Comments

Interviewee: Charles Latta

Interviewer: Steven Payne

Summary by Serena Velasquez

March 22, 2022

Charles Latta’s mixture of New Orleans and Durham, North Carolina histories shaped how he navigates the world, embracing each culture through eating gumbo, familial relationships or listening to jazz. Growing up in West Philadelphia, Latta attended public school for the first five years of his life, and spent the rest of his educational career in Catholic institutions. Catholic schooling was a culture shock for him. He experienced the adaptive changes of enduring three different high schools. The shock of racism from the police commissioner who everyone knew to stay away from and St. Joe’s Prep, being one of the only African-Americans and needing to say who you knew in order to cross the street peacefully, and garnering protection because of his connections with the local white kids at his school defined his childhood.

Latta started college at Temple University , then transferred to Lincoln University in order to get away from home in order to finally experience the world on his own. A legacy student, his father, godfather, and uncle acquired degrees from the latter. The adjustment went very smoothly, as he already had friends from West Philly and pledged Kappa Alpha Psi (KAP) his second semester there. His father and godfather also pledged KAP, continuing the tradition within his family. At school, Latta participated in the Guy Right program, helping young men who were struggling with academics, trying to lead them in the right direction. Charles found a sense of building those around him through KAP, guiding people through their educational choices such as choosing classes, tutoring, and figuring out their career goals. During his time with KAP, pledging built up the community of his fellow brothers through harmless chants and chants that reaffirmed the power of African-Americans, rather than the hazing prevalent in many U.S. universities today.

After Lincoln, Latta was laid off from his management position at a gas station, prompting him to visit New York City to hang out for a weekend. However, he ended up staying with his now-wife’s family, and found a job within two weeks working for an art supply company. Soon after, he found an occupation at the U.S. Customs Service until his retirement in 2015. At first, he was too busy working long hours and with overtime which deterred him from getting involved in the New York City Chapter of KAP. Twenty years later, he joined the alumni in 2009 for the Bronx Alumni Chapter (BAC), carrying on his KAP legacy.

He began his journey as a part of the BAC six months after it was chartered. Charles and the friend that prompted him to join started a 501(c)(3) called the Star of the East Society, a society of brothers that pledged KAP at Lincoln and brothers who pledged KAP elsewhere, continuing to branch out and expand their community. He mentored his KAP brothers and non-pledged students on Lincoln’s campus, raising money for the University and supporting it as much as possible. He was President of KAP for five years prior to Covid.

Disciplines

African American Studies | Public History

Abstract

Due to Latta’s initiatives, the BAC has won many awards for community service and social action. He works to make BAC visible to the borough president, congressmen, and councilmen in order to stay involved. In his fifth year as President, BAC hosted the conference for the Northeast Province and the Metro Founders Day, assisting with Atlantic hurricane relief initiatives. Though the COVID-19 pandemic made these initiatives difficult, they still try to persist in their message of outreach that they have held for decades. Latta’s goal is to see the Chapter bring in more people and to develop the ideals and influence that comes with its growth. To him, being a Kappa means being an honorable individual, and “striving to achieve in every field of human endeavor,” to be a good human being, and to help those who are less fortunate than you.

Latta pledged KAP and the historic Epsilon Chapter at Lincoln in spring 1978. Charles remains active with Lincoln’s Alumni Association. He is currently a registered parliamentarian for the national association. So, he belongs in the National Parliamentarian Association, and was the chair for the golf tournament in July of 2022. He is a recipient of the prestigious George Rodriguez Service Award; through the BAC. His accomplishments have fostered mentorship not only amongst the education of the youth, but also in the Bronx, where he resides. For Charles, retirement means keeping oneself busy and being more active in one’s community, shown through his work in soup kitchens three to four times a week. For Charles, the Bronx represents a diverse culture that he continues to embrace.

LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW: http://cdm17265.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/baahp/id/94

Download
COinS