In his best-selling book, “Our Kind of People,” Lawrence Otis Graham chronicled the lives of many of those

who are members of the country’s oldest and most elite black social and service clubs. Today, many of these organizations have transformed in various ways.

Many black social and service clubs exist because, in the past, African-Americans were prohibited from joining similar white clubs.

“Historically, they were formed in the African-American community because the opportunity didn’t exist in majority communi-ties,” says Sam Caldwell, vice president of the men’s only Swanks Club.

Ironically, however, the black com-munity criticized many of these black organizations because of their selective membership practices.

Broader appealService and social clubs’ rosters and agendas expandby Angela Lindsay Hilst

November 2009 | Living with Pride 51

Members of The Swanks and The Swankettes, circa 1945.

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Brian Willis, president-elect of The 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte (“The 100”), says he has heard the “elitist” criticism but says his organization’s invitation-only policy has more to do with a current member being able to vouch for a prospective member. While conceding that The 100 might have had a “certain face” in the past, Willis says its members now range from blue-collar workers to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and that it’s those outside the club who fuel the belief that it is elitist.

“People commit to things they care about, so I think The 100 just needs to tell its own story and not let people tell the stories of The 100,” Willis says. “If you don’t tell your story, somebody else will ...”

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the Swanks restricts membership to no more than 30 at a time in order “to afford easy familiarity and sociability.” Similar to The 100, membership in the Swanks results from word of mouth and nominations of prospective members by current members. Sam Caldwell also has heard talk of the Swanks being too selective; however, he says the Swanks membership — which once included doctors, lawyers and teachers — has evolved to include nonprofessional members as well. Membership aside, the club has transformed in an even more significant way.

Originally formed as a social club by a group of students from Second Ward High School, Caldwell says the Swanks is now more service-oriented since its members have matured. The club has furnished a room

The Links is one of the country’s oldest and largest

black volunteer service organizations for women.

52 Living with Pride | November 2009

Eddyce Hobson is president of The Links.

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Swank members John Patterson, Werrion Stroud, Bill Young and Daisy Stroud in 1984 during a 50th-anniversary celebration.

November 2009 | Living with Pride 53

at the old McCrorey YMCA; donated to the United Negro College Fund, Loaves & Fishes, and Second Harvest Food Bank; and even requests that participants at its two large annual social events donate to its charitable causes.

‘At the forefront in raising awareness’

Charitable work has always been the cornerstone of one of the country’s oldest and largest black volunteer service organiza-tions for women, The Links Inc. Among its activities are an initiative aimed at childhood obesity, which has become a major problem in today’s society.

“I think that through the years, we have kept abreast of the current issues that pertain to African-Americans,” says Eddyce Hobson, president of the Charlotte Chapter of The Links Inc. “We’ve always tried to be at the forefront in raising awareness and tried to be about correcting some of these illnesses.”

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Left: Members of The Links recently met at Daisy Walker’s home. Clockwise from left are Sonja Johnson (assistant financial secretary), Brenda Bowden (second vice president), Eddyce Hobson (president), Daisy Walker (Immediate past president), Thelma Byers-Bailey (treasurer), Angelia Fryer (assis-tant recording secretary) and Joyce Cooke Woodard (parliamentarian).

Below: Members of The 100 include Wilbert Harper, front row, left; Densel Fleming; Jerome Spratley; Don Lewis; Robert Long; and Jacqueline Peters. Dr. Richard Dunning Jr., back row, from left; Sam Belnavis, Sid Levy Jr.; Donnie Koonce; Ronn Broadway; Reggie Gaither; and Brian Willis.

The 100’s Brian Willis, president-elect, and Donnie Koonce, president.

Join the clubOther black social and service clubs include:n Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

South Atlantic Region, http://akasouthatlanticregion.org/

n Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Beta Nu Lambda Chapter, www.betanulambda.org/

n Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Charlotte Alumnae Chapter, www.charlottedst.org

n Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Alumni Chapter, www.cltkappas.com

n Las Amigas Inc., (704) 375-5232n Prince Hall Masons,

www.phamason.com, (704) 545-9682

In keeping with the traditional civic principles of its parent organization, Hobson points out that The Links is not about networking and making social connections. She even addresses the belief that having a college degree is a requirement for member-ship, explaining instead.

“We want to have the best organization that we can have … and, again, because we’re not a social organization, we are about service, then the membership that we’re looking for are people that we believe are going to promote our motto, which is ‘Service Through Friendship.’...”

Technologic and cultural shifts Like most everything else, technology has

also affected how black social and service clubs function.

“I think communication-wise we’ve evolved …” notes The 100’s Brian Willis, who says social media such as Facebook and Twitter has changed the way members of The 100 communicate with their mentees.

“We have evolved into an organization that is technically savvy, if you will,” The Links’ Hobson adds. “We are beginning to do everything through technology, and I think that we’re just going to continue to grow when it comes to trying to promote African-American health, support African-American issues, and just make sure that our programs stay abreast of the current environment.”

As our environment becomes more multi-cultural, members of black social and service clubs cannot discount the fact that they might eventually include people of other races.

“I don’t necessarily know if the 100 Black Men will always be 100 percent black …” says Brian Willis. “I think we’ll be serving the haves and have nots more so in the future. I think that the color line is kind of dissipating more so, but the economic line is getting stronger.”

Though Caldwell refers to The Swanks as a “sanctuary” for African-American colleagues and conversation, he also foretells possible racial progression for the club.

“You know the world is changing. So, what we see probably in the future, certainly not in the near future, but just like the African-American churches have white members, I think that’s probably what’s going to happen.” P

around town - charlotte links, incorporated

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