For Black History Month, Project ENRICH Students Hear About Life "Down in the Depths" and Then Give Their Own Inspiring Talks

Bro. Capt. Corey Barksdale, U.S. Navy
Keynote Speaker

Gamma Pi’s Project ENRICH college preparatory program kicked off Black History Month with a powerful session highlighting Black historical achievement on Saturday,  February 1, at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel. This month's session was anchored by two very exciting activities:  a highly inspiring keynote address by naval submarine commander Bro. Capt. Corey Barksdale, and a series of energetic presentations by Project ENRICH students who took turns expounding on the lives and accomplishments of oft-forgotten African American heroes.

More than 100 students and family members attended the February session. On one hand, the purpose of the special program was to bring Black History Month to life with the presence of a real-life African American hero, in the person of Naval Academy alumnus Bro. Barksdale, who told his story about pivoting from the depths of “hanging out with the wrong crowd” in a small town in Virginia to leading young men and women from the depths of a nuclear submarine for the United States Navy. The other consideration for hosting the Black History Month session was to provide Project ENRICH students an opportunity to hone public speaking and presentation skills before a live audience.

Bro. Capt. Barksdale with his son, Bro. McCory King, and
Project ENRICH  director Bro. Dr. George Montgomery

Bro. Capt. Barksdale led off the session with a rousing 20-minute stemwinder weaving together his personal story, his exciting and challenging naval career and training as well as his acquired philosophy about success and failure in a life that has made the best of all the ups and downs to get him to where he is today. Bro. Capt. Barksdale is one of 17 Black Naval officers to command a U.S. Navy submarine. He commanded the nuclear submarine USS Columbia in 2021. 

"Many of the people I hung out with where I grew up are either not here right now, they are locked up in prison or they are not really doing too well in their lives," Bro. Barksdale told the students. "But fortunately I was able to make it out of that environment and turn my life around."

Bro. Capt. Barksdale told the students that one of the people who was very instrumental in encouraging him to redirect his life towards higher pursuits is Gamma Pi chapter's own Bro. McCory King. They grew up together in Matoaca, Virginia in Chesterfield County. Bro. King was in attendance to welcome his homeboy and Frat Brother to Project ENRICH. Bro. Capt. Barksdale now works for the Joint Chiefs at the Pentagon.

In closing, Bro. Capt. Barksdale left the students with this thought: "Each of you has the potential to go far beyond where you think you can go ... Success is not about what you accomplish. It's about how you handle the journey. You've got to have the right attitude. Your attitude is what's going to help you overcome challenges."

This student talks about legendary ABC newsman Max Robinson

During the Black History Month presentations, all of the Project ENRICH students participated. Using Power Point slides projected on large conference style screens, they took turns introducing the audience of parents and friends to lesser known Black History heroes.

The lineup of heroes and their presenters was long but informative. It included the likes of Disney creative engineer Lanny Smoot, inventor Frederick McKinley Jones, Marsha Williams, the first African American woman to earn a Ph D. in Computer Science and Amelia Boynton Robinson, the first African American woman to run for Congress, all under the watchful eye of Project ENRICH chairman Bro. Dr. George Montgomery.

For Gamma Pi, it was a memorable occasion and certainly a high water moment in the 40-plus years of Project ENRICH. To learn more about Project ENRICH, visit the web site.

Below are some other snapshots from the program:

Bro. Capt. Barksdale poses with Omega men

Gamma Pi Brings Black History to Life with its QUE Kidz Program

Bro. Ken Jones talks with students

With its monthly sessions, Gamma Pi’s Que Kidz program opens doors on the world for the young preteens who live in the underserved Prince George’s County community of Kentland. For Black History Month, the Brothers threw wide open the doors to the history of African Americans with an entertaining and educational program held at the Kentland Community Center on Saturday, February 22.

The group was small, but the lessons were big. Members of the chapter used the morning to share the biographies of historical Black Americans, lead the youth in history-based trivia games, screen short powerful YouTube mini-documentaries about the Black Experience in the United States and share their own personal stories of racial struggles in America. The youth were wide-eyed and seemed fascinated by the stories and bout the contributions of the African Americans who paved the way before them. Not all of the names of historical figures were household names.

