 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
What happens when a people is without institutions to articulate its concerns,
preserve its heritage, or make manifest its desires? It is vanquished, made into an
oppressed caste, or is assimilated into the majority culture--losing its distinctiveness,
diminishing its voice, and dissipating its ranks. Fortunately, African Americans have
not met this fate. ASALH has chosen to devote the 2006 National Black History
Theme to exploring the impact that Black fraternal, social, and civic organizations
have had on the evolution of African American life and history. This year marks the
100th anniversary of the founding of the first continuous, collegiate black Greek
letter fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Established in an age when racial segregation and
disenfranchisement plagued African Americans, the rise of each of the black
preserve its heritage, or make manifest its desires? It is vanquished, made into an
oppressed caste, or is assimilated into the majority culture--losing its distinctiveness,
diminishing its voice, and dissipating its ranks. Fortunately, African Americans have
not met this fate. ASALH has chosen to devote the 2006 National Black History
Theme to exploring the impact that Black fraternal, social, and civic organizations
have had on the evolution of African American life and history. This year marks the
100th anniversary of the founding of the first continuous, collegiate black Greek
letter fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Established in an age when racial segregation and
disenfranchisement plagued African Americans, the rise of each of the black
| The 2006 Black History Theme Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social and Civic Institutions |
Founders of Black History Month