The following letter I sent to a group of men that I believe to hold the values and characteristics of true brotherhood on September 29th and I found it ever so ironic as my weekend was more than eventful than I could have ever expected!

Addressing my "Brother"

I crossed into the Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. on April 17th, 1997. Up until this time I had never truly had the feeling of brotherhood. I have an older brother but he was on the west coast by the time that I was 2. So through my very enriching and tough "pledge" process I gained the respect of my line brothers and honored those that came before me.

For those that knew me from that time knew I was unquestionably a passionate brother. I would not allow just anyone into this noble klan and I would do all to uphold the name and image of this brotherhood. I would give my all to my brother and never ask for anything in return. Countless times I gave my last dime, my bed, my car and my time and love to all that knew the meaning of Phi Nu Pi. If you had a problem...well we had a problem and I was about solving those problems. All be it true that I was not the traditional pretty boy. Yes I had curly hair and pushed my arrogance, but the football player in me often led me to zero tolerance for any disrespect to myself or my brotherhood. I was so consumed by the Krimson and Kreme that I did only Kappa events and many people who were always there for me were left by the wayside if they didn’t want to join in.

I traveled and supported all. I went to the brother's houses and met their families and invited them to mine as my brother's family was mine as well and vice versa. But when my father passed away and my mother who had fed so many NUPES and cried when I branded myself asked me at the funeral “Where are your brothers now?” and the only one who showed was my “cousin” (Kandyman)…well it was the turning point in my fraternal life.

Altruism – the unselfish concern for the welfare of others. I had been taught that and lived it so much that I cared so much about others and never stopped to think well who really cared about me? When I was at my lowest point, where were my brothers that I needed so much? Where were the brothers that I fought and toiled and strove for? Well they were doing them. There doing of them caused me to fall back. I was still there for those who called me and asked for my help as I never turned my back on any of them. But I was no longer concerned with being a Kappa. I began to hang with those who were there for me in my darkest hour. I realized that Kappa, although its principles guided men towards being great men, did not truly create a brotherhood.

I had once said that I would never become a Mason because I was already a Kappa and that was all the brotherhood I needed. Yet after my dad’s funeral at the reading of the will I was told that I was to keep and cherish all of his Masonic materials not to adorn them until I “doth so deserve the right”! Those were my instructions from my father. Having felt the emptiness of the brotherhood that I was so proud of I followed the instructions and learned that Masonry was designed to open your eyes and view the world in a whole new “LIGHT” and this I saw clearly. I saw where all of the archetypical foundations of Kappa were derived…but I also saw that the same was true of this organization as well. Brotherhood although extremely stressed was much less followed.

Hence why I am so into my bike club…although all of my members are not the best of brothers…they are and have been the best that I have ever encountered when it comes to true brotherhood. It has not been about the flossing. It was not about the girls or at times even the bikes…but about my brothers. Funny thing is that in my bike club I have Sigmas, Ques and Masons! I do and will rescind this statement to some Kappas and Masons as a few of you have been good brothers. But when or if you ever wonder why it seems like I do all this bike stuff and I am never around for the KonKlave or the Grand Lodge meetings…well when was the last (or for some the 1st time) you have ever supported anything that I have done? Then think…without me telling you this…do you think I would support you? If you don’t know the answer you are tripping…because I have and never will turn my back on anyone…because reciprocity is not my motive. I desire a better world…and to help all that I can. So I say all this to say…I HOPE THAT YOU STILL CONSIDER ME YOU YOUR BROTHER AND IF YOU NEED ME…I WILL BE THERE. IF YOU WANT ME THERE AND I CAN BE THERE…I WILL BE THERE!

YITB/Travel Light