MU TAU

LEADERSHIP IN SERVICE

ARTICLE BY VANELIS RIVERA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD ARENDER

LAST DECEMBER, fifteen African-American medical students from Tulane University traveled to Whitney Plantation in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, posed in their short white coats on the steps of former slave quarters, and then tweeted the photo. In a matter of days, the post went viral, racking up about 70,000 views and close to 17,000 retweets. The message is clear—we’ve come a long way. Yet, there was a need for a reminder. America’s rotten underbelly of racial oppression and discrimination has had dire social and psychological ramifications, which we still navigate. It’s precisely this history that makes the success of Black professionals a feat beyond the pursuit of happiness and more a long-delayed manifestation of the fundamental rights promised by the Declaration of Independence that once were denied to their ancestors. Modern Black professionals are their forebears’ wildest dreams. From teachers to lawyers, artists to politicians, within the African-American community, the success of one is the success of all. Following this tradition of united community involvement through fellowship is the Monroe chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a group of African-American men that personify resilience while promoting brotherhood.

Founded on the campus of historically black college Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi is one of the first predominantly African-American international fraternal organizations. The name of the fraternity derived from the initials of the Greek phrase, loosely meaning, “friendship is essential to the soul,” a guiding principle of their service, also selected as their motto. Though Howard University officials did not initially recognize the fraternity as a national organization until 1914, the brotherhood still operated without official sanctions, seeking to build a strong and capable force of men dedicated to the cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift.

The charter for the Mu Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi in Monroe was issued in November of 1959 by Dr. Madison J. Foster, a local physician, who began the process by banding together with members of Grambling State University and Southern University chapters. Last year, Mu Tau celebrated sixty years of community involvement and mentorship, as well as being the top graduate chapter for community service and outreach in a four-state region. Historically, most black fraternities were organized as a buffer against discriminatory practices, finding strength and support through shared experiences and similar goals. Presently, in the case of the Omegas, strengthened bonds of friendship are the overriding principle of their brotherhood, particularly the graduate chapter, whose ambitions are sharpened by life experience, ripened perspective, and an unyielding call of duty.

“My story is not unique,” says Eugene Burns, current Mu Tau member who moved to Monroe from Atlanta, Georgia, five years ago. On the phone, he takes a beat and quickly auto-corrects. “It’s sort of special.” Unlike most fraternity members who join during their early collegiate years, Burns joined later in life. With an already established career, family, and identity, a lot of the reasons most young people join Omega didn’t resonate with him. Having friends in the fraternity at the time, Burns’ recruitment into Mu Tau was a natural fit, yet an unexpected one. His move to Monroe as a result of a CenturyLink transfer was “very reluctant.” Still, his attitude about the region and its people swiftly changed when some of his colleagues (who were also members of Mu Tau) impressed him with their professional and academic profiles. Given both the city’s and chapter’s size, the accomplishments by members of Mu Tau rival, if not exceed, those of other mega-cities and chapters. “Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by successful people. And coming to Monroe, I thought that I would stand out in the crowd.” He was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. “On the undergraduate level is where you might have a lot of the more outspoken members, but on the graduate level, we don’t try to be boisterous. We’re kind of like your quiet, strong types. We get a lot of things done,” notes Burns. When Mayor Jamie Mayo “needs things done,” he calls Mu Tau. “I think that’s generally the space that we occupy in North Louisiana,” says Burns.

It’s essential to highlight the need for service wherever it presents itself, and the members of Mu Tau pride themselves in “rolling up their sleeves, getting the job done, then leaving.” Every month, Mu Tau has at least one or two community-oriented activities at the local or national level. One of their special events is an annual father-daughter dance. Held at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM), the elegant occasion allows fathers to either reconnect with their daughters or establish a stronger relationship. “We understand the importance of having a strong male role model,” says Burns, who has two daughters of his own. The mother-son dance follows suite, aimed to teach proper male etiquette to young boys. The community to-do list also includes awarding five $1000 college scholarship awards every year to deserving high school graduates from local schools, providing community clean-up, adopting a local school (Madison James Foster, Robinson Elementary, and Ouachita Junior High), and also raising money for the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo kids splash pad. Another strong focus of the organization is men’s health and wellness. By partnering with other organizations like the Northeast Louisiana Cancer Center and Tulane Prostate Cancer Research Center, they are able to host information-driven events like the Omega Psi Phi 5K Prostate Cancer Awareness/Celebration, also held on the ULM campus. This year’s event schedule is quickly filling with functions geared toward investing in the success of younger generations. Their High School Talent Hunt in February is a national fraternity project, which allows participants to compete in the form of music, interpretive movement, speech, or visual art. Talent Hunt contestants that advance at the local level have the opportunity to perform at the fraternity’s National Conclave in Tampa, Florida. Events such as this provide assistance and resources to gifted youth who, otherwise, would be overlooked.

The ideals of service and friendship correlate with Omega Psi as a state of mind and awareness where individuals can be in tune with the needs of others. “Friendship is where you are okay with sharing your vulnerabilities with someone and knowing that that person is going to take whatever shortcomings you have and help you through,” explains Burns. Overall, friendship sustains community, particularly the African-American community, one fraught with a horrifying past. That’s where Mu Tau wants to step in. “Young Black men, in general, have to educate themselves on the larger goals in life, especially amongst our youth,” says Burns. The members of Mu Tau want to help young men in their community develop their minds both academically and socially. Even so, Omega Psi values the importance of casting a wider community net. “Open-mindedness is key to acknowledging the values others can bring to the table,” says Burns, arguing that partisan inclination “blocks you from the ability to understand fellowship and friendship,” adding, “friendship is colorblind.” Unity in Greek life means raising awareness of significant and versatile philanthropies, as well as bridging racial and cultural divides that ultimately promote a shared consciousness and empathy. For this reason, Omega Psi reaches out to predominantly white fraternities, inviting them to events held on the ULM campus.

A group of like-minded change-makers, like the Omegas, are not trying to reinvent the wheel. “The wheel has already been created. I’m just interjecting into the wheel,” Burns says. Distinguished members such as Dr. Charles Drew (African-American physician who developed ways to process and store blood plasma in “blood banks”) and Dr. Carter G. Woodson (second African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard) often are credited with establishing the fraternity’s practice of excellence. Contemporary members have also etched their legacy into the cultural milieu. Notables include Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and Steve McNair.

On a national basis, many members of Omega Psi end up entering the professions of education, sports, and military careers. Consequently, paying homage to the professional interests of their founders (Howard University students Edgar Amos Love, Frank Charles Coleman, and Oscar James Cooper). Tribute has also taken the form of garb, as a part of the fraternity’s informal uniform is gold military boots, an ode to two of the founders who, upon graduating from college, became officers in the military. The Mu Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi has about forty active members, and about eighty percent of them have a master’s or doctoral degree. Membership is a lifelong commitment that intensifies the bond between members and their community. For Mu Tau, that takes the form of 94-year-old William D. Cyrus, World War II veteran, Grambling State Alumni, a retired educator, and their last living charter member. “The number of men, both past and present, who hold or have held key leadership and professional designations here in Monroe are worthy of recognition,” beams Burns. Regardless of fanfare or recognition, the members of Mu Tau serve their community with love, and, in doing so, build a legacy cemented in fostering leadership through service.

Learn more about Mu Tau’s service, scholarships, and health initiatives by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. You can also visit their website to learn more http://www.monroeques.com.