THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC
February / March 2008
Vol. 1, No. 4
KXL Visits the African Burial Ground By Bros. Jioha Amatokwu and David Jones Kappa Xi Lambda is partnering with the New York Urban League Young Professionals (NYULYP) and the Black and Hispanic MBA Association (BHMBAA) at Fordham University to tour the historic African Burial Ground (ABG) in Lower Manhattan in celebration of Black History Month. From the 1690s until the 1790s, both free and enslaved Africans were buried in a 6.6 acre burial ground in Lower Manhattan, outside the boundaries of the settlement of New Amsterdam, later known as New York. Lost to history due to landfill and development, the grounds were rediscovered in 1991 as a consequence of the planned construction of a Federal office building. A memorial at the African Burial Ground National Monument honors the memories of the estimated 15,000 Africans buried at the site in the 17th and 18th centuries. The tours will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9th and 23rd at 2pm meeting close to the Federal Building at 290 Broadway (near Broadway & Duane). Please visit www.wallstreetalphas.com/events/abg/ for more details and to RSVP. Space is limited.
Black and Male in America By Bro. Brian Pruitt and Kelso Anderson Kevin Powell’s Black and Male in America (BAMIA) conference began on Father’s Day 2007. Since that time Powell has focused on some aspect of African-American self development in monthly workshops in Brooklyn, NY. January’s workshop was led by poet and author Mo Beasley who led an interactive exchange between the fifty or so black male audience members around the workshop topic entitled: “Black Males & Understanding Self Hate.” Using sprightly dramatization and spoken word, Beasley captured the essence of black male self-hate in his own life by reminiscing on personal experiences he had resolving conflict with family members. Beasley’s presentation was well-received by the audience who collectively appeared to nod knowingly when Beasley recounted his experiences. Continued on page 6
President’s Letter Dear Brothers: By the time you read this letter, we would have had our first meeting of 2008 under our belt and this year promises to be one of great significance to us as a brotherhood and a country. Alphas everywhere are faced with participating in not one but two elections this year! As you know, we are electing our 33rd General President and electing a new president of our country. Fortunately for the fraternity, we have two outstanding candidates, one of whom will be charged with reinvigorating the brotherhood, rescuing us from the margins of irrelevancy and continuing to push us into the technological age of the 21st century. All financial brothers will receive a ballot in the mail from the General Office in April 2008. Brothers, please don’t take this election for granted. We, as an organization, need to send a message to the next General President that we have concerns and issues that need to be addressed in order to continue the grand legacy of “manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind.” I am imploring all brothers to vote and send a clear mandate that the brotherhood has an expectation of our next national leader of commitment, innovation and service. Whether you are partial to Bro. Skip Mason or Bro. Darryl Peal, all that matters is that you vote. My hope is that we receive the ballots early enough so that a brother can bring his ballot Continued on Page 2
Inside this Edition 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
President’s Letter Editor’s Report What is Brotherhood? A Voteless People is a Hopeless People 227 Abolitionist Place – Freedoms Front Door 7 Questions – Bro. Marc H. Morial A Frat and Soror story