Youth raises hand to ask a question

During the program, the youth were encouraged to relate their own personal stories and ask questions. They wanted to know what I was like during the Civil Rights struggle? How did segregation affect their families growing up? How did Barack Obama become the nation’s first Black president?  Why did African Americans drink out of different water foundations or ride in the back of buses? Some of the questions were sensitive personally, such as students asking why were they seemingly treated differently than other kids in class?  Or, what if someone makes a racially sensitive remark in their presence?

As the noon hour approached, the students were served lunch. That gave them a chance to discuss what they had learned and to continue asking questions. The Brothers of Gamma Pi had a goal with the program, and they accomplished it. They wanted the youth to leave the Kentland Center feeling a sense of pride and self-worth from their heritage. They did.

All in all, it was a productive morning of education and fun. For these youths, Black History Month leaped from the pages of the history book and into their hearts and minds. It became real.

 

Gamma Pi Chapter Leads Omega Psi Phi's Salute to Forgotten Woman of Black History

Mockup of the Nannie Helen Burroughs AAA Member Card

It may seem unusual that a fraternity would lead the way in honoring the legacy of a sorority woman. But when it comes to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Gamma Pi chapter specifically, that is not unusual at all. Two of the four Cardinal Principles of the Fraternity -- Scholarship and Uplift -- don't have gender-eligibility requirements when it comes to who Omega serves. That was evident today as The Super Chapter observed Black History Month  by joining forces with the American Automobile Association to honor the work and legacy of Nannie Helen Burroughs.

Who is Nannie Helen Burroughs? An overlooked African American civil rights advocate and religious and education figure, she lived in the early 1900s in Washington, D.C. She was president of the Baptist Women's Convention and established a school for Negro girls in the city in 1909. The school and a street are named in her honor in The Nation's Capitol and that is really the extent to which most people in the metro area know her. She is also an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Gamma Pi's involvement in today's program is tied to the passion and perseverance of Brother James E. Wyatt, a 62-year-member of the Fraternity and a retired U.S. Army Colonel. Brother Wyatt has spent his years since retirement from the military researching Nannie Helen Burroughs' background and persuading AAA and others to give her proper respect and attention, even if posthumously. AAA's role as a partner with Gamma Pi and Omega Psi Phi is even more interesting. It is the result of Brother Wyatt's research in which he discovered, through a Library of Congress letter, that Nannie Helen Burroughs was mysteriously denied a $12 AAA membership in 1930 during a time when she was very outspoken to the President of the United States about "the plight of the Negro in America."

An Omega Man, Bro. Col. (Ret.) James E. Wyatt, Paves the Way

Bro. Col. (Ret.) Wyatt with Nannie Helen Burroughs Display

Early today, Brother Wyatt's work and tireless dedication resulted in a powerful, moving and informative Black History Month tribute to Nannie Helen Burroughs at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Md. The tribute was conducted as part of the chapter's signature educational program --Project ENRICH, a four-year program for Prince George's County students beginning in ninth grade during which they participate in once-a-month lectures, seminars and academic enrichment sessions at Bowie State University as preparation for college. Some of the students alo receive scholarship monies. Students from the Nannie Helen Burroughs School were also in attendance.

Brother Willie Hines is director of Project ENRICH and worked closely with Bro. Wyatt and AAA to merge the two efforts together to serve a double-edged purpose: to correct a wrong in Black history and use it as a "teachable moment" to imbue program youths with the values that Nannie Helen Burroughs espoused.

The highlight of the tribute -- which captured the interest of local media in attendance -- was the symbolic presentation of Nannie Helen Burroughs' long-overdue AAA membership card posthumously on stage. AAA officials flew in from Florida to make the presentation. Local Nannie Helen Burroughs historian Dr. Traki Taylor-Webb served as the "stand-in" for the late Ms. Burroughs in receiving the membership card, and she in turn presented the symbolic membership card to Brother Wyatt as a token for his efforts.

