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Annual Alpha Phi Alpha MLK Breakfast Features Guest Speaker
Jeff Johnson
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
The men of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Incorporated held
their 26th annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast on
Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Pinnacle in Maumee, Ohio.
The sold-out event welcomed over 500 individuals, comprised
of fraternity members of Alpha Phi Alpha, honorees and
Toledo-area residents. Local news anchor Kristian Brown
served as program mistress of ceremonies, who greeted guests
and provided brief introductions, then local fraternity
member Darnell Ishmael delivered a powerful song, “I Dream,”
from an upcoming Toledo opera production. “I don’t know
about you, but that selection, left me speechless.
Beautiful, simply beautiful,” said Brown.
The Drum Major for Justice Award, is an annual honor
presented by the fraternity to a community member who leads
a campaign for justice, inspired by the well-known speech of
Martin Luther King Jr. The 2018 honoree is Timothy Pettaway,
the pastor of Walk the Word Ministry. Pastor Pettaway was
inspired in May 2010 to begin the journey which would lead
to the creation of Walk the Word Ministry holding its first
service on July 24, 2011.
The ministry is located inside the West Toledo YMCA,
services are held Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesdays at
7:00 p.m. “I want to thank my parents who I am blessed to
still have in my life, and are able to witness this point in
my life. Thank you to my wife, Lisa, I love you so much,”
said Pettaway.
Alpha Phi Alpha member and the University of Toledo graduate
Jeff Johnson served as guest speaker for this year’s
breakfast. Johnson addressed recent media events, commented
on local and national injustice situations, while also
encouraging business-minded young people and city-based
pride. He also closed his presentation by personally
thanking former NAACP and former City of Toledo Councilwoman
Theresa Gabriel.
“King’s speeches were also a little uncomfortable. Dr. King
spoke against the Vietnam war, and campaigned in support of
resources for poor people. We can’t get stuck or comfortable
celebrating Dr. King in ways that easy for us to listen to,”
explained Johnson.
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Richard Jackson, Brandon Tucker, Pastor Timothy Pettaway,
John Jones
University of Toledo Upward Bound Program Students
Jeff Johnson
Pastor Pettaway |
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“Talking about black empowerment is not about launching an
indictment against anyone else or anyone else’s race. We, as
black people, as African Americans, need a sense of urgency.
It must be imaginative destructive, ensuring that
transformation, not just attendance occurs. Attendance isn’t
enough anymore.”
Raised in
Cleveland, Ohio, Johnson
graduated from
Cleveland Heights High School
and went on to attend the
University of Toledo,
where he was president of the Student Government and the
Black Student Union. Johnson served as national director for
the
NAACP's Youth and
College Division, as well as vice president of the
Hip hop Summit Action
Network.
Johnson joined
BET, where he used his
knowledge of cultural and political affairs on their show
Rap City, He was on
the show for two seasons, playing the part of Cousin Jeff.
He was also seen on the show The Jeff Johnson Chronicles.
In August 2008 he hosted The Truth With Jeff Johnson,
a weekly news show.[1]
Johnson has had public speaking engagements at churches,
universities and local communities across the United States.
He worked as senior advisor for media and youth outreach for
People for the American Way, as national director of the
youth and college division of the
NAACP, and as vice
president of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN).
Johnson has published social and political commentaries for
CNN.com, The Root.com and Black Politics on the Web.com.
Johnson has been quoted by Newsweek and The Boston
Globe. Johnson currently contributes commentary and
analysis about issues related to race, politics, popular
culture and socio-economics for MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, XM
radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, BET and The Dr. Phil Show.
Johnson became a member of
Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity on the fraternity's 110th Anniversary, December
4, 2016.
The fraternity also awarded scholarship to several
Toledo-area young men: Keion Devalt II and Jaime Wyatt of
Start High School; Alexander Gayle and Keith Nelson Jr. of
St. John’s High School; Jason Johnson Jr. of Sylvania
Southview High School; and Kibwe Rayford of Toledo Early
College High School.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was founded December
4, 1904 at Cornell University by seven men, known as the
fraternity “jewels.” The first chapter was established by
1911, and the first chapter established in NW Ohio was Alpha
Xi Lambda. This chapter serves as advising chapter for
University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.
Local chapter officers are: Brandon Tucker, president; Rev.
John Jones, vice president and 2018 MLK scholarship
breakfast chairman; Richard Jackson, treasurer and 2018 MLK
scholarship breakfast co-chair; Keith Nelson, financial
secretary; Bryan Wynn, recording secretary; Andre’ Page,
corresponding secretary; Keith Johnson, historian; David
Young, chaplain; Makonnen Rice, editor to The Sphinx;
Christopher Foster, director of community of affairs;
Michael Stubblefield, DDS, director of educational affairs;
JeTahn Avery, chapter dean; James Mann, sergeant at arms
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