When Alpha Men Stand Up, Families Thrive

Written By Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter

By: Bro. Wade Glover and Bro. Dexter Egleston, Associate Editor to the Sphinx

Since our founding, Alpha Phi Alpha has stood on the front lines of social justice—fighting for civil rights, educational access, and the well-being of our communities. Today, that mission calls us once again. Black mothers and infants in our communities are at risk, and the numbers are staggering. Black women in California, Washington, and Oregon face maternal mortality rates two to three times higher than white women (March of Dimes, 2024). In California alone, Black women account for just 5% of births but 21% of pregnancy-related deaths. These aren’t just statistics—these are our wives, sisters, and daughters.

This crisis is not inevitable. We have the power to change the systems that are failing. Alpha men, this is our moment to lead. The March for Babies initiative is more than a fundraiser—it is a movement to protect our families, to demand justice in healthcare, and to ensure that Black mothers and infants receive the care they deserve.

This issue is personal, and no one understands that better than Brother Wade Glover.

A Brother’s Story: Why This Fight Matters

My Name is Wade Glover, and This is Why I Walk

Both my parents died young. My father was gone before I turned ten, leaving me to navigate a world that suddenly felt emptier and colder. I didn’t have the words for it back then, but I carried a silent trauma—a grief too deep for a child to understand but heavy enough to shape the man I would become.

Despite that loss, I remained unwavering in my desire to become a father. I wanted to be a father more than anything. I dreamed of raising my children, of being there—at every game, every graduation, every late-night fear, or early-morning triumph. I would break the cycle. My children would never know what it felt like to grow up without a father’s love.

But on March 13, 2004, that dream was ripped away.

My oldest son, Jacob Aaron Glover, was born three months too soon. His tiny chest rose and fell with each fragile breath, his body so impossibly small against the stark white sheets of the NICU. I remember the weight of him in my hands—light as a whisper, delicate as a secret the world wasn’t ready to keep.

He fought. God, he fought. But it wasn’t enough. In a single heartbeat, my greatest joy became my deepest sorrow.

I held my son for the first time—and the last.

No father should have to experience that. No mother should bear the burden of bringing life into the world, only to witness its swift departure. No parent should stand at the edge of a hospital bed, praying for a miracle that never comes.

I buried Jacob on a day that should have been a celebration. Instead of bringing him home, I was forced to say goodbye before we had a chance to say hello. That pain does not fade. I carry him with me every single day, in every quiet moment, in every breath I take that he never could.

But my grief will not be silent.

This fight is not just mine. It is ours. The rate at which Black mothers and Black babies are dying should deeply disturb this nation. But they don’t talk about it, do they? They don’t discuss the hospitals that dismiss Black women’s pain. They also don't discuss the doctors who fail to listen. Systemic failures turn preventable deaths into statistics.

Jacob was not a statistic. And neither are the thousands of Black babies who never get to take their first steps, speak their first words, or feel the warmth of a father’s embrace.

That is why I walk. That is why I fight.

This crisis is not inevitable. It is man-made. Its existence implies the possibility of its undoing.

Every step we take in March for Babies, every dollar we raise, every voice we lift in advocacy—it all matters. If my story can spare just one family from this heartbreak, if our efforts can give just one more child a fighting chance, then we must act.

We must act.

To my Alpha brothers: the present is our moment. We have marched for justice before. We have fought for education, civil rights, and the future of our people. Now, we fight for our families.

I walk for Jacob. I walk for every Black child who never got the chance to live the life they deserved.

I love you, Jacob. And I will not stop fighting.

The Reality of Black Maqternal & Infant Health: Why Alpha Must Lead

The crisis in Black maternal and infant health is a direct consequence of systemic racism in healthcare. Black women are more likely to be ignored by doctors, less likely to receive quality prenatal care, and more likely to suffer from preventable complications than white women (National Institutes of Health, 2024).

The disparities are real:

  • Black mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes.

  • Black infants are twice as likely to be born premature and face life-threatening complications.

  • Racism in medicine is not just historical—it is happening now, in hospitals across the country.

But here’s what we know: this issue is not an unsolvable problem. The March of Dimes and March for Babies have led groundbreaking initiatives that increase NICU access, train OB-GYNs on racial bias, and fund community-based prenatal care programs. These programs work—but they need funding, they need voices, and they need Alpha men standing at the forefront of change.

March for Babies: A Blueprint for Action

This conversation is not just about one event. It’s about building a movement that ties together health advocacy, economic justice, and Black empowerment. Through March for Babies, Alpha Phi Alpha can support a strategy that includes:

✅ Expanding NICU care in hospitals serving Black communities.
✅ Training 1,200 OB-GYNs to recognize racial bias in maternal care.
✅ Providing financial support to families dealing with premature births.
✅ Lobbying for stronger maternal health laws at the state and federal levels.

Our goal is to raise $7,500 for this cause, but that is only the beginning. If every Alpha brother contributes, fundraises, and spreads awareness, we can make an undeniable impact.

What Kind of Legacy Will We Leave?

Alpha men, our legacy is at stake. Our fraternity has always led the charge for racial and social justice. We marched with Dr. King. We fought for voting rights. We championed education for Black youth.

Now, we are called to fight for the health of Black mothers and children.

This cause is bigger than one fundraiser. It is about shaping the future of our community. If Black women are dying needlessly in childbirth, if Black infants are not even given a chance at life, then what kind of future are we building?

The present is our moment to lead.

How You Can Take Action Today

✅ Register for March for Babies—Join the official Alpha Phi Alpha team and set your fundraising goal.
✅ Donate & Fundraise—Use corporate sponsorships, employer donation matching, and personal networks to amplify our impact.
✅ March on May 17, 2025—Walk in solidarity and make our presence known.
✅ Advocate for Change—Support policies that expand Black maternal healthcare and dismantle systemic bias.

Alpha Phi Alpha does not stand on the sidelines. We lead. We serve. We uplift our community.

When Alpha men stand up, families thrive. Let’s show up for Black mothers, for Black babies, and for the future of our people.

Are you ready? The time is now.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Final Thoughts

For over a century, Alpha Phi Alpha has stood for leadership, service, and social change. The present is our moment to prove that those principles still guide us today. Every dollar we raise, every step we take, and every conversation we start brings us closer to a future where Black mothers and babies are safe, valued, and supported.

Our motto has always been clear: "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All."

Brothers, let’s transcend this crisis. Let’s be the solution.

See you at the march.

References

Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter
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Breaking Barriers, Building Legacy & Transforming Education for Black Student Empowerment