Beta Thru The Years
40's
BETA
Beta Chapter initiated seven Lampados in 1940 to usher in the new decade of fraternal history.
The brothers still took pride in their Achievement Week programming. This year’s guest
speaker was Bro. William Hastie, Dean of Howard University Law School. Bro. Langston
Hughes had just published his autobiography “The Big Sea” in which he recounts his life and reflects
on his time at Lincoln University and Beta Chapter. In 1941 Beta held its annual banquet
welcoming home all brothers. Bro. Rominus Stokes was Basileus and Bro. Roscoe L. Browne was
Keeper of Records and Seals. The brothers had become synonymous with athletic by the early
1940s and had won several intramural titles in football and baseball.
Nationally, America was in the midst of a war and everyone had to do their part. Many of
the brothers of Omega Psi Phi were service men and were being called to service for their country.
Omega supported the war effort and even went as far as creating a National Action Committee to
map out a plan of action for general problems in the fraternity that would arise during this time.
Additionally, in 1947 Omega called for a push for civil rights form the United States of America
and even sent declarations to the President denouncing segregation in the military.
1946 saw BetaChapter attend the 33rd Grand Conclave in Fort Worth, Texas. Bro. Matthews, delegate for BetaChapter, worked with the undergraduate committee to plan future intercollegiate procedures.
The brothers also extended a helping hand to Bill Ellis an African American student from Harvard
University that was stricken with tuberculosis in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Beta brothers
lead a donation drive and garnered the campus’ support in the effort. The brothers of Beta
were also working hard to restore the Pan-Hellenic council to further inter-fraternal collaboration
on Lincoln’s campus. These programs all helped to support the annual Beta Ball that was held in
Philadelphia. It was looked as one of the prominent social events for African American college
youth. As one can see, the brothers continued to produce meaningful programs during this delicate
time all the while fulfilling the goals and objectives of our beloved fraternity.