(AURN News) — On Dec. 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, becoming the nation’s first Black fraternity.
Created by seven visionary college men — known today as the “Seven Jewels” — the organization emerged to provide brotherhood, academic support and leadership opportunities at a time when Black students faced severe isolation and discrimination on predominantly white campuses.
Within a year of its founding, Alpha Phi Alpha expanded beyond Cornell, establishing early chapters at Howard University and Virginia Union University. Since 1940, the fraternity has opened its membership to men of all races.
Today, Alpha Phi Alpha has more than 900 chapters across the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and Asia. Its distinguished membership includes global figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Jesse Owens, Lionel Richie and Andrew Young.
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