Unveiling the myths behind stereotypes of the black community, we used live polls and videos to the blow the minds of students.
With special guest Mathata Moe Mpela, founder of the South African organization, Nalane, we discussed and strategized innovative ways to invest money in Pan-African communities.
This event brought together black faculty and students for the purpose of networking, establishing a familial community, and strengthening the power blacks have on the campus of St. John's University. Furthermore, it sought to increase black retention and graduation rates among students by bridging the gap between administrative and student populations.
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The St. John's University takeover by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
This event engaged students in ideas of gender privilege within the black community. Furthermore, it drew on the cases of Michael Brown and Renisha McBride, two situations of violence against black men and women. How does gender play a role in justice for the black community.
What is the right way to treat a woman? What is the right way to treat a man? What is the definition of creating a royal family? This event sought to identify the foundation of a "royal" family, and how we can prepare for the right person to come into our life and how we can build strong families.
Fundraising to give money to multiple homeless shelters in preparation of Thanksgiving, people donated money and cans. We watched the movie, Brown Sugar, and ate fried chicken and blueberry waffles. Everyone truly enjoyed their night.
In honor of Bro. James Weldon Johnson, we analyzed Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, the Negro National Anthem. Understanding the tools used in the poem and song, we applied those tools to our own poetry. Subsequently we used themes that we understood from Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing as themes for our own poetry. We wrote poetry on those themes from the perspective of our grandparents, ourselves, and our future grandchildren. Lastly, we worked on performance skills by figuring out movements for every single word in our poems.
Five outstanding poets from St. John's University and the New York City community competed for $50 in the Promote Positivity Poetry Slam. This event was invigorating, compelling, and filled to capacity.
The Minds of Black Intellectuals focused on a few of many great Sigma Men, their accomplishments, their upbringing, their strategies, and how their philosophies relate to our individual success.
Ten contestants tested their spelling abilities with words from Urban Dictionary. The winner of the spelling bee received a $50 cash prize.
To celebrate the closing of the year, we held our annual Blue & White Cookout. Sigmas and Zetas from across New York, as well as St. John's students, enjoyed barbecue and music.