“For many are called but few are chosen” Matthew 2:14.

 

As always, scripture guides us into the light, far beyond past beliefs but into present time realities.

The early 70’s were a time of challenge and transition for a nation and people in full aware, but benign denial, of systemic racism and privilege.

Five short years prior saw the assassination of Alpha Brother Martin Luther King, Jr. and the advent of ‘My nation, right or wrong’ on bumper stickers.

The ‘Black Action Movement’ (BAM) had taken over Michigan’s administration building and demanded Robben Fleming address the absence of Black and Brown faces on campus.

Amidst this reality, fall 1973 saw many attend the Epsilon ‘Smoker’ at 340 S. Division, the only black Greek house on campus.

The semi-annual gathering of ‘Brothers’ and those who aspired, one day, to wear the mantle of “Alpha”, not merely on their bodies, but forever in their souls was mysterious, intimidating and daunting.

Many candidates attended that day, men of background and achievement in their own rights, but their memories are relegated to what might have been – not what was.

Included in that rank, ‘eternal Sphinxmen’ who started a journey that fall but had chosen other paths by winter.

I tell you now of three men, one, an Eagle Scout from Ann Arbor, another, an accomplished wrestler from Flint and the third, a revolutionary from Detroit.

Raised by a single mother, the Eagle Scout idolized his big brother ‘Art’, 5 years his senior; he was an athlete, so the Eagle Scout was an athlete, he was accepted into the University of Michigan, so was the Eagle Scout accepted into the University of Michigan, he was an ‘Alpha’ “Notorious #1”, so the Eagle Scout sought to be a part of the fraternity his big brother had joined.

Previously, the Eagle Scout had attended a salute to “Black Women” and step show sponsored by the fraternity at the Michigan Union; for the first time, he saw the magnificence of “Black & Gold”.

Strong Black men in perfect unison, yet unique; their eyes met and his big brother smiled at him, the silent challenge from a big brother to a little brother ‘follow me, if you can’!

There had always been a rivalry between the Eagle Scout and his big brother, but this was different, not a competition for boast, but a striving for excellence.

Spring would see the Eagle Scout’s graduation from high school with admission into Michigan that fall.

The Eagle Scout’s big brother had graduated and attending grad school out west, he encouraged him to see if he had what it took to be an “Alpha Man’, a challenge righteously accepted by the Eagle Scout, having said that, he knew in his heart that before it was all said and done, he would need his big brother’s counsel, he was right!

Fall saw the wrestler’s acceptance at Michigan, a Genesee county stand out with swagger and the ability to back it up.

Lean, strong and confident, he came from a family of ‘Alphas’, his father and big brother had joined the fabled fraternity in their day and time, in due course, he would join his kin as ‘life members’.

His parents, a successful printer and educator, had one of the show case homes in Flint, earned prosperity was no stranger to his family.

The middle of three siblings, he learned from his brother and protected his sister.

Academics and athletics are hallmarks of his university, the wrestler’s high school and college acumen well suited a man confident of his body and mind, he wrestled for Michigan.

History may never record, but well assume, his goals of ‘Michigan’ and ‘Alphadom’ were forged in the cauldron of his father’s shadow and brother’s presence.

Perhaps he heard of ‘Alpha’ from his father or visited his brother at ‘U of D’?

Was it there he saw what the Eagle Scout had seen that cold night at the ‘Michigan Union’?

Could it be that he looked into his own future, with its tragedy and triumph as a man of Phi?

In any event, he knew he had to confront ‘Alpha’ on his own, his father’s shadow couldn’t protect him from the stifling heat of pledging any more than his brother’s presence could comfort him in ‘the cut’!

He would have to rely on his brothers for that!

Detroit is a big mean city, named one of the most dangerous cities to live in for 20 straight years and at one time “The murder capital”, those who walk its streets do so with the specters of violence and confrontation closer than a shadow on a sunny day.

A city torn by riots, redlining, poverty, drugs, crime, police/political corruption and lethargy, shrinking tax base and population, urban flight, graft and deteriorating schools.

Yet and still, a city of ethnic diversity, a city that birthed the suburbs, gave America ‘wheels’, created an international musical empire, set the standard of living for union and non-union workers alike, standardized collective bargaining, became the commerce link between two nations, home of four professional sports teams, 75% of which have won world championships; but most poignantly, the training ground of social justice fighters, men and women believing in a cause and presence greater than themselves and willing to, in the words of President Lincoln a hundred and sixty years ago at a cemetery in Pennsylvania, give “… the last full measure of devotion…” AKA, ‘Revolutionaries’!

Such a man came to Michigan’s campus in the fall of 1973; he, the Eagle Scout and wrestler crossed destiny’s first threshold that fall day at Epsilon’s Smoker.

Total strangers who would bear each other’s burdens, cry each other’s tears and feel each other’s pain.

Others started the journey, but only these three finished it.

The Eagle Scout’s intellect, the revolutionary’s will and the wrestler’s strength, bonded, as a threefold cord, always pressured, but never broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

It is said that many shoulders make a burden light, these three bore the scrutiny and challenge birthed sixty-seven years earlier, the kindred spirits in watch and the sentinels of the crest in demand.

Time and solemnity halt the reveal of what they faced, at times, defeat and despair were their constant refrains; relying on the guidance that had never failed him, the Eagle Scout called his big brother who spoke these words “If your line stops now, you will regret it for the rest of your lives”.

Men don’t have to be big to be giants just as words need not be lengthy to have meaning.

Life is a series of choices and consequences, it wasn’t the Eagle Scout, wrestler or revolutionary who picked back up the mantle of sphinx man, but the line.

Monday’s were session nights, 340 S. Division found the line in atonement for failed yet demanded excellence; men, not eager to share the mantle of ‘Alpha’
with pretenders of lesser estate, would ultimately be satisfied of the lines integrity.

Through it all, there was one man, a man chosen by the Brothers for his love of the frat, integrity and strength of character and will.

A man entrusted with the awesome responsibility of ensuring that only those proven in stature and cause would ever have the chance to wear ‘Black & Gold”.

A man who protected and guided us as daylight turned to shadow and shadow turned to blackness.

That man was our Dean of Pledges, a Chapter President and linear of the vaunted “Swayback” dynasty, Brother Reggie Armstrong!

Through him we learned the meaning of “Not me, but E”.

In the fullness of time and destiny, circa December 6, 1973 came to be and the Eagle Scout, wrestler and revolutionary, known as “The Chosen Few” became initiates/neophytes in the greatest Black Greek organization in the world!

The wrestler, lead dog ‘’Rotundus – Lance The Pimp” – Lance Driskell.
The revolutionary, middle dog “Swayback # 12” – John Boyd Krisel.
The Eagle Scout, tail dog “Notorious #3” – Hugo J. Mack.

The wrestler would go on to graduate and have a successful career in the automotive industry while traveling and enjoying the fruits of his hard earned labor.

The revolutionary would graduate and earn a master’s degree with so many credentials, his business card has ‘to be continued on reverse’.

The Eagle Scout would graduate and attend law school, pass two bar exams and earn a Th.d.

‘The Chosen Few’ – 50 years of Brotherhood!
Thank you Jesus!

 

A PHI !