Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (APA)

From its historic beginnings to its illustrious list of brothers, Alpha Phi Alpha (APA) truly sets the standard among black fraternities. The fraternity excels at its mission to develop leaders and promote brotherhood and academic excellence. Service and community advocacy is another top priority among APA members.

The History of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Alpha Phi Alpha's history goes back over one hundred years to a group of black men attending Cornell University during 1905-06, who came together to survive in the racially hostile environment of the time. As the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans, Alpha Phi Alpha set the standard for groups to come.

Founding members of Alpha Phi Alpha include Vertner Woodson Tandy, who became New York State's first registered black architect and Eugene Kinckle Jones, the first executive secretary of the National Urban League.

Notable Alpha Phi Alpha Members

Alpha Phi Alpha boasts a long list of notable pledges who represent a wide range of fields. With APA members as activists, entertainers, and businessmen, leadership is a proven quality of the organization. The membership roster includes noted names including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Duke Ellington, and Thurgood Marshall. Other notable APA members include:

• Willie Brown: Mayor of San Francisco
• Keenan Ivory Wayans: Comedian/Producer
• Jesse Owens: Olympic gold medalist
• Norm Francis: President, Xavier University

In 1998, Alpha Phi Alpha lobbied for a memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The memorial's dedication is tentatively scheduled for 2009.

Historically Black Colleges with APA Chapters

Today, Alpha Phi Alpha is comprised of 686 active chapters across the country and around the world, including Germany, Bermuda, Korea, the Bahamas, and Canada. Here are just a few historically black colleges with APA chapters:

• Clark Atlanta University
• Lincoln University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Chicago State University

Alpha Phi Alpha proves its commitment to continuing education through its educational programs. The Mu-Lambda chapter's "Go-To-High-School, Go-To-College" program raised $14,000 in local scholarships in 2007 alone.

Sources
Alpha Phi Alpha
MLK Memorial