Today is the 100th Anniversary of the founding of fraternity Omega Psi Phi, a historic black greek letter organization (BGLO). Known to many as "Ques", the Omegas (like all BGLOs) are very important to Black College history and Black culture overall. As an Alpha I interact with Omegas quite often, but having three of them as close friends and business partners, we share a unique bond. There are three classic memories that truly cement the previous statement: "The Haircut", Lethal Weapon "Q", and Moss.
The Haircut
It was three weeks into my freshman year at Cheyney University, and my fade line stood in dire straits. With my 1990 Toyota Corolla "Cool Whip" parked in Morrisville, it became necessary to find a campus barber. Enter Tr...let's use fake names; enter "Clevis". Clevis was the prototypical Omega: husky for no damn reason. I mean just "swoll"; his goatee had biceps. My hair began to look unkempt, so I finally stopped over to get a Brooklyn (or in my neighborhood, a Levittown) fade. As soon as homeboy turned on the clippers, I knew I was in danger.
"Hold still," he barked as he GRIPPED my forehead, like The Undertaker going for the chokeslam. Crippling in fear, I tried to think positive thoughts: Jesus, Chicken from Bojangles, episode 1 of We're Just Talking (years before its time). Nothing worked. I screeched like a female dog as he put me in a headlock to line up my sides. In my head, I heard him yelling at me to submit: "Say it! Say it!" When he finished carving my line in, I paid him three dollars and said, "By the way, I respect what your fraternity does on campus." He looked at his Omega shirt on the wall and replied, "Yeah, this (expletive) here is SERIOUS!" That was the first day I gave out a #@#%^& look. It would not be the last.
Lethal Weapon "Q"
My friend Jeff (who would later join Omega Psi Phi), a young lady, and I were returning from the grocery store when we were stopped by a Q whose car wouldn't start. Being the good samaritan that I am, I offered to give him a jump. He placed one end of the jumper cables on his car, and I placed the other end on "Cool Whip". As I prepared to ask the young lady to start my car, I was interrupted by...THE NASTY! The Omega tries to tell me that Positive goes with Negative. Immediately I tell him, according to the Charles Perry Car-Starting Manual, that's incorrect. He refutes, saying "Nah, Nah, Nah...Omega", switches the cables, and tells shorty to start the car. When she turns the ignition, the jumper cables burst into flames on MY END! Immediately this scene turns into an action movie: she's screaming, the bruh starts hopping, and Jeff and I start running, waiting to hear an explosion so we can dive. Luckily, I told her to cut the car off, and my car survived.
Moss
In Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots faced off against the Giants in a quest for perfection. Randy Moss played for New England at the time, and would celebrate his touchdowns with a gesture that strongly resembled the signature "Hooks" of Omega. My boy Ray decides to throw a Super Bowl Party and has everybody over. There are Alphas, AKAs, non greeks, and of course Qs. One of the non greek attendees had recently expressed interest in joining Omega Psi Phi, so it was clear he would be on best behavior. Or so we thought.
It's late in the 4th quarter and the Pats are driving. Tom Brady, the cool guy that he is, zips a strike to Randy Moss in the end zone. As Randy Moss basks in glory, the interest joins in. "Yeah! Moss time! Kuh," he rejoices, and begins to imitate Moss' touchdown celebration. His hands continue to stretch out, and in front of all the Omegas, he is "throwing up the hooks." I never took so much pleasure in seeing one person's demise. I just remember the "laid back" Omega quickly removing the smile from his face. Me and the other Alphas laughed about that for about three weeks.
Events like these would not provide such laughter and joy had those four men gathered together in 1911. Congrats, and welcome to the Century Club.
Cedric Perry is the producer of the sitcom "We're Just Talking" and author of two young adult novels, Homecoming and In Line for Love. For more on Perry, go to www.pick6time.com.
The Haircut
It was three weeks into my freshman year at Cheyney University, and my fade line stood in dire straits. With my 1990 Toyota Corolla "Cool Whip" parked in Morrisville, it became necessary to find a campus barber. Enter Tr...let's use fake names; enter "Clevis". Clevis was the prototypical Omega: husky for no damn reason. I mean just "swoll"; his goatee had biceps. My hair began to look unkempt, so I finally stopped over to get a Brooklyn (or in my neighborhood, a Levittown) fade. As soon as homeboy turned on the clippers, I knew I was in danger.
"Hold still," he barked as he GRIPPED my forehead, like The Undertaker going for the chokeslam. Crippling in fear, I tried to think positive thoughts: Jesus, Chicken from Bojangles, episode 1 of We're Just Talking (years before its time). Nothing worked. I screeched like a female dog as he put me in a headlock to line up my sides. In my head, I heard him yelling at me to submit: "Say it! Say it!" When he finished carving my line in, I paid him three dollars and said, "By the way, I respect what your fraternity does on campus." He looked at his Omega shirt on the wall and replied, "Yeah, this (expletive) here is SERIOUS!" That was the first day I gave out a #@#%^& look. It would not be the last.
Lethal Weapon "Q"
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| Y.M.e? - Myself, Rob (Q), Garvin, Ray (Q), Dev, and Jeff (Q). |
Moss
In Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots faced off against the Giants in a quest for perfection. Randy Moss played for New England at the time, and would celebrate his touchdowns with a gesture that strongly resembled the signature "Hooks" of Omega. My boy Ray decides to throw a Super Bowl Party and has everybody over. There are Alphas, AKAs, non greeks, and of course Qs. One of the non greek attendees had recently expressed interest in joining Omega Psi Phi, so it was clear he would be on best behavior. Or so we thought.
It's late in the 4th quarter and the Pats are driving. Tom Brady, the cool guy that he is, zips a strike to Randy Moss in the end zone. As Randy Moss basks in glory, the interest joins in. "Yeah! Moss time! Kuh," he rejoices, and begins to imitate Moss' touchdown celebration. His hands continue to stretch out, and in front of all the Omegas, he is "throwing up the hooks." I never took so much pleasure in seeing one person's demise. I just remember the "laid back" Omega quickly removing the smile from his face. Me and the other Alphas laughed about that for about three weeks.
Events like these would not provide such laughter and joy had those four men gathered together in 1911. Congrats, and welcome to the Century Club.
Cedric Perry is the producer of the sitcom "We're Just Talking" and author of two young adult novels, Homecoming and In Line for Love. For more on Perry, go to www.pick6time.com.
Another classic! Reminiscing like Mary on "411." Next time I'm town we gotta re-live these events. Good job man!
ReplyDeleteRandy Moss.... good times!
ReplyDelete