We had the good fortune of connecting with Antoinne Duane Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Antoinne Duane, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always been somewhat of a futuristic thinker. Which means, I tend to see things 5-7 years before they become popular. As a member of a fraternity and also being a celebrity photographer, I saw that there was an unfilled niche of creating a magazine that would strictly focus on content of minority fraternities and sororities.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being the only magazine of its kind, the uniqueness of Majority Greek is its biggest quality. To create a periodically that is basically the Essence Magazine for fraternities and sororities is a stellar thing. That fact in itself is historic! To double down, we are excited because we added another historic component to the franchise. The Pearly Awards is another part of the overall brand. We added basically the Oscars for Greek, affectionately dubbed The Pearly Awards, to the mix! Who wouldn’t be excited to get all dolled up and be in the building honoring the most outstanding pillars of our communities during one glamorous event.
We have learned that being innovative is a challenge. Creating something from nothing presents mountains to climb. We push to build awareness and support for this much needed set of historic creations. The world should know that many, many many members of black fraternities and sororities are the pillars of our communities. Most work and ask for little fanfare, if any, as the continuously and relentlessly serve their communities. We are built to recognize them!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia so this is Black Hollywood. We have plenty to do! A week of events would be a sight to see. On Monday, considering we have a foundation of fraternity, we definitely would go see the MLK statue and museum. Tuesday, we would definitely need to stop by the world famous Slutty Vegan, since it is sorority member owned and operated. Wednesday, we must go to King Crab ATL then swing over to the College Football Hall of Fame and the Coca Cola Museum. On Thursday, we absolutely must take a day trip to Nashville, TN to visit the National Museum of African American Music. On Friday, we’d rest during the day then that evening head to Stanley’s Cigar Lounge of ATL, yet another member owned establishment. On Saturday day, we would link with 3 black owned spirits companies N-Finite Spirits (Tequila), Red Hazel Official (Whiskey) and Myles Seles (Vodka) and sample some quality mixed beverage. All of these are black women owned and also all three women are sorority members. That evening, we would enlist Chef Kedric Barrett, Chef Antonio Mack and Chef Jahnesta Watson, all men of Phi Beta Sigma, to prepare a buffet of delectable cuisine to tickle our palettes. And on Sunday we rest!!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I give respects to two distinct groups of people that have help me throughout my lifetime strive for goals and serve the community at large. First, my family. I come from a long line of amazing community servants. On both sides of my family, there are ministers, evangelists and just genuinely good people that have a heart to serve. They instilled in me from birth the passion to give my time and talents to the needs of my community.
Secondly, my fraternal organization, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. I learned as a young adult what the power is with having a concentrated effort of college educated men focused on building the community in ways I couldn’t quite imagine. In specific, my International President Chris V. Rey not only helped me a leader in the organization but we grew and learned as fathers as well.
Website: majoritygreek.com
Instagram: @majoritygreek @pearlyawards @antoinneduanejones
Facebook: Majority Greek Magazine
Image Credits
Photographer: Antoinne Duane Jones Features: Denise Williams, Diemend Chanel, Judge Tiffany Whitfield, Alicia Williams, Alysia Leyva & Tyronica Carter