To celebrate Black History Month, STORE 360 will accept contributions on behalf of The Jewels Heritage Project, Inc. (JHP), a non-profit entity, 501(c)(3).
The mission
JHP intends to construct a monument to commemorate and highlight an important part of African American history and culture: the beginning of the black Greek-letter organizations, also known as “The Divine Nine” . Concretely, the JHP will build a monument at the birthplace of Alpha Phi Alpha. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., was the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans. The monument will be located at 411 E. State Street in upstate Ithaca, New York.
African American Historic Sites
Once completed, this monument will join other national historic sites in Central New York as part of a Freedom Trail dedicated to African American history and culture, including:
- THE Harriet Tubman Residence and Harriett Tubman Home for the Elderly Residence, located at 182 South Street and 180 South Street, in Auburn, New York
- The birthplace of Alex Haley, the famous author, best known for his books: “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” and “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”, who lived at 212 Cascadilla Street, Ithaca, New York.
- St. James AME Zion Church, located at 116 Cleveland Avenue, Ithaca, New York, was built in 1833. St. James served as a station on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves en route to Canada. Famous leaders of the Underground Railroad who visited St. James AME Zion Church include Harriett Tubman and Frederick Douglass.
Alpha Phi Alpha in history
On December 4, 1906, seven African-American men present Cornell University met at 411 E. State Street, in Ithaca, New York, and established Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, to support each other, provide services and uplift the African American community. Following in the footsteps of Alpha Phi Alpha, eight other black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities were founded on similar principles of service to the African American community. Together, the nine historically black Greek-letter organizations came together to form the National Panhellenic Council or the Nine Divines.
Alpha Phi Alpha was a leader in establishing voting rights and civil rights for African Americans in the United States. For example, the Brotherhood was an early leader in the fight for African-American voting rights and founded the national campaign “A People Without a Vote is a People Without Hope” to register black voters. Additionally, in 1919, the Fraternity launched the “Go-to-High School, Go-to-College” campaign. Additionally, Alpha Phi Alpha played a central role – providing funding, legal expertise, and public relations – in many landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases that ultimately eradicated racial segregation.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha have been community leaders and hold prominent roles in American and African American history and culture. They include: WEB DuBois, Jesse Owens, Duke Ellington, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Paul Robeson, Vice-president Hubert HumphreySenator Edward Brooke, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Joseph Lowery (on cover), Judge Thurgood Marshall, comedian and activist Dick Gregory, coach Eddie Robinson, ambassador Andrew Young, professor Cornel West, singer/songwriter Lionel Richie, and US Senator Raphael Warnock. The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, dean of the Civil Rights Movement, delivered the blessing at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
About the monument
The JHP will construct a monument in Central New York, in Ithaca, New York, at the birthplace of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. We intend to construct the monument in two years at a total estimated cost of $4 million. The monument will feature a giant wall resembling the front facade of the original residence at 411 E. State Street. Additionally, the monument will feature a series of walls that will tell the story of the historic significance of the historic site. See a photo of the proposed monument design below.
How you can help
To donate to build this monument and highlight a part of African American history and culture, visit our website at www.jewelsproject.org or you can donate using the QR code below:
Listen to JHP Chairman + Architect on the 360 ​​MAG podcast HERE.
#JewelHeritageProject
