Happy Founder’s day to my Fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.!
Founded by Henry Arthur Callis, Eugene Kinckle Jones, Charles Henry Chapman, Vertner Woodson Tandy, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, and Robert Harold Ogle on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha became the first African American Greek lettered organization. From this point on they adorned themselves with intelligence, integrity, tenacity, and a bit of black and old gold then decided to never stop making progress. This great organization that’s been around for over 100 years has been a positive presence in our communities doing everything from cleaning, raising money and donating food, to helping people get registered to vote.
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.
Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were established at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. The first Alumni Chapter was established in 1911. While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as: W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others. True to its form as the “first of firsts,” Alpha Phi Alpha has been interracial since 1945.
With the world being so dangerous right now for our young people, African Americans in particular, the guidance and assistance of the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha is needed more than ever. They are working hard and will continue to show rioters the light of voting for change in your community and educating our young men. Guiding them from the dangerous path to a better place in life. Work is never done, but Alphas don’t fear the challenge of helping their community. We have to help to make the world safer for us all. Rioting and looting won’t save our precious lost one’s, but voting and education can save so many more. Honor our lost ones by making sure the same thing doesn’t happen ever again.
First of all, servants of all, we will transcend all!
Happy Founder’s Day Bruhs,
poeticice 