In the year 1956, a young men's leadership development club was created in the inner city of Washington, D.C. The idea of the social learning club for young males was created by the late Gregory Jones. The intent of the club was to guide young males to a path of attaining The Four Principles of Excellence. Jones believed that the young men should strive for ACHIEVEMENT, build CHARACTER, promote LEADERSHIP, and strengthen their community through SERVICE.
The social learning club began with 14 young men attending the social club's meetings at a local downtown youth center for negroes only. These selected young men were active in supporting youth that were faced with problems due to acts of racism, encouraging education and literacy, and supporting the early beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. The YMLDC was the acronym that this club was known by to its' local community. Yet over time this youth organization began to mimic the modern African-American fraternity.
In 1972, the club known as YMLDC (Young Men's Leadership Development Club) became the Alpha Esquires (***SEE DISCLAIMER***). Since the inception of the organization the young men's club has change its' name to various titles. The club has been known as Alpha Beauxs, Alpha Phi League, Alpha Psi Alpha, Alpha Phi Gamma, and The Esquires. All of these organizations follow the same principle ideals to create brotherhood and enhance the community.
In 2002, Omar Jackson a college student from the University of Tennessee -Knoxville decided to begin a chapter of The Esquires. On November 21, 2002 after interviewing approximately 80 candidates, Jackson and committee selected 15 young men from the Knoxville area. On December 4, 2002 the 15 young men [Jonathan Clark, David Andrews, Desmond Holland, Jeremy Wakefield, Brian Tate, James Cain, Spencer Johnson, LaReke Moore, DeAngelo Sheadrick, Kevin Walker, Ethan Sanderfur, Joshua Kearney, Jeremy Pegues, Phillip Tucker, and Sam Brown] were inducted as the Fall 2002 (FA2K2) and first class of Esquires in GAMMA Chapter. On January 20, 2003 the "PHROZEN PHIFTEEN" were introduced to the community at their debut show.
Upon the revelation of other active chapters that derived from the similar concept, Jackson, past GAMMA Chapter Advisor, began to structuralize chapter seats. The club that began in Washington, D.C. was appointed as the Alpha Chapter, and from there the "UNIFICATION MOVEMENT" began. The young men of Black and Gold were beginning to expand, and to present date there are chapters spanning from Atlanta, Georgia to Clarksdale, Mississippi.
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