Groove Phi Groove

Groove Phi Groove
Groove Phi Groove
GΦG
Founded	October 12, 1962; 59 years ago; Morgan State University
Type	Social fellowship
Emphasis	Service
Scope	International ; United States ; Ghana, London, France, and Nigeria
Motto	Through loyalty and integrity, we shall achieve greatness.
Colors	Black; White
Publication	The Sword & Spear
Chapters	200+; 150 as of 2008
Members	60,000+; 30,000 as of 2008 lifetime
Headquarters	2453 Maryland Avenue; Baltimore, Maryland 21218; United States
Website	Official website

Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. (GΦG) is a social fellowship. It was founded at Morgan State College (now known as Morgan State University) as an alternative to mainstream historically black fraternities.^[4] It has one sister organization, Swing Phi Swing.

History[]

Groove Phi Groove was founded on October 12, 1962 by a group of young black men who wanted to create an alternative to what was described as the traditionalism of subjectively ascribed established fraternal organizations.^[5] Groove Phi Groove is an independent organization whose purpose includes promoting academic awareness, leadership development, community empowerment, preservation of African culture, and working towards alleviating the social and economic problems impacting disadvantaged communities.

Groove Phi Groove members hold individuality, self-expression, and creativity in its members to be paramount, as well as a focus on issues related to the empowerment of African American communities. Its members work in a wide variety of career areas, including accounting, education, engineering, human resource services, local and state government, medicine, law, protective services, information technology, religion, real estate, food service, skilled crafts, music, professional sports, the armed services, and business.

Founders[]

The founders of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship are:^[6]

Glenn Brown
Raymond Clark
John Conquest
Walter Goodwin
Janes Hill
Barry Hampton
Charlie Sam Johnson
Nathaniel Monroe
David Nesbitt
Nathaniel Parham
Harry Payne
Barry Simms
Robert Simpson
Woodrow Williams

Etymology[]

Groove[]

During the 1960s, the word “groove” was popular among young blacks. Webster's Dictionary defines the verb “groove” as “to perform deftly or smoothly.” As a noun, “groove” is defined as a “fixed routine in the affairs of life.” Hence, to go against the “groove” means to work against the current establishment, and “grooving” is associated with “socializing or fellowshipping.” These combined definitions form the definition of Groove Phi Groove.^[7]

Phi[]

The "Phi" in Groove Phi Groove preserves the original meaning of the Emetic letter "Phi." In “Secrets of the Great Pyramids” by Pete Thompkins, the Khemit people of ancient Egypt created “phi” as a symbol of the creative function of the male reproductive system and, more loosely, as “reproduction in endless series,” which is a symbolic representation of “the fire of life.” The Fellowship has incorporated this symbol of fertility into its name to stand for continual growth and development.^[3] The “phi” symbol should not be confused with the subsequent Greek numeral representing 500 Φ or the ancient Greek representation of [pʰ].

Symbols[]

Colors - Black - indicating the Race and White indicating Purity.^[8]

The seven symbols on the shield
- Sword - Courage
- Shield - Endurance
- Book - Knowledge among College Men
- Mug - Fellowship
- Chain - Unification of their brotherhood
- Torch - Everlasting Light
- Fourteen Pearls - founding members of the organization

Governing structure[]

As a body, the governing structure of the Fellowship consists of:^[9]

The Conclave
The International Constitution & Bylaws Manual
The International Executive Board of Directors
The International Directorate Staff
Regional offices
Local chapters

Regions[]

Atlantic
Far West
Great Lakes
Mid-Atlantic
New England
North Atlantic
South Atlantic
South Central
International

International headquarters[]

The international headquarters of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. is located at 2453 Maryland Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland. The building was purchased on December 26, 2012, and dedicated July 1, 2013.^[10]

International Presidents[]

Since Lenwood Harris became the First National President in 1970, 11 men have served as the National President of Groove Phi Groove, including one man serving for a record three terms. They have served tenures as short as 12 months and as long as 12 years.

