President Bill Clinton set to join the traditionally black greek fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma

[aaaaaa5a]

The men of Phi Beta Sigma are hosting their National Conclave this week in New Orleans, Louisiana.


---snip----


According to sources in New Orleans yesterday the men of this brotherhood voted on several members to be inducted into the fraternity at a later date.

One of those men is former President Bill Clinton and the other is Rev. Al Sharpton.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has not confirmed this information as of yet but sources in New Orleans who wish to remain anonymous have confirmed that this order of business has been voted on and both men will be inducted later this year.


---snip----

If Bill Clinton is inducted into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. he will be the first former President of the United States to become a member of a historically black greek lettered organization. Congratulations to former President Bill Clinton and the brotherhood of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity


----snip----


UPDATE

It has been confirmed that former President Bill Clinton, activist Rev. Al Sharpton and iconic entertainer Stevie Wonder have all been approved by the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc to be inducted as honorary members of this illustrious fraternity.





Full story here:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4839-Philadelphia-HipHop-Music-Examiner~y2009m7d9-President-Bill-Clinton-set-to-join-Phi-Beta-Sigma




Congratulations to President Clinton. I am sure everyone is glad to have you as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma and in the circle of black organizations.

[Clio the Leo]

1. So will Hillary become a Sigma Dove? :-) NT

[AspenRose]

16. She was invited to go AKA and iniatially accepted, then refused.

"United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Senator, First Lady and wife of President Bill Clinton, initially accepted honorary membership into Alpha Kappa Alpha, but later declined due to the sorority's exclusive requirements preventing acceptance into other NPHC organizations."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Kappa_Alpha

[Captain Hilts]

2. Cool! Go, Bubba!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. That frat has good taste!

Big Dawg and Stevie Wonder and Rev. Al!

[aaaaaa5a]

4. What a concert that would be!

Bid Dawg on the sax, and Stevie on the piano!

[FrenchieCat]

5. Interesting.....

not that I have ever been a big fan of fraternity and sorority clubs of this sort.

Guess they have an historical reason that is meaningful though....
the fact that White folks wouldn't let them join their clubs
as of not that long ago.

My daughter who just recently graduated from college,
never as a Black student ever bothered joining any sorority....
Guess times may be changing.

[aaaaaa5a]

6. I am sorry for the personal question...

but is that a picture of your daughter in your sig. If so, she is real beautiful. You must be proud.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Thanks!

That's my youngest.

I have two.

The one in the photo just completed her first year of college.

[aaaaaa5a]

8. congratulations! NT

[FrenchieCat]

9. Thanks!

:hi:

[karynnj]

15. She is gorgeous

[AspenRose]

17. She could still join in a grad chapter if she were ever interested

Grad chapters abound

[angee_is_mad]

10. Oh lord

he is working overtime to get back in our good graces. You gotta respect the man's hustle if nothing else.

[aaaaaa5a]

13. I think people forget that before the ridiculous primary accusations

Bill Clinton was real good with race relations. I think he was a good U.S. President. I don't think he is trying to get back into good graces. I think he is just returning home.

[AspenRose]

18. LOL

:D

[Beacool]

20. I sincerely doubt it.

Not every AA feels that Bill needs "to get back in their good graces".

Bill Clinton may be a lot of things, but a racist is not one of them.

;)

[angee_is_mad]

37. I expect you to say that

and I respect your point of view. Just realize that everyone doesn't feel the same as you. Peace Out!

[politicasista]

22. LOL!

:rofl:

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. They're gonna put him in the section with these guys

:rofl:

[Number23]

12. Why?

[HamdenRice]

14. Cool! Those are my brothers! I pledged Sigma in college. Here's a bit of background

The historically black fraternities and sororities are somewhat different from white fraternities and sororities. For example, there are fewer of them, and they have a stronger national identity. They are more like the masons or other national fraternal organizations than your typical "mainstream" college fraternities.

Members generally are more likely to stay active long after college, and engage in various civic activities, especially raising money for scholarships. I had a small Sigma scholarship from the local chapter in my neighborhood in New York, long before I pledged in college (in Boston). My sister also received a scholarship from the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the historically black sororities.

Depending on how you count them, there are basically only 8 of them (although some add one more and call them the "divine nine").

Most of the historically black fraternities were founded at Howard University and spread nationally to other historically black colleges, and as universities desegregated to other universities.

Here is a bit of controversial history, though, and I'm going to admit my bias and tell it from the Sigma perspective.

