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Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Black History month and uplifting the significant contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Divine 9 and Links Incorporated to the City of Saint Paul.
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WHEREAS, in 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History” first set out to designate a time to promote and educate people about Black History and culture which included the suffered enslavement, injustices of lynch mobs, segregation, denial of basic and fundamental rights of citizenship, art, innovation and renaissance which are a part of American History; and
WHEREAS he founded the organization now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, encouraging other historians to envision a week-long celebration of coordinated teaching of Black History in public schools; and
WHEREAS in 1926, Dr. Woodson was successful in creating Negro History Week, celebrated during the second week of February and by the late 1960’s, due to demonstrations concerning racial justice, inequality and poverty during the Civil Rights movement. Negro history week evolved into what is now known as Black History Month; and
WHEREAS the Saint Paul City council uplifts the tremendous work of Historically Black Colleges and universities (HBCU) that emerged through the work of philanthropist and free blacks after the Civil war to provide Black Americans the most basic human rights-access to a full education; and
WHEREAS many HBCU alumni contribute to the art, innovation and creativity of Saint Paul as CEO’s, Educators, doctors, elected officials, Philanthropists, Entrepreneurs, youth workers, City directors and staff and truly represent Black excellence in the city of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS many HBCU Alumni and Black students attending predominantly white institutions, came together to create Black Greek Letter Organizations, hereafter referred to as the “Divine 9”, during a period of significant national developments, the rising of Jim Crow laws, the popularity of scientific racism and widespread racial violence and prejudice; and
WHEREAS Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity incorporated was founded in 1906 as the first intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity for African American men at Cornell University then expanded to a second chapter at Howard University. It was established in an era where most Black men did not receive a high school diploma or pursue college education. “First of all, Servants of all-We shall transcend all” with notable members include Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B DuBois and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; and
WHEREAS Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated was founded in 1908 at Howard University by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle as the first African American Sorority. With leadership with both the YWCA and NAACP, they were instrumental in the Women’s suffrage movement, actively participated in the Women’s March on Washington as well as assuming other leadership roles for the Great Migration of Southern migrants to Northern Life. "By Culture and By Merit", with notable members such as hidden figures mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, Coretta Scott King, Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Rosa Parks and many more; and
WHEREAS Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated was founded on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, by Elder Watson Diggs, Byron Kenneth Armstrong, and eight others to foster achievement among Black college men during a time of high racial discrimination. Being one of the few Black Greek Letter Organizations that emerged on a predominantly white campus, originally named Kappa Alpha Nu, the fraternity adopted its current name in 1915 and is the second oldest existing collegiate historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity. Emphasizing "Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor. Notable members include civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy, Microsoft chairman John W. Thompson, founder of BET Bob Johnson and many more athletes, politicians and entertainers; and
WHEREAS Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated is the first international fraternal organization founded at a historically black college and university, founded in 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Founded by three undergraduates-Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman-and their faculty adviser, Dr. Ernest E. Just. The fraternity is built on four cardinal principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. Omega Psi Phi has a strong history of involvement in civil rights and social justice, which became a primary organizational focus and was founded on principles of high ideals and intellect. The organization aimed to foster brotherhood and academic excellence. Notable members include Roy Wilkins, Bayard Rustin, Langston Hughes, Michael Jordan; and
WHEREAS Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University in Washington, D.C including Myra Davis Hemmings and Madree Penn White, who sought to promote academic excellence, sisterhood, and public service. The founders aimed to address social issues and women's suffrage, with their first act being participation in the 1913 women's suffrage march. Alongside others, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated lobbied the federal government on matters regarding the Scottsboro Boys case, anti-lynching laws and U.S. involvement in Haiti. “Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom” with notable members such as Shirley Chisolm, Nikki Giovanni, Mary McCloud Bethune; and
WHEREAS Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated was founded in 1914, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown. Founded on the principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service, the organization was created to be inclusive and deeply involved in the community, with a motto of "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity. Actively engaging in advocacy efforts to support anti-lynching legislation, launching the Bigger and Better Business national program, aiming to address the imperative for Black economic empowerment, the fraternity globally marked its involvement in international affairs opposing U.S. military intervention in Haiti and made a significant impact in the Harlem Renaissance. Notable members include author of Lift Evry' voice James Weldon Johnson, John Lewis, Harry Belafonte; and
WHEREAS Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1920, at Howard University by five coeds-the "Five Pearls"-to promote scholarship, service, sisterly love, and finer womanhood. It is the only NPHC sorority constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, and was founded by Charles Taylor and Arizona Cleaver. The organization was established to address social issues rather than just social elitism. This organization embarked on the Zeta Housing Project of 1943, identifying house vacancies and registering them with the National Housing Association. Many of these homes sheltered numerous war workers during WWII. Notable members include Zora Neal Hurston, Attorney Anita Hill, Chaka Khan; and
WHEREAS Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1922, at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven young educators dedicated to promoting sisterhood, scholastic achievement, and service. It is the only historically African American sorority in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) founded at a predominantly white institution. Sigma Gamma Rho continued to thrive in the surge of the Klu Klux Klan environment as an active support towards the Civil Rights Movement in works to empower families in areas such as education and health. Alongside these efforts, the organization organized and provided program assistance to help launch careers for Black students through the National Vocational Guidance program during the Great Depression. Notable members include Oscar winning actress Hattie McDaniel, US Rep. Robin Kelly, Deshauna Barber; and
WHEREAS Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now University) in Baltimore, Maryland, by Bobby L. Rush, Dr. J. Keith Motley, Elvin Hayes, T.C. Carson and others boasted as 12 notable members, mostly non-traditional, student founders. Established during the civil rights movement, the fraternity focused on social change, scholarship, and leadership, with a motto of "Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One. As the final addition to the National Pan-Hellenic Council, this fraternity set to dedicate its’ service to the Civil Rights Movement working alongside the NAACP by collaborating on community service projects. Notable members include Congressman Bobby Rush, meteorologist Spencer Christian, actor Terrence "T.C." Carson, and former NBA player Calvin Murphy
WHEREAS the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), or “Divine 9”, formed in 1930 at Howard University to unite historically Black fraternities and sororities facing segregation, providing a unified voice for leadership, service, and cultural support for all 9 historically Black fraternities and sororities, and becoming crucial for civil rights, education, and community uplift; and
WHEREAS in 1946, Margaret Rosell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott, two young Philadelphia visionaries, co-founded The Links, Incorporated. The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, and one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. It was their intent that the club would have a threefold aim - civic, educational, and cultural; and
WHEREAS many members of Links Incorporated are also members of the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities and share the HBCU experience. Links Incorporated is a international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry; and therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Saint Paul city council recognizes all Minnesota Chapters of the Divine 9, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, MN HBCU alumni and the Links Incorporated for their unquantifiable local and global impact and commitment to service, justice, community, education and uplifting the Black community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City council proclaims February 2026 Black History Month in the City of Saint Paul; and finally
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City council proclaims Wednesday February 25th the MN HBCU Alumni, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Divine 9 and the Links Incorporated Day in the City of Saint Paul.