Bill Clinton Joins Black Frat
Former President Bill Clinton becomes honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma
Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 | Updated 1:13 AM EST
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Clinton is the first U.S. president to be inducted into a historically black fraternity.
NEW ORLEANS — Party on.
A historically black fraternity has voted to induct former President Bill Clinton as an honorary member.
Phi Beta Sigma President Paul Griffin Jr. said Friday that Clinton is the first U.S. president to be inducted into a historically black fraternity.
The fraternity voted Tuesday for Clinton's induction at its 95th Anniversary Conclave in New Orleans, La.
Stevie Wonder, Al Roker, the Rev. Al Sharpton and jazz musician Ramsey Lewis are also honorary members of Phi Beta Sigma.
The fraternity was founded in 1914 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It has more than 150,000 alumni and college members in about 500 chapters throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
Before President Barack Obama became the nation's first black president, Clinton was given the title by African-American poet Toni Morrison.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut
Posted Saturday, Jul 18, 2009 - 5:21 PM EST
