# MALIK (fraternity)

MALIK Fraternity, Inc., previously known as MALIK Sigma Psi or MΣΨ, is an American multicultural intercollegiate fraternity founded in 1977, at CW Post College of Long Island University for men of color. Rather than refer to themselves as black Greeks, they use the term "Afrikan Fraternalists". Though mainly aimed toward Black, Brown, and Latino men, MALIK has members of all races, ethnicities, and creeds.

## History

Roland K. Hawkins, Larry B. Martin, and Darryl L. Mitchell first conceived of the fraternity and are known as its Khalifas. In its organizational state, the Khalifas defined the fraternity's values as "S.N.A.K.E.": Success, Nobility, Achievement, Knowledge, and Enlightenment. The Khalifas recruited twelve more founders, later called the Sir Crowns of MALIK Sigma Psi because every king has a crown. The Sir Crowns of MALIK Sigma Psi were:
* James Banks
* Joseph Diaz Jr.
* Edward Harris
* Ernest Heyward
* Lethorne Johnson
* George Lembrecht
* Kyle Little
* Anthony Pitts
* Edward Rivers
* Kevin Simon
* Bryant Stafford
* Al Washington
Together these 15 men established MALIK Sigma Psi on May 18, 1977, at CW Post College of Long Island University. MALIK was founded as, and still is, a social justice fraternity. Its founders were men of color; several were of Latino ancestry.
Although a fraternity, the founders set the precedence of being very open with information, symbols, and knowledge, a major departure from the very secretive nature of traditional fraternalism. Ideologically, MALIK is against the idea of black Greeks. It organizes its Kingdoms (chapters) according to the Arabic alphabet as opposed to Greek letters. Rather than referring to themselves as being black Greeks, members of MALIK use the term "Afrikan Fraternalists". The group did not join the National Pan Hellenic Council.
MALIK was incorporated in the State of New York in 1979. On May 18, 2002, MALIK Sigma Psi transitioned its name to MALIK Fraternity, Inc. The fraternity still uses the acronym MSP, though it has a completely separate meaning from MΣΨ.
In October 2023, MALIK joined the National Multicultural Greek Council, as it was a better fit for the fraternity's vision of multiculturalism.

## Symbols and traditions

African Fraternalism includes such beliefs as the African origin of civilization, reclaiming the stolen legacy of African knowledge, the oneness of all African peoples, the importance of ritual and initiation, the value of a male ritual kinship system, respect for and seeking equal partnership with women, the reception and cultivation of the Spirit of Learning, the necessity of serving the community, the calling to work on one's personal and spiritual development, the study and promotion of "MALIKology" and African symbology, and the usage of African symbolism.
MALIKology is the Fraternity's interpretation of the "science of manhood." The acronym MALIK is represented as Manhood, Achievement, Leadership, Integrity, and Knowledge. It is a synthesis of science, history, philosophy, and cultural values and practices from the African Diaspora about the nature, purpose, direction, function, and responsibility of manhood. The group's name partially comes from the Arabic name of Malcolm X.
The group had originally used an entirely Swahili and Arabic name but were forced to change it because of New York's requirement that all college fraternities must have at least two Greek letters in their name. In this case the M is the Latin Alphabet, as opposed to being a Mu while the Σ and Ψ are both Greek letters. The name of the fraternity can also be written as "ملك" or "م ل ك", reflecting the fraternity's use of the Arabic abjad as opposed to the Greek alphabet.
The fraternity's motto is "The Mind is the Standard of the Man". Its pillars are Manhood, Achievement, Leadership, Integrity, and knowledge. Its colors are orange and black. Its symbol is The Angry Afrikan. Its mascot is the snake. Its members are called The Kings, The Steel, and Velvet Brothers. Its publication is The Crown.

## Foundation

In 2013, the MALIK Foundation, Incorporated was established as an IRC Section 501(c)(3) "to ensure the freedom, resilience and wellness of African and African Diasporic communities..." The Foundation holds an annual fundraising dinner called the Black History Month Gala. The foundation's focus areas are male youth development, community resilience, and leadership development.

## Chapters
### Collegiate

The undergraduate kingdoms (chapters) of MALIK are named after the letters in the Arabic alphabet in the common hijāʾī order. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
| Number | Kingdom | Symbol | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| 1 | Genesis | | May 13, 1977 | LIU Post | Brookville, New York | Inactive |
| 2 | Alif | ا | 1978 | New York Institute of Technology | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| 3 | Ba | ب | 1980 | Rutgers University | New Jersey | Inactive |
| 4 | Taa | ت | 1981 | Hofstra University | Hempstead and Uniondale, New York | Inactive |
| 5 | Thaa | ث | 1982 | Adelphi University | Garden City, New York | Inactive |
| 6 | Jeem | ج | 1984 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York | Active |
| 7 | Ha | ح | 1991 | Norfolk State University | Norfolk, Virginia | Inactive |
| 8 | Kha | خ | 1994 | State University of New York at Old Westbury | Old Westbury, New York | Active |
| 9 | Dal | د | 1994 | University at Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | Inactive |
| 10 | Thal | ذ | 1998 | Farmingdale State College | East Farmingdale, New York | Inactive |
| 11 | Ra | ر | 1999 | State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz, New York | Active |
| 12 | Zay | ز | 2003 | Binghamton University | New York | Active |
| 13 | Sin | س | 2006 | Ramapo College | Mahwah, New Jersey | Inactive |
| 14 | Shin | ش | 2006 | University at Albany, SUNY | Albany, New York | Active |
| 15 | Ṣād | ص | 20xx ? | City College of New York | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| 16 | Daad | ض | April 25, 2017 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Active |
* ↑ Many Kingdoms use Egyptian hieroglyphics to identify themselves in addition to the Arabic letters they've been given

### Graduate

Graduate chapters (Shabazz) are named after locations. Chapters are named using location and letters in the Arabic alphabet. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
| Number | Shabazz | Symbol | Charter date and range | Location | Status |
| 1 | N.Y.C. Alif | ا | | New York City, New York | Active |
| 2 | Newark Ba | ب | | Newark, New Jersey | Active |
| 3 | Westchester Taa | ت | | Westchester County, New York | Inactive |
| 4 | Long Island Thaa | ث | | Long Island, New York | Inactive |
| 5 | D.C. Jeem | ج | | Washington, D.C. | Active |
| 6 | Charlotte Ha | ح | April 12, 2017 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Active |
| 7 | Orlando Kha | خ | | Orlando, Florida | Active |
| 8 | Atlanta Dal | د | | Atlanta, Georgia | Active |

## Auxiliary Groups

24 women established the Malik Melodies Sweetheart Club on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University on December 14, 1978, as a social service organization and the official auxiliary women's group to MALIK Fraternity. Malik Melodies was reorganized in 1998 as the Malik Melodies Sisterhood, Inc, becoming an independently run organization.

## Notable members
### Honorary members

* Charles Barron (honorary, New York Assembly
* Yosef Ben-Jochannan (honorary) historian and writer
* Pablo Guzmán (honorary), television personality
* Gil Noble (honorary), television reporter and personality
* Richie Pérez (honorary) teacher and activist