The most remarkable leadership in the African-American
community in the 20th century
has without question come from the ranks of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Since its founding on December 4, 1906, the Fraternity has supplied voice and
vision to the struggle of African-Americans and people of color around the
world. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity in the
United States established for men of African descent, was founded at Cornell
University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need
for a strong bond of Brotherhood between African-Americans. The visionary
founders, known as the "Jewels" of the Fraternity, are:
(click on picture for a short biography of the Jewels)
Henry Arthur Callis, Charles
Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel
Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy
These seven young men felt there was a need for more
Black unity on Cornell's predominately white campus. Since other
avenues in Greek life at this time were not readily accessible to many Blacks, these men took it upon themselves to take
the first steps in forming the traditional Black Greek system.
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support
group for minority students who faced racial prejudice-educationally and
socially-at Cornell. During those beginning days, the Jewel founders and
early leaders of the Fraternity worked to lay a solid foundation for Alpha
Phi Alpha's principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character and the
uplifting of humanity.
Today, THE ALPHA PHI
ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED exceeds 125,000 members and has over
700 chapters in the 50 states, Bermuda, England, Liberia, South Korea, the
Virgin Islands, and West Germany.
Alpha Phi Alpha has evolved into an organization that
takes pride in attempting to right many wrongs society has bestowed upon
us. Alpha's constant efforts of increasing the educational, economic, and
social well-being of the Black people in the United States are unparalled.
These efforts are evident in our direct participation in numerous national
organizations and our financial contributions to their programs oriented to
handle problem areas such as civil rights, poor housing, and inadequate
education of our youth. Alpha Phi Alpha was a proud sponsor of the recent
Million Man March last year in Washington D.C. And our philanthropies are
the NAACP, United Negro College Fund, and the National Urban League. Alpha
Phi Alpha's fraternity motto is:
The Fraternity's national programs are devoted to the
uplifting of the African American community. Alpha Phi Alpha today has
formed national mentoring partnerships with organizations dedicated to
helping minority youth, such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts
of America, March of Dimes and the Head Start program. The Fraternity also
is involved with the Habitat for Humanity project to provide decent and
affordable housing to the needy.
Alpha Phi Alpha has made its voice heard at the
highest levels of government. The Fraternity has made its position known to
Congress and the White House on issues such as the nomination of Dr. Henry
Foster as U.S. Surgeon General and the Republican attack on affirmative
action. Alpha Phi Alpha has aided victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. The
Fraternity leads an effort in Congress to establish a memorial to Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. on federal land in Washington, D.C. Alpha Phi Alpha's
political presence is felt in the nation's capital during Alpha Phi Alpha's
annual reception for members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The
Fraternity's position on matters affecting people of African origin around
the world is represented through its ambassadors to
the African/African-American Summits.
Education and scholarship remain major focuses in
today's Alpha Phi Alpha. The College Scholarship Bowl testing the intellect
of Brothers was introduced in the current era as a feature of General
Conventions. The Fraternity's Go to High School, Go to College program,
first established in 1919, was reintroduced; and a General Presidents
Scholarship was endowed as part of Alpha Phi Alpha's Education Foundation.
The Fraternity has established an Alpha Phi Alpha
Archives at Howard University in Washington so that the history of the
organization which parallels the success of African Americans will
be preserved. As African Americans and underprivileged people around the
world continue to struggle for their God-given rights of freedom, justice,
equality and human dignity, the Fraternity continues to stand at the
forefront of efforts to win those rights. Alpha Phi Alpha today
continues in the spirit of leadership the Fraternity has demonstrated since
1906.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity today continues to serve as
a light to the community. The Fraternity is involved in a campaign to
assist the financially-troubled NAACP. In assisting the country's
oldest civil rights organization, the Fraternity has renewed its
long-standing partnership with the NAACP and pledged to donate monies to
the group. Alpha Phi Alpha donated more than $30,000.00 to the NAACP
during the Fraternity's 89th Anniversary Convention in Orlando, Florida. In
addition, the Fraternity's chapters are giving financial support to the
NAACP by purchasing life memberships. Alpha Phi Alpha similarly aided the
NAACP in 1960 when Fraternity Brothers Thurgood Marshall and then General
President Judge Myles A. Paige led an effort to restore the
freedom-fighting organization to leadership and power. In the early 1980s,
Alpha Phi Alpha again supported the NAACP and several other black
organizations with a $1 million fundraising campaign. Alpha Phi Alpha
Program Highlights.
A program that helps teenage males learn about their
role in preventing teenage pregnancies from a male perspective. The first
program of its kind in the nation, Project Alpha has served as the model
for a new generation of male responsibility programs now in existence.
A program that helps prepare high school students for
college study. During an eight-week intensive program, high school seniors
study English, mathematics, history, science and computer science. They are
exposed to learning strategies and a wellness way of life
involving nutrition, exercise and stress management practices.
A program designed to teach leadership skills to high
school juniors and seniors. Alpha Phi Alpha provides a forum for men of all
ages to hone the skills necessary for leadership in the larger
society. With experience gained while serving as chapter officers,
convention delegates, committees members, etc., Alpha Phi Alpha members
are able to teach parliamentary procedure and public speaking skills vital
to success in the business world and society.
A program counseling youth on the importance of
post-secondary education while introducing them to promising professions.
Through the program, students and their families are provided information
about college entrance and financial aid. The counseling thrust is augmented by
a vigorous scholarship program for college-bound youth.
A mentoring program designed to increase the
participation of fathers and other significant males in the lives of their children who also
participate in the program. The partnership was influenced by a revelation that many fathers did
not play necessary and significant roles in the lives of their children. The lives of more than 4,000
parents and children have been enhanced since the partnership was created between Alpha Phi
Alpha and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, Inc., the Department of Health
and Human Services and Region IV Head Start Programs was created.
The work of Alpha Phi Alpha, Big Brothers/Big Sisters
of America and Boy Scouting to prepare our children to be confident and
responsible adults is important to our future. Alpha Phi Alpha and Big Brothers/Big Sisters formed a
national partnership in 1990 to match youth with Fraternity adult volunteers. Alpha
Chapters use Scouting as a resource for youth
development while operating their own Scouting units and providing Alumni
Brothers to serve as council and district Scout leaders.
Encourages collaboration with Fortune 500 companies for
business and economic training and development of our youth.
The Fraternity continues its vigorous program to
register and educate voters and get them to the voting polls on election day. The voter
registration slogan developed by Alpha Phi Alpha in the 1930s continues to serve as a battle cry for the
Fraternity's voter registration and education efforts.
The Alpha Phi Alpha General Organization and local
chapters frequently join with other non-profit organizations and social service agencies to
implement special projects. The NAACP, National Urban League, United Negro College Fund,
American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Sickle Cell Anemia
Foundation, Operation PUSH, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Salvation
Army and United Way are among the many groups which benefit from donations of time,
money and talent from the thousands of Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers across the nation committed
to public service as a way of life.
The Fraternity's national programs date back to 1919.
Despite its substantial growth - in membership and in programs - the
Fraternity's aims remain the same as they were in 1906: