The Upsilon Psi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. celebrated Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance Thursday night at the Leroy Collins Leon County Public Library. This event kicked off the fifth day of their tenth-annual “28 Days of Black History” celebration.
The celebration was filled with open discussions about Hughes’ contributions to the Harlem Renaissance and African-American History. Children and brothers of the fraternity also recited some of Hughes’ most appreciated works.
The celebration of Langston Hughes is also significant to Omega Psi Phi because the poet was a brother of the fraternity.
Chi Omega Chapter Basileus ,Craig Brown, said that the Langston Hughes poem “Mother to Son” has influenced him ever since he was a child.
“Things aren’t all glitter and gold all the time. But it’s worth it. To see that Hughes is a member of this fraternity helped instill life lessons,” Brown said.
Omega Psi Phi brother and Florida A&M University’s Vice President of the Student Government Association, Ronnie Mackey Jr., said that this event wouldn’t be possible without historian Carter G. Woodson’s contributions.
“It wouldn’t be 28 days of anything if it wasn’t for him taking the time out to recognize the people before him and after him,” Mackey said.
Black history month was originally “Negro History Week” created by Woodson. Woodson worked to preserve the history of African Americans.
Omega Psi Phi also uses this event to teach the youth on how impactful Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance is, not only to African American history, but also American history as a whole.
Omega Lamplighter, Chance Crump, believes that Langston Hughes’ contributions to the Harlem Renaissance influenced an entire culture.
“It inspired everybody to be different and have their own creative style,” crump said.
Parks & Crump Attorney, Anthony Thomas, said that without African Americans flourishing, the world would be different.
“Our culture, music, language and slang still influences American culture today,” Thomas said.
Check out the Upsilon Psi Phi Facebook page to find out different ways the fraternity are celebrating “28 Days of Black History.”