The Living Legacy of Omega Psi Phi

Across the United States—and increasingly across the world—Black Greek-letter organizations continue shaping leadership, civic engagement, and cultural identity. Among them, Omega Psi Phi stands out for its long tradition of scholarship, service, and unapologetic brotherhood. Known informally as the “Ques,” members of this historic fraternity have influenced politics, sports, arts, and civil rights for more than a century. Understanding Omega Psi Phi means understanding a powerful piece of the broader story of Black leadership and institution-building.

The Divine Nine: A Legacy Born from Segregation and Aspiration

The Divine Nine refers to the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). These organizations were founded between 1906 and 1963, largely at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), during a period when Black students were excluded from many campus institutions and leadership networks.

Greek-letter organizations provided:

Academic support networks
Leadership development opportunities
Community service initiatives
Cultural solidarity in the face of segregation

Over time, these groups evolved into some of the most influential civic institutions within Black America, with members leading movements in education, politics, civil rights, and economic empowerment.

Within this legacy, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. holds a distinctive historical position.

The Founding of Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The founders were:

Edgar Amos Love
Oscar James Cooper
Frank Coleman

They were guided by their faculty advisor:

Dr. Ernest Everett Just, a renowned biologist and professor at Howard.

The fraternity was established in the Science Building (now Thirkield Hall), making it the first international fraternal organization founded at a historically Black college.

The founders selected the name Omega Psi Phi from the initials of a Greek phrase meaning:

“Friendship is essential to the soul.”

That phrase remains the fraternity’s motto and continues to shape its philosophy of brotherhood.

The Four Cardinal Principles of Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi’s mission is structured around four guiding values known as the Cardinal Principles:

Manhood

Members are expected to demonstrate integrity, discipline, and responsibility in personal and professional life.

Scholarship

Academic excellence and intellectual achievement are foundational expectations of Omega men.

Perseverance

Members are encouraged to overcome adversity and maintain resilience in pursuit of their goals.

Uplift

Perhaps the most visible principle, uplift reflects the fraternity’s commitment to community service and social improvement.

Together, these principles guide Omega Psi Phi’s international programming and community engagement.

Programs and Philanthropic Initiatives

Omega Psi Phi operates several internationally mandated programs designed to promote leadership, education, and community health.

Achievement Week

Held every November, Achievement Week celebrates individuals who demonstrate outstanding community service and leadership.

Scholarship Programs

Many chapters provide scholarships to high school seniors and college students to promote academic excellence and reduce financial barriers.

Talent Hunt Program

Established in 1946, the Talent Hunt Program provides young people opportunities to showcase their skills in:

Music
Dance
Drama
Visual arts

Thousands of students have received scholarships and exposure through this initiative.

Social Action Programs

Omega chapters frequently organize:

Voter registration drives
Civic education events
Housing and economic justice initiatives
Youth mentoring programs

Health Initiatives

Omega Psi Phi also promotes public health awareness through programs such as:

Charles Drew Blood Drives
partnerships supporting diabetes awareness
health education initiatives

The “Omega Personality”: Who Becomes a Que?

Within Black Greek culture, each organization develops its own informal personality.

The Omega personality is often associated with:

strong confidence
resilience and toughness
loyalty to brotherhood
visible pride in tradition
commitment to community leadership

Omega men are often recognized by their purple and gold colors, signature stepping traditions, and strong alumni engagement.

Individuals who seek membership are typically men who:

demonstrate academic discipline
show leadership potential
value lifelong brotherhood
commit to community service

Membership is highly selective and requires academic eligibility and approval through a chapter intake process.

Famous Members of Omega Psi Phi

Over the last century, Omega Psi Phi members have made extraordinary contributions in nearly every field.

Civil Rights and Activism

Bayard Rustin — key strategist behind the 1963 March on Washington
Rev. Jesse Jackson — civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Roy Wilkins — former executive secretary of the NAACP

Arts, Literature, and Science

Langston Hughes — Harlem Renaissance poet
Dr. Charles Drew — pioneering blood plasma researcher
Carter G. Woodson — founder of Black History Month

Politics and Government

James Clyburn — U.S. House Majority Whip
L. Douglas Wilder — first Black elected governor in U.S. history (Virginia)

Sports and Entertainment

Michael Jordan — NBA legend
Shaquille O’Neal — NBA Hall of Famer
Steve Harvey — television host and comedian
Terrence J — television personality

These members represent the broad influence of Omega men across American culture.

Partnering with Omega Psi Phi

Organizations interested in collaborating with Omega Psi Phi can connect through either the international headquartersor local chapters.

International Headquarters

Address
3951 Snapfinger Parkway
Decatur, Georgia 30035

Phone
404-284-5533

Common partnership areas include:

Mentoring programs
Fatherhood initiatives
Education and STEM outreach
Public health initiatives
Community service events

Local chapters often work directly with schools, nonprofits, and civic organizations to implement these programs.

Omega Psi Phi District Structure

Omega Psi Phi operates globally through 13 geographic districts.

Examples of District Coverage

District	Geographic Area
1st District	New England states
2nd District	New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
3rd District	Virginia and Washington, D.C.
4th District	Ohio and West Virginia
5th District	Kentucky and Tennessee
6th District	North and South Carolina
7th District	Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi
8th District	Midwest and Plains states
9th District	Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
10th District	Great Lakes region
12th District	Western United States
13th District	International chapters

Omega Psi Phi has 750+ chapters worldwide across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Omega Psi Phi in New Jersey and Brooklyn: Local Impact, Real Presence

While Omega Psi Phi operates as an international organization, its real impact is often felt most clearly at the local chapter level—in neighborhoods, schools, churches, and community spaces. In regions like Northern New Jersey and Brooklyn, Omega chapters have historically played a visible role in community engagement, mentorship, and civic participation.

