AJC Sepia Greek Spotlight: The Men of Omega Psi Phi

Education

AJC Sepia Greek Spotlight: The Men of Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity started quietly enough on Nov. 17, 1911 at Howard University. The first four members of the organization -- the first black Greek fraternity founded on a black campus -- were three students (Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman and Edgar A. Love) and their advisor Ernest E. Just.

In 104 years, more than 250,000 college men have pledged Omega Psi Phi and worn the Purple and Gold. Here are a few of their most notable members.

Ernest E. Just was an internationally known American biologist, zoologist, and physiologist who made major contributions to the field of biology through his pioneering research into fertilization, experimental parthenogenesis, and cell physiology. Just taught at Howard University, where he was the head of the biology and zoology departments. Just earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1916, a year after being awarded the first Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.

Carter G. Woodson was a historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. In 1920, Woodson spoke at the fraternity's Ninth Conclave in the auditorium of Meharry Medical College. He mentioned the Negro’s neglect of his history, in fact his ignorance of it, and urged the college man to give less attention to social affairs and devote more of his time to the study and dissemination of facts about Negro life and history. Omega, at the Nashville Conclave, in honor of Woodson and appreciating the value of his work, decided to throw the strength of the entire organization behind an effort to inform the Negro of his past, to inspire race pride and thus stimulate noble racial achievement. In February 1926 he announced the celebration of "Negro History Week", considered the precursor of Black History Month. His most famous work was "The Mis-Education of the Negro," in 1933.

Benjamin Mays was the president of Morehouse College from 1940 to 1967. He gave the benediction at the March on Washington and was a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., giving the eulogy at King's funeral.

Roy Wilkins was named Executive Secretary of the NAACP in 1955. During his tenure, the group played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement and spearheaded the efforts that led to significant legal victories including the landmark Supreme Court decision in the Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

William H. Hastie was both the first African-American Governor of the United States Virgin Islands and the first African-American judge on a federal appeals court. During World War II, he vigorously defended the use and equality of African-American troops in the war effort.

Charles Drew discovered a method to store blood plasma for later use. Drew established the National Blood Plasma Program for Britian and the United States, which saved countless lives during WWII. Drew was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1944.

Langston Hughes is regarded as one of the greatest poets in the American canon. He pulished 10 volumes of poetry and approximately 60 short stories. He also produced dramas, operas, and anthologies, in addition to his humorous books and two autobiographies. Hughes was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1960 as "Poet Laureate" of the Negro Race.

Oliver W. Hill. Sr. was a civil rights attorney who worked against racial discrimination and helped end the doctrine of “separate but equal.” He also helped win landmark legal decisions involving equality in pay for black teachers, access to school buses, voting rights, jury selection, and employment protection.

Grant Reynolds was a civil rights activist and attorney. In 1947, he along with A. Philip Randolph (right in photo), renewed efforts to end discrimination in thearmed services by forming the Committee Against Jim Crow in Military Service and Training, later renamed the League for Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation.

Bayard Rustin was a civil rights activist who campaigned against racially discriminatory “Jim Crow” laws and in 1937 worked to free the Scottsboro Boys. Rustin helped form the Congress of Racial Equality (“CORE”) and organized the first “Freedom Rides” in 1947. In 1956, he advised Martin Luther King, Jr. on non-violent resistance techniques as he was organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was an organizer of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was a principle organizer of the 1963 “March on Washington.”

L. Douglas Wilder is an attorney and politician, who served as the first African-American to be elected as governor of Virginia and first African-American governor of any state since Reconstruction. He is also the former mayor of Richmond, Va.

Robert H. Lawrence Jr. was the first African-American chosen to be an astronaut. He died in a 1967 plane crash.

Earl Graves Sr. is a publisher and businessman. He is the founder of Black Enterprise magazine and chairman of the media company Earl G. Graves, Ltd.

Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist, minister and politician. He ran for president in 1984 and 1988 as a Democrat and in 1988. He is the founder of Rainbow/PUSH.

Former David Satcher served as the U.S. Surgeon General from 1998-2001. He has also served as interim president of the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Tom Joyner is a nationally-syndicated radio host, social activist and philanthropist. The owner of Reach Media and other entities and Joyner has raised millions of dollars in scholarship funds and education and other social causes.

James Clyburn is the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 6th Congressional District, serving since 1993. He was previously House Majority Whip from 2007 to 2011.

Ronald McNair earned his undergraduate degree in physics from North Carolina A&T in 1971, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Later received doctorate in physics from MIT. McNair was an expert in laser physics. He studied in France and worked as a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratories before being selected for the Astronaut Corps in 1978. McNair died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.

Ozzie Newsome is a former All-Pro tight end for the Cleveland Browns, an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the current General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens. Newsome was instrumental in assembling two Super Bowl winning Baltimore Raven teams.

Charles Bolden is the current NASA Administrator and a former astronaut.

Keith Parker is the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) the nation’s 9th largest transit system. Parker took the helm of MARTA in December, 2012.

Michael Jordan is a basketball legend, NBA hall of fame member, successful businessman and now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association.

Shaquille O'Neal is a former professional basketball player, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is currently an analyst on Inside the NBA.

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Omega Psi Phi Fraternity started quietly enough on Nov. 17, 1911 at Howard University. The first four members of the organization -- the first black Greek fraternity founded on a black campus -- were three students (Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman and Edgar A. Love) and their advisor Ernest E. Just.

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