Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded January 16, 1920 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. by five coeds. These women dared to depart from the traditional coalitions for Black women and sought to establish a new organization predicated on the precepts of Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood. The trail blazed by the founders has been traversed by thousands of women dedicated to the emulation of the objectives and ideals of the Sorority. The sorority was the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (1948); to form adult and youth auxiliary groups, the Amicae, Archonettes, Amicettes, and Pearlettes; and to be constitutionally bound to a brother group, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. Zeta’s national and local programs include endowment of its National Educational Foundation; community outreach services; and support of multiple affiliate organizations. Zeta chapters and auxiliary groups have given untotaled hours of voluntary service to educate the public, assist youth, provide scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change. A nonprofit organization, Zeta Phi Beta is incorporated in Washington, D.C. and in the state of Illinois. The Sorority is supported by the dues and gifts of its members. Here are a few of their famous members.

Violette Anderson - First African American attorney.

Zora Neale Hurston - Writer and anthropologist. One of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Zora Neale Hurston has been recognized as one othe premier writers of her day. Her legacy is now recognized at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival held every year in Eatonville, Florida (her hometown).

Esther Rolle – She is best known for her role as Florida on the long running CBS television series, Good Times. She was recently featured in Rosewood and Down in the Delta.

Dione Warwick – Singer, Among her other hits are the #1 “Then Came You” (with The Spinners) andthe Grammy winning “That’s What Friends Are For” (with Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Elton John), She earned seven Top 40 singles in the Eighties alone, Overall, she’s garnered one platinum, five gold albums including 1985’s Friends) and five Grammy Awards.

Tonea Harris Stewart – Best known for her role as Aunt Etta in the TV show “In the Heat of the Night”. She recently starred as Samuel Jackson’s wife in the motion picture “A Time To Kill”.

Sarah Lois Vaughan – On October 1942, she entered and won the ‘Amateur Night’ contest held at New York’s famed Apollo Theatre. She was launched on a career where she sang with such greats as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Art Blakey and Budd Johnson -legendary founders of the modernist ‘Be-Bop’ era. Once she had gone solo – as she was to stay for the rest of her career – she began to establish herself as a force in her own right.

Sheryl Underwood – Comedian. Considered one of the boldest women in comedy she has appeared in shows such as Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, BET’s comic view, and the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars. She also donates 5% of all her road earnings to her beloved sorority.

Anita Turpeau Anderson – First woman on the debate team at Howard University .

Alyce Gullantee, Ph. D. – First black psychiatrist to receive an Emmy.

Minnie Ripperton – Her 70’s soul classic “Loving Youu”, was entitled “A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Center of the Ultra world” (1989). The record was eventually a hit, but its greater significance lies in its claim to being the first ever ambient house record.

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First woman on the debate team at Howard University.

I’m always for evolution. Problem solving, business modules and marketing schemes change everyday and have become more successful than the old ones. People are more creative and tend to adapt to their environments more effectively than ever now. However, even though we embrace change, the pillars of which businesses, organizations and families are built on, have stayed the same. The foundation stays the same.

In 2004, the only organization on Long Island with Varsity Letterman jackets was the Alphas. There weren’t many of them but those who had them were pretty exclusive. They usually wore them at events or probates. Everyone had their spring crossing jackets— neos and old heads alike but the Varsity was the shit! T-shirts were the norm, as well as pins, bags, tikis and hats. Unless you’re an old head making a visit to your alma mater or heading to step correct, nobody really wears paraphernalia anymore.

In 2005, we took to the Varsity Letterman jacket and turned it into a Diamond Konnection must-have. Since then, about ninety percent of Kappa’s in New York have at least one in their closet. From Binghamton and Albany to St. Johns and Columbia, if you were made in New York, you should have one. This was our downfall. We put so much emphasis on our Red Sea campaign that we built a monster within the Frat and now it’s spilling out of our hands. Luckily for us, it’s not just Kappa.

When dealing with historically Black Greek Lettered Organizations, the members of the so-called cre?me-de-la-cre?me organizations should have a shorter fuse for their younger members when it comes to representation. Everyone has their own vices and party methods, whether its alcohol, weed, pills or whatever, for the most part, Greeks do a good job of keeping that aspect of their cliques hidden. But the style of dress has literally KILLED the mystique and respect of our Organizations.

As young members put more emphasis on the individuality of their Para game, the pants sag lower, the sneakers get looser and the hair-thin line between Bloods and Kappa’s and Sigma’s and Crips gets even thinner. The reality is, there are Great 8 members that did gangbang back in the day but I thought going to college was to get away from that? I’m from Flatbush, I’m not going to run around throwin’ up my chapter with one hand and my ‘hood with the other. Would Diggs approve of that? Definitely not.

I come across brother of every organization that can’t even tie ties. There’s no excuse for a 20-year-old man not knowing how to tie a tie. Yeah fine, you grew up without a father, but now that you’re Greek, how many brothers do you have? We took pride in tying a Windsor knot over a fly dress-shirt, under an even flyer blazer or sweater. Now that the Varsity Letterman, the Kanye West-esque style and skinny jeans are in abundance, the Kappa bowtie, Alpha briefcase and Omega business suits have “For Sale” signs on them. More and more young Brothers of Organizations are bailing out.
The Varsity is expensive, that’s a given. But your conversations shouldn’t sound like this just because you dropped $600 on it: “Ay bruh, what y’all wearing tonight?” “Shit, I’m just gonna throw on this white tee and my Varsity…”
That’s disgusting. Nowadays, it seems like the only difference between GDI’s and Frat members are the letters. The programs have gotten worse, the dress has gotten worse and most importantly, grades have gotten worse. What’s going on guys? When are we going to revamp the morale of our Orgs?

I make a motion to call everyone from Spring ’90 to Fall 2006 to individual Org’ meetings and change this before it destroys us. Trust me, it could happen to you! Strong Island Alphas, Diamond Konnection Nupes, All-Madden Ques and New York Sigmas, PLEASE TAKE A STAND AND ABOLISH THE VARSITY LETTERMAN JACKET! Lets start there. Pull up the pants of your young boys and tell them it’s not okay to wear Jordans to a chapter meeting. #comeonson!

Signing off,

Paul Johnson Jr.
Writer/Director Rainy Days Films, LLC

PaulSJohnson10@yahoo.com / @Paul_Johnson_Jr
Mu Omicron Chapter, SP. 2004 / #3

Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity. Inc.