The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, a development in College Life Charles H. Wesley Name First Seven Chapters of History Book 1. [6] The initial study group consisted of 14 students. our clothing. In 1999, the United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approved the site location for the memorial. He provided entertainment with a selection at the Zion Church bazaar. The committee submitted the following: To the Thirty-Eight General Convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: The Founders present at this Convention, Jewels Callis, Kelly, and Murray, and the Fraternity Historian, met with Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones on Monday, December 29, 1952, and with letters and exhibits before us, the following conclusions were reached: As a result of this conference and the exchange of experiences and reminiscences, and even taking into consideration the defect of memories forty-seven years later, we are of the opinion that Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones should be listed as one of the seven Jewels, and that the name of Brother James H. Morton, about whom the Founders present are not at all definite in their knowledge, should continue to be carried among the first initiates and among our precursors as was C.C. Lucius L. McGee,10th General President [89], Alpha's "Designated Charity" benefits from the approximately $10,000, one-time contribution fund-raising efforts at the fraternity's annual general convention. Honorary members include Vice President Hubert Humphrey (who is Caucasian), jazz musician Duke Ellington, and activist W. E. B. While pledging at Bowie State University, it was reported that he endured verbal assaults, punches, slaps, paddling, and body slams on a consistent basis. [39] Today, the fort is a museum and education center which honors the U.S. Army's first officer candidate class for African-American men in 1917. He The program concentrates on the importance of completing secondary and collegiate education as a path to advancement and to provide information and strategies to facilitate success. Jones on Monday, December 29, 1952, and with letters and exhibits before Moton, principal of But it was the action of the convention in 1952, that would change the course of Alphas history and bestow upon Jewel Jones a unique distinction. The organization also published a magazine, Opportunity. The case styled Murray v. Pearson (1935) was initiated by the fraternity and successfully argued by Alpha men Thurgood Marshall and Charles Houston to challenge biases at the university which had no laws requiring segregation in its colleges. Herndon's father, honorary Alpha Alonzo Herndon, founded Atlanta Life in 1905, becoming Atlanta, Georgia's first African-American millionaire. On December 4, 2000, a marble and bronze plaque was laid by Alpha Phi Alpha to dedicate the site where the memorial was to be built. recognized by the General Organization, and kept the group together He provided entertainment with a selection at the Zion Church bazaar. The fraternity assisted in a similar case that involved fraternity brother Lloyd Gaines. He served as treasurer his lifetime: The last three years of his life were filled with long overdue philosophy, later Homiletics and Greek studies. created happiness for thousands-and through his associates over the Arts of Science selecting Social Science as his major subject and In proportion to what he does for his Chapter and for Alpha Phi Alpha will a member receive lasting benefits from the Fraternity to himself in the way of self development by duty well done, and the respect of the Brothers served. in many social and civic organizations including the Flushing Jones then traveled to Washington took a signed an Appeal to America Against Making the Negro a Political Issue The Centennial Convention, called "Reflects on Rich Past, Looks Toward Bright Future", began on Capitol Hill with Congressman and fraternity member David Scott stating to the House of Representatives, "this week men from every discipline and geographic location convene to chart and plan for the fraternity's future, celebrate its 100th anniversary, and reinvigorate its founding principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity." Even if the designation of Jewel is not bestowed among them, they were among our Founders of our beloved Fraternity and we pay homage on this day, October 30, 2020 as the FIRST INITIATES ofAlphaPhiAlphaFraternity, Inc. and of any Black Collegiate Fraternity of establishing A BROTHERHOOD. The fraternity's efforts gained momentum in 1986, after King's birthday was designated a national holiday.[68]. The fraternity addresses social issues such as apartheid, AIDS, urban housing, and other economic, cultural, and political issues of interest to people of color. [17] Eugene Kinkle Jones who joined the group in October 1906 was given the title of a founder in 1952, while James Morton was removed because of his lack of enrollment in the Cornell. year, he excelled so exceptionally that he was excused from all of the [4] Charles Cardoza Poindexter organized a group of students for literary discussion and social functions at Cornell University. [27], The first general convention assembled in December 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C., producing the first ritual and the election of the first General President of Alpha Phi Alpha, Moses A. He entered Omega Chapter in 1944. Dr. Joseph Jones was a sought after speaker. Jewel Jones served as an instructor at the State University in until it was approved by the Fraternity. "[b][60], The general convention in 1952 was the venue for a significant historical action taken regarding the Seventh Jewel Founder. Leagues endorsement of organized labor. [19] The preamble states the purpose of Alpha Phi Alpha: To promote a more perfect union among college men; to aid in and insist upon the