A Brief Overview of Black Greek Letter Sororities and Fraternities
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 15, 1908 by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle at Howard University. AKA became America's first Greek-letter sorority founded by and for African American women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sisterhood composed of women who have consciously chosen this affiliation as a means of self-fulfillment through volunteer service.
Alpha Kappa Alpha cultivates and encourages high scholastic and ethical standards; promotes unity and friendship among college women; alleviates problems concerning girls and women; maintains a progressive interest in college life; and serves all mankind through a nucleus of more than 170,000 women in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
The official colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority are salmon pink and apple green and the official symbol is the ivy leaf.
Open Motto: “By Merit and By Culture”
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity, was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University. The seven founders recognized the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in this country. The 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. 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. 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.
The official colors of the Alpha Phi Alpha are black and old gold and the official symbol is the Sphinx.
Open Motto: “Manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind”
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University. The founders of Delta Sigma Theta are Winona Cargile Alexander, Madree Penn White, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Vashti Turley Murphy, Ethel Cuff Black, Frederica Chase Dodd, Osceola Macarthy Adams, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Edna Brown Coleman, Edith Mott Young, Marguerite Young Alexander, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Eliza P. Shippen, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Myra Davis Hemmings, Mamie Reddy Rose, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Florence Letcher Toms, Olive Jones, Jessie McGuire Dent, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Ethel Carr Watson.
These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and public service. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women's Suffrage in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930.
The official colors of Delta Sigma Theta are crimson and crème and the official symbol is Fortitude.
Open Motto: “Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom”
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded at Howard University with five creative, socially conscious women on January 16, 1920 as the sister organization of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The founders, known as the Five Pearls, Arizona Cleaver, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, Fannie Pettie, Pearl Neal were strong, principled coeds who possessed a great deal of modesty, strength of character and pride in academic achievement.
"Zeta Phi Beta was founded on principles which promote the advancement of women, such as finer womanhood, service, scholarship, and sisterly love. These ideals are reflected in the sorority's national programs for which its members and auxiliary groups provide untotaled hours of voluntary service to outreach programs, scholarship funds, and legislation for social and civic change.”
The official colors of Zeta Phi Beta are royal blue and pure white and the official symbol is the White dove.
Open Motto: “A Community-Conscious, Action-Oriented Organization”
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded at the predominantly white campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922. The sorority was organized by seven school teachers, Nannie Mae Johnson, Mary Lou Gardner Little, Vivian White Marbury, Bessie Martin, Cubena McClure, Hattie Mae Dulin Redford, and Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, who shared a vision of true sisterhood.
The group became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929 and has the distinction of being the first African-American greek organization on Butler's campus. Sigma Gamma Rho provides leadership, service and resources toward removing barriers and inequalities so that all peoples of America may develop their potential in the name of "Greater Service, Greater Progress."
The official colors of Sigma Gamma Rho are royal blue and old gold and the official symbol is the French poodle.
Open Motto: “Greater Service, Greater Progress”
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.
The founders deeply wished to create an organization that viewed itself as "a part of" the general community rather than "apart from" the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged by his own merits rather than his family background or affluence...without regard of race, nationality, skin tone or texture of hair. They wished and wanted their fraternity to exist as part of even a greater brotherhood which would be devoted to the "inclusive we" rather than the "exclusive we".
The official colors of Phi Beta Sigma are royal blue and pure white and the official symbol is the White dove.
Open Motto: "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity"
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., was founded on Friday evening, November 17, 1911, by three Howard University undergraduate students, with the assistance of their faculty adviser. This event occurred in the office of biology Professor Ernest E. Just, the faculty adviser, in the Science Hall (now known as Thirkield Hall). The three liberal arts students were Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman.
From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
The official colors of Omega Psi Phi are royal purple and old gold and the official symbol is the Lamp.
Open Motto: “Friendship is Essential to the Soul”
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., was founded on September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University). The twelve founders of Iota Phi Theta were Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill, Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Louis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey, Jr., and Michael Williams.
Based upon the founders ages, heightened responsibilities, and increased level of maturity, this group had a slightly different perspective than the norm for college students. It was this perspective from which they established the Fraternity's purpose, "The development and perpetuation of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood among Men." Iota Phi Theta is now the nation's fifth largest, predominately African-American social service fraternity.
The official colors of Iota Phi Theta are charcoal brown and gilded gold and the official symbol is the Centaur,
Open Motto: “Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One”
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on January 5, 1911 on the campus of Indiana University. The vision of the ten astute Founders, Revered Founders Elder Watson Diggs, "The Dreamer;" John Milton Lee ; Byron K. Armstrong; Guy Levis Grant; Ezra D. Alexander; Henry T. Asher; Marcus P. Blakemore; Paul W. Caine; Edward G. Irvin and George W. Edmonds, to sow the seed of a fraternal tree whose fruit is available to, and now enjoyed by, college men everywhere, regardless of their color, religion or national origin.
It is a fact of which Kappa Alpha Psi is justly proud that the Constitution has never contained any clause which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin. The Constitution of Kappa Alpha Psi is predicated upon, and dedicated to the principles of achievement through a truly democratic Fraternity.
The official colors of Kappa Alpha Psi are crimson and creme and the official symbol is the Kappa diamond.
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