Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Alpha Psi is a historically African American collegiate fraternity. Founded at Indiana University in 1911, it was the second fraternity of its kind established in the United States. The organization was created to provide support and foster achievement for Black students facing the social and academic challenges of a predominantly white institution. It has since grown into an international entity with a core mission of achievement in every field of human endeavor.

History

The fraternity was founded on January 5, 1911, by ten students led by Elder Watson Diggs and Byron K. Armstrong at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. This period was marked by intense racial segregation and discrimination, even in the North. The founders, often referred to as the "Ten Pearls," sought to create a supportive brotherhood that would bolster academic success and social resilience. The organization was originally named Kappa Alpha Nu, but the name was changed to Kappa Alpha Psi in 1915 to distance itself from a derogatory slur and to adopt a more distinctive Greek letter identity. The fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana in 1911 and has been a non-hazing organization since its inception. Its first chapter outside of Indiana was established at the University of Illinois in 1913. A significant milestone was reached in 1980 with the admission of the fraternity's first undergraduate chapter in Africa at the University of Monrovia in Liberia.

Organization and structure

The international headquarters, known as the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Center, is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The supreme governing body is the Grand Chapter, which convenes during the biennial Grand Chapter Meeting. Between these meetings, the Grand Board of Directors oversees the fraternity's operations. The fraternity is administratively divided into Provinces, each led by a Province Polemarch, who oversees the chapters within a specific geographic region. Undergraduate and alumni chapters operate under the authority of their respective Province and the Grand Chapter. The official publication is The Journal, which has been in continuous circulation since 1914. The fraternity's foundation, the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, manages charitable and educational programs.

Activities and programs

The fraternity executes its mission through national programs focused on community service, mentoring, and economic empowerment. Its flagship initiative is the Kappa Alpha Psi Guide Right program, a mentoring and orientation project for young men established in 1922. The fraternity also sponsors the annual Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship Conclave and provides significant support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Chapters regularly participate in voter registration drives, health fairs, and partnerships with organizations like the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund. The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. National Silhouettes is the official auxiliary organization for the wives of members. Internationally, the fraternity has been involved with initiatives supporting the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

Symbols and traditions

The fraternity's colors are Crimson and Cream. Its core symbols include the coat of arms, the cane, and the diamond-shaped fraternity pin. The official flower is the red carnation. A distinctive tradition is the annual Grand Chapter Meeting, which includes a formal Probate ceremony for new members. The fraternity is known for its precise and rhythmic stepping and cane routines, often performed in National Pan-Hellenic Council exhibitions. The Kappa Alpha Psi hymn, "Kappa Alpha Psi," is sung at formal gatherings. Members are also recognized by the wearing of crimson and cream regalia during official functions.

Notable members

The fraternity's membership includes leaders across numerous professions. In politics and law, notable members include Johnnie Cochran, Ralph Abernathy, L. Douglas Wilder, and Robert C. Weaver. In sports, members include Arthur Ashe, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan. Entertainment industry figures include Alain LeRoy Locke, Cedric the Entertainer, Tavis Smiley, and Montell Jordan. Business and academic leaders include Reginald F. Lewis and John H. Johnson. Other distinguished members are astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Nobel Prize winner Ralph Bunche, and civil rights activist Alvin Ailey.