CEDTalks

Yesterday was the 105th anniversary of the founding of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the oldest Black fraternity in the land. It gives me great pride to be a member of the "Black and Old Gold"; I was singing like Young Jeezy (105! Yeaaahhhhh, Shorty 105!) When I look back (over my life) and I think things over, I can (truly) say...that I've been blessed; I got a testimooonnny! Sorry, had to finish the line. Being serious, it's great being an Alpha; the fraternity has provided me so many opportunities, networks, and memories that I cannot find the words to fully express my gratitude. Among the values I just listed, perhaps the greatest benefit is the addition of 10 great men to my immediate family. In the fall of 2007, 11 men marched the campus of the oldest Black College in the nation and capped off a long and arduous journey to a enchanting destination known simply as the "House of Alpha". For each of us, it took great sacrifice; Rob, who overcame the strug...

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 st...

I, Cedric Charles Perry, am a hater. Whew...though it's tough to say, admission is the first step to recovery. It's a gene that has traveled throughout my family tree; my great-grandmother has been recognized as one of the more influential haters during the civil rights movement. My sister Dee actually holds the Pennsylvania state record for most consecutive statements using the word "corny", with 46. It appears that there are numerous types of haters; my type is called "Conditional Hater", where in attempts to create humor, I will break out in uncontrollable hating. Recognizing that this trait runs in my family, I was bound to be a hater and it's better for me to acknowledge this now and help others who share this condition. To better address this addiction, which currently affect approximately 3.6 million people in America (I made that number up), let's identify what hating is. Rapper LL Cool J once stated that hating is "identifying a perso...

Hello team; long time, no see! Things have been hectic, but I'm back for y'all. Over the weekend, I talked with my brother and good friend, Dev aka The Uber Manuever. We discussed the usual: girls, NBA Eastern Conference standings, doritos, and Facebook. Midway through this convo, however, we talked about our personal network: black greek fraternities and sororities. In my (gulp) 3+ years as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha (Fraternity INCORPORATED!), I've obtained many friends, and in some instances, "followers". Though in NO WAY, SHAPE, or FORM is anyone a celebrity because of their "greekdom", you do receive a certain amount and privileges from your affiliation. One such benefit is the instant connection with anyone who crossed the "Burning Sands". I've shaken hands with fellow Alpha Cornel West, received a Christmas card from Tom Joyner (Omega Psi Phi) and shared a laugh with Sigma Dwayne Ashley from the Thurgood Marshall Fund. Besides ...