Lenwood Harris
Roy L. Sutherland
Eugene Clay
Ronald L. Thomas
John East
Barry Hampton
Ronald P. White*
Christopher Joyner
Victor Henderson
Dennis K. Thomas
Ahmad S. McDougle

Notable members[]

Actors[]

She's Gotta Have It, Boomerang, The Five Heartbeats
, AKA (T.C. "Storm" Caldwell) Single And Anxious, The Decayed, In This Corner, Eyes of Deception, Before Its Too Late, Providence, F.O.N., I Don't Need An Angel

Public service[]

Clarence "Tiger" Davis Maryland House of Delegates 1983–2007^[11]
Douglas Palmer Former Mayor of Trenton NJ^[12]
G. K. Butterfield United States Congressman representing the First Congressional District of North Carolina^[13]
Ralph C. Johnson NC State Representative (Democrat)^[14]

Athletics[]

Donnie Shell Former NFL Player with the Pittsburgh Steelers and member^[13]
Richard Huntley Former NFL Football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons^[15]
Earl "The Pearl" Monroe Former NBA basketball player and Hall of Fame^[16]
Sylvester "Junkyard Dog" Ritter American professional wrestler and professional football player with the Houston Oilers. Also, a Sports Hall of Fame member and author of The White Golden Bull^[17]^[18]^: 91
Chet Grimsley First White American Student Athlete from the C.I.A.A and former NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[18]
Fred Staton former NFL player with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Düsseldorf Panthers of the GFL. The Founder and Executive Director of The Carolina Athletic Association for Schools of Choice, The CAASC. Current coach of Virginia University of Lynchburg Women's Basketball.^[19]^[20]
Dominique Stephens is a former American college basketball stand out from North Carolina Central University. He is also the former Head Coach for Men's basketball at Cheyney State University in Pennsylvania.^[21]

Authors[]

Edmond Davis, Pioneering African-American aviators featuring the Tuskegee Airmen of Arkansas^[22]
Corky Johnson, Why Are Afro-Americans Afraid To Take Off The Blinders^[23]
H.S. Reed, Find a way to make a way, Success is a Journey
Dr. Robert Daylin Brown, Joker to King: Your 52-Week Initiation into Manhood
Clifton Harvey Harcum, Passion^[24]^{[self-published source]}
Darryl T. Jefferson, From the Ashes of the Ghetto
Jerry L. Harper, "It's All About Family and Friends - A Poetic Ministry" https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Jerry+L.+Harper&search-alias=books&field-author=Jerry+L.+Harper&sort=relevancerank

International Programs[]

The men of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. actively support and participate in various programs and projects which aim to serve the communities in which they live. Some of these programs and projects focus on black Americans; however, the Fellowship does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, or physical impairment. Nor do they provide a financial benefit to individual members of the Fellowship, as Groove Phi Groove is a 501(c)(7) not-for-profit entity, and the Groove Fund is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable entity.^[7] The Fellowship's International Programs & Projects Manual includes information about the following:

The Groove Fund, Incorporated Scholarship Awards Program^[25]
The Groove Fund, Incorporated Tutorial Program
The Groove Leadership Academy Mentorship Program
Project Outreach
Project Missing Children
Project UNCF
Project NAACP/Urban League
The Boy Scouts of America
Groove Feeds America
The Food for Thought Project
The Neighborhood Revitalization Project
The Collegiate Pipeline Project
The Groove Natural Disaster Support Fund
Groove Feeds Africa

Citations[]

^[26] ^[27] ^[28] ^[29]