personal progress of its members; to further brotherly love and a fraternal spirit within the organization; to discountenance evil; to destroy all prejudices; to preserve the sanctity of the home, the personification of virtue and the chastity of woman. Fraternity brother Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the keynote speech at the 50th anniversary banquet, in which he spoke on the "Injustices of Segregation". Initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Society on October 30, 1906 Member of the first committees : Organization, Constitution and Pins Assisted Jewel Henry Arthur Callis in writing the Ritual (first one was lost) President of Alpha Chapter Chartered of Beta, Gamma, and Alpha Lambda Chapters First initiate (one of three) [57][unreliable source?][58]. In 1912, Charles H. Garvin was elected as the fourth annual president of Alpha Phi Alpha at the fourth annual convention in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was the first individual to serve two terms as president. Alpha Phi Fraternity Inc. is the first fraternity historically African-American . [53], Alpha Phi Alpha supported legal battles against segregation. African-Americans, and Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones would play an Mason filed a lawsuit that contended the board of directors violated the fraternity's constitution and by-laws when it suspended him. He guided the #StayHome. The fraternity's constitution was adopted on December 4, 1906, limiting membership to "Negro male" students and providing that the General Convention of the Fraternity would be created following the establishment of the fourth chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Some of its members who were trial lawyers argued many of the nation's major court cases involving civil rights and civil liberties. Poindexter, President of the Social Study Club. From West Virginia came Eugene Kinckle Jones and Mary Vassar. Channelwood contains additional structures named after General Presidents James R. Williams and Charles Wesley, and streets named for fraternity founders Tandy and Ogle. [159], In 2008, Mcandy Douarin, age 26, a student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), died from "heart-related failure less than 12 hours after a punch to his chest". Then after a closed meeting with then 17th General President A. Maceo Smith, Jewels Murray, Kelley and Callis along with Historian and 14th General President Charles Wesley and 12th General President Raymond Cannon, they emerged with the decision to . Founder of Black Liberation Theology Dies", "Rev. [78], Alpha Phi Alpha responded to the 2010 Haiti earthquake by sending a humanitarian delegation of Alpha men led by President Mason to Haiti on a fact-finding mission to assess the situation and develop a long-term support plan for the Haitian people. By 1930, the National Urban League was recognized as one of the most [87] Members are required to be registered voters, and to participate in the national voter registration program.[91]. As a result of an elevator accident that killed his mother, Henry Arthur Callis, age 3, spent his formative years under the care of his maternal grandparents in Binghampton, New York. about his retirement and the progress of race relations he witnessed in Sixty percent of all Black male doctors and sixty-five percent of all Black male dentists are Alphas.[9]. On January 8, 1907, he was named to the Committee on Constitution; present at a meeting on February 19, 1907; in 1908, listed him as one of 15 members of the fraternity. 1. His parents were outstanding educators. The night for the proposed expulsion came and according Jones also has the distinction of being one Aspirants must not submit themselves, or agree to submit themselves, to any membership activities that are prohibited by the fraternity. [2] Convened in December 1905 as a literary society with the first presiding officer being CC Poindexter, it was established as a fraternity on December 4, 1906, at Ithaca, New York. This included the campaign to eliminate the ghetto-goal on numerous fronts with housing development and entrepreneurship initiatives. [27][50] Alpha Phi Alpha member and former Washington, D.C., mayor Marion Barry was the first chairman of the SNCC.[51]. The slogan is still used in Alpha Phi Alpha's continuing voter registration campaign. Under his father's ministry, God anointed Bishop J.H. as Director and a Department of Industrial Relations. The doing of good scholastic work in his chosen vocation, thereby accomplishing the real end of a college course Prompt payment of all financial obligations, the prime requisite for successful fraternal life He then stealthily [151], In 2020, Guy Bell, fraternity member and treasurer of the Baltimore City-Wide graduate chapter, was sentenced for stealing $56,678.93 from the chapter between 2013 and 2016 to help cover personal debts. The Alpha Towers in Chicago and three other urban housing developments in St. Louis, Missouri the Alpha Gardens, Alpha Towne and Alpha Village saw completion through Alpha Phi Alpha leadership. York. [117] General President Belford Lawson Jr. lamented this attitude and condemned initiation practices of snobbery and exclusivity, and said "Jesus Christ could not make Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity today; they would blackball Him because He was not hot enough. need. Alpha Phi Alpha was directly responsible for the conception, funding, and construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. At the start of the 20th century, African-American students at American universities were often excluded from fraternal organizations enjoyed by the predominantly white student population at non-black colleges. of the first initiates as well as an original founder. Arriving from West Virginia, Brother Morton was not registered during the 1905-1906 academic year but associated with the Social Study Club.