Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African Americans. Founded on December 4, 1906, on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, as a social fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha has initiated over 175,000 men into the organization and has been open to men of all races since 1945. The fraternity utilizes motifs and artifacts from Ancient Egypt to represent the organization and preserves its archives at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.
The founders, Henry Callis, Charles Chapman, Eugene Jones, George Kelley, Nathaniel Murray, Robert Ogle, and Vertner Tandy, are collectively known as the "Seven Jewels". The fraternity expanded when a second chapter was chartered at Howard University in 1907. Beginning in 1908, Alpha Phi Alpha became the prototype for other Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO). Today, there are over 680 active Alpha chapters in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, the West Indies, and the Virgin Islands.
Alpha Phi Alpha evolved into a primarily service organization and has provided leadership and service during the Great Depression, World Wars, Civil Rights Movements, and addresses social issues such as apartheid, AIDS, urban housing, and other economic, cultural, and political issues affecting people of color. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial is a project of Alpha Phi Alpha and the fraternity jointly leads philanthropic programming initiatives with March of Dimes, Head Start, Boy Scouts of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha include Jamaican Prime Minister and Rhodes Scholar Norman Manley, Nobel Prize winner Martin Luther King, Jr., U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Olympian Jesse Owens, Justice Thurgood Marshall, United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, and Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. Numerous other American leaders are among the men who have adopted the fraternity’s principles—manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind.
The founders, Henry Callis, Charles Chapman, Eugene Jones, George Kelley, Nathaniel Murray, Robert Ogle, and Vertner Tandy, are collectively known as the "Seven Jewels". The fraternity expanded when a second chapter was chartered at Howard University in 1907. Beginning in 1908, Alpha Phi Alpha became the prototype for other Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO). Today, there are over 680 active Alpha chapters in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, the West Indies, and the Virgin Islands.
Alpha Phi Alpha evolved into a primarily service organization and has provided leadership and service during the Great Depression, World Wars, Civil Rights Movements, and addresses social issues such as apartheid, AIDS, urban housing, and other economic, cultural, and political issues affecting people of color. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial is a project of Alpha Phi Alpha and the fraternity jointly leads philanthropic programming initiatives with March of Dimes, Head Start, Boy Scouts of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha include Jamaican Prime Minister and Rhodes Scholar Norman Manley, Nobel Prize winner Martin Luther King, Jr., U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Olympian Jesse Owens, Justice Thurgood Marshall, United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, and Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. Numerous other American leaders are among the men who have adopted the fraternity’s principles—manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind.
by BlackCsr3 November 12, 2007
by RyanFNation September 25, 2018
An Alpha is someone below a Sigma or a Giga, however, an Alpha is a leader and refuses to take orders from people below him. Alpha's are some of the highest beings despite being below Sigmas and Gigas.
Sigma: Hey, Alpha!
Alpha: What?
Sigma: Beta wants you to make him a sandwich.
Alpha: He must be joking, I'd never do anything for that low level human.
Alpha: What?
Sigma: Beta wants you to make him a sandwich.
Alpha: He must be joking, I'd never do anything for that low level human.
by PizzaGuy2711 October 18, 2023
He’s the type of person who’s determined to help out the people he loves. He’s so amazing, even if its just his personality or his looks this man is so perfect. Everyone loves him, He is one of the most kindest and most loving person anyone had every met. I’m sure how grateful his friends are to have him. He deserves the world.
#urthebest#alpha
by exille September 04, 2021
Alpha has a hating mentality at times but is truly a great person. he shows appreciation in everything he does and always makes a joke in things. Alphas are always the Alpha and have best friends named Andres. They are like a two peas in a pod. Andres keeps Alpha in check, because Alpha randomly shows up to class late because he decides to get his steps in This is a great characteristic that Alpha has, he likes to exercise. Alphas are usually quiet and talk once in a while. Alphas also enjoy soccer and makes sure that everyone knows that they took a L. Alpha is a man of very few words, but it gives his very few words more meaning. Everyone needs an Alpha in their life, Alpha is someone that is very wise and Gucci model. Alpha is one of a kind!
by charles dalanci February 18, 2022