^ "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc". groove-phi-groove.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Issuu.com djkillabee
^ ^a ^b Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century - Our Fight Has Just Begun (2008) p 221-222
^ ^a ^b Taylor, Alexis. "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Celebrates 50 Years". AFRO News. AFRO News. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "A Timeline of Black History at Virginia Tech". spec.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Meet our Founders
^ ^a ^b "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc". gphig.org. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Howard University 'The Hilltop' April 12, 1991 - Groove Phi Groove moves to a different beat
^ "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc". groove-phi-groove.org. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Sword and Spear Summer 2013
^ "Clarence Davis, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Celebrates 50 Years". afro.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ ^a ^b TarverPR, LLC. "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary | PRLog". prlog.org. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ [[1]
^ "Sword & Spear" (PDF). GROOVE PHI GROOVE SOCIAL FELLOWSHIP, INC.®. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Monroe, Earl 2013 Earl The Pearl: My Story New York, NY Rodale page 137 chapter 9 ISBN 1609615611
^ Grimsley, C. (2011). The White Golden Bull: How Faith in God Transcended Racial Barriers. Too Smart Publications. ISBN 9780979692857. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ ^a ^b The White Golden Bull: How Faith in God Transcended Racial Barriers
^ Fred Staton Jr. Bio
^ The sword and spear winter fall 2008
^ Dominique Stephens to be Honored by NCCU
^ "About Us". aviatethroughknowledge.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ "Why Are Afro-Americans Afraid To Take Off The Blinders". createspace.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Harcum, C.H. (2012). Passion: Making the Impossible Possible. Xlibris Corporation LLC. ISBN 9781477102442. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ "Home". groovefund.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
^ Perkins, Walter (2011). Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.-The First 50 Years in Black and White. Silver Spring, MD.
^ Monroe, Earl; Troupe, Quincy (2013). Earl The Pearl: My Story.
^ Morehouse College. "Morehouse College Greek life". Morehouse College. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
^ Downs, Ra Kenya (October 4, 2005). "Groove Phi Groove Makes Resurgence". The Hilltop. Retrieved 19 June 2013.

[groove-phi-groove-1] "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc". groove-phi-groove.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[2] Issuu.com djkillabee

[BGLO21-3] Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century - Our Fight Has Just Begun (2008) p 221-222

[AFRO50-4] Taylor, Alexis. "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Celebrates 50 Years". AFRO News. AFRO News. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[vt-5] "A Timeline of Black History at Virginia Tech". spec.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[6] Meet our Founders

[nat-7] "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc". gphig.org. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[Hilltop-8] Howard University 'The Hilltop' April 12, 1991 - Groove Phi Groove moves to a different beat

[groove-phi-groove2-9] "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc". groove-phi-groove.org. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[10] Sword and Spear Summer 2013

[maryland-11] "Clarence Davis, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[afro-12] "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Celebrates 50 Years". afro.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[prlog-13] TarverPR, LLC. "Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary | PRLog". prlog.org. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[14] [[1]

[groove-phi-groove3-15] "Sword & Spear" (PDF). GROOVE PHI GROOVE SOCIAL FELLOWSHIP, INC.®. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[16] Monroe, Earl 2013 Earl The Pearl: My Story New York, NY Rodale page 137 chapter 9 ISBN 1609615611

[google2-17] Grimsley, C. (2011). The White Golden Bull: How Faith in God Transcended Racial Barriers. Too Smart Publications. ISBN 9780979692857. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[GB-18] The White Golden Bull: How Faith in God Transcended Racial Barriers

[19] Fred Staton Jr. Bio

[20] The sword and spear winter fall 2008

[21] Dominique Stephens to be Honored by NCCU

[aviatethroughknowledge-22] "About Us". aviatethroughknowledge.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[createspace-23] "Why Are Afro-Americans Afraid To Take Off The Blinders". createspace.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[google-24] Harcum, C.H. (2012). Passion: Making the Impossible Possible. Xlibris Corporation LLC. ISBN 9781477102442. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[groovefund-25] "Home". groovefund.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

[26] Perkins, Walter (2011). Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.-The First 50 Years in Black and White. Silver Spring, MD.

[27] Monroe, Earl; Troupe, Quincy (2013). Earl The Pearl: My Story.

[28] Morehouse College. "Morehouse College Greek life". Morehouse College. Retrieved 19 June 2013.

[29] Downs, Ra Kenya (October 4, 2005). "Groove Phi Groove Makes Resurgence". The Hilltop. Retrieved 19 June 2013.

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Groove Phi Groove
GΦG

Founded	October 12, 1962; 59 years ago (1962-10-12) Morgan State University
Type	Social fellowship
Emphasis	Service
Scope	International United States Ghana, London, France, and Nigeria
Motto	Through loyalty and integrity, we shall achieve greatness.
Colors	Black White
Publication	The Sword & Spear^[1]^[2]
Chapters	200+ 150 as of 2008
Members	60,000+ 30,000 as of 2008 lifetime
Headquarters	2453 Maryland Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21218 United States
Website	Official website
^[3]^[4]