Listen Live
Desktop banner image
Fraternities and Sororities Graphics

Source: Creative Services / iONEDigital

Alpha Phi Alpha stands as the first Greek-letter fraternity created for African-American men. Established on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, it was founded by seven visionary men: Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy. United by their shared commitment to leadership, service, and excellence, they built an organization that continues to inspire.

With the motto “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All,” Alpha Phi Alpha has become synonymous with empowerment, social impact, and the advancement of the African-American community. Its distinct colors, gold and black, and its symbol, The Sphinx, represent the fraternity’s rich heritage and commitment to fostering leaders.

Alpha Phi Alpha has cultivated a lineage of leaders, creatives, and visionaries who have enriched history and shaped communities worldwide. Its profound influence is evident in its impactful members and enduring commitment to service, education, and social justice. The fraternity remains a beacon of inspiration, empowering men to lead, uplift, and transcend.

For over a century, Alpha Phi Alpha has stood at the forefront of change, fostering excellence across generations. Its notable members serve as reminders