July 17, 2025
Greetings! It is my pleasure to take this opportunity to update visitors to our site on the wonderful progress we are making as we continue to develop Quest Excel Multimedia. Not long ago, we began with just a web address, but we have gradually expanded our efforts to seek out new opportunities for growth and create partnerships that will support our mission. We aim to bring our publications to life while also collaborating with others to help them find their voice.
One of our goals was to launch our YouTube channel, and I'm happy to report that we have successfully done that. We have also developed a podcast series called the "League of Friendship," which focuses on the Divine Nine historically Black Greek letter organizations. These organizations include Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta. Additionally, we included Sigma Pi Phi, also known as the Boule, in our series.
This podcast provides insight into the rise and development of these organizations, and it introduces listeners to a pivotal book, "Before You Pledge," which has played a significant role in bringing our website to fruition. We are currently exploring partnerships within the Divine Nine to support their anti-hazing initiatives.
In addition to the League of Friendship, we are also developing another podcast series called the "QEMM Bible Story Series." We are planning 24 episodes, with the first episode focusing on the biblical character Dinah and the importance of good judgment in choosing our associations. We look forward to partnering with Houses of Worship and Sunday school programs to make these lessons available to young people.
As we continue to grow, I want to emphasize the importance of forming partnerships and introducing people to our website. We have yet to host our first public event, which is something I'm eager to do. However, I cannot do this alone; it will require a team effort. Therefore, one of our upcoming priorities is to create the QEMM team to help implement these programs.
In addition to the League of Friendship, we are also developing another podcast series called the "QEMM Bible Story Series." We are planning 24 episodes, with the first episode focusing on the biblical character Dinah and the importance of good judgment in choosing our associations. We look forward to partnering with Houses of Worship and Sunday school programs to make these lessons available to young people.
I also envision a speaker series that addresses important issues. This is my current update, and there is much more to come. However, I could use your support. If you would like to contribute, you can do so via Cash App at $questexcelmm. Any amount is appreciated. Until our next update, take care, and best wishes in all your endeavors! I am,
Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr.
Courtesy of LMW Studios 2025 CT.
Copyright 2025 Quest Excelmultimedia, LLC
Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr.
Founder and CEO
Research to Learn to Educate
https://issuu.com/home/docs/j0m4yf52p37/embed
Hello everyone,
I wanted to provide an overdue update regarding my YouTube channel. Early in the creation of this platform, one of my primary goals was to launch my channel, and I am happy to say that I have accomplished that milestone. I want to share the current status of my channel. While this update focuses on the League of Friendship Podcast series, the QEMM Channel will cover a wide variety of topics, including history, biography, sociology, and the arts and entertainment.
The podcast icon will direct you to my featured podcast, which I refer to as the "League of Friendship." This podcast includes all of the Divine Nine organizations and Sigma Pi Phi. In my book, "Before You Pledge: Essential Information You Should Know About Black Greek Letter Organizations and the Dynamics of Pledging in a Culture of Hazing," I coined the term "League of Friendship," drawing inspiration from its earlier usage.
I believe that by including Sigma Pi Phi under the overarching title of the "League of Friendship," we highlight its historical significance and the important role it played in the creation and development of other Black Greek letter organizations beyond the Divine Nine. As I noted in my book, they are an outstanding example of excellence.
In this podcast series, I have created ten short videos, each lasting no more than 30 minutes, which provide an overview of all the organizations. The voices you hear in the conversation are AI-generated, but the content is derived directly from my book, "Before You Pledge." Overall, I think the AI has produced impressive results, despite minor pronunciation issues. The future of AI is truly remarkable.
I look forward to your feedback and hope you enjoy the content. Please feel free to like, share, and subscribe. To help us create more content like this, donating to Cash App: $Questexcelmm. Thank you!
Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr.
Founder and CEO
Ad Astra Per Aspera
In 1904, Sigma Pi Phi was established as the first fraternity for successful college educated black men, followed by eight black Greek letter undergraduate organizations between 1906 and 1922, a ninth followed in 1963. This constellation of organizations represented some of the brightest people of the first half of the twentieth century. As a class, they would make up W.E.B. DuBois’s Talented Tenth. For over 100 years, the Divine Nine would impact almost every field of human endeavor, from religion, law, education, technology, politics, and medicine. Many from among their ranks would help establish and support a trinity of civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, the Urban League and C.O.R.E. However, for all their success, the second half of the twentieth century would find many BGLOs fighting to maintain their relevance as change agents for African American progress. Allegations of brutal hazing practices resulting in death, and other untoward behaviors led to many costly lawsuits threatening their very existence. The revised second edition of Before You Pledge, with additional historical context on the organizations and a new chapter on the developmental psychology of hazing, tells this story anew. As a continuation of the earlier editions, it is hard-hitting, insightful, and unapologetically impactful in its delivery. It is a must-read for all those desiring to join a black Greek letter organization or anyone wanting to learn about their storied history. Click on book cover to purchase your copy!
