Thomas Wolfe, a fellow North Carolinian, and
University of North Carolina (UNC) alumnus, is considered North Carolina’s most
famous writer. In 1940, two years after
his death, Edward Aswell, his last editor, published Wolfe’s novel, “You Can’t
Go Home Again,” posthumously. Wolfe, who
entered UNC as a freshman at 15 graduated with a B.A. in
1920, and that same year entered the Graduate School for Arts and Sciences at Harvard University,
from which he graduated in 1922 with a master’s degree.
Wolfe
signature writing style is best characterized as autobiographical fiction. In many instances stories such as the ones Wolfe wrote are preceded by disclaimers
such as, “the names of the characters have been changed to protect the
innocent.” Indeed, folks in Asheville,
North Carolina, Wolfe’s hometown, were often upset with the writer. The offended and those who subsequently
disparaged him were known to include members of his own family.
It is with this reckoning as a backdrop that I
draw inspiration for today’s title. Respectfully,
I must disagree with Mr. Wolf. The
phrase you can’t go home again has become enmeshed into the American lexicon
and typically is understood to convey how nostalgia
denotes at once both an inaccurate positive bias as well as an inability to
appreciate the changes wrought by time on places and people we tend to recall
in static and permanent ways. In the World according to Wolfe, attempts to
relive fleeting youthful memories are simply incapable of matching the
originals.
Based on Wolfe’s personal experience, he really
did find returning to Asheville a dicey proposition. While it is fair to note that his actions
(specifically his writing) created the dynamic that made the prospect of
returning to his hometown an uncomfortable one.
I’m pleased to note the record shows he did eventually return. The irony of the prickly feelings is that
when Wolfe, in a later novel, did not employ depictions of his homies, they
were equally upset. But I’m digressing
now.
This past weekend I returned home, in a manner
of speaking. Forty years ago I was in
the midst of spending two academic school years and the summer in between in
Chapel Hill, matriculating at the University of North Carolina where I earned an
advanced degree in planning. Right here,
right now, I can stipulate fully and unconditionally that the two years I spent
in Chapel Hill, and the three years before that I spent in Fayetteville matriculating
at Fayetteville State University (FSU) were without question five of the best
years of my life.
Earning two college degrees was the business at
hand, and as my father surely appreciated, I completed that business ahead of
schedule and under budget. The degrees
served me well during my nearly 35-year long career in public service. I acquired the necessarily arrayed skillset
for my toolkit that enabled me to formulate a vitae that served as the lever to
open up a career path that sustained me for three and a half decades of
succeeding at seeking, acquiring, maintaining and successfully executing
increasing responsible jobs and responsibilities.
But college is more than books, studying,
testing, and moving on to next level courses.
Don’t get me wrong; they are of first order priority. They are just not all there is. I formed friendships in college with people
from all over America, and a number of individuals from other countries. I still maintain many of those friendships
today. I participated in
extra-curricular activities, social clubs, and an honor society as a part of
fully engaging in campus community life.
Of all the associations and organizations in
which I partook while in college, the most notable was the fraternity I joined,
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I know
a lot of folks don’t get the whole Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO)
shtick. I understand, starting with the
clarification that they are not Greek Organizations, or Black Greek
Organizations for that matter. The
appropriation of Ethiopian (African) culture is a subject that could consume an
entire blog. Perhaps that will serve as
fodder for another day.
In 1973 I pledged Alpha. Today the very term pledge is an
anachronism. It was a process that was
phased out, beginning in the 80’s due to being conflated with hazing. While examples of underground or offline
pledging can still be cited, none of the organizations in the Divine Nine
approve of or authorize such activity.
Again, I digress. I was initiated
into the Epsilon Zeta (EZ) Chapter of the Fraternity on December 1, 1973. Thus began a life journey that continues to
this day. EZ was the 316th
Chapter in the Fraternity. It was
established at FSU November 3, 1958 at FSU.
