Brothers, as we embark on celebrating 115 years since the founding of our beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on December 4th, 1906, and honoring our “SEVEN BELOVED JEWELS” of this great fraternity. This year, instead of providing you with a long biographical sketch of their lives,  I would like to do something different. This year, leading up to December 4th, I would like for the Brotherhood to have “Seven Days of Reflection”. During this time, I will provide you with quotes from our “Jewels”. Take the time to read and reflect on what those quotes mean to you during your Alpha journey (for some as you begin your Alpha journey) and the…

For many are called, but few are chosen; For many are called, but are chosen. Does this phrase sound familiar? I’m sure at one point in your own membership process, you heard this aphorism and its connection when seeking membership into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. But what did it truly mean to you when you were a candidate for membership and now as a Brother, and how much relevance does it have today? Biblically speaking, this scripture is found in Matthew 22:14. While there are several commentaries from a biblical perspective as to the usage, I would like to give the following summary why it was used regarding the…

Cervantes once said that historians “ought to be precise, faithful, and unprejudiced; and neither interest nor fear, hatred nor affection, should make them swerve from the way of the truth.” The Historian is the “keeper of all accounts” from past to present. The Historian serves as the connection to what once was to what is. One intrinsic quality about serving in the role of historian is the thirst to learn what is right and present it in a way of truth and accuracy. Thus, history is “a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account.” So, in this…

The historical context of this moment in Alpha History begins with the understanding of what emerged prior to our founding to the present day that has set Alpha Phi Alphaapart from the rest. In the post-Reconstruction United States, Black Americans struggled against increasing resistance on the part of Whites to accept them as equal citizens despite the fact that slavery had been abolished. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution passed in 1868 guaranteeing all born or naturalized residents of the U.S. equal protection under the law lived and experience fell far short of the letter of the law. In myriad of ways, discrimination against and oppression of Black people continued to worsen throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century and…

At a time in our fraternity’s history, there were Brothers who entered the ranks of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, through honorary membership (active or exalted). As defined, “honorary membership act conferred or elected in recognition of achievement or service without the usual prerequisites or obligations”. For the record, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. no longer bestows “honorary membership.” However, when honorary membership was permitted, Alpha Phi Alpha chose men of stature to deem them as “honorary members”. On April 26, 1907, Brother George Hannibal Fletcher, a former law student at the Univ. of Michigan, who had shown much interest in the fraternity and was noted to have given much encouragement during…

Alpha Lambda Chapter holds the distinction of being the first graduate chapter in the history of the fraternity in Louisville, Kentucky. The inception was the outgrowth of an University Club of young college men that met at the Western Branch Library coordinated by Jewel Eugene K. Jones to discuss current topics of the day. After graduating from Cornell University in 1908 with an M.A. in sociology, Jewel Jones moved to Kentucky and taught at the University of Louisville from 1908 to 1909, and then a high school instructor at Louisville High School from 1909 to 1911.  It was the tireless efforts of Jewel Jones convincing the General Organization the need for a graduate chapter. It was noted that…

Please see the attachment shared during the chapter meeting (few edits and updates that were omitted). The task was to present to you Beta Theta Lambda Chapter in a Black Historical Moment of events leading up to our founding on May 7th, 1938 and to highlight our Founders known as the “The Pioneers”. They were more than just “Pioneers” of Beta Theta Lambda Chapter, but very active in the community and on the frontlines of Black History for Durham. We often speak their names but never discussed in depth of their engagement in the Durham Community and events surrounding our founding. I offer you a “short” presentation of Black History…

Brothers, as we join next week for our Phirst ever House of Alpha Week (see attached flyer), I wanted to give you a perspective on a poem recited and loved by all. Brother Sydney P. Brown (Beta, 1917) (attachment 1)  credited his experience and encounters with Alpha Brothers during different events in his life from college to serving in World War 1, attending law school, and relocations all with the connecting factor that of the brotherhood, which gave him the perception to write “The House of Alpha”.  It was during a moment of leisure, he expressed what it meant to be a part of Alpha Phi Alpha. Did you know there was a mystery behind there being two versions of “The House of Alpha”?  After a search…

When the Prophet Micah asked a fundamental question: “What is good and what does the Lord require of thee? The simple response was “to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). So often times we can often relate this scripture being part of this fraternity. For further understanding, I found myself referring to the “Espirit de Fraternite” toward my understanding. In that same manner of the Prophet Micah put in the ears of the hearers, I put in the ears of our Brothers the same fundamental question, “what is good and what does Alpha require of thee”? Well that can be answered in the…

“In our dear A Phi A, Fraternal Spirit Binds, All the noble the true and courageous”. This begins the first line to what we know as our “Fraternity Hymn”, our song revered by all Brothers and sung after every meeting, event, convention, and special occasions when Brothers gather. It was as early as 1909, three years after our founding, that then General President Roscoe Conkling Giles called for the composition of a fraternity hymn stating “surely, within the ranks of our organization of educated Negro college men composed of the best in the number of leading universities in the county, someone may be found to give impression to our ideals…