.

MManhoodanhood SScholarshipcholarship

PPerseveranceerseverance UUpliftpliftBro. Carl A. Blunt

MSPUMSPU

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19111911Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman & Dr. Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman & Dr.

Ernest E. Just, establish the 1Ernest E. Just, establish the 1stst Negro Fraternity Negro Fraternity founded on a Negro Institute of Higher Learning, founded on a Negro Institute of Higher Learning,

the the Omega Psi Phi FraternityOmega Psi Phi Fraternity. .

19151915Omega Founder, Dr. Ernest E. Just becomes the 1Omega Founder, Dr. Ernest E. Just becomes the 1stst recipient of the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal for unique recipient of the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal for unique

and distinguished achievement in cell research.and distinguished achievement in cell research.

19181918Bro. Dr. E. B. Henderson opened the 1Bro. Dr. E. B. Henderson opened the 1stst rural branch rural branch

of the NAACP, was the 1of the NAACP, was the 1stst Negro to be certified to Negro to be certified to teach P.E., and wrote the 1teach P.E., and wrote the 1stst compendium ever compendium ever

written about Negro athletics, “The Negro In written about Negro athletics, “The Negro In Sports.” He fought to integrate amateur boxing.Sports.” He fought to integrate amateur boxing.

1911 - 19191911 - 19191911 - 1919

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19241924Bro. William DeHart Hubbard becomes the 1Bro. William DeHart Hubbard becomes the 1stst African- African-

American to win an Olympic gold medal in an American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event. (Running Long Jump)individual event. (Running Long Jump)

19251925Bro. Brice Taylor becomes the University of Southern Bro. Brice Taylor becomes the University of Southern California’s 1California’s 1st st All – American football player. Black or All – American football player. Black or

White.White.

19261926Bro. Dr. Carter G. Woodson single handedly pioneered Bro. Dr. Carter G. Woodson single handedly pioneered

the celebration of “Negro History Week”, in order to the celebration of “Negro History Week”, in order to bring awareness and pride of the contributions and bring awareness and pride of the contributions and

accomplishments of the Negro race.accomplishments of the Negro race.

1920 - 19291920 - 1929 1920 - 1929

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19321932Bro. Homer G. Phillips of Upsilon Omega, who was Bro. Homer G. Phillips of Upsilon Omega, who was

connected with nearly every movement to advance the connected with nearly every movement to advance the cause of the Negro, is murdered.cause of the Negro, is murdered.

19371937Bro. W. Sidat-Singh, at Syracuse U, becomes one of Bro. W. Sidat-Singh, at Syracuse U, becomes one of college football’s 1college football’s 1stst Negro QB’s. SU basketball jersey Negro QB’s. SU basketball jersey

retired in 2005.retired in 2005.

19371937Bro. Theodore Poston, one of the 1Bro. Theodore Poston, one of the 1stst and only Negro and only Negro reporters employed by a white daily newspaper and reporters employed by a white daily newspaper and

Founder of the American Newspaper Guild. Risked his Founder of the American Newspaper Guild. Risked his life traveling in the South providing early coverage of life traveling in the South providing early coverage of

Civil Rights. Civil Rights.

1930 - 19391930 - 19391930 - 1939

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19401940Bro. Dr. W. Montague Cobb, the 1Bro. Dr. W. Montague Cobb, the 1stst Negro PhD in Negro PhD in physical anthropology, fought for racial integration physical anthropology, fought for racial integration

of health and medical education.of health and medical education.19411941

Bro. Dr. Charles Drew, as head of the Red Cross Bro. Dr. Charles Drew, as head of the Red Cross effort, protested against the practice of racial effort, protested against the practice of racial

segregation in blood donations, and later became segregation in blood donations, and later became the 1the 1stst Negro surgeon to serve as examiner on the Negro surgeon to serve as examiner on the

American Board of Surgery.American Board of Surgery.19441944

Bro. Graham E. Martin, became one of the US Navy’s Bro. Graham E. Martin, became one of the US Navy’s 11stst officers on active duty. His all black class, officers on active duty. His all black class,

compiled an average GPA of 3.89. A record that has compiled an average GPA of 3.89. A record that has yet to be broken. yet to be broken.

1940 - 19491940 - 1949 1940 - 1949

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

1952Bro. H. Carl Moultrie, Omega’s 1Bro. H. Carl Moultrie, Omega’s 1stst NES, testifies NES, testifies

before the Board of Education regarding before the Board of Education regarding segregation and police brutality in DC.segregation and police brutality in DC.

19551955Bro. Willard Saxby Townsend fought to gain Bro. Willard Saxby Townsend fought to gain

employee status for Red Caps. In 1942 he brought employee status for Red Caps. In 1942 he brought his union (UTSE) into the CIO and in 1955 his union (UTSE) into the CIO and in 1955

becomes the 1becomes the 1stst Negro to be elected as vice- Negro to be elected as vice-president of the AFL-CIO.president of the AFL-CIO.

19571957Bro. Paul R. Williams, noted architect, was bitterly Bro. Paul R. Williams, noted architect, was bitterly

outspoken regarding segregated deeds and outspoken regarding segregated deeds and covenants barring Blacks from purchasing parcels. covenants barring Blacks from purchasing parcels. He becomes the 1He becomes the 1stst African American to be voted African American to be voted

an “American Institute of Architects” Fellow.an “American Institute of Architects” Fellow.

