I am fortunate to be blessed to celebrate 50 years as a member of the illustrious noble bond of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I would never debate any African American male on their choice or love for their chosen fraternity, but I personally thank God daily in helping me choose Kappa Alpha Psi, which has played a positive and instrumental role in my life. This column is based on my own personal experience and observation as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
I cannot begin to express in words the significant role my fraternity has played in my life, in exposing me to a unique caliber of extraordinary brothers and exceptional mentors leading by example. I only wish other young Black men could be blessed with the exposure and guidance by other men, especially Black men sincerely committed to helping uplift the best qualities one has to offer. When one Black man is uplifted, we all benefit and are uplifted.
When I look back, I was a naïve excited 18 year old male student at Tennessee State University, away from home for the first time, experiencing new friendships and looking for guidance in fulfilling my academic goals. It was bittersweet because of the unknown. I found I was not alone because other young men were feeling the same as myself, looking for guidance and a brotherly bond offering them support and assurance going forward.
The fraternal bond my line brothers and I found in Kappa was a blessing, because being a Black man in America you are confronted with perplexities that other men will never know. Black men need each other’s support in navigating through life. I feel the brotherhood found in Kappa Alpha Psi as well as other fraternities is needed and immeasurable.
I found this lifelong bond in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to be heaven sent. In 1973, my line brothers consisting of young Black men throughout Tennessee and other states were fortunate to become members of this prestigious bond in the Alpha Theta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi at Tennessee State University. Our line was named The Cold Blooded 22, sometimes The Coldblooded 22 or even lately known as The Koldblooded 22. We forged a lifetime bond that has thus far endured for half of a century. Unfortunately, out of our line consisting of 22 brothers, along the way we have lost 4 brothers to our Chapter Invisible.
As Kappas, we have enjoyed a bond of exceptional camaraderie and love extending our families to bonus brothers and loved ones. In some cases, we have found our fraternity brothers to be closer to us than our biological siblings. We have been involved in the most intimate events in each other lives whether it be graduations, marriages, anniversaries, births, vacations, and deaths. It has been during life’s most challenging and trying times, the brothers have been there for each other.
I am extremely proud when I see my Kappa brothers achieving in every field of human endeavor. They are prevalent in sports as athletes and coaches, in education, the media and health care fields, in entertainment as actors and singers, as writers and media commentators and specialists, as movers in corporate America, as prolific ministers, and as professional entrepreneurs. They are at the center of the world stage, manifesting and profiling the best professional Black men have to offer. They do us all proud, as well as all the other Black fraternities. The same can be said about our Black sororities, uplifting and serving their communities.
Kappa has enhanced me spiritually, reinforcing my ethics, morals and love for God, helping me be a better family man, and instilling in me the desire to work diligently in community service. I truly hope my Kappa brothers and I have served as commendable and honorable conduits for other young men to follow. Knowing the service that our fraternities and sororities as a whole offer to the world, I could never be gullible to rhetoric but those seeking to oppress us by portraying African Americans as inferior and incompetent. I can honestly say my fraternity and other fraternities and sororities debunk that myth.
During TSU’s 2023 Homecoming, my line, The Cold Blooded 22, will be able to come together and celebrate 50 years of being in what we consider the best fraternity in the world, Kappa Alpha Psi. Our continuing thanks to God for his mercy and grace in keeping us under his wings.
Kudos to the 1973 line, The Cold Blooded 22: Curtis W, Bradley, Bernard A McCray, Everett Rucker, Everard Thompson, Stanford Wilson, Jerry Pugh, Guy Spells, Stanley Reese, Reginald Young, Clarence Goldthree, Ronald Chapman, Wayne Fleming, Anthony W. McAdoo Sr., Juan Gipson, David Taylor, Cass F. L. Teague Jr., Henry D, Moore, Dewayne Armstrong, Reginald W. Reser, Micheal Elion, Frederick U. Brazzle, and William T. Robinson Jr.