New Jersey: Mentorship, Civic Engagement, and Economic Awareness

Across cities like Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and surrounding counties, graduate chapters of Omega Psi Phi are part of the fraternity’s Second District, often referred to as the “Mighty Second.”

Local impact typically shows up through:

Youth mentoring and male leadership development programs
Scholarship awards for graduating high school seniors
Voter registration and civic education initiatives
Community service projects tied to housing, food access, and public awareness

New Jersey’s Omega presence is especially relevant given ongoing conversations around:

economic inequality
housing access
workforce development
youth opportunity gaps

Fraternity-led programs often intersect with these realities—not as policy solutions, but as on-the-ground support systems that help individuals navigate them.

Brooklyn: Cultural Presence Meets Community Responsibility

In Brooklyn—particularly neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, and Flatbush—Omega Psi Phi chapters operate within some of the most historically rich Black communities in the country.

Here, the fraternity’s presence often blends:

Cultural visibility (parades, step shows, public events)
Educational outreach (school partnerships, youth engagement)
Faith and community collaboration (church-based initiatives, local nonprofits)

Brooklyn’s Omega chapters tend to reflect the borough’s broader identity:

deeply rooted in diaspora culture
intergenerational
balancing tradition with rapid neighborhood change

In communities facing gentrification, displacement, and shifting cultural identity, organizations like Omega Psi Phi contribute to continuity—helping preserve a sense of Black institutional presence and leadership.

What This Local Impact Actually Means

It’s important to stay grounded in reality: Omega Psi Phi is not a centralized service provider or policy organization. Its impact depends heavily on:

the strength of individual chapters
member engagement
local partnerships

That said, across both New Jersey and Brooklyn, the fraternity consistently contributes to:

relationship-based mentorship
community visibility for Black male leadership
small but meaningful educational and civic interventions

These efforts may not always make headlines—but they form part of the infrastructure of community support that often goes unrecognized.

How to Engage Locally

For residents, educators, or organizations interested in connecting:

Attend public events hosted by local chapters (Achievement Week, Talent Hunt, etc.)
Partner on youth mentorship or scholarship initiatives
Collaborate on community service or civic engagement efforts

Most engagement happens at the chapter level, not through national channels—making local relationships the most effective entry point.

Why This Section Matters in the Bigger Picture

When people talk about the Divine Nine, the conversation often stays national or historical. But the real story lives locally.

In New Jersey and Brooklyn, Omega Psi Phi is not just a legacy organization—it’s part of the day-to-day ecosystem of leadership, mentorship, and community presence.

And that’s where its long-term impact is actually built.

Omega Psi Phi — New Jersey & Brooklyn Chapter Snapshot

Chapter Name	Chapter Type	Location	Common Reference / Area
Alpha Chapter	Undergraduate	Howard University (DC)	Founding chapter (historical reference)
Gamma Iota Chapter	Graduate	Newark, NJ	Greater Newark area
Lambda Upsilon Chapter	Graduate	Jersey City, NJ	Hudson County
Nu Lambda Lambda Chapter	Graduate	Paterson, NJ	Passaic County
Psi Lambda Lambda Chapter	Graduate	Trenton, NJ	Central NJ (influence overlaps North NJ)
Chi Lambda Lambda Chapter	Graduate	Plainfield, NJ	Union County
Tau Rho Chapter	Undergraduate	Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ)	State flagship campus
Pi Chapter	Undergraduate	Morgan State University (regional influence)	Often collaborates in Mid-Atlantic events
Zeta Zeta Chapter	Graduate	Brooklyn, NY	Central Brooklyn
Upsilon Chapter	Undergraduate	New York University (historical presence noted; verify active status)	NYC student network
Sigma Chapter	Undergraduate	University of Pittsburgh (regional influence)	Often connected via 2nd District events

How to Read This Table (Context Matters)

Graduate Chapters = Community-facing (most relevant for partnerships, events, mentorship)
Undergraduate Chapters = Campus-based (pipeline for future leadership)
“Regional Influence” = Chapters outside NJ/Brooklyn but active in shared district programming

This reflects how Omega actually operates:
locally driven, regionally connected, nationally aligned.

Recent Developments and Events

In early 2026, Omega Psi Phi leadership gathered in St. Croix for a strategic summit focused on strengthening mentorship programs and expanding youth leadership initiatives.

The fraternity also recently honored community leaders through its Achievement Week programs nationwide while continuing to grow its mentoring and scholarship initiatives.

Like many organizations with long histories, Omega Psi Phi continues balancing tradition with new opportunities for service and leadership in the next generation.

Key Takeaways

Omega Psi Phi is one of the most historically influential Black fraternities within the Divine Nine.
Founded in 1911 at Howard University, the fraternity centers its mission on Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.
Its programs—including the Talent Hunt and Charles Drew Blood Drive—have supported youth development and public health for decades.
Omega men have shaped American culture through leadership in civil rights, politics, science, sports, and the arts.
Today the fraternity operates globally through 13 districts and hundreds of local chapters.

HfYC Poll of the Day

Which of Omega Psi Phi’s Cardinal Principles do you believe our communities need most right now: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, or Uplift?

Poll Question Perspectives

Which Omega Psi Phi principle best represents the kind of leadership Black communities need today?
Do today’s young leaders embody the Omega ideals of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift?
If you had to teach the next generation one Omega principle, which would it be?