HBCU President BREAKS SILENCE on Divine Nine 'Demonic' Attacks

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]I needed your brilliance, your genius, and your connectivity to help me deal with something that I am absolutely mind-blown about.

[00:00:13]A trend on the demonization of the divine nine.

[00:00:17]>> Yes.

[00:00:18]>> Uh on social media over the last a couple of months. Uh there has been the Blair Witch Project >> Mhm.

[00:00:26]>> [laughter] >> uh saying that the nine nine organizations are demonically infused and demonically battery operated.

[00:00:37]>> Yeah.

[00:00:38]>> Uh and I wanted to hear from you as uh somebody who is a theologian >> Yeah.

[00:00:43]>> uh and as uh somebody who is actively involved in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the oldest uh black uh fraternity organization uh for black men in America. When you're seeing this, if you're seeing this, I don't know how often you're on social media. Tell Tell me what's going through your mind.

[00:01:05]>> Well, that's a great question. And I also served as the former national president of Alpha.

[00:01:11]>> That's right.

[00:01:11]>> I'm the 33rd general president >> Yes.

[00:01:13]>> of the fraternity. First thing's going through my mind, how did we select these young men and women who have come in, who have gone through the pledging process of the IMDP, and then shortly afterwards decide to denounce? That's one group.

[00:01:27]>> Yeah.

[00:01:27]>> Then you have another group of uh brothers and sisters who have been in the organizations for some years and have engaged in and participated in, I don't know how active they've been.

[00:01:38]>> Right.

[00:01:38]>> And then they decide to to denounce. I think that the the founders of these organizations, both fraternities and sororities, are turning over in their grave wondering what kind of selection process did we have? How are we not, you know, weeding out and bringing the best and the brightest of young men and young women into these organizations so that they can see the good that these fraternities and sororities have provided for over 120 years. And so when I see now these public uh denouncing of the organizations, uh I'm I'm troubled by it. I'm concerned with the caliber of men and women who are seeking uh one that really stands out uh Jamal, if I may call you by your first name.

[00:02:25]>> purposely >> Yeah. Uh is the fact that there was a Delta who pledged at Howard >> Yeah.

[00:02:30]>> who went through the membership intake, did that beautiful presentation ceremony, and then the next Monday she denounced. So there's something unstable about that.

[00:02:41]>> Yeah.

[00:02:41]>> So I think what we have to do is to to really understand the history of these organizations, what they mean, what they've given, you know, how they have provided service, how they have created a wonderful sense of class and culture on the campus >> Yeah.

[00:02:57]>> uh throughout the years historically. Uh I think we need to to look at that.

[00:03:01]They've changed and evolved over the years. I get it.

[00:03:04]>> Lots of uh membership hazing activities on some campuses, etc. I get that as well.

[00:03:09]>> Right.

[00:03:10]>> But there's nothing as far as I'm concerned in my history and knowledge of Alpha Phi Alpha, and I can only speak for that fraternity, uh that is demonic.

[00:03:18]I know that our founders uh were spiritual.

[00:03:23]>> Yeah.

[00:03:23]>> Uh I know that they were involved in religious activities even at the beginning. And so there's nothing that would indicate even in the ritualistic portion, the pledging portion, that these organizations are demonic. And as a pastor of the gospel, >> Right.

[00:03:39]>> you know, which I'm very proud and honored that God saw this weak vessel and said, "I want you to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ."

[00:03:47]>> Right.

[00:03:48]>> Uh to stand, you know, proudly, you know, as a member of Alpha Phi fraternity, uh and to proclaim and also claim that God is ahead of my life.

[00:03:57]>> Yes.

[00:03:58]>> You know, and my family, you know, and I love my school, I love my fraternity. I got, you know, pretty much everything is prioritized, but I think some people have some different kinds of expectations. Social media has played a part in it.

[00:04:10]>> Absolutely.

[00:04:11]>> Okay, you know, and the fact that you can Google and pull up and you see people in real time doing this. I think it is has an impact also.

[00:04:18]>> I want you from a larger lens dealing with the American construct in racism.

[00:04:24]>> Okay.

[00:04:25]>> What I'm seeing, Mr. President, on the other side is I'm not asking white evangelicals I'm not seeing white evangelicals that ask their members to renounce the fraternities and sororities they're in.

[00:04:39]Over a third of US presidents have been in a fraternity.

[00:04:43]>> That's correct.

[00:04:44]>> And not one >> That's correct.

[00:04:46]>> has ever been asked to renounce.

[00:04:48]>> Yeah.

[00:04:48]>> Tell me why this is playing out in a black culture, and why is it happening at this time?

[00:04:56]>> Yeah. That that's a excellent point and observation, you know, and it's hard to to to really give a good solid response other than the fact that the fraternal and sorority experiences are different, particularly post graduating from from college. We tend to have a more closer bond. We have alumni organizations, etc. But I think in terms of responding to your question why is it happening now, you know, I think it's trendy. I I I really do. You know, I think that people are seeing these organizations, they're wanting to become a member of it, and then they get in, it doesn't necessarily meet their expectations, whatever their expectations are, and they find it necessary to make these public declarations. I believe that if you don't want to be a part of it, fine.

[00:05:47]>> Yeah.

[00:05:48]>> You know, just submit your letter, say I made a mistake, but you know, to go on public social media to broadcast and to blast and and to make it trendy for likes and and and love, I think is a is a challenge. Now, the evangelicals, you know, and and the white boys and the white sisters, you you don't hear much from them regarding their fraternal experiences.

[00:06:09]>> Yes.

