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Interviewer: Steven Payne

Interviewee: Rudolph Coombs

Summary by Gabriel Capellan

January 25, 2022

Rudolph, “Rudy”, Coombs is a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity and was awarded “Brother of the Year” in 2019 and 2020, and was one of the founders of 100 Black Men, a mentoring organization designed to provide minority communities with resources to attend college and be changemakers for and in their communities. Coombs was born in the Bronx to two Jamaican immigrant parents, making him a first-generation American in his family. He describes his parents as hardworking and relentless. He grew up in the 1970s Bronx, where fires, gangs, drugs, and poor social services. Coomb’s teachers at school didn’t believe in him, telling him he should be an iron or steelworker. The worst thing he heard was what his principal told him in high school: “You'll never be nothing and you'll never accomplish nothing” ([18:08]). These words stuck with him and motivated him to become something, something that transcended these horrible expectations placed upon him.

An influential figure in Coombs’s life was his basketball coach and mentor, Richard Reed. Coombs says that Reed saved his life. He taught him discipline and what it meant to dream higher. He began to dream about going to college and giving back to his community, an opportunity most people in his situation would not have. This philosophy placed upon Coombs would go on to echo in everything he did, signaling that he was capable of doing more. At a young age, he understood that his environment couldn’t dictate who he would be.

Disciplines

African American Studies | Public History

Abstract

Coombs went on to attend Payne College in Georgia through a basketball scholarship. During his time at Payne, he became president of the undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, where he fundraised. His time at Payne would be unfortunately cut short when he was wrongfully arrested for assault and robbery. This happened when he was leaving a jewelry store in the Bronx during one of his breaks from school.

This would effectively change the trajectory of Coombs’ life. He was tried three times, found guilty two times, but on the third time, he was declared innocent after the victim told the judge that Coombs was not the man who robbed her. With his freedom granted, he realized he wanted to dedicate his life to giving voice to the voiceless, people who are suppressed and cannot defend themselves.

After that, he served in the army for two years, during which he met his wife and had a daughter. Back in New York, he helped found 100 Black Men and was the polemarch of Alpha Kappa Psi in 2012. He went on to meet prominent figures, including borough presidents, senators, mayors, and many celebrities. Coombs is a leader of extreme conviction who didn’t let horrible circumstances prevent him from doing what he wanted. His philosophy is a testament to his life story and always resonated with the people he interacted with.

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