Iota Phi Theta

History

The fraternity was founded by 12 men — Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Louis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey Jr. and Michael Williams. It was begun in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, even though there were already four other prominent historically Black fraternities at the time. Influences included organizations such as the Black Panthers, SNCC, plus individuals like Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael. Iota brothers participated in various protests and sit-ins throughout the city of Baltimore. The Iota founders were distinguished from their peers as they were all non-traditional students. Three to five years older than their peers, many had served in the military, worked full-time while attending classes full-time, and had families with small children. These elements gave the founders a different perspective than the typical fraternity member.

On September 19, 1963, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, these twelve founders gathered together on the steps of Hurt Gymnasium on the campus of Morgan State College (now known as Morgan State University) and formed Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. The fraternity was formed as a support system for men of color during the turbulent US social climate of the time.

Iota Phi Theta sought to eradicate segregation with a protest that was organized against the Northwood Shopping Center in Baltimore, Maryland shortly after its founding. Big Brothers of America was supported throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1974, then Grand Polaris, Thomas Dean, appeared in a local television commercial on behalf of Big Brothers of America. Their idealism continues to strive with service initiatives to involve the fraternity with national organizations, such as the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, the National Sickle Cell Foundation, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the National Federation of the Blind, and Project IMAGE, as well as its own fraternity service initiatives.

In 1992, the fraternity established the National Iota Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt entity whose purpose is to assist the needy through scholarships and other financial assistance. Since its creation, the foundation has distributed over $250,000 in programs and services. They have a strong commitment to bring about empowerment to the African American community.

Since its founding date, Iota Phi Theta has continued to grow and has become the fifth-largest and fastest growing predominantly black fraternal organization in the United States. As of now, there are over 30,000 members in the US and overseas. A key appeal of Iota Phi Theta is that, as an organization, it refuses to have its members bind themselves to a defined fraternal image but celebrates the individuality of its members. More importantly, its members continue to build upon the fraternity's commitment to success and excellence with individual and collective achievements in such fields as politics, education, law, business, healthcare and the performing arts.

September 19, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

It is a matter of historical tradition that members of the organization only display the letters "Iota Phi Theta", the fraternity greek letters ΙΦθ and fraternity shield on Charcoal Brown (PMS 469) and/or Gilded Gold (PMS 871 Metallic).

Grand Polari (1963-present):

1st - Albert “Buss” Hicks (Founding Polaris), 2nd - Lonnie C. Spruill, Jr. (1963-1964), 3rd - Charles Briscoe (1964-1965), 4th - Richard Johnson (1965-1966), 5th - Robert Young (1966-1967), 6th - Arkley “Pete” Johnson (1967-1968), 7th - John W. House (1968-1969), 8th - Richard Johnson (1969-1970), 9th - Carmie “Pete” Pompey (1970-1971), 10th - Thomas “Tex” Dean (1971-1976), 11th - Allen Eason (1976-1978), 12th - Edgar A. Johnson (1978-1982), 13th - Thomas “Tex” Dean (1982- 1984), 14th - James F. Martin (1984-1990), 15th - Theodore N. Stephens (1990-1995), 16th - Jerry O. Pittman (1995-1999), 17th - Rondall James (1999 – 2001), 18th - Steve T. Birdine (2001 – 2005), 19th - Larry D. Frasier (2005 – 2009), 20th - Karl Price (2009 – 2013), 21st - Robert M. Clark, Jr. (2013 – Present)

"Eternal Sweetheart" Audrey Brooks and Iota Sweethearts

In the early growth and development of the fraternity, a Morgan State University staff member by the name of Ms. Audrey Brooks was able to assist the Brothers and became a vital resource to Iota Phi Theta. Her actions and influence provided much needed protection and support for the fledgling organization. In recognition of her efforts, Ms. Brooks was granted the title of "Eternal Sweetheart," an honor she wore proudly for the rest of her life. Brooks was a continual supporter of Iota Phi Theta and was a frequent guest at Iota conclaves and workshops until her passing in 2003.

