Black fraternity changes convention location due to Florida’s education policies.
America’s Oldest Intercollegiate Black Fraternity Takes a Stand Against Racist Policies
The 97th national convention of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate black fraternity in America, was set to take place in Orlando, Florida in 2025. However, due to what the fraternity describes as “harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community” from the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), the convention will now be hosted in Dallas.
Standing Up for Respect and Equality
Alpha Phi Alpha General President Willis L. Lonzer III emphasized the importance of respect and equality in their decision. “Our intent is to ensure that, where we spend our dollars, we are going to be respected,” Lonzer stated. “And people that look like us, who are Black people, Brown people, people of different cultures and ethnicities, need to be respected.”
Lonzer further highlighted the fraternity’s commitment to social justice, advocacy, and leadership for the Black community. “In this environment of manufactured division and attacks on the Black community, Alpha Phi Alpha refuses to direct a projected $4.6 million convention economic impact to a place hostile to the communities we serve,” he added.
A History of Controversial Policies
The decision to relocate the convention comes in response to the Florida Board of Education’s approval of a new K-12 curriculum for African American history, which critics argue misrepresents the history of slavery. Additionally, Gov. DeSantis rejected the College Board’s Advanced Placement course on the same topic.
Despite this decision, Alpha Phi Alpha will continue to support its 720 college and alumni chapters in Florida.
Similarly, the NAACP has issued a travel warning for Florida, even though the chairman of its board of directors, Leon W. Russell, resides in Tampa, Florida.
It is worth noting that Florida currently holds the highest number of black-owned businesses in the country, according to the Pew Research Center.
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