MALIK (fraternity)

MALIK Fraternity, Inc., previously known as "MALIK Sigma Psi" or “MΣΨ”, is a multicultural intercollegiate fraternity founded on May 13, 1977, at CW Post College of Long Island University for men of color. Rather than refer to themselves as being black Greeks, they use the term "Afrikan Fraternalists". Though mainly aimed towards Black, Brown, and Latino men, MALIK Fraternity, Inc. has members of all races, ethnicities, and creeds.

African Fraternalism includes such beliefs as the African origin of civilization, reclaiming the stolen legacy of African knowledge, the oneness of all African peoples, the importance of ritual and initiation, the value of a male ritual kinship system, respect for and seeking equal partnership with women, the reception and cultivation of the Spirit of Learning, the necessity of serving the community, the calling to work on one's personal and spiritual development, the study and promotion of "MALIKology" and African symbology, and the usage of African symbolism. MALIKology is the Fraternity's interpretation of the "science of manhood." The acronym MALIK is represented as Manhood, Achievement, Leadership, Integrity, and Knowledge. It is a synthesis of science, history, philosophy, and cultural values and practices from the African Diaspora about the nature, purpose, direction, function, and responsibility of manhood. The group's name partially comes from the Arabic name of Malcolm X. The group had originally used an entirely Swahili and Arabic name but was forced to change it because of the college requirements in New York that all fraternities have at least two Greek letters in its name. In this case the M is the Latin Alphabet, as opposed to being a Mu while the  Σ and Ψ are both Greek letters. The name of the fraternity can also be written as "ملك" or "م ل ك", reflecting the fraternity's use of the Arabic abjad as opposed to the Greek alphabet. The fraternity was founded by 15 men of color. Several of the Founders of the fraternity were of Latino ancestry. MALIK Fraternity, Inc was founded as, and still is, a social justice fraternity.

Ideologically, the fraternity is against the idea of black Greeks and it organizes Kingdoms in accordance to the Arabic alphabet as opposed to Greek letters. The group is outside of the National Pan Hellenic Council. In October 2023, MALIK Fraternity, Inc. joined the National Multicultural Greek Council to better fit the fraternity's vision of multiculturalism.

Founders
Roland K. Hawkins, Larry B. Martin, Darryl L. Mitchell were the inspiration behind the founding of the fraternity and thus known as Khalifas, however the shapers of the brotherhood were: SC. James Banks, SC. Joseph Diaz Jr., SC. Edward Harris, SC. Ernest Heyward, SC. Lethorne Johnson, SC. George Lembrecht, SC. Kyle Little, SC. Anthony Pitts, SC. Edward Rivers, SC. Kevin Simon, SC. Bryant Stafford, SC. Al Washington.

It was the three Khalifahs that originated the concept of the fraternity. In its initial state, the values of the fraternity can be defined as "S.N.A.K.E.": Success, Nobility, Achievement, Knowledge, and Enlightenment. These values attracted 12 more men who would be later known as the Sir Crowns of MALIK Sigma Psi. The Crowns are called so as a symbol; every king has a crown. Together these 15 men created the MALIK Sigma Psi on May 18, 1977. This is why the Khalifahs have a special distinction. Although a fraternity, the Founders set the precedence of being very open with information, symbols, and knowledge. It was their belief that their communities have had an absence of awareness for so long that they could not afford to withhold valuable information from the masses. This represents a major departure from the very secretive nature of traditional fraternalism.

Members
Members include Gil Noble, and Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan,  Richie Perez Reverend Herbert Daughtry, and Pablo Guzman.

History
The Fraternity was founded on May 13, 1977


 * 1979 – MALIK Sigma Psi Fraternity is incorporated in the State of New York.
 * 1984 – The first Kingdom is established at a State University of NY (Stony Brook University, The Jeem Kingdom).
 * 1991 – The first Kingdom is established at an historically black college / university (HBCU) (Norfolk State University, The Ha Kingdom).
 * 2002 – On May 18, 2002, MALIK Sigma Psi progresses and transitions its name to a complete African name (MALIK Fraternity, Inc.).
 * 2017 – On April 12, 2017, the first Graduate & Professional Kingdom (referred to as a Shabazz Kingdom) in the South is chartered (Shabazz Ha Kingdom in Charlotte, NC, also referred to as the Charlotte MALIKs).
 * 2017 – On April 25, 2017, the first undergraduate members are inducted from an Ivy League university (Cornell University).
 * 2023 – On October 11, 2023, MALIK Fraternity, Inc. becomes a member of a national council, the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC).

Foundation
In 2013, the MALIK Foundation, Incorporated was established as an IRC Section 501(c)(3) "to ensure the freedom, resilience and wellness of African and African Diasporic communities..." The Foundation holds an annual fundraising dinner called the Black History Month Gala. The foundation's focus areas are: male youth development, community resilience and leadership development.

Collegiate
The undergraduate Kingdoms (chapters) of MALIK are named after the letters in the Arabic alphabet in the common hijāʾī order:

Graduate
Graduate Kingdoms (Shabazz) are named after locations.

Undergraduate villages
Undergraduate chapters or colonies are called villages until obtaining a specific amount of members

Auxiliary Groups
The Malik Melodies Sweetheart Club, later known as Malik Melodies Sisterhood, Inc. (MMSI), was founded on December 14, 1978, on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University by twenty-four highly motivated women as a social service organization and the official auxiliary Women's group to MALIK Fraternity. In an effort to meet the demands of a new generation facing diverse challenges; the Malik Melodies was reorganized in 1998, becoming an independently run organization and changing their name to Malik Melodies Sisterhood, Inc.
 * The Malik Melodies Sweetheart Club