The city's West Community Redevelopment Agency took the Ali Building through eminent domain but is negotiating a lease with Eta Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi -- a black fraternity. Featured here are Harry Harrell (center), Wayne Comer (left) and Willie Jones (right). The group plans to turn it into a community center.

Painted like a playing card, the 1930s landmark on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard lures people to its boarded up doors. The homeless break in and sleep in it. Deputies patrol it. Passers-by gawk at it.

Despite its tattered condition, the Ali Building remains a historic presence in the Northwest area's black community. Its original owners, the late Frank and Florence Ali, were among the first black merchants to own their building — a rare accomplishment during a time of legalized segregation.   more »

For 33 years, the Fort Hood-based chapter of Omega Psi Phi has been giving scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

Last year, the chapter gave 13 $1,000 scholarships, and this year they hope to do more. In order to achieve their goal, they've planned their first Scholarship Rodeo Friday through Sunday at the Killeen Rodeo Grounds.

"We're just trying to give more," said Malcolm Dickenson, event organizer. "We hope everyone comes out to support our cause."

For three nights, the rodeo will spotlight eight events with a variety of riders, including mutton busting for the kids, barrel racing, bareback and saddle wild horse riding, steer wrestling, and more.   more »

Charles Williams is a popular businessman on the East Side, and a few years ago, the barber found a way to do something nice for kids in his community.

Williams and the students at his school, Williams Barber College, gave free haircuts on Friday to kids going back to school.

"A lot of these single parents, not much help, so we feel the least we can do is give haircuts for the children," Williams said.

Members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity have partnered with the businessman.   more »

Grand Master John W. Mason created Che-Lu martial arts in 1957. The system today is taught in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Texas and at his business, Capital City Martial Arts, on Lyons Drive.

"It is not a conglomeration of styles," Mason said. "It is a system of my own."

Che-Lu (courage, humbleness, enlightenment, love and unity) is based on the same basic principles as other martial arts: discipline and respect.

"The school has won thousands of trophies and awards since it started," Mason said. He opened in 1981 with his wife, Roberta.

Mason, a Lexington native, served with the 311th Air Commandos in Vietnam, was chief of police at Kentucky State University and holds a master's in psychotherapy from the University of New Hampshire where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.   more »

Well-coifed Black men in pink and green outfits.  Flawless make-up. Pearl bracelets. When images of presumably gay men dressed like Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority members surfaced on the Internet, message boards lit up across Black America as folks expressed concern that  the men had created their own unofficial chapter of AKA.

Photos of inductees to the Tri Alpha Chapter of MIAKA (Men Interested in Alpha Kappa Alpha) from Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M were published on a BET.com forum that became a user showdown.  Black radio lines buzzed, and Houston’s CBS affiliate ran a story.   more »

The rule is: if you're not a member, you don't wear it!  But apparently British soul singer Amy Winehouse and some unidentified men didn't get the memo concerning Black Greek-lettered organizations and their paraphernalia.

Over the past week, the Internet has been flooded with pictures of people sporting Black Greek paraphernalia who are not members of the "The Divine Nine." There are nine historically Black Greek-etter organizations, these organizations are referred to as "The Divine Nine."

Winehouse, pictured left and who is not on the books as a member of any Black sorority, is seen wearing a t-shirt featuring the four historically Black sororities. Are you cool with her wearing the t-shirt or is she dead wrong?   more »

An individual with a diverse background in higher education, community agencies and private enterprise will lead student event planning at Morehead State University.               

Terri L. Roberts has been named student activities coordinator at the University. In her new position, the Dayton, Ohio, native will have numerous responsibilities, including advising the Student Government Association and the Student Activities Council. Additionally, she will assist in the planning of Homecoming, Family Weekend and other campus events.

“One of my goals is to make sure that the programming that we do on campus is student-driven and is what the students really want,” she said. “I want our campus programming and events to be a reflection of the diversity that we have on our campus.”   more »

As part of UTSA Roadrunner Days, a series of events to help new students connect with each other and University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), the UTSA Night of Comedy will feature "Saturday Night Live" comic Finesse Mitchell and "Last Comic Standing" comic Kristin Key from 8 to 10 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22 in the Recreation Center at the 1604 Campus.

The special event is free and open to the UTSA community. Students are invited to bring blankets, pillows and cushions for general floor seating. Because of adult content in the comedy material, participant discretion is advised.

Long before Finesse Mitchell became a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," he made quite an impact in the world of stand-up comedy. His wit, Southern charm and stage presence makes him one of the brightest young stars on the comedy horizon. Born and raised in Atlanta, Ga., he is a graduate of the University of Miami.   more »

The graduation caps have been tossed, the lockers have been cleaned out for the final time, and the summer leading into adulthood has been reaped for all it is worth.

Now, teens bound for college have a whole new set of thoughts swirling through their noggins.

How much harder will college classes be? Will I get homesick? What if I don't get along with my roommate?

 And eventually, many will meet this consideration: Should I join a fraternity or sorority?   more »

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the nation’s first and largest predominately black Greek-letter fraternity, has partnered with the March of Dimes to create Project Alpha. The national initiative is an extension of the work the fraternity does with Big Brothers and the Boy Scouts of America and seeks to teach young men to make better choices about their sexual behavior.

While in Orlando, Florida celebrating the fraternity's 101st anniversary, I participated in a Project Alpha workshop with some local boys at one of the YMCAs.  Of the 10 boys that participated, only two lived with their fathers, and only one other knew or had an even casual relationship with his father. What is more, a number of my fraternity brothers confessed that they too grew up without fathers. The 70 percent illegitimacy rate is real and has very real consequences. And the men of Alpha are working to end the cycle of fatherless children.

I was blessed with three beautiful sons. I watch them from across the room as they wrestle or sit quietly reading, and I am in awe of God’s handiwork. The miracle of their lives takes my breath away. I listened to their heart beats when they were no bigger than goldfish swimming in their mother’s womb. I held them when they were helpless, fed them and cleaned them, and every day, they grow a little bit further into themselves and away from me and their mother. I cannot imagine being more in love with another human being. There is nothing I would not do for them, nothing I would not give.   more »