On this day 11 years ago, Ed Washington, Lafayette ’09, was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau after a 50-year association period.
Washington grew up in segregated Washington DC in the 40s-50s. When he went to Lafayette College in 1955, he was one of a handful of African American students. He and another black student, Victor Partridge, Lafayette ’59, were approached by members of Lafayette’s Alpha Omicron chapter to join. They accepted and went through the association process.
At the time Phi Tau had 71 chapters but no African American members and an implicit agreement to restrict membership from black students. Alpha Omicron fought this clause for some time, but an agreement was not met, which cumulated in Alpha Omicron withdrawing from the national organization in 1956.
Washington left Lafayette in ’57 and lost contact with his chapter brothers. It wasn’t until he reconnected with Partridge 30 years later that he found out Phi Tau had abolished its membership clause, the chapter had reestablished its ties, and Partridge had been initiated, making him the first African American member of Phi Kappa Tau. Sadly, Partridge died in 1986 and would not get to see his friend initiate.
For some time, Ed considered reaching out to Phi Tau to inquire about initiation. In his own words, it became a “one of these days” items. It was a sermon by his pastor in 2009 that triggered his reengagement.
Alpha Omicron after they left the national organization and adopted the name “Delta Sigma”
“On Sunday, February 1st, 2009, more than 50 years after my college days, my pastor Dr. Wallace C. Smith delivered a sermon to frame the start of African American history month within its spiritual context. To emphasize a point, he referred to the struggle for civil rights in America. Not all advances were made by the handful of men and women whose names immediately come to mind when discussing the subject. Much of the progress we made was by people who took small steps, people whose names and accomplishments never appeared in headlines. I realized that I was one of those people, and that what Vic, the Phi Kappa Tau brothers and I did was a small victory in that struggle.”
Washington at his initiation in 2009
He sent an email to then-Director of Chapter Services Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97, to see if he was eligible for initiation. He was met with a swift and resounding yes. Two weeks later on February 21st, 2009, at Capital Conference, Washington was initiated, making him possibly the longest associate in Phi Tau history.
Ed wrote all these details in the summer 2009 Laurel, a few months after his initiation. You can read the captivating and heartfelt story in Washington’s own words by clicking here.