Swing Phi Swing

Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Inc. (SΦS) is an African-American non-profit social fellowship for female students, as opposed to a traditional Greek-lettered sorority. It was founded in 1969 at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It has more than fifty undergraduate and graduate chapters across the United States, mostly affiliated with historical Black colleges and universities.

Swing Phi Swing
SΦS
Founded	April 4, 1969; 56 years ago (1969-04-04) Winston-Salem State University
Type	Social Fellowship
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Emphasis	African American
Scope	National
Motto	"Perseverance by Virtue"
Colors	White and   Black
Chapters	36 active
Members	10,000 active
Nickname	Swings
Headquarters	P.O. Box 1124 Dearborn, Michigan 48121 United States
Website	www.swingphiswing.org

History

Swing Phi Swing was founded at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on April 4, 1969, the first anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.^[1][2][3] Its founders were twelve African-American women, helped by the brothers of Groove Phi Groove.^[4]

The twelve founders were:^[2]

• Jeanette Butler
• Anita Chase (Watson)
• Beverly Dorn (Steele)
• Finesia Dunovant (Walker)
• Jane Harris (Madison)
• Rosiland Marshall (Tandy)
• Marilyn Reid (Hill)
• Patricia Story (Edwards)
• Ellen Tomlinson (Carter)
• Brenda Travers (Satterfield)
• Lorraine Watkins (Phillips)
• Talma Woods (Brayboy)

The founders wanted to challenge the traditional Black Greek-lettered organizations by creating a fellowship of women committed to community service, promoting and achieving academic excellence, and strengthening community involvement and engagement through culturally conscious events and activities.^[4] Thus, their group was an alternative to sororities and actively criticized the missions and programming of Black Greek letter organizations.^[5][6] Swing Phi Swing was incorporated in North Carolina in February 1971.^[7]

During the 1970s, Swing Phi Swing's membership grew as Black college women across the South, the Midwest and the East Coast heard of an afro-centric organization; the organization and its members were more political and were "invested in Afrocentricity and Black Power".^[8][6] IChapters were started at prominent historically Black colleges and universities such as Hampton University (Hampton Institute), Morgan State University, Tuskegee University, Wilberforce University, Shaw University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.^[9]

Swing Phi Swing grew so quickly that it was difficult to keep up with processing new memberships.^[5] In 1982, the society decided to discontinue intact of undergraduate members so that it could focus on establishing the group at the national level.^[10][5] In addition, the new collegiate members were close in age to the founders and "did not show deference to their elders".^[8] In the spring 1992, new members were admitted at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pennsylvania, marking the return of undergraduate chapters.^[10][5] By the end of 1999, Swing Phi Swing had 5,000 members. nationwide.^[11] In 2008, it had 20,000 members.^[8]

On April 4, 2019, Swing Phi Swing celebrated their 50th anniversary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.^[12][13][14] Ten of the surviving founders attended the convention and were present to dedicate a monument to the organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University.^[13][14][15] Swing Phi Swing also made a $25,000 donation to the university for a scholarship fund.^[13][16]

Swing has chartered over fifty graduate and undergraduate chapters throughout the United States.^{[13][17][2][8]} As of 2016, it has over 10,000 members.^[2] It is the sister organization of Groove Phi Grove.^[1][8]

Symbols

Swing Phi Swing is an acronym for Sisters With Interest Never Gone (Swing), Promoting Higher Intelligence (Phi), and Supporting Women In Need of Growth (Swing).^{[18][19][13][8]}

Swing Phi Swing's motto is "Perseverance by Virtue".^[19] Its colors are white and black.^[19] Its members are called the Swings.^[20]

Activities

Swing Phi Swing is focused on community service.^[8] Its national initiatives include African American health, Global  Outreach & Optimism in the Diaspora, mentoring, and Supplies for Success which provides resources to students and teachers.^[21][22]

Governance

The National Organization of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship is managed and operated by a Board of Directors and Executive Officers, consisting of a national president, vice president, graduate affairs officer, undergraduate affairs officer, historian, media affairs and public relations, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, parliamentarian, and undergraduate representation.^[23][24] Its national office is located in Dearborn, Michigan.^[25]

Chapters

Undergraduate chapters

Following are the undergraduate chapters of Swing Phi Swing, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.^[9]

