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OP-ED: Greek Organizations Help Black Students on the Path to College

Published

10 years ago

July 13, 2015

By Troy Williams

A few days ago, I was introduced to a group of Black Greek letter organizations.

Initially, I assumed the organization was comprised of Blacks with Greek heritage but quickly learned about the rich history and great work African American men and women in these fraternities and sororities have done and continue to do across the country.

Most notably is their push for more students of color to attain higher education. Recently, local Black Greek letter organizations awarded over $120,000 in scholarships to low-income Bay Area students of color to attend universities across the country.

There are nine historically Black Greek letter organizations (5 fraternities & 4 sororities) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council Incorporated (NPHC). Collectively, these organizations are referred to as “The Divine Nine.”

Many well-known African Americans, such as Steve Harvey, Jada Pinkett Smith, Emmitt Smith, and Toni Morrison, are members of fraternities and sororities. Huey P. Newton, Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Maya Angelou were also members.

In fact, ties to Divine Nine members may be found in many college-educated Black families all across the country.

I sat down with Ira Young, president of the San Francisco Bay Area National Pan-Hellenic Council, to learn more about Black Greek letter organizations.

I learned that the fraternities and sororities are called Black Greek Letter Organizations because of their use of the Greek alphabet. It is noteworthy that the Greek writing system and philosophies have very close ties to Africa.

In fact, it is common knowledge among African American scholars that the ancient Greeks got their wisdom from the scholars and coffers of Kemet in Ancient Africa.

The NPHC was founded in 1930 at Howard University at a time when opportunities to gain access to higher education for the overwhelmingly majority of Blacks did not exist, though fraternities and sororities have been in existence for over a hundred years.

Today the NPHC is mentoring children, tutoring youth, raising funds for low-income students, and working to remove barriers to continue supporting urban youth in their efforts to get to college.

“We want the community to know that we are here to be of service to them,” Young said and then went on to explain the importance of parents being aware of the required coursework needed to enter into the UC and CSU systems.

“Every parent should know that in order for their child to be considered for admission into a university, he or she must complete specific courses prior to their senior year in high school,” he said.

While I am not a college graduate, I do understand the importance of a university education. I understand the limitations I have set for myself by not having a degree and the benefits an education provides in this competitive economic system.

I could only imagine how different my life would have been if my parents had known about the A-G requirements and had access to resources that would have helped me and my siblings pursue a college track from a young age.

Young advised that parents begin preparing their children in elementary school. He also encourages parents, regardless of income, to contact one of the Black Greek letter organizations.

“We are here to be of service and we will help you and your child understand the process,” Young said.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 5 – 11, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 5 – 11, 2025

Published

14 hours ago

November 7, 2025

Oakland Post

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Michael: The King of Pop’s Story Returns to the Big Screen

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making.

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will arrive in theaters on April 24, 2026, with the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stepping into the spotlight to portray his legendary uncle.

The trailer wastes no time rekindling the aura of Jackson’s genius. Opening with a studio scene between Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones, played by Kendrick Sampson, the clip builds from a quiet, familiar rhythm to the electrifying pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Viewers catch glimpses of the singer’s childhood, flashes of “Thriller,” and the silhouette that redefined pop culture. Each frame reminds fans of why Jackson remains unmatched in artistry and influence. The cast surrounding the late pop king’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, reads like a who’s who of Black entertainment and music history. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe, while Kat Graham embodies Diana Ross. Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, a towering entertainment lawyer and longtime Jackson confidant who later became co-executor of his estate. The film’s journey to release has been as complicated as the icon it portrays. Production wrapped in 2024, but legal hurdles over depictions of past controversies forced extensive reshoots and editing delays. Even so, Fuqua’s film now appears ready to reclaim the narrative, focusing on Jackson’s creative ambition and humanity beyond tabloid noise. IndieWire reported that the film had faced “a massive legal snafu” over a disputed storyline but was retooled to center the music and legacy that defined generations.

Maven. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

“Michael” promises more than a chronological retelling. It aims to explore how a child star from Gary, Indiana, became the world’s most influential entertainer. The script, written by Oscar-nominated John Logan, traces Jackson’s early years with the Jackson 5 through the triumphs and isolation of global superstardom. With Fuqua’s cinematic eye and producer Graham King—who brought “Bohemian Rhapsody” to life—joining forces with estate executors Branca and John McClain, the film is positioned as both a tribute and a restoration of Jackson’s cultural truth. Branca’s work behind the scenes has long shaped Jackson’s posthumous success. After the singer died in 2009, Branca and McClain took control of the estate burdened by debt and turned it into a global powerhouse worth billions. Under their stewardship, Jackson’s projects have generated more than $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and landmark deals, including a $600 million joint venture with Sony earlier this year. At its heart, though, “Michael” is a story about artistry that transcends scandal. It offers a reminder that, despite the noise surrounding his life, Jackson’s music still bridges continents and generations. The trailer’s closing moments capture that spirit. As the beat of “Billie Jean” swells and Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into a spotlight, audiences are left with a familiar feeling—the awe of witnessing something timeless return home.

“Michael” opens worldwide in theaters April 24, 2026. See the official trailer here.

Stacy M. Brown

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Donald Trump Is the Biggest Loser

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), says, “Last night was electric, and it was unquestionably a wave.” Democrats won big in what is widely considered a repudiation of Trump’s 9 months at the White House in his second term.

In the state of Virginia, which produced the first big election night win and saw the election of the first woman governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 56% of Virginia’s residents disapprove of President Trump. In New Jersey, 55% of state residents disapprove of the president; in New York, 69% disapprove; and in California, 63% disapprove of the president. The Trump brand or his support for any candidates did nothing to benefit those he endorsed in this election. They actually lost in each race he publicly put his name behind. Trump endorsed former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the New York mayor’s race in his run as an independent. And New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who ran for governor with the presidential endorsement, also lost his prospective race.

The next question is, will the democratic momentum be sustainable? Jones further explained, “This can become a 2026 tsunami, but turning a wave into a tsunami takes energy. A lot of energy. It doesn’t just happen. The conditions are there. Now we have to work!”

Some Democrats would argue that the work is already underway. The pushback against Trump’s national redistricting efforts received a thumb in the eye from California voters. Prop 50, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s counterbalance to President Trump’s redistricting efforts, passed in California last night. Although Trump’s name was not on the ballot last night, his Republican policies were. The United States has now entered the longest government shutdown in its history. Forty-two million Americans are not getting SNAP benefits. Economists are acknowledging that the government shutdown is contributing to the rise in delinquent debt in the student loan, automotive, and credit card industries. These items are among the negatives Americans are protesting against.

Compounding Trump’s political problems is a tariff battle that’s directly impacting pocketbooks. The day after the elections, the Trump administration was arguing before the US Supreme Court in favor of the president’s tariff powers. Meanwhile, President Trump‘s poll numbers are underwater, standing at a 37% national disapproval rate