[00:06:10]>> You don't hear a lot, you know.

[00:06:11]>> Yeah.

[00:06:11]>> And you are [clears throat] right. Many of the presidents of the United States were members.

[00:06:16]>> Yeah.

[00:06:16]>> Many uh preachers and business leaders, corporate executives were members as well, but somehow in the black community, in the culture of the black community, we're seeing this alarming trend, you know, and I think it's taking off and I I I think it's almost a a domino effect to some. But what the organizations have to do is to do a better job of membership selection.

[00:06:40]>> Mhm.

[00:06:40]>> Okay. You know, and to make sure that these young men and women, whether they be undergrad or alumni, that they really want to be a part, that they understand the the dynamics. If they come in and renounce, they were already wrestling with some issues.

[00:06:53]>> Before they ever got there.

[00:06:55]>> they ever got there. Yeah.

[00:06:56]>> I'm I'm curious because one of the arguments >> Mhm.

[00:07:00]>> that I've heard from armchair theologians, >> Okay.

[00:07:04]>> uh is that >> prophets, >> Facebook prophets, is that you can't take a vow to anything outside of God.

[00:07:12]>> Yeah.

[00:07:12]>> Uh and uh people who pledge, >> Yeah.

[00:07:16]>> cross, uh have made a vow to a another deity >> Mhm.

[00:07:21]>> outside of God. Now, these same people pledge allegiance to the flag.

[00:07:26]>> Yeah.

[00:07:26]>> These same people >> Yeah.

[00:07:28]>> uh had to make a pledge to take the bar.

[00:07:30]>> Yeah.

[00:07:31]>> Absolutely. [laughter] To practice medicine.

[00:07:33]>> That's right.

[00:07:34]>> Uh I'm one from a biblical vantage point, uh in your own process, >> Okay.

[00:07:40]>> did you find a theological conflict uh in uh making a commitment uh to Alpha Phi Alpha and serving the one God?

[00:07:50]>> That's a good question, and to answer your question, no. Uh I did not. Uh without revealing uh there there is scripture tied into our process as well.

[00:08:02]>> Yeah.

[00:08:03]>> Beautiful scripture selected that really helped to solidify and seal the deal for me. I have never once felt compromised uh with my spirituality or with my uh values or morals >> Yeah.

[00:08:17]>> uh being a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity because I'm very clear who I serve.

[00:08:21]>> Right.

[00:08:22]>> I I also know that we take vows. We we we raise our hands to to be sworn in uh to accept duties and and responsibilities.

[00:08:32]And I'm very clear that nothing in that language that I've seen conflicts with with my love and my relationship with my Lord and Savior >> Yeah.

[00:08:42]>> and with my understanding of God. And and here's a good example because we're in Holy Week now.

[00:08:48]>> Yeah.

[00:08:48]>> And the story of Jesus is the story of his 12 disciples.

[00:08:52]>> Mhm.

[00:08:53]>> For me, it is a story of a misfit cast of young men hand selected to go online >> Wow.

[00:09:02]>> Yeah.

[00:09:03]>> Jesus is the the dean of pledges for lack of a better term, you know, and helping to take them along this journey to prepare them for what is to to come. Some got it, some didn't, some betrayed, some moved on, but I I see that analogy in in the Lord helping us to understand the value of togetherness, the value of teamwork, the value of brotherhood, >> No, it's good.

[00:09:31]>> the value of of of sisterhood and and what it has meant to to so many. Most of these organizations Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Iotas, the Deltas, AKAs, the Zeta Sigma Gamma, they came together in in the worst conditions and the worst of times, you know, from the Jim Crow era, racial segregation, lynchings, all of those things, and they created these organizations with with with purpose and attracted some of the leading men and women, the race men and the race women, as that term used to be called. And and and and brought them in to help to espouse the idea, you know, of these organizations, you know, Alpha Phi Alpha, first of all, service all servants of all, we shall transcend all. And and I I I'm I'm going to admit today in front of you >> All right.

[00:10:27]>> with your crimson and cream Playboy bunny shirt [laughter] on.

[00:10:32]>> I knew he was going to bring something out.

[00:10:35]That's the camera. I knew [laughter] my brother, Pastor Jamal Bryant, was going to wear something, okay, that was going to stir it up. I thought to wear my Alpha sweater, but I said, "Let me Let me pull out my my African regalia, you know, for this event." Um but but the Kappas nomenclature, I think, is achievement in every >> Every endeavor. Yes.

[00:10:57]>> that is profound.

[00:10:59]>> Yeah.

[00:11:00]>> Dwayne Murray, who's a former national polemarch, my friend, I'm admitting that is absolutely profound.

[00:11:06]>> Yes.

[00:11:07]>> Achievement. So, the organizations were were established to push the brothers and and sisters on. You get out of it what you put in.

[00:11:15]>> Mhm.

[00:11:15]>> I believe that.

[00:11:16]>> I I think >> With my whole heart.

[00:11:18]>> I believe that you're right. I think that we're seeing vestiges, as it were, >> Yeah.

[00:11:24]>> of scriptural and biblical illiteracy at its highest level here.

[00:11:29]Uh regrettably, um preaching is the only profession >> Yeah.

[00:11:36]>> that has low or no academic requirements.

[00:11:39]>> Mhm.

[00:11:40]>> Uh and so we're seeing a low enrollment in seminaries across the country.

[00:11:45]>> Tell me about it.

[00:11:46]>> [laughter] >> I knew who I was talking to.

[00:11:48]>> it. Yeah.

[00:11:49]>> Uh and so you're seeing a lot of people who have replaced information with passion.