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xi Foreword When I was asked to write the foreword for this book dealing with the organizational identity of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I was humbled and reflective. I thought about my time and leadership within the fraternity and my similar experiences in state and federal government. These experiences provided me with the opportunity to evaluate different ways of organizing people while also creating an effective organization to meet the needs of the organization’s members and society at large. As I type these words, however, I realize that too often we, as leaders, speak of our hopes and desires for the entities we lead, but we fail to contemplate the full range of those entities’ strengths and shortcomings. Despite the grandeur of the place where I spend my days and nights working (the White House), those with whom and for whom I work also have to deal with questions of organizational identity . What is the vision of the federal government’s executive branch, and how is that vision executed? How does the executive branch remain faithful to the founding fathers’ core values when the political process provides continual staff transition? The identity, image, brand, and recognition of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have greater implications than most realize. The way observers and critics view this entity and those who inhabit it can have a monumental impact on what we accomplish for the good of the nation and the world. Each day I attempt the difficult balancing act of directing outreach to the African American and minority business community for President Obama. It is difficult because, on the one hand, we have a community that has made great societal contributions and is full of pride, but on the other hand, many people of color struggle economically, educationally, and in myriad other ways. In an increasingly diverse society, deep-seated problems based on racial and socioeconomic status still exist. To be sure, people of color are achieving success in ways that were previously inconceivable, and superficially, there seem to be fewer societal challenges facing them. Therefore, we ask, what is the identity, purpose, and relevance of African American and ethnic-specific organizations? We, as people of color, tell others not to give us handouts, but we still convey the need for additional attention to level the proverbial playing field. Given the disparities and gaps that still exist, it is undeniable that xii Foreword support is needed. This need poses unique challenges for African American organizations. Many African American organizations need to make some changes to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Many organizations in this post–civil rights era, when the goals of social justice are a bit more vague than in decades past, must reflect on their original intents and create a clear identity for themselves. In this era of a Barack Obama presidency, when African American organizations’ necessity and relevance are questioned by those who do not understand their community impact, it is even more critical for members to understand their organizations’ purpose and vision and for nonmembers to know where to turn in times of societal challenge. The persistent question about the relevance of these organizations underscores the paucity of understanding about their purpose among members and nonmembers alike. Every day I recognize the need to appreciate what these organizations are and what they were intended to be. To some, President Obama’s election suggests that our efforts to uplift underserved communities are no longer required, and these predominantly African American organizations and their leaders are no longer needed. Among these critics, there is the perception of an immediate societal transformation on the ground. But at a time when racial bias still exists and the African American community (and the nation) is called on to meet a multitude of challenges, it is obvious that African American organizations are needed to promote an uplifting message, mobilize people to action, and provide substantial recommendations to those in power that otherwise would not be stated or implemented. As such, the questions linger: Are African American organizations taken seriously? Do people understand these organizations’ ability to influence change? Do these organizations understand their own impact and their potential for impact? If African American organizations do not move from merely boasting about what makes (or made) them great to clearly identifying their purpose and their plan to their communities and the world, they will be identified as socially present but unessential in this time of societal change. How an organization and its...

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