1950 - 19591950 - 19591950 - 1959

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

1960 - 19691960 - 1969 1960 - 1969196019601717THTH Grand Basileus, Z. Alexander Looby’s home was Grand Basileus, Z. Alexander Looby’s home was

dynamited for defending students arrested in dynamited for defending students arrested in Nashville “sit-ins”.Nashville “sit-ins”.

19661966Bro. Robert C. Weaver becomes the 1Bro. Robert C. Weaver becomes the 1stst Negro in US Negro in US

history to serve as head of a presidential cabinet history to serve as head of a presidential cabinet (HUD)(HUD)

19661966Bro. Dr. Robert H. Lawrence is the 1Bro. Dr. Robert H. Lawrence is the 1stst Black to be Black to be selected and serve in the NASA Astronaut Program.selected and serve in the NASA Astronaut Program.

19671967Bro. Dr. W. Allison Davis , known for proving I.Q. tests Bro. Dr. W. Allison Davis , known for proving I.Q. tests

are biased, is the 1are biased, is the 1stst fellow, in the field of fellow, in the field of education, of the American Academy of Arts & education, of the American Academy of Arts &

Sciences. He was also the 1Sciences. He was also the 1stst African-American to African-American to hold a full faculty position at a white university. (U. hold a full faculty position at a white university. (U.

of Chicago 1942).of Chicago 1942).

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19701970

Bro. Wilson C. Riles becomes the 1Bro. Wilson C. Riles becomes the 1stst African American African American to win a state-wide elective office, California State to win a state-wide elective office, California State

Superintendent of Schools. He proved poor students Superintendent of Schools. He proved poor students could learn on par with middle and upper class could learn on par with middle and upper class

students. students.

19751975

Bro. Lee Elder became the 1Bro. Lee Elder became the 1stst African American to play African American to play in the Masters , and in 1979 he was the 1in the Masters , and in 1979 he was the 1stst African- African-

American to play on the US Ryder Cup team. American to play on the US Ryder Cup team.

19771977

Bro. Clifford L. Alexander Jr. becomes the 1Bro. Clifford L. Alexander Jr. becomes the 1stst African- African-American Secretary of the Army.American Secretary of the Army.

1970 - 19791970 - 19791970 - 1979

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19831983Bro. Max Roach, master jazz drummer, unveiled a new Bro. Max Roach, master jazz drummer, unveiled a new

improvisational multi-percussion style with new improvisational multi-percussion style with new contexts, departing from the styles he was known contexts, departing from the styles he was known for. He expressed a strong kinship with the young for. He expressed a strong kinship with the young

Black “Hip-Hop” artists.Black “Hip-Hop” artists.

19861986Bro. Roscoe Lee Brown, actor and director wins an Bro. Roscoe Lee Brown, actor and director wins an Emmy Award. He is also the 1949 AAU 1,000 yard Emmy Award. He is also the 1949 AAU 1,000 yard

indoor champion indoor champion

19881988Bro. Roger Kingdom, 2 X Olympic gold medal hurdles Bro. Roger Kingdom, 2 X Olympic gold medal hurdles

champion. Unbeaten all season. First man to break champion. Unbeaten all season. First man to break the 13 second barrier.the 13 second barrier.

1980 - 19891980 - 1989 1980 - 1989

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

19901990Bro. L. Douglas Wilder becomes the 1Bro. L. Douglas Wilder becomes the 1stst African- African-

American to be elected as Governor of a US State. American to be elected as Governor of a US State.

19941994Bro. Byron Lewis’ UniWorld Corp, the nations largest Bro. Byron Lewis’ UniWorld Corp, the nations largest

independently ethnic owned advertising firm, independently ethnic owned advertising firm, generated Burger King’s largest six month sales generated Burger King’s largest six month sales

increase in its history. increase in its history.

19941994Bro. Tom Joyner, radio host and philanthropist, signed Bro. Tom Joyner, radio host and philanthropist, signed

with ABC Radio to host a nationally syndicated with ABC Radio to host a nationally syndicated program that reaches over 10 million listeners. In program that reaches over 10 million listeners. In

January 2008, he was inducted into the Civil Rights January 2008, he was inducted into the Civil Rights Walk of Fame.Walk of Fame.

1990 - 19991990 - 19991990 - 1999

Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades

20062006

Bro. James “Jim” Clyburn unanimously elected as Bro. James “Jim” Clyburn unanimously elected as Majority “Whip” of the 110Majority “Whip” of the 110thth Congress and is the Congress and is the

33rdrd ranking Democrat in the House. ranking Democrat in the House.

20072007

Bro. Gen. (4 star) William “Kip” Ward, becomes the Bro. Gen. (4 star) William “Kip” Ward, becomes the 11stst commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM). commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM). Ward was previously Deputy Commander, HQ. US Ward was previously Deputy Commander, HQ. US

European Command. European Command.

20082008

Bro. Admiral Manson K. Brown, US Coast Guard, Bro. Admiral Manson K. Brown, US Coast Guard, received his 2received his 2ndnd star star

MILLENIUM MMILLENIUMILLENIUM