Greetings Brothers!
As this marks the beginning of Black History Month, we find it fitting to revisit the history of this month’s celebration of Black faith, survival, perseverance, uplift, accomplishment, contribution, community, and consciousness originally conceived and put in motion by the men of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Most of us reading this are aware of this important history inspired and forged by Brothers like Dr. Carter G. Woodson, John H. Purnell, and Lynwood G. Koger, and others. In honor of their pioneering contributions and in recognition of the beginning of Black History Month, this week’s Monday Pearl invites and encourages you to read (or in most cases read again) Chapter VIII Inspiring Race Pride from the Dreer history book (attached) and a newspaper clipping from the November 30, 1921 edition of The Indianapolis Star newspaper. The latter is an article titled “Self Reliance for Negros Speech Democracy and the Man Far Down Hampton Institute”. This speech is referenced in the Dreer and reported to have been originally delivered by Brother Dr. Carter G. Woodson at the 1920 Grand Conclave in Nashville, TN. A transcript of the speech continues to elude this committee, however, the aforementioned article provides a relatively contemporaneous account of Woodson’s message, much of which remains relevant today.
Self Reliance for Negros Speech Democracy and the Man Far Down Hampton Institute (The Indianapolis Star – scroll down to the middle of the clipping) – https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64010419/self-reliance-for-negros-speech/
Read More – Dreer_Ch3_InspiringRacePride
Make it a great month Brothers. Be noble!
F.I.E.T.T.S.
3rd District History and Archives Committee
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The Monday Pearl is provided by the Third District History and Archives Committee and is a weekly sharing of fraternity content, commentary, and research of historical value we hope Brothers will enjoy and from which Brothers will draw inspiration. Previous “Pearls” can be found at http://3rddistrictques.org/about-us/overview/monday-pearl/. The Committee encourages your feedback. Should you have reactions, comments, information, anecdotes, documents, and the like, related to any of the content we share, we’d very much like to hear from you. Please send all communication to 3dhistoryandarchives@gmail.com.
