Historically Black Fraternity Inducts Bill Clinton As Honorary Member

NEW ORLEANS — A historically black fraternity has voted to induct former President Bill Clinton as an honorary member.

Phi Beta Sigma President Paul Griffin Jr. said Friday that Clinton is the first U.S. president to be inducted into a historically black fraternity.

The fraternity voted Tuesday for Clinton's induction at its 95th Anniversary Conclave in New Orleans, La.

Stevie Wonder, Al Roker, the Rev. Al Sharpton and jazz musician Ramsey Lewis are also honorary members of Phi Beta Sigma.

The fraternity was founded in 1914 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It has more than 150,000 alumni and college members in about 500 chapters throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Comments

[Rembrandt90]

I can't believe that so many of you care so much about Bill Clinton joining a fraternity, especially when it appears that none of you are financial members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. We don't care what you do in your daily life so why did you care what we do in our fraternity? As an active and financial member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity I am proud to welcome the Hon. Bill Clinton to our illustrious fraternity.

[Poboy]

Birds of a feather.

[blackandintact]

As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, I say welcome to the Blue and White Family Prez Clinton... Blue Phi!!!

[greymom]

President Clinton has worked tirelessly to better the lives of people who suffer from AIDS in Africa, along with other humanitarian efforts during his retirement. He brokered a peace agreement that still holds in Northern Ireland/ If he had not been dogged by Kenneth Starr, who knows how much he could have achieved in his administration.

In spite of a couple of awkward comments during his wife's run for the nomination, he has been a friend to African Americans and Africans. it is a well deserved honor.

[nekeb]

not that i like bush in the least, but he deserves credit too regarding his humanitarian effort in Africa:

"Bush launched the $15 billion plan in 2003 to expand prevention, treatment and support programs in 15 hard-hit countries, 12 of them African, which account for more than half the world's estimated 33 million AIDS infections. The initiative tied in with a World Health Organization campaign to put 3 million people on AIDS drugs by 2005 — a goal it says was reached in 2007."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28605888/

[wonketteRAWKS]

His comments were awkward only because the Obama-backed media and the Obam campaign turned them awkward.

[robXdion]

Yeah, so we all were hearing things? The media MADE dubbed a voice over his? No matter he context., his comment was insulting. So next time you want to tell blacks they not hearing race dogwhistles you might want to try that on a class of black 2nd graders.

[cdclark]

On many levels I'm not a fan of Bill Clinton...but I think he deserves this.

[Chocolate2008]

Whatevah !

[whitegayrepublican]

Agreed. The fact that many post-slavery whites are unaware of the monstrous historic ravage of the black community is astounding.

Placed in context, of course it can be said that no one cares but Bill Clinton and these fraternities as right now, many Americans are trying to dodge pink slips and foreclosure notices.

[Marie9]

lol They need to learn how to help develop black males into manhood!

Along with getting integrity.

[robXdion]

What does your constant displaced anger at some black men have to do with this discussion? The same accusation can be leveled at some black women. Indeed. ~ Your sentiment is funny to me because such black men STILL aren't considered mates unless they subscribe to some over-the-top ideal of blackness, thuggish jail-tryouts, or until a non-black female chooses them. I graduated from an HBCU, so I know this firsthand. Some of you are laughable with acting all brand-new as if President Obama was created in a lab as the first black man of his kind.

[Brothaman2k]

All I wanna know is when is Bill's first step show.? lol

[2Bfair]

Bill wants to know what Sororities these guys party with.

[placpje]

Clinton-h8ers trying to do humor.

Like children trying to operate power tools.

[valhalladad]

Well, I suppose that ina few years we can look forward to the headline,"­Historical­ly White Fraternity inducts Barack Obama." Right?

[fratricide08]

LOL They already did: the Presidency!

[Wendell Knig]

Welcome to our blue family ohhho!!!!!! let your cause speed on brother Clinton

[dct1999]

The Sigmas decision to honor Clinton provides what I think is a good example of chris tia nity not being a good thing for some black people. The desire to forgive sometimes overtakes common sense.

Bill Clinton's actions during the primaries were deliberately insulting and polarizing. At the time I kept saying that the Clintons would simply wait until a few months after the general election and begin an apology to black people tour, without ever admitting to or apologizing for their reprehensible behavior.

This is just one of the steps along the way.

[robXdion]

I think it's more about people not really understanding what forgiveness means. It means releasing the burden of anger and resentment by owing faults to human frailty, but you don't come back to take MORE punishment. Afterall, the "forgiven" person may not even know they were offensive and may not even care. And there's nothing I despise more than this endemic American characteristic of ignoring insulting behavior or passing off guilty actions as if it never happened because people don't want to face contrition and atonement.

[dct1999]

Well said, especially the meaning of forgiveness.

[HelloFunnyWorld]

Re....."but you don't come back to take MORE punishment...."
and "....this endemic --- characteristic of ignoring insulting behavior or passing off guilty actions as if it never happened because people don't want to face contrition and atonement."

You know, this happens all over, not just in the States.

Thank you for articulating another perspective so clearly. Some thing that is so hard to do when dealing with the sensitive issue of Race, Racism and their consequences. But guess it is inevitable now, in order to move forward and make a better world we have to address stuff we dont want to....

[L3ftofC3nter]

Very well stated. Forgiveness does lift the heavy burden of anger off the wronged party. You forgive and move on, but you definitely don't invite more abuse.

[wonketteRAWKS]

What actions during the primaries are you referring to?

[Helzapoppin]

Honestly, blacks need to stop degrading themselves by paying homage top that guy.

[AlwaysFairDem]

You don't understand the contribution Bill Clinton has made to African Americans Economically so while it might look degrading to you, it is not for most African Americans.

See...loyalty in the African American community is to he or she that don't trade their souls for the moment. This man understood African Americans while he has chosen sorry rhetoric during the election and African Americans understand him. It is not degrading so hush up!

[dct1999]

What contributions are you referring to?

[2Bfair]

and Clinton's de-regulation of the banking industry and the resulting disproportionate exploitation of minorities trying to buy homes, is that part of your calcuation of ecomomic benefit?

[Chocolate2008]

You don't speak for me. Shut up. You have no idea what you're talking about. A closer look at Clintons record and it will show that he did not help African Americans as much as he claims he did.

[L3ftofC3nter]

What contributions exactly? Sure he was a good president, but he really didn't make any significant contributions to the black community that I can tell. Would you care to elaborate.

[robXdion]

Some can't help themselves. They crave white approval so bad it's like being trapped in the 1850's.

[SOLERSO68]

congratulations bubba.

[Mdazes]

All is well until Clinton say something bad about President Obama and than he will go back to 'just another white man'. How easily we forget.

[AlwaysFairDem]

That is bigoted race baiting and you know it. All is on the plate and on its merit! For your information, Former President's don't say anything bad about current President unless they are totally incompetent like Bush!

[Mdazes]

Where were you when African Ameiricans became angry at President Clinton when he compared Obama win in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson. Hillary black support fell faster than the stock market.

[middleoftheroad]

They should brand him.

[Poboy]

Yes.

A White Donkey.

[AlwaysFairDem]

Give it a rest...b i go t!

[dct1999]

Agreed.

[majii]

No, That would be the Qs.