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Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity
established for black students, was organized at Cornell University ,
Ithaca, New York, on Tuesday, December 4, 1906. Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity was born out of the desire for maintaining close association
and unified support for members of this small minority group. It started
as a small social study club that originally met at 421 North Albany
Street, Ithaca, NY. The prejudices of the time, even at a relatively
liberal institution such as Cornell, placed an extra burden on black
students. Furthermore, Blacks were denied, for the most part, the mutual
helpfulness which the majority of the students attending Cornell
University regularly enjoyed. The first unit of the Fraternity that was
established was called Alpha Chapter.
From Alpha Chapter the Fraternity spread to other college campuses.
The Fraternity was incorporated on January 29, 1908. With an infinite
vision of an organization encompassing the ideals of scholarship, manly
deeds, and love for all mankind, our seven founders, whom we
respectfully call the "Jewels," aspired to bring forth a fraternity
dedicated to social purpose and social action. Currently, Alpha Phi
Alpha continues to grow and push for these ideals with such nationally
mandated programs as "Project Alpha," "Go To High School, Go To
College," "A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People," and others, which
are maintained on both the undergraduate and graduate level as well. |
