GROOVE PHI GROOVE

SOCIAL FELLOWSHIP INC.

MORE FLY THAN YOU…

 SINCE 1962

Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated was founded at Morgan State College on October 12, 1962. The purpose of the Fellowship is to promote academic awareness, good ethical standards and unity among college and graduate men, to create intelligent and effective leadership, and to study and help alleviate social and economic problems concerning society in order to improve the status of mankind.

What do the letters mean?

The "G" (Groove not Gamma)

During the 1960's, the word "groove" was popular among young Blacks. Webster’s dictionary defines the verb "groove" as "to perform deftly or smoothly." As a noun, groove is defined as "a fixed routine in the affairs of life." Hence to go "against the groove" means to work in opposition to the current establishment. Finally, "Groovin'" was also associated with "socializing" or "fellowshipping." All three of these descriptions combine to form the basic essence of our Social Fellowship.

The "Phi"

In Secrets of the Great Egyptians, Peter Thompkins tells us that the Khemit people of Ancient Egypt created "Phi" as a symbol of the creative function of the male reproductive system, and more loosely as "reproduction in endless series." It was a symbolic representation of "the fire of life." We adopted this symbol of fertility in our name to stand for our continual growth and development. Our "Phi" should in no way be confused with the Greek symbol "Phi," which takes on the same look but a totally different meaning.

In founding Groove Phi Groove, our 14 founders incorporated the prominent cultural and nationalistic ideologies and creeds of the Black Power Movement into an organization that was envisioned as a positive alternative to, and not as an antagonistic organization to, the established Black fraternal system; or as another Black fraternity without Greek nomenclature. We believe that original vision is continuing to manifest itself in various ways.