Remarks - Bro. Harvey Johnson
Permit me to start off by thanking all of those who made this event possible today. This includes the BO monument campaign committee, led so ably by Bro. Harry Taylor, who has worked so tirelessly to make sure that this monument comes to fruition; and Tennessee State University which has not only provided an excellent educational foundation for the brothers of Beta Omicron over the years, but now is providing a space where the chapter and its members can be perpetually remembered; and finally, the members of Beta Omicron who have matriculated at this great institution of higher learning and who will indeed be honored by the installation of this monument.
It is my charge to offer a few remarks on behalf of the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha who were members of the chapter between 1960 and 1969. Although it is without question that a great many of those men have made tremendous contributions in the private, public, and non-profit sectors of our society, I will resist the temptation to single out any particular individuals.
On an occasion like this, it is customary for each speaker to offer a few comments on his group’s uniqueness and its contributions… similar to remarks given by different branches of the family tree at a family reunion. My name is Harvey Johnson, and I was initiated into Alpha in the fall of 1965, along with 18 other young men who made up “The New Breed 19”. And it is my honor and privilege to be here today at the groundbreaking ceremony for a monument to commemorate the Beta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. representing chapter members from the 1960s. However, I am not here to focus on our uniqueness or our contributions… but, instead I am here to simply say how proud we are to be a part of the Beta Omicron family. And just like in biological families, we rejoice and celebrate the achievements; we understand the failures; and we grieve over the passing of all family members.
In keeping with the theme, “Creating a Legacy That Will Stand for Generations”, it would be most befitting to comment on the social conditions that embraced this nation during the 1960s… a period in the history of our country that many see as the zenith of the struggle for equal rights and social justice… a period rich with achievements that have advanced present and past generations. But time here today will not permit the telling of the full story.
In fact, the monument, in and of itself, cannot tell the full story, nor do I believe that to be its purpose. The monument simply serves as a perpetual reminder to all who take notice that there was an Alpha presence on the yard. The full story must be told by the members of the Beta Omicron family, just as is done in other families. We must not let the oppressive conditions of the 1960s under which chapter members struggled and survived become a blur in our memories, or the memory of those who follow after us. We must not let the commitment and dedication of our teachers and administrators, and their uncanny ability to do more with less, ever be understated. We must not let the hard work of our parents and their deep respect for educational attainment go unnoticed. We must not let the vast and rewarding experiences of the chapter members be viewed simply as a typical four years at what is now called an HBCU.
So, on behalf of the chapter members of the 1960s, I encourage the rest of the Beta Omicron family to tell the full story… to tell all who will listen something about from whence we have come… about how far we have come… and about our beloved Fraternity and the BO brothers who helped to get us here.