Phi Beta Sigma

History

HISTORY OF Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The Founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

The Founders deeply wished to create an organization that viewed itself as “a part of” the general community rather than “apart from” the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged by his own merits rather than his family background or affluence…without regard to race, nationality, skin tone, or texture of hair. They desired for their fraternity to exist as part of an even greater brotherhood that would be devoted to the “inclusive we” rather than the “exclusive we.”

From its inception, the Founders also conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves and their immediate families, they held a deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This deep conviction was mirrored in the Fraternity’s motto, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.”

Today, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entity, members of the Fraternity have been instrumental in the establishment of the Phi Beta Sigma National Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union, and The Sigma Beta Club Foundation. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, founded in 1920 with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, is the sister organization of the Fraternity.

Programs

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is an international organization comprised of 150,000 college-educated men and built primarily on the ideology of promoting Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. Over its one-hundred-plus years of existence, the Fraternity has focused on improving the global community through dedicated service. This focus has compelled the development of the organization’s four main programs: Bigger and Better Business, Education, Social Action, and Sigma Beta Clubs that embrace these objectives:

We are Phi Beta Sigma

Brotherhood

The Alpha Alpha Gamma Sigma brothers of Phi Beta Sigma embody the profound spirit of brotherhood, a cornerstone principle of our organization's foundation. These dedicated Men of Sigma ardently believe in the transformative power of mentorship and education, recognizing it as the path toward progress for individuals and communities. With this conviction, we extend scholarships to those committed to advancing themselves and their surroundings, fostering positive change—the kind of "Good Trouble" that propels us all towards collective betterment.

Since our inception in 2010 in Spring Lake, North Carolina, by esteemed founding members, including the Honorable Chris V. Rey, the late Dr. Paul E. Jones (Omega Brother), JerMaine Kearney, Lawrence Smalls, and Durwin Boone, our chapter has remained steadfast in its commitment to uplifting our fellow men and nurturing the next generation through meaningful social action initiatives.

Scholarship

Since we are an Alumni chapter, the importance of education is another pillar held in high regard. Some of our most prominent members are educators and mentors to the local communities in which they reside. We have offered scholarships and other educational opportunities to individuals we have worked with over the years, most of whom are rising students transitioning into college.

Service

Phi Beta Sigma prides itself on giving back to our communities by assisting in community projects and sponsoring local businesses. We aim to empower and ensure that our communities thrive.