Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha holds a unique and profoundly significant place in American history as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established specifically for African American men. Founded at Cornell University on December 4, 1906, during an era of severe racial segregation and systemic discrimination, Alpha Phi Alpha represented an act of intellectual courage and visionary leadership. At a time when African Americans were largely excluded from traditionally White fraternities, the founders—Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, and Nathaniel Allison Murray—created an organization dedicated to developing leaders who would advance their race and contribute to American society. The fraternity's motto, "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All," encapsulates a philosophy that extended beyond mere social club activities. From its inception, Alpha Phi Alpha was designed to cultivate not just friendship, but intellectual excellence, moral character, and social consciousness. The fraternity's members understood that they bore responsibility not only to themselves but to their communities and race as a whole. Throughout the twentieth century, Alpha Phi Alpha played a central role in the African American struggle for civil rights and social justice. Many of the organization's most illustrious members—including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who joined the fraternity while at Morehouse College—became architects of the Civil Rights Movement. Members like Thurgood Marshall brought legal brilliance to the fight against segregation, while countless others worked in education, business, and community development to uplift African American communities. The fraternity's emphasis on "The First" principle—meaning that its members should strive for excellence in their chosen fields—has driven Alpha Phi Alpha to attract and develop some of the most accomplished African American leaders across generations. The organization has expanded from its singular foundation at Cornell to include chapters at historically Black colleges and universities, Ivy League institutions, and major universities across the nation. Beyond individual achievement, Alpha Phi Alpha has maintained institutional commitment to social action and community service. The fraternity's nationwide involvement in educational programs, youth mentorship, and civil rights advocacy demonstrates that it has remained faithful to its founders' vision of lifting while climbing—that individual success must be accompanied by service to others and dedication to collective progress.