The Extra Mile: Promaji

In 1975, several Black cadets at Virginia Military Institute joined together to create a community for minorities on post. To better understand VMI, and navigate the Institute as a Black cadet, these students assembled to build what is now known as “Promaji.”  

When the club was created, the members made it their goal to leave a legacy for Black cadets at VMI.  

“One of the first classes of Black cadets thought that they needed to have a community of people where they felt like they belonged,” said Fatoumata Diallo ’23, last year’s president of Promaji. “It was this idea of togetherness … looking out for each other and looking out for the people that came after them.” 

Promaji comes from the Swahili word “Pamoja,” which translates to “togetherness.” Today, the group still embraces this pillar and has extended its mission to serve all cadets and all minorities.  

Representing the underrepresented  

“The club members have become more diverse over the years to include people from different cultural backgrounds and different genders,” said Diallo.  

Mark Shelton II ’23, council member of Promaji and 2023-24 regimental commander, explained the group’s significance – “We have a lot of underrepresented groups at VMI,” he said. “Promaji gives those individuals a safe space, a place to interact with their peers and people that look like them or may have a similar background.”  

The club meets once a week and holds various events throughout the year.  

“We host movie nights, trivia nights, and open mic nights,” said Shelton. “We also sponsor sporting events, like basketball tournaments and other tournaments.”  

To celebrate different heritages, the club hosts events for most heritage months.  

“We’ve held events for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Shelton.  

The bond among cadets and alumni at VMI is best defined by the term – “One Corps, One VMI.” Shelton shared that this bond is parallel to the mission of Promaji.  

“Togetherness … ‘One Corps, One VMI,’ they’re interchangeable,” he said. “We encourage everyone from different backgrounds to come and share their ideas, beliefs, and to be supportive of everybody because no one person is the same.”  

Building leaders and breaking up the Rat Line 

Shelton and Diallo were both influenced by their dykes to join the club, and they became members during their first year at VMI. When it was time for club meetings, Diallo and several of her brother rats gathered in their dyke’s room to head down for the meeting. “Initially, we didn’t think much of it,” she said.  

Diallo joined the club to accompany her friends and her dyke, but it later grew into a meaningful experience. At one of her first meetings, Diallo noticed that the atmosphere of the club was different.  

“Seeing how welcoming the upperclassmen were to us, even though we were rats…” she said. “Telling us about opportunities we could apply for, telling us how to stand out, and strive at VMI… is what made me interested in staying in Promaji.”  

Diallo shared that the club was instrumental in her leadership journey, helping her take steps towards being someone who stands up for people like herself.  

“I wanted to be a role model for other cadets who came in and looked like me, or who felt like they didn’t see representation in leadership positions,” she said.  

As a rat, Diallo recognized the importance of the club and wanted to follow in her dykes’ footsteps. Holly Jabo ’20 was the president of Promaji in 2019 and spurred a long journey of leadership in her rat. As a 3rd Class cadet, Diallo became the secretary and the following year, she served as the vice president of Promaji.  

Each year, Promaji alumni ask a single question to the 1st Class club members: “What legacy do you want to leave once you leave Promaji?” For Diallo, the answer is inherently clear.  

“I hope that Promaji remains a club for minorities and that they feel safe to discuss any issues,” she said. “I hope Promaji keeps representing and being a voice for minorities … and that they will not be shackled or submit to any pressure from people or organizations … that’s what makes Promaji unique.”  

Diallo hopes that the club can increase its membership and continue to expand its diverse composition.  

“I hope that Promaji will continue to welcome anyone that is willing to listen or learn,” she said.