Omega Psi Phi Fraternity: A Community Analysis

Within communities there are various principles and responsibilities that each member holds: many are specific to the individual but, many are shared. In this, organizations are formed to carry out these various principles and responsibilities on a large scale to have a more prevalent impact upon their communities. In the process of advancing the black community in the United States of America, the nation that has oppressed them for generations, to one of relevance, black fraternities and sororities dedicated to service were formed on college campuses during the turn of the 20th century. Each of these organizations has a set of cardinal principles or pillars from which they are guided in operation. On November 17, 1911 on the campus of Howard
In context to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., by being uplifted, one has the best opportunity to embody all of the organization’s cardinal principles: manhood, scholarship, perseverance and of course, uplift. In the organization’s seasonal publication, The Oracle, the editor of the Fall/Winter 2008 issue, Reverend Brother Walter T. Richardson, Ph.D., explains the concept. Stating that, “the possession of uplift presumes the control of manhood, the attainment of scholarship, and the gift of perseverance.” Rev. Dr. Richardson was speaking on a reality that the black community pines for. If those members of the black community who manage to face all odds and attain tangible success in this world, would take the time out of their lives to reach out to and uplift their community, their community would elevate exponentially. In the United States a majority of the black community resides in underdeveloped urban communities, where survival is prioritized over education. This contributes to the fact that 1 in every 15 black men are currently incarcerated in the country and account for more than half of the nation’s prison population. If one were to account for black men who have spent time in prison along with the currently incarcerated that number leaps to 1 of 8. If the community were to support the education and entrepreneurial ventures of their men and women they would be given the opportunity to then come into know themselves: manhood/womanhood while pursing scholarship. Also, if done properly the members of the community will be given the chance to learn to earn what it is they need and want and will consequently instill in them the principle of