What started 20 years ago in this resort city as a small annual weekend beachfront gathering of black college students has turned into a yearly influx of tens of thousands whose visits create waves of conflicting reaction among local residents and business owners.

The event begins today and is eagerly anticipated by some hoteliers who might fill their rooms at premium rates. Thousands of younger black Galvestonians join out-of-town throngs each year for the big beachfront gathering.

But many residents rent movies, stock up on groceries and ... more >>

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Mighty Tau Chapter is sponsoring the Knowledge is Power Book Drive and the Sisters on the Move Business Clothing Drive every Wednesday during the month of April.

Book donations will be given to the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library.

“We won't turn anything away if it's torn or ripped,” Tau member Juanta Coffman said about the books.  more >>

The former Boy Scout Museum got a taste of urban flair Friday as Showtyme Entertainment presented professional comedians Denny Live and B Cole for the "All Star Comedy Show."

Tiffany Murphy, senior from Louisville and member of Showtyme Entertainment, said the student organization was formed to provide inexpensive, entertaining programs different from what is normally offered on campus.

"We basically try to have big stars come to (Murray State)," Murphy said.   more >>

The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and College Bound Academy are hosting a youth leadership conference from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Southwest Center in Texarkana, Texas.

The conference is a Z-Hope project, the Zeta's national initiative that stands for Zetas Helping Other People Excel.

The theme of the conference is Students Today-Leaders Tomorrow, and it is open to middle and high school students on both sides of the state line.  more >>

The red and white striped walking canes might give it away. Or perhaps the

“skeeeeeee weeeee” calls to ladies in pink and green might let you know.

Whether it’s through the paraphernalia or activity programming, Black Greek Letter Organizations — fraternities specifically tailored to the black community — are alive and thriving at Georgetown.

About a dozen Georgetown students are involved in historically BGLOs for a variety of reasons, even though Georgetown does not officially recognize Greek life on campus.   more >>

The young men wore white tails and top hats. They carried canes. The young women performed deep curtseys in their white formal gowns.

When the 14 female and three male high school seniors presented to society earlier this month at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Scholarship Cotillion all danced together, they looked like an assemblage from another time.

"I say 'cotillion' and people don't know what that is," said Tanisha Jones, a 17-year-old from Roosevelt High School. "I said, it's like a ball with a scholarship. It's our culture. It's traditional."  more >>

The members of the Gamma Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. will not be wearing their gear on the Bethune-Cookman College campus any time soon.

Effective March18, Valencia Cooper, vice president for student affairs, suspended the college chapter for seven years in light of escalating conflicts between members in the group since spring 2004.

"I feel that the suspension was unfair and I was hurt," said Antron Mahoney, current president of the Gamma Theta chapter.   more >>

A Southern Miss sorority is celebrating a generation of community service by making a special donation to healthcare workers and patients.  Today, members and alumni of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority presented a television and beach bags to the Hattiesburg Clinic Dialysis Unit.  The t.v. will be located in the lobby and the bags can be used by patients. 

The donation is part of weekend activities celebrating the 30th anniversary of the sorority's Iota Kappa chapter at U.S.M.  It was the first black Greek letter organization at the school.  Other anniversary weekend activities include a picnic, a banquet and a church service tomorrow morning.

  A former Pitt County Schools administrator who now heads Orange County Schools is returning to town to talk about giving back to the community.

Shirley Carraway, superintendent for Orange County Schools and former associate superintendent for educational programs and services for Pitt County Schools, will take what she's learned working with the community as one of the top administrators in Chapel Hill and relay it to the Greenville alumnae chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority April 24.

"I think we all have the ability to give something back," Carraway said. "It could be giving back to a neighbor ... giving a little of what we have been fortunate enough to receive to someone or some other group. (It) could be just giving our time or what expertise we might have, but we all have something we can give back."    more >>

Black male students have the most trouble navigating the education system. Few are making it through to college.

They wheel him into the student union on a dolly, a black man tied up, masked and clad in combat boots. Once set free, he scowls and stomps, to the delight of hundreds of black students who have gathered to watch.

His words silence them: "I GOT A STORY TO TELL!"  more >>