Soon after, in her honor, the Iota Sweetheart Auxiliary was formed and has been a recognized, respected and honored tradition of the fraternity. During a Sweetheart Workshop held during the 1999 Iota Phi Theta Conclave in Oakland, California, Ms. Brooks stated, "The Purpose of Iota Sweethearts is to smile and be gracious on behalf of Iota. Anything else is inappropriate." This was the philosophical foundation of the former Sweetheart Auxiliary, and now serves as a reminder that Sweethearts are focused on serving both our nation and the world.

The Iota Sweethearts, Inc. (ISI) was founded in September 2014. ISI is the metamorphosis of the Iota Phi Theta Sweetheart Auxiliary, which was dissolved by the fraternity in January 2015. In October 2015, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ISI and the fraternity, formally and officially maintaining the historical relationship formed between the two organizations.

Early Activism - Northwood Theater

Morgan State College was across the street, diagonal from the Northwood Theater, and thousands of students were being denied privileges at Northwood. The area around the campus and theater is almost all White, except for the Black campus. Segregated movie theaters were part of the "southern way of life." In many places there are "White only" and "colored" cinemas; in other places seating on the main floor is limited to Whites, while Blacks are restricted to the "Jim Crow" balcony, often with a separate ticket booth and entrance.

One of their first acts in support of the movement was boycotting the segregated shopping mall in Baltimore shortly after the first chapter formed. Iota Phi Theta sought to eradicate segregation with various protests that were organized against the Northwood Shopping Center in Baltimore, Maryland in the midst of its founding. Starting February 15, 1963 and over the course of the six days, the total number of picketers involved came to 1500, and over 400 individuals had been arrested. After a week of intense direct action the theater capitulated and ended its White-only policy on February 22, 1963.

The demonstration against Northwood Theater by Iota Phi Theta's founders and a civic interest group, which was composed mostly of Morgan State College students, took place in the context of a longer history of protests against the theater's White-only policy. Annual demonstrations against the theater had been held since 1955, including a sit-in at Northwood and picketing downtown. The theater was a last holdout of racial segregation in the blocks surrounding the college. On February 22, 1963, the theater ended its White-only policy; the theater's capitulation to students' demands was a final success in a long string of successes.

Fraternity Growth and Expansion

The fraternity functioned as a local entity until the first interest groups were established in 1967 at Hampton Institute (Beta Chapter) and Delaware State College (Gamma Chapter). Further expansion took place in 1968, with chapters being formed at Norfolk State College (Delta Chapter) and Jersey City State College (Epsilon Chapter). The fraternity was officially and legally incorporated on November 1, 1968 as a national fraternity under the laws of the State of Maryland.

The first steps toward moving the fraternity from a regional to a national scope were taken with the creation of Upsilon Chapter (Southern Illinois University) in 1974. It was also during this period that the fraternity's first four graduate chapters were formed: Alpha Omega (Baltimore, Maryland, 1965), Beta Omega (Washington, DC, 1970), Gamma Omega (Hampton, Virginia, 1973), and Delta Omega (Boston, Massachusetts, 1973).

These chapters created the framework for the growth and development of the organization in the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions of the country. The next regional expansion occurred in 1983 with the establishment of the Alpha Chi (San Francisco State University) and Xi Omega (San Francisco Bay Area alumni) chapters in California.

The fraternity became an international entity with the establishment of a colony in Nassau, Bahamas in 1999, military chapters in South Korea (Alpha Rho Omega, 2005) and Japan (Beta Pi Omega, 2009), and Theta Mu (The Diego Luis Cordoba Tech University of Choco; Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia, South America, 2013)

In 2012, Iota Phi Theta was ranked #20 on Newsweek's "Top 25 Fraternities" list.

Iota joins the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

While joining the NPHC was an important objective for the fraternity, the greater priority was to enter an affiliation that would provide resources and relationships essential for Iota's long-term growth and development. With that in mind, Iota Phi Theta successfully petitioned for membership in the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) in 1985. The NIC is a federation of 69 national and international men's fraternities. Iota Phi Theta became the second historically African American fraternity to join the NIC and remains one of only four historically African-American fraternities, which are NIC members. While the NIC experience was (and remains) an unqualified success, Iota continued to dialogue with the NPHC. In an encouraging turn of events, the NPHC adopted a constitutional amendment which provided for expansion at its 1993 national convention. Several years later, an expansion committee developed criteria for potential new member organizations and a procedure by which they might apply.

