Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Whereas, on January 9, 1914, at Howard University, 3 African-American male students, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, founded Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Whereas the founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., a nonprofit organization, wished to create an organization that viewed itself as “a part of” the community rather than “apart from” the community, and believed each potential member should be judged by his own merits, rather than his family background, affluence, race, nationality, skin tone, or hair texture; Whereas the founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service, which is mirrored in the motto of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity”; Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has evolved into a historical institution with a membership of more than 150,000 college-educated men and 650 chapters worldwide; Whereas the mission and administrative theme of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is to represent “one Fraternity working together to transform our communities”, meaning the greatest contribution of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is to assure that communities are improved, enhanced, and impacted holistically, resulting in stronger, healthier, and wiser populations; Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has invested in youths through Sigma Beta Club, which equips youths with the tools to grow into effective, well-rounded leaders; Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has been a leader in eradicating hazing with the Anti-Hazing Awareness Campaign, which includes a national anti-hazing week, workshops, training videos, and other educational materials; Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has supported vocational opportunities globally through the Ghana School Project; Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has demonstrated leadership in the effort to improve health care access and outcomes for men of color through the Sigma Wellness: Living Well Brother-to-Brother Initiative; Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has remained an active and committed participant in the democratic process by instituting Project Vote, which continuously registers, educates, and encourages citizens to participate in the democratic process; Whereas the current members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., inherit a legacy built by former members who have left remarkable imprints in their fields, including renowned scientist and inventor George Washington Carver, writer and educator Alain LeRoy Locke, author and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson, labor-movement leader A. Philip Randolph, former United States Representative Arthur W. Mitchell, former President of Nigeria Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, former President of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah, former Mayor of Chicago Harold Washington, civil rights leader Hosea Williams, former President of Liberia William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, and the first elected Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Melvin Herbert Evans; and Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., continues to make a difference in United States and foreign communities, always following in the footsteps of its founders and upholding the commitment of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., to be great stewards of brotherhood, scholarship, and service: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the centennial anniversary of the founding of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; and (2) applauds and honors Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and all its members for a century of fortitude and distinguished service to the people of the United States and the global community.

Summary: Recognizes the centennial of the founding of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Honors the Fraternity for a century of fortitude and distinguished service to the people of the United States and the global community.