"Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. does not have, nor has it ever endorsed, a mascot of any type to be representative of the organization. So why do so many Omega men like the "dog" image? WE ARE NOT DOGS, even though those who misunderstand us would view us as otherwise because we possess a "dawg"-matic determination to make changes and the tenacity to see them through, the loyalty of man's best friend and the guardianship to protect the ones we love."
Courtesy of Gamma Chapter
William Henry Hastie
William Henry Hastie pioneered the way for African Americans to achieve greatness in numerous fields of service. Like many other Omega Men, Hastie served the country as a means to improve the social situation for the Black community as a whole. From the beginning of his academic career until his retirement from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Hastie demonstrated an aggressive attitude that illustrated the unrecognized potential of the Black race in the first three-quarters of the 20th Century. His active pursuit of knowledge and his selfless attitude are the qualities that raise William Henry Hastie to greatness.
Hastie demonstrated a desire for knowledge that extended from his early teens until his later years. Inspired by his parents, William and Roberta Hastie, he graduated from Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., formerly known as M Street High School, and entered Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He ascended the ranks and became the president of Amherst’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the first fraternity established in the United States. In this ambitious fashion, Hastie graduated from Amherst with his Bachelor of Arts in 1925 and continued his studies at Harvard University where he received his law degree in 1933. This saturated background of academic prowess donned Hastie with the opportunity to extend his experiences to the African American community as a whole.
With this solid foundation, William Henry Hastie labored in areas where his knowledge could be most useful to others, not just himself. He joined the Howard University School of Law as a professor and assisted aspiring African American lawyers to achieve their goal in a time toiled with numerous racial barriers in professional fields. He also served as the Judge of the U.S. District Court in the Virgin Islands in 1937 and as the Governor of the Virgin Islands in 1946 and used his position of authority to improve the living conditions of the populace. He served as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War, but quickly resigned from his position due to the segregation of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Air Corps. His action potentially threatened his personal credibility with the White majority in Washington, D.C., however Hastie’s dedication to serving those around him proved more important. This action exemplifies his true dedication to serving his community and bettering the plight of African Americans.
William Henry Hastie embodies the ideas of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift through his active pursuit of knowledge and dedication to service. His actions proved that African Americans could achieve greatness in the face of great adversity and eventually produce rewards. His actions inspired the desegregation of the armed forces and earned him an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Though a triumph in itself, Hastie never accepted it as such and continued to serve in this capacity for twenty-one years. One April 14, 1976, William Henry Hastie entered Omega Chapter after thrusting African Americans into an advantageous position to achieve equality in a society based on inequity.