Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. Founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, the organization was born out of a need for solidarity, support, and brotherhood among Black students facing intense social and academic isolation. At a time when African Americans were systematically excluded from many opportunities in higher education, seven courageous and visionary young men laid the foundation for a movement that would grow to impact generations.

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These founders, known with reverence as the Seven Jewels, were Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy. Each brought unique talents and perspectives, united by a shared commitment to scholarship, brotherhood, and the uplift of the African American community. They not only formed a fraternity but ignited a beacon of hope and excellence for young Black men nationwide. Their legacy continues to guide the fraternity’s work and vision.

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Alpha Phi Alpha began as a study and support group for students enduring racial prejudice at Cornell. These early members created a safe space that fostered academic achievement, moral character, and mutual encouragement. As the fraternity grew, it quickly expanded to other institutions, including many historically Black colleges and universities. In 1911, Alpha Phi Alpha established its first alumni chapter, creating a lasting structure that would support members well beyond college and into their professional lives.

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The fraternity has played a pivotal role in the fight for civil rights and social justice. Its members have included some of the most influential leaders in American history—individuals who dedicated their lives to advocacy, equality, and service. Figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, and Paul Robeson have all carried Alpha’s principles into the public arena. Their impact has helped define Alpha as a fraternity not only of intellect and brotherhood but also of action and leadership.

Alpha Phi Alpha has remained at the forefront of progressive change for over a century. In 1945, the fraternity became interracial, opening its arms to men of all backgrounds who uphold its ideals. While academic excellence remains central, Alpha also continues its mission to address the educational, economic, and social disparities facing African Americans and other marginalized communities.

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Since its founding, Alpha Phi Alpha has supplied both voice and vision to the struggles and aspirations of people of color around the world. Its history is one of perseverance, purpose, and power—carried forward by the men who wear the black and old gold with pride and commitment.