Upon receiving the criteria and procedure in 1996, Iota Phi Theta submitted a formal application to the NPHC expansion committee. This application was carefully reviewed by the committee and was delivered to the NPHC Executive Board for determination. After careful consideration and deliberation, Iota Phi Theta's membership application was approved unanimously and effective November 12, 1996. Iota Phi Theta was accepted as a full member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities thereto.

To commemorate and formalize Iota's entry, the NPHC conducted a formal induction ceremony at its February 1997 leadership conference. This ceremony was attended by hundreds of Iota men, including the Grand Council and a number of the fraternity's founders, as well as hundreds of well-wishers and supporters from the NPHC community.

National Programs and Initiatives

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. takes pride in its continued effort to facilitate and participate in various community service ventures and initiatives throughout various communities, especially the disenfranchised.

'“Kaya”' (Kaya [kah-ya], meaning “village” in Swahili) Community Service Initiative. Underneath the “Kaya” umbrella are the following national/international initiatives, programs and community service partnerships:

I-S.H.I.E.L.D. – The fraternity's newest, comprehensive initiative (started Spring 2016) designed to address and end all forms of abuse, nationally and worldwide. I-S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym that stands for “IOTAS Saving, Healing, Improving, Empowering Lives Daily”. The initiative has 5 focus areas that address Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Abuse, Elder Abuse and Child Abuse/Bullying.

Delete Blood Cancer – In Spring 2016, Iota Phi Theta and the Delete Blood Cancer DKMS entered into an agreement to raise awareness about various blood-related cancers and register potential marrow donors, with emphasis in the African American community and other communities of color.

The American Red Cross (ARC) – In January 2015, Iota Phi Theta became the first NPHC fraternity to establish a partnership with the ARC to provide assistance to communities through the United States in the areas of blood drives, disaster relief operations and other areas in which each partner believes cooperation and support will be mutually beneficial.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Since 2012, the fraternity has been supporting and raising funds for St. Jude, primarily through the annual St. Jude Run/Walk to End Childhood Cancer. Iota Teams were composed of members of the IOTA Family (Brothers, Sweethearts and our families and supporters) run/walk in unity in major cities across the nation on a single day, while raising funds throughout the year for St. Jude.

The I.O.T.A. (“Intelligent, Outstanding Talented Achievers”) Youth Alliance (often referred to as ‘I.Y.A.’) – a national umbrella program, established in 1991 (by Grand Polaris Robert Clark and First Lady Felita Clark), through which individual chapters of Iota Phi Theta address the needs of Black Youth in their respective communities, addressing issues important/relevant to those communities. Since its inception, I.Y.A. programs have included mentorship, manhood development, relationship building, college awareness, HBCU tours, athletics, academic supports (scholarships, academic and career advising/counseling, tutoring), and personal development.

“Afya Njema (Afya [aah-fee-yah] Njema [j-ma], meaning “Good Health” in Swahili) 360” Health Initiative: Comprehensive programs to address health issues affecting Fraternity members and other African American males and men of color.

Iota Phi Theta Men’s Health Program – Established in Spring 2016, The purpose of Men’s Health is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Chapters of Iota Phi Theta fulfill this program’s purpose by sponsoring health awareness seminars and workshops and ‘hands-on’ support for Fraternity members, other African American males and men of color.

I-PhiT (“Impact Others Through Awareness by Implementing Public Health Initiatives Throughout the World.”) – I-PhiT is a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, founded in 2011by its President and CEO, Iota Brother David Odige. I-PhiT and Iota Phi Theta have officially joined to address both national and international issues through education and community involvement and promote health awareness for Fraternity members and the community.

Military and Public Service

Business and Academia

Athletics

Media and Entertainment