When I arrived in Chapel Hill in August of
1975, aside from adapting to a new college town, a significantly larger
university, populated primarily by the dominant culture, unlike FSU, figuring
out how to most efficiently traverse the distance between my Graduate Dorm
(Craige Hall) and New East, which hoses the Department of City and Regional
Planning, and figuring out where I would eat on a regular basis, seeking out
the community of Alpha men was among my high priorities. I quickly discerned that my current situation
(at that time) was a good news/bad news scenario. The good news was there were quite a few
Alphas on campus. The bad news was there
was no Chapter of the Fraternity at the University; we were all enrolled in
Graduate and Professional Schools. This
was problematic. Fortunately, three of
us had come from FSU, two to pursue degrees in planning, and one in business. We quickly pulled together the threshold number
of Brothers necessary to initiate a serious discussion about establishing a
Chapter on UNC’s campus.
Working with the State’s District Director, we
completed the prerequisites and by the Spring Semester we introduced the first
Line of Alpha Phi Alpha at UNC. On April
15, 1976, The Sensational Sixteen Stepmasters entered the House of Alpha
becoming the organization’s 447th Chapter, Mu Zeta. Early on the Founders and members of the
Charter Line recognized the importance of not just ensuring that members
applied themselves to their academic pursuits in a most serious way, but that
they permeated and insinuated themselves throughout the University community. All partiers involved understood not only the
importance of those pursuits, but also the primacy of establishing a robust
historical presence for posterity sake.
To that end, Mu Zeta has conducted 5-year Reunion, one of which took
place this past weekend.
That brings me full circle. I looked forward with great anticipation to
returning to Chapel Hill for MZ Week 2016 as the Chapter’s Founders and its
members from over the years and across the country returned to where for the
members, it had all begun. In the 40
years that have ensued since the Chapter’s inception, Mu Zeta has initiated men
from 40 different Lines. I have served
in many capacities in the Fraternity, including President of my Alumni Chapter
and in several District positions. In
reflecting on my fraternal life, my serving as a Founder, Assistant Dean of
Pledgees, and subsequently associating with the members of Mu Zeta over the
years, few if any activities rise to the level of having established Mu Zeta
and watching with great pride their evolution, development, and many
significant accomplishments.
I extend kudos to Brother Garrett Holloway,
current Mu Zeta President, and Brother Kenneth Hill, Charter Member (and my
home boy/Kinston, NC), who spearheaded the preparation and execution of the
Reunion. I especially thank the team
that worked on the various assignments necessary to elevate the Reunion from an
exciting vision to an exceptional reality.
I also want to take a personal point of privilege to thank Calvin
Burney, the Charter Dean of Pledgees, for attending. This past weekend was his first trip back to
Chapel Hill in decades. His
participation was certainly a highlight for me.
Not the biggest highlight, mind you, but definitely a really big
deal. The itinerary included a Step Show,
a Cookout, a Brotherhood Reception, a Business Meeting, a Service Project, a
Golf Outing, a Ball, and Closing Brunch.
Each of those activities was on point.
But for me, THE high water mark was the opportunity to once again play
basketball with my “young” Brothers. Oh
yeah, and my “3” to win the game. What,
you didn’t know I’m a vet? You’d betta
ask somebody! LOL!
Last summer my current Chapter, Beta Nu Lambda
(CLT), the 156th Chapter of the Fraternity, established August 1,
1939, hosted the National Convention. As
a result, I gained hands-on, first person experience with planning and
executing one of the Fraternity’s most important events. For a local College Chapter such as Mu Zeta
it doesn’t get much bigger or more important than organizing a hosting a
Reunion that touches members from the entire history of the Chapter. The organizers of MZ40 did a phenomenal job.
Most importantly, the men of Mu Zeta helped me
affirm that none of my anticipation and pre-event excitement was
misplaced. I have no buyer’s remorse. In effect, returning ”home” was as good as I
thought it would be; maybe better.
Ultimately, my Brothers demonstrated, in no uncertain terms, it is
possible to go…”Home Again: 40 Years Later!”
GO HEELS, ’06, I’m done; holla back!
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