Theta Eta Sigma Chapter

03/01/2026

Nothing like ending a conference and being able to fellowship with your chapter brothers.

02/18/2026

02/09/2026

February 9th holds some heavyweight significance in Black history, ranging from the birth of a literary giant to milestones in sports and the Civil Rights Movement.

1944: The Birth of Alice Walker
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Color Purple" was born today in Eatonton, Georgia. Walker is a central figure in American literature and coined the term "womanism" to describe a branch of feminism that specifically encompasses the experiences of Black women.

1971: Leroy "Satchel" Paige Inducted into Cooperstown
In a long-overdue move, Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Paige was a legendary pitcher whose career spanned decades, though he was denied entry into the Major Leagues until he was 42 years old due to segregation.

1995: Dr. Bernard Harris Jr.’s Historic Spacewalk
Astronaut Bernard Harris Jr. became the first African American to perform a spacewalk. He spent nearly five hours floating outside the Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-63 mission.

02/06/2026

February 6th marks several significant milestones in Black history,

🗓️ Key Historical Milestones
⚓ 1820: The "Mayflower of Liberia" Sets Sail
The first organized group of 86 free African Americans departed from New York City aboard the ship Elizabeth. Bound for Sierra Leone and eventually Liberia, this expedition was sponsored by the American Colonization Society, marking a pivotal (and controversial) moment in the movement to establish a colony for free Black people in Africa.

⚾ 1921: The Birth of the Negro National League
While the league itself was organized in February 1920, the formalization of its structure and subsequent meetings on this date helped solidify the first successful organized Black professional baseball league. It provided a stage for legends like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson when they were barred from the Major Leagues.

🎂 Notable Birthdays
* Bob Marley (1945–1981): The legendary Jamaican singer, songwriter, and activist was born today. Marley became a global symbol of Pan-Africanism and the fight against oppression through his reggae music.
* Natalie Cole (1950–2015): The nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer and daughter of Nat King Cole was born on this day. She was a powerhouse in R&B, jazz, and pop.
* **Melvin Tolson (1898–1966): A prominent Modernist poet, educator, and politician. He was famously portrayed (as a debate coach) by Denzel Washington in the film The Great Debaters.

🏛️ Modern Achievements
* 1993: Arthur Ashe Passes Away
While a somber note, today is used to remember the legacy of Arthur Ashe, the first Black man to win titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. Beyond sports, he was a tireless advocate for civil rights and AIDS awareness.

02/06/2026

Brothers getting involved at the Capital

02/05/2026

On February 5, 1990, at age 28, Barack Obama was elected the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review. As a1988 Harvard Law School enrollee, this historic election recognized his intellectual legal ability, with him becoming the 104th president to lead the prestigious student-run legal journal.

02/04/2026

Today, February 4, is a significant date in Black history, most notably because it is the birthday of "the mother of the freedom movement," Rosa Parks.

​As we celebrate Black History Month, here are the key events and milestones associated with today:
​1. Birth of Rosa Parks (1913)
​Rosa Parks was born on this day in Tuskegee, Alabama. While she is famous for her 1955 refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, she was a lifelong activist. Today, her legacy is honored across the U.S., and in several states (like California and Missouri), February 4 is officially designated as Rosa Parks Day.

​2. The Ex*****on of "The Martinsville Seven" (1951)
​In a somber moment of legal history, the first four of the "Martinsville Seven"—a group of seven Black men in Virginia—were executed on February 4, 1951, after being convicted of r**e by all-white juries. Their case became a major rallying point for the Civil Rights movement, highlighting the systemic disparity in the application of the death penalty. All seven were posthumously pardoned in 2021.

​3. Founding of the United Negro College Fund (1944)
​Though the UNCF was incorporated in April, significant early organizing meetings led by Frederick D. Patterson occurred during this period in 1944. The organization has since raised billions of dollars to support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

4. Happy Birthday to Hall of Famer Linebacker Lawrence Taylor who was born on this day.

02/03/2026

Here are some key Black history milestones on February 3:

15th Amendment Ratified (Feb. 3, 1870): The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was officially ratified, granting African American men the right to vote. It declared that voting rights could not be denied on account of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude.

First Black World Heavyweight Champion (Feb. 3, 1903): Boxer Jack Johnson won his first title for the World Colored Heavyweight Championship.

Negro Baseball League Founded (Feb. 3, 1920): The Negro Baseball League was founded, providing a structured league for African American players excluded from Major League Baseball.

First Black Student at University of Alabama (Feb. 3, 1956): Autherine Lucy became the first Black student to attend the University of Alabama.

First Black President of National League (Feb. 3, 1989): Former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Bill White was named president of the National League, becoming the first African American to head a major sports league.

02/02/2026

Graduation of the First Black Nurse (1879)

​On February 2, 1879, Mary Eliza Mahoney was admitted to the nursing program at the New England Hospital for Women and Children. While she graduated later that year, her journey began here, leading her to become the first African American licensed nurse in the United States and a co-founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN)

02/02/2026

Free Tax Preparation here in Greater Polk County

Take advantage of this service.

Greeter:  Greets the taxpayers as they enter the site, ensures they have their Social Security cards and photo ID, puts their name on the sign-in sheet, gives them a required form to complete, and calls them when the Preparer is ready.

01/25/2026

It's Tax Season. Our chapter is helping Mulberry Community Service Center and United Way with FREE Tax Preparation. Here is the link to view sites and schedules in Polk County.

Greeter:  Greets the taxpayers as they enter the site, ensures they have their Social Security cards and photo ID, puts their name on the sign-in sheet, gives them a required form to complete, and calls them when the Preparer is ready.