So I…have been busy this weekend. Today is Nesto’s birthday! His ACTUAL, not his Marine Corps one. I know some of y’all get confused ’cause we celebrate that one too. But. He’s a Marine. That’s how it works.

For his birthday this year, I took him to a Marine Corps graduation. Because he’s been trying to get to one and hadn’t been able to. It was my first one! Because when he graduated from boot camp I was…pregnant. And also I hated him then. But that’s a story for another day. AHEM.

ANYWAYS. THEN I took him to the USS Midway. Because he(we) love that shit. Interactive history is fun! I could touch stuff. And y’all know I can’t keep my hands to myself. It had retired military discussing planes! And Top Gun stuff! And it wasn’t even super crowded. Because I took Friday off special, so I could surprise him with all this.

WHICH. Is how I missed another important birthday/ Founder’s Day!

January 9th is the Founder’s Day for Phi Beta Sigmas! Happy (belated) birthday to my cousin and Unc!

And I would be remiss if I didn’t take this chance to shout out my sister’s brother Fraternity. Because I never pass up a chance to poke at my sissy. (Hey, Nisha!)

*Pushes up glasses*  Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded at Howard University in 1914. The Founders wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

The Founders wished to create an organization that viewed itself as “a part of” the general community rather than “apart from” the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged by his own merits, rather than his family background or affluence….without regard to race, nationality, skin tone or texture of hair. They desired for their fraternity to exist as part of an even greater brotherhood which would be devoted to the “inclusive we” rather than the “exclusive we”. Inclusive. Yes. That means even you, white people.

The Founders also conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. They held a deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This was mirrored in the Fraternity’s motto, “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity”.

(My family and their love of service. Huh)

Since this is the FIRST BHFOTD for the New Year (Happy New Year!!), let’s talk about some Sigma firsts, shall we?

  • First and ONLY Black Greek-Letter Fraternity to have one of its members on the face of a U.S. Coin. (George Washington Carver: The 1951 Half Dollar)
  • First Black Greek-Letter Fraternity to be recognized by Howard University, AND…
  • First Fraternity to have Presidents of other countries in its membership (Hon. Bros. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Nelson Mandela)
    • (Nelson Mandela! Well, shit. You fancy, huh?)
    • (Rhetorical. Of course, they are. They’re my fam’s fam)
    • (And also ’cause….YOU KNOW)
    • (I can never resist. I’m not sorry)

I hope you enjoyed the first BHFOTD of the year. And a look into Nesto’s birthday adventures. See you in February!