There was a lot of internal class and color division at Howard early in the 20th century. This was only 50-60 years after slavery, during which many illegitimate children of slave masters by slave women were given advantages on southern white farms, leading to advantages that continued after freedom. For example many of the skilled craftsman-slaves of the slave era were of mixed race.

By the 1910s when the fraternities were founded, these color divisions persisted at places like Howard. There were relatively middle class light skinned students and poorer, darker students.

At the time Sigma was founded, the fraternities were geared toward the light skinned students. Some social activities applied the so called "paper bag test" -- meaning you had to be lighter than a paper bag to join.

Sigma was founded specifically for the poorer, darker students. As a result it placed much more emphasis on public service and academic achievement. This continued down the years. When I pledged, while the pledges of other black fraternities in Boston were doing all sorts of meaningless tasks and pranks, our "line" organized an academic conference, raised money by playing wheelchair basketball with disabled vets, wrote business plans, and things like that.

In the mid century, the color line was still somewhat in effect, and as schools like Howard and Lincoln recruited African students, those students generally joined Sigma because they were obviously darker and poorer, and not from "connected" families.

A result though was that these young African students returned home and became involved in their countries' independent movements. So Sigma counts among its late members, two African who both led independence movements and became heads of state -- Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nigeria) and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana).

So welcome Bill, you'll be the third "president" in our frat!

[AspenRose]

19. Poor Iotas, can't catch a break

"Depending on how you count them, there are basically only 8 of them (although some add one more and call them the "divine nine")."


:rofl:


Seriously, though, if the NPHC includes the Iotas (and they do), then they should be included. The count should be nine.

"The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC) is a coalition of the nine (9) largest historically African American Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, currently representing over 1.5 million members internationally. The organization boasts a diverse membership comprised of students, celebrities, corporate, political and community leaders. Its affiliate membership includes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., **Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.,** Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc."

http://www.nphchq.org/

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. That is very interesting! I hadn't heard of the paper bag test. Either

bags are lighter in tone now than they were back then or they really didn't allow for much, did they?

[Fire1]

27. Hamden, Clinton strikes me as more of a Kappa. n/t

[AspenRose]

28. That's what I was thinking

GMTA

[Number23]

29. Ha!!

:thumbsup:

A newly pledged Kappa on his first prowl! :rofl:

[HamdenRice]

36. That or a Q-DOG !!!

Emphasis on Dog!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Odin2005]

39. Very interesting!

I was never into the Frat thing, except for the bioscience major organization Beta Beta Beta.

[Beacool]

21. Well, he was the first black president.........

:7

[jesus_of_suburbia]

23. Bea, don't say that!

Oh, I forgot... you didn't say it... Toni Morrison said it in 1998.





I hope we can say Barack is the first gay president by the end of his presidency!

[asphalt.jungle]

25. but at least you're waiting for him to do something before you give him that title

Bill Clinton didn't have to do anything. Pure nonsense on her part.

[Beacool]

30. You like to live dangerously, my friend.

:D


:hi:

[Raineyb]

41. I really wish people would put that quote into context

You make it sound as though he were an honorary brother when she was discussing his treatment by the media after Monica Lewinsky revelation.

[aaaaaa5a]

31. There are some interesting stats to back that up.

In 1992 Bill Clinton was elected President with just 42% of the vote. However he won just 38% of the white vote. But he had over 90% of the black vote. And that's how he won.


It's kind of amazing to have a man elected President of the U.S. with 62% of the white population voting for a different candidate.

[invictus]

32. Not "a different candidate." Two different candidates.

That 62% white vote was split between Bush Sr. and Ross Perot. Blacks voted reliably for the Democrat only to get shafted by brother Bill's welfare reform.

[aaaaaa5a]

34. True it was split....

but without the unified black vote, Clinton would not have won.

The welfare reform bill was a result of the GOP congress of the mid 90's. And that was because of the congressional elections of 1994.


That's why Obama being ripped by the left (and DU) is so stupid. Obama doesn't want a repeat of 1994 in 2010. That's why he moves to the left cautiously. But people here aren't smart enough to figure it out.

[Catherine Vincent]

26. That's my dawg!

[dascientist]

33. I am a Sigma and I feel a certain way about this .......

......

[marimour]

35. that is sooo random....

but he is from Arkansas and most sigmas i've met were country (in a good way) as hell.

[Number23]

38. lol!

Too true! :rofl:

But I still love me some boys in blue. :)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. Billy Bob doesn't deserve to be honored with the likes of Rev. Al and Stevie.

[Orsino]

42. I wanna see his step show.

The Big Dawg's fancy footwork might be fancy enough.