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status	References
Groove	April 4, 1969	Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Active
Abeo Neema		University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Inactive
Aggie		North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro, North Carolina	Inactive
Ainka Makeda Marali Moliehi		Pennsylvania State University	State College, Pennsylvania	Inactive
As-Aslum		Wilberforce University	Wilberforce, Ohio	Inactive
Andile Engara		University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro, North Carolina	Inactive
Awon Egbe Obirin Otito		Grambling State University	Grambling, Louisiana	Inactive
Ebony		Benedict College	Columbia, South Carolina	Inactive
		South Carolina State University	Orangeburg, South Carolina
Endesha Baraka Eagle		Coppin State University	Baltimore, Maryland	Inactive
Gendaga Bimbisha Tabu		Lincoln University	Lincoln University, Lower Oxford Township, Pennsylvania	Active
Golden		Johnson C. Smith University	Charlotte, North Carolina	Inactive	[26][27]
Harambee II	January 15, 1974	Clark Atlanta University	Atlanta, Georgia	Inactive	[28]
		Spelman College
Kwanzaa		Texas Southern University	Houston, Texas	Inactive
Maatkare Hatshepsut Bulldog		Bowie State University	Bowie, Maryland	Inactive
Maisha New Birth		University of Maryland Eastern Shore	Princess Anne, Maryland	Active	[29]
Maraabe		Drexel University	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Inactive
		Rosemont College	Rosemont, Pennsylvania
		Temple University	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
		University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marali Nubia Bear		Morgan State University	Baltimore, Maryland	Active	[30]
		Towson University	Towson, Maryland
		University of Maryland, Baltimore County	Catonsville, Maryland
Masika Ghayda Niara		College of New Rochelle	New Rochelle, New York	Inactive
Matumaini Ya Baadaye		Buffalo State University	Buffalo, New York	Inactive
Muntu		Shaw University	Raleigh, North Carolina	Active
Nandi		Rutgers University		Inactive
Nakawa Warriors		Eastern Michigan University	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Inactive
Ndada Amuka Kwa Pindua		Adelphi University	Garden City, New York	Active	[31]
Ndada Vumilia Daima Inuka		Mercy University	Dobbs Ferry, New York	Active	[17]
Ndada Weuse Panda		Bloomfield College	Bloomfield, New Jersey	Active
		Kean University
		Montclair State University	Montclair, New Jersey
Nehanda Bison		Howard University	Washington, D.C.	Inactive	[32]
Nguvu Katika Mwanzo Mpya		Loyola University New Orleans	New Orleans, Louisiana	Inactive
Nyawela Chic Wolverine		Cheyney University of Pennsylvania	Cheyney, Pennsylvania	Inactive
Nkijha		St. Augustine's University	Raleigh, North Carolina	Inactive
Odu Ifa		Virginia Commonwealth University	Richmond, Virginia	Inactive
Orita		Prairie View A&M University	Prairie View, Texas	Active	[33]
Osei Fola Simba		Syracuse University	Syracuse, New York	Inactive
SOBU		North Carolina Central University	Durham, North Carolina	Inactive
Spartan		Norfolk State University	Norfolk, Virginia	Inactive
Subira Chemwuapu		Johnson & Wales University	Providence, Rhode Island	Active
SUNY		University at Albany, SUNY	Albany, New York	Inactive
Siyanda		East Carolina University	Greenville, North Carolina	Inactive
Umoja		Livingstone College	Salisbury, North Carolina	Inactive
Upenda		Hampton University	Hampton, Virginia	Inactive
Viking		Elizabeth City State University	Elizabeth City, North Carolina	Inactive
Wantu		Virginia State University	Ettrick, Virginia	Inactive

Graduate chapters

Following are the graduate chapters of Swing Phi Swing, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.^[9]

Chapter	Charter date and range	Location	Status	References
Ajeya		Central New Jersey	Active
Anan Tendaji		Ypsilanti, Michigan	Active
Ashanti Zuri		Atlanta, Georgia	Inactive
Atlanta	1983	Atlanta, Georgia	Active	[28]
Boston		Boston, Massachusetts	Inactive
Central Carolina		Durham, North Carolina	Active	[34]
		Raleigh, North Carolina
Charlotte		Charlotte, North Carolina	Active	[35][11]
Dada Rafiki Tri-County		Pennsylvania	Active
DC Metro		Washington, D.C.	Active
Detroit		Detroit, Michigan	Active
DFW		Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas	Inactive
Garden State		Northern New Jersey	Active	[22]
Greater New York & Connecticut		Connecticut	Active
		New York
Hampton Roads		Hampton Roads, Virginia	Inactive
Haraambe Nssa		Fayetteville, North Carolina	Active
Houston		Houston, Texas	Active
Imani Kuumba	March 5, 2011	New Jersey	Active	[36][a]
Kemet PA		Pennsylvania	Active
Los Angeles		Los Angeles, California	Active	[37]
Mid South		Memphis, Tennessee	Inactive
New Jersey Zuri Obinrin Abike Aye'		New Jersey	Active
Nia Maryland		Baltimore, Maryland	Active
Niara Atanipenda		Greensboro, North Carolina	Active
		High Point, North Carolina
Okimma Delaware		Delaware	Active
Paidamoyo Potomac		Maryland	Active
		Virginia
		Washington, D.C.
Palmetto		Charleston, South Carolina	Active
Philadelphia		Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Active
Portland		Portland, Oregon	Active	[38]
Raleigh		Raleigh, North Carolina	Active	[5]
Richmond		Richmond, Virginia	Inactive
Rukiya Busara Piedmont Triad		Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Active
Sankofa		Las Vegas, Nevada	Active
SC Nkiruka		South Carolina	Active
Siku Mpya Sunshine State		Florida	Active
Tri-State		Connecticut	Active
		New Jersey
		New York

Notes

1. Imani means "faith" and Kuumba means "Creativity".