About Us

The Founding of Alpha Phi Alpha™

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.

Since its founding on December 4, 1906™, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world.

Our Seven Jewels

The seven visionary founders known as the “Jewels” of the fraternity, are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.

Chapter Founding: May 7, 1977

In early 1976 there was a movement to establish a Black Greek fraternity at Western Carolina University.

There were various meetings held on campus and off campus. Some meetings were by invitation only, while others were open to all.

Three fraternities were invited to Western Carolina University to present to a large group of brothers. Kappa Alpha Psi drew a large crowd, but for some unknown reason never returned. Next were alumni of Omega Psi Phi who only required $100 dollars and declared we could become members within two weeks.

Ms. Barbara Brown, Western Carolina University Academic Affairs, who would become the “Mother of Nu Zeta” coordinated with Harvey Walker and arranged a meeting with Dr. Gus Witherspoon of North Carolina State University who served as Alpha Phi Alpha State and Regional Director. Dr. Witherspoon arranged a meeting with the alumni chapter in Asheville, NC. Some of the notable brothers of that great chapter that will live with us forever were Dr. David Hall, Lonni Gillem, Logan Delaney. Dr. Cecil Holt, John Holt, Sam Graves, and Dr. Otis Michaels.

Afterwards, eleven of us decided that Alpha was the direction we wanted to go. So much credit must be given to Dr. Witherspoon as he assisted with filing required the paperwork and answering any questions throughout the process. Barbara Brown was faithful.

Harvey Walker submitted a pledge plan to Dr. Hall, and we followed an honor code and pledged ourselves. There were many visits from Dr. Hall, and he would bring the required “smoke” from the brothers.

Our sphinxmen did experience a lot of grief from all sides. Brothers that wanted to pursue fraternities other than Alpha Phi Alpha felt slighted. These hard feelings led to much negative talk in the African American community on campus.

On May 7, 1977, we made history by becoming the first Black Greek fraternity at Western Carolina University.

May 7th, 1977

On May 7, 1977, we made history by becoming the first Black Greek fraternity at Western Carolina University. The young men were Harvey Walker, (President), Lawrence Bynum (Secretary), William Fields, Mark Thompson, Vernon McRae, Dexter Burns, Robert Brown, John Moore, and John McCain (Vice President).

As far as the University Pan-Hellenic council was concerned, Nu Zeta was viewed as a gang. We did not debate with the Council, we communicated this information to our State Director, Dr. Witherspoon. He left Raliegh and met with the Director of the Pan Hellenic the next day. Nu Zeta were members when he left.

Nu Zeta immediately became the standard bearer among fraternities at Western Carolina University. The Alpha men implemented a dress code. We wore semi-formal attire each Monday and our color coordinated our outfits the other four days. We would also dine together in our black and old gold once a week. Other fraternities soon adopted the same policies.
Academically, Alpha men established study groups and understood their role. Culturally, we planned and executed events that would unite a fractured campus desperately in need of an identity more welcoming to Black and Brown people.

Unfortunately, as Alpha had experienced great success; there was a dark period for Nu Zeta Chapter as we became inactive from the Fall 1992 to Spring 1996. For the first time in over 15 years Alpha was no longer a viable avenue for young college men to enhance their college life. Realizing that we had somehow disappeared from Western’s campus, Bro. Barnes, Bro. Garret and another brother decided to plan a 20th anniversary for the Nu Zeta Chapter. They felt this would rejuvenate the chapter and be the starting point of resurrecting the chapter. Upon Bro. Barnes visited to Western we learned that there were young men already resurrecting the chapter.

On November 16, 1996, at exactly 7:06 pm (1906 military time) the Nu Zeta Chapter was reborn after a period of inactivity. Although eight started out in the process of reactivating Nu Zeta, only four endured to see the completion of the reactivation process. Those four gentlemen were Antonio Jermaine Baxter, Roderick Ozeone Kelly, Marvin Andrew Johnson, and Najarad L.D. Ross. Their journey initially began in the winter of February 1996 and included lots of twists and turns. Applications were filed to national office with no clear answer as to whether the chapter would be reactivated. The District Director at that time, the late Raymond Perry, met with them and told them that they were taking a leap of faith by sending in their applications. There was no guarantee, as you could imagine this discouraged some of the young men, and they were not able to continue the course. In blind faith, the committed four submitted applications and endured a very long waiting period. Several months later they heard from Bro. Rory Chandler, the Area Director, who invited them to a leadership weekend and let them know they were on their way to reestablishing the NU Zeta Chapter. Once they finally crossed and became Alphas, they were told the chapter owed a substantial amount of money in back fees to the National, Regional, and District jurisdictions. In order that Nu Zeta become fully activated and not be de-chartered, they each paid their money out of their personal funds. With the fines paid, Nu Zeta was fully reborn. PRAISE GOD!

As always, “First of All, Servants of All, We shall Transcend All”.

OUR RECOGNIZED HAND SIGN

While mythology exists around the origin and date of its adoption, particularly relating to at an alleged General Convention in Hawaii more than 60 years ago and its ‘hang loose sign’, our recognized hand sign incorporates the American sign language A with the extended thumb, but with the addition of the pinky finger to represent the last A. The three clinched middle fingers are to represent the Phi. Together, the sign represents the full acronym of the Fraternity’s name.