The 100 Black Men of America inducted 22 members Monday night. Originally chartered at Prairie View A&M University by former director of Student Activities Frederick V. Roberts almost 20 years ago, the Collegiate 100 was reactivated on March 10.
The Collegiate 100 mainly focuses on mentoring young men between the ages of 8 and 18. The mentoring of the Prairie View chapter is to assist the sponsoring Houston chapter in their endeavors.
Roberts said, “We’re hoping that the mentoring they do on campus will come through role modeling, so that will change the behavior of the young people on campus. That’s what we believe will be the impact.”
Mayor Frank Jackson was the master of ceremony. City of Houston comptroller Ronald Green served as the guest speaker. Green spoke on the importance of brotherhood, education, and being articulate. He also explained the responsibilities and expectations of new members.
“We are not here to be examples, but to lead by example,” said Dominique Washington, a junior architecture and construction science major.
Vice President Dymonique Burton said, “It is important for each of us to recognize our potential and purpose and put them to use now, rather than to sit around wondering when the right time is.”
The activities of the Collegiate 100 will be, in the words of Roberts, “on a higher order.”