This video discusses the book "The Four Horsemen of West Point" by Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr. The book examines the early experiences of Black cadets at the United States Military Academy. It highlights the journeys of Henry O. Flipper, John H. Alexander, and Charles Young, the only three Black graduates from the academy, and details their remarkable careers and acts of heroism during the Jim Crow era.
In late August of 1889, Charles Young graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was only the third black cadet to do so. Henry Ossian Flipper and John Hanks Alexander were the first two. There would not be another black graduate in the nineteenth century. While all three had brilliant careers, Flipper’s was cut short in scandal, Alexander died suddenly of a heart attack. However, Young’s long career allowed him to become a celebrated hero in black America. Many whites, who knew and served with him, grew to admire and respect him. In Jim Crow America of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Young would go on to hold many firsts as a black man. By any measure, this was quite an accomplishment. However, if the truth be told, there were as many as twenty-seven black men to attempt to enter and graduate West Point. Their names and stories are all but lost to history. In a culture of racism white supremacy, only the best prepared and truly game individuals could rise to the challenge to become West Pointers. The Four Horsemen of West Point, A Narrative History of the Black Cadets That Challenged the Color Line at The United States Military Academy and Won: Race, Class and Cultural Meaning Making 1870 to 1889, tells the stories of some of these erstwhile cadets. Their stories are ones of triumph, defeat, and resurrection. Collectively, these men, through their intrepid will of the spirit, brought down the walls of racial injustice and intolerance to open the door for future black men and women.
Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr.
Mentoring Matters: A Practical Approach to Fostering Reflective Practices, by Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr., and Dr. Juanita Cepeda Winfield. Provides insights from the author and seasoned educators on classroom success. Unlike many discussions focusing on mentors' roles, this book highlights strategies for new teachers to support their students. Through the story of Alice Smith, in her first teaching position, the narrative encourages critical thinking and reflection on teaching and learning.
In this video Major, Rory McGovern discusses the history and experiences of the first black cadets at West Point from 1870-1890. For a complete history of the black cadets, read The Four Horsemen of West Point, A Narrative History of the Black Cadets That Challenged the Color Line at The United States Military Academy and Won: Race, Class and Cultural Meaning Making 1870 to 1889.
Video initially created for classroom use in HI101.
The “Divine Nine” Black Greek letter organizations were founded when predominantly white colleges denied black students equal rights. NBC News' Priscilla Thompson takes a look at how they’ve shaped Black leaders in the U.S., like Vice President Kamala Harris and Georgia’s first Black senator, Raphael Warnock.
Read Before You Pledge detailing the history of the the BGLOs.
AD ASTRA ASPERA
The twentieth century could very well be remembered as the century of Black Greek Letter Organizations. And for good reasons. It was indeed a century of excellence for many African Americans. No other group of people can claim to have the sheer degree of accomplishments in all areas of human activity in the United States and in many other parts of the world as compared to the members of the various Black Greek Letter Organizations. Undoubtedly, these accomplishments are a source of unceasing pride and serve as a shining lodestar for all those associated with this august body of organizations. To the stars through adversity.
This edition of Before You Pledge includes a powerful, insightful, and inspiring foreword from an Omega man with almost six decades in service to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the greater Black Greek Letter community. His fraternal wisdom and council forces the reader to think about their next step before they pledge.
Dr. Michael J. Winfield, Sr.
MOORE STREET: GROWING UP IN THE ERA OF JIM CROW is a compelling firsthand account of the author's boyhood years growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina during the era of racial segregation, circa 1942-1960.
While the focus is on a neighborhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the story is a metaphor for the transcendences of manhood survival despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
The story is told in a readable and warm manner seasoned with actual instances of things which occurred to a young man growing up in an African American family and community filled with love and positive support.
This story had to be written in order to document insight into how life was growing up during this era in this Moore Street neighborhood by an eyewitness account.
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