History

In 1992, Mildred Franklin, a longtime member of The Ministry of Christian Social Concerns at Abyssinian Baptist Church, challenged its members to start a program that would address the needs faced by today's youth, especially young men. A year later in Fall of 1993, nine individuals from The Ministry of Social Concerns and The Brotherhood met weekly for four months to meet the challenge. With incredible measure of ancestral inspiration vision, from people of who were culturally enlightened and spiritually grounded, Blue Nile Passage was conceived.

Their original focus was to structure a rites-of-passage program to address the needs and concerns of African American males between the ages of 12 and 16 from the church and living within the church block. But others felt this should be a paradigm for the nation, one that would raise the standards for other programs of its type.

In February 1994, with the principles set, rites-of-passage requirements developed and a name bestowed by the world renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannon, known as Dr. Ben, Blue Nile Passage began its pilot program.

In June of the same year the first Passing Through ceremony was held in the vestry of Abyssinian where 9 of 16 young men who successfully completed the requirements of the program were honored before members of their family, church, and community. By fall, October, the first full nine-month program began with an enrollment of 30 young men.

After the success of the program with the young men, inquiries began about the possibility of extending the program to young women. Impressively 80 interested women answered the call. In March 1995, the pilot program for young women named Daughters of the Blue Nile began. The male entity now became known as Sons of the Blue Nile, both under the umbrella of The Blue Nile Passage.

The pilot program for Daughters of the Blue Nile started with 20 young women, between the ages of 11 and 14. On June 18 young women were honored at their own Passing Through ceremony held at Abyssinian.

The program became incorporated in August 1996 becoming Blue Nile Passage, Inc. a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization dedicated to the spiritual, cultural and moral character development of Americas youth.