Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Members Reflect
on the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.:
Is Dr. King’s Message Still
Relevant?
on the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.:
Is Dr. King’s Message Still
Relevant?
| Martinez White (l) and Nate Kumapayi |
By Martinez White and Nate Kumapayi
Editor’s Note - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. among all of his other affiliations,
was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Two members of Mu Eta
Lambda Madison Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,
Martinez White and Nate Kumapayi, the chapter president, reflected on Dr.
King’s legacy.
It goes without saying that Dr. King was a man of his word. As an active
member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Dr. King pushed for the
Brotherhood to diligently practice our aims: Manly Deeds, Scholarship &
Love for All Mankind. By being intimately involved with the struggle of
disenfranchised people, Dr. King had an advantage that many educators and
leaders are without today. As a young man in Alpha, I believe in the dire
need to stay closely connected to the people who have a voice, but have
been ignored. During my initiation, it was made clear that Alpha’s biggest
interest lies outside of itself. As “Servants of All”, we have committed
ourselves to outlast the pain a person undergoes in their process of fighting
Editor’s Note - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. among all of his other affiliations,
was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Two members of Mu Eta
Lambda Madison Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,
Martinez White and Nate Kumapayi, the chapter president, reflected on Dr.
King’s legacy.
It goes without saying that Dr. King was a man of his word. As an active
member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Dr. King pushed for the
Brotherhood to diligently practice our aims: Manly Deeds, Scholarship &
Love for All Mankind. By being intimately involved with the struggle of
disenfranchised people, Dr. King had an advantage that many educators and
leaders are without today. As a young man in Alpha, I believe in the dire
need to stay closely connected to the people who have a voice, but have
been ignored. During my initiation, it was made clear that Alpha’s biggest
interest lies outside of itself. As “Servants of All”, we have committed
ourselves to outlast the pain a person undergoes in their process of fighting
for righteousness in humanity. This common bond is shared amongst all Alpha Brothers and is practiced amongst men in the four other
Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organizations — Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity, Inc. and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Every Alpha man takes upon the burden of upholding the aims our seven Jewels set forth for us 105 years ago. Dr. King made a
consistent effort to live out these aims in his daily workings and interactions with people. My charge not only as a member of this
Brotherhood, but also a world citizen, is to ensure that Dr. King’s vision is executed in a way relevant to struggling people in
contemporary society. As an Alpha Man in 2012, I often not only reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, but most importantly, on how I
can steadfastly spread his viral influence of unconditional love for all humanity, appreciation and celebration of diversity and to also
uplift the downtrodden. As you may imagine, this is not a mere undertaking, but it’s necessary.
Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs once a year, there are a myriad of injustices, inequities and cases, in this country and
around the world, where people are mistreated based on difference. It is my estimation that if he were alive today, Dr. King would be
invigorated to spread righteousness of the mind, much like the enduring efforts of Nelson Mandela. Watching the evening news, it’s
evident that with the rise of global hardship and economic recession, there’s a significant decline in people’s practice of basic
humanitarian values: love for our fellow neighbor, communal support and equitable education. With this understanding, I pledge to
diligently labor in the spirit of Dr. King and all those who rendered their lives and the lives of their loved ones to ensure a better
tomorrow for generations to come. Please trust, there is no harm in joining me. There’s more work to be done. I’m quite sure Dr. King
would appreciate your enduring efforts!
With the state of American today, Dr. King would be impressed with a number of aspects of the country and otherwise disappointed in
others. In terms of what he would be pleased with include the positive waves that have been made in the world of politics. During the
civil rights movement era, it was truly just a dream that the United States would ever have a president of color… and here we are with
President Obama in office. Dr. King may also applaud the advancements of academics in terms of the college enrollment of minorities
and the prevalence of minority educators at all levels of academia.
Martinez White currently serves as a Freshman Admissions Counselor in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. He can be reached by e-mail at mwhite@uwalumni.com.
In contrast, Dr. King may also be disheartened by other aspects of this country that do in fact exist. Dr. King may witness the youth in this
country and great amount of a disregard for authority. The increasing levels of crime-related activities has become an epidemic in
certain metropolitan areas of the United States and based of Dr. King’s teachings, that type of mentality and behavior is definitely not
advancing the forward movement of our people.”
Nate Kumapayi currently serves as President of the Mu Eta Lambda Madison Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organizations — Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity, Inc. and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Every Alpha man takes upon the burden of upholding the aims our seven Jewels set forth for us 105 years ago. Dr. King made a
consistent effort to live out these aims in his daily workings and interactions with people. My charge not only as a member of this
Brotherhood, but also a world citizen, is to ensure that Dr. King’s vision is executed in a way relevant to struggling people in
contemporary society. As an Alpha Man in 2012, I often not only reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, but most importantly, on how I
can steadfastly spread his viral influence of unconditional love for all humanity, appreciation and celebration of diversity and to also
uplift the downtrodden. As you may imagine, this is not a mere undertaking, but it’s necessary.
Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs once a year, there are a myriad of injustices, inequities and cases, in this country and
around the world, where people are mistreated based on difference. It is my estimation that if he were alive today, Dr. King would be
invigorated to spread righteousness of the mind, much like the enduring efforts of Nelson Mandela. Watching the evening news, it’s
evident that with the rise of global hardship and economic recession, there’s a significant decline in people’s practice of basic
humanitarian values: love for our fellow neighbor, communal support and equitable education. With this understanding, I pledge to
diligently labor in the spirit of Dr. King and all those who rendered their lives and the lives of their loved ones to ensure a better
tomorrow for generations to come. Please trust, there is no harm in joining me. There’s more work to be done. I’m quite sure Dr. King
would appreciate your enduring efforts!
With the state of American today, Dr. King would be impressed with a number of aspects of the country and otherwise disappointed in
others. In terms of what he would be pleased with include the positive waves that have been made in the world of politics. During the
civil rights movement era, it was truly just a dream that the United States would ever have a president of color… and here we are with
President Obama in office. Dr. King may also applaud the advancements of academics in terms of the college enrollment of minorities
and the prevalence of minority educators at all levels of academia.
Martinez White currently serves as a Freshman Admissions Counselor in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. He can be reached by e-mail at mwhite@uwalumni.com.
In contrast, Dr. King may also be disheartened by other aspects of this country that do in fact exist. Dr. King may witness the youth in this
country and great amount of a disregard for authority. The increasing levels of crime-related activities has become an epidemic in
certain metropolitan areas of the United States and based of Dr. King’s teachings, that type of mentality and behavior is definitely not
advancing the forward movement of our people.”
Nate Kumapayi currently serves as President of the Mu Eta Lambda Madison Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