Bro. Col. (Ret.) Wyatt and Bro. Willie Hines prep on stage

Like many people, including many who know their civil rights history, AAA spokeswoman Yolanda Cade said today to the audience: "I had never heard of Nannie Helen Burroughs...but what she was saying was work hard, be proud and lift others up with you."

Iconic NBC newsman Tom Brokaw, author of the best-selling "The Greatest Generation," even sent a personal note to Brother Col. Wyatt that was read at the program: "We must all commit to the values Nannie Helen Burroughs personified."

Honoring Nannie Helen Burroughs Through the Voices of Our Youth

Adding depth and emotion to the program and to Nannie Helen Burroughs' values and legacy were the convincing and heartfelt testimonials of several Project ENRICH students, who spoke onstage about their experience in the program and how they have benefited from Project ENRICH.  One parent, Ms. Najmah Bass, represented other parents with children in Project ENRICH with a heart-rendering account of how the program has helped her children grow into better students and better people.

A view of the dais - a fabulous historic program

"My participation in this program has given me the tools to embark on a journey of success that is now easier for me to attain," said one of the students.

Gamma Pi has close to 100 youths participating in the 2011-12 version of Project ENRICH. Following the Black History Month program, the students and others willing to stay were treated to a more in-depth look at Nannie Helen Burroughs' life by Brother Col. Wyatt via a PowerPoint presentation.

AAA ended the ceremony with a formal presentation to Bro. Wyatt and Gamma Pi Basileus Bro. Gordon Everett, giving them a souvenir copy of the AAA membership card.

Others involved in this historic program were Omega Psi Phi's Second District Representative, Brother Kenneth E. Rodgers, who is the elected head of the Fraternity in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania; Ms. Sylvia Cyrus, Executive Director of Association for the Study of African American Life and History; Burroughs School principal Ms. Rita Johnson; and Rev. James Coates, Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church and a pallbearer for Nannie Helen Burroughs in 1961.

Today's program will go down in Gamma Pi and Omega Psi Phi history as one of the most inspirational and uplifting ever held, truly in the spirit of 100 years - something the Founders would have cheered from the front row. Enjoy the video highlights below and the photos from Bro. Thaddeus Turner.

Additional Resources:
Gamma Pi Press Release (distributed to local media)
More about Project ENRICH (http://www.projectenrich.org/)
AAA article about Omega-Burroughs Event on PR Newswire

Second District Representative Bro. Kenneth Rodgers Talks About Omega's Role in Black History on New York City Radio

WBLS-FM is one of the largest African American/Urban stations in all of New York City and, by extension, in the entire country. It has been on the air for more than 50 years and features an adult urban format playing all the top soul and R&B music from today's artists. It's the station that many of New York's African American population listens to while driving to and from work every day.

Bro. Rodgers at recent speech 

On Friday however, WBLS had a different voice coming through the speakers -- that of Second District Representative (and Gamma Pi's own) Bro. Kenneth Rodgers, who was featured in a Black History Month segment on Omega Psi Phi's Bro. Dr. Charles Drew as a Black History Month figure. The piece will run over the next few days as Black History Month comes to a close.

Bro. Rodgers pre-recorded the brief segment earlier with the station via telephone. The spot started airing throughout the day.

In selecting Bro. Dr. Charles Drew as his subject, Bro. Rodgers was able to pay homage to both Dr. Drew's historic contributions in medicine and the Fraternity's annual blood drive named after Dr. Drew as an example of Omega Psi Phi's uplift of America's Black communities through the years.

"I don't think there is any question that when you look at Black History and the contributions of great Black Americans to our society, you will find that numerous Omega men have been front and center,"said Bro. Rodgers. "Bro. Dr. Charles Drew was just one of the many history-changing Black Americans that our great Fraternity can lay claim to. I was honored to have the opportunity to remind people of his role in history as we approach our Centennial as a Fraternity."

Click here to listen to the Black History Month vignette by Brother DR Rodgers.

Click here to send him a shout out for getting a great message out about Omega Psi Phi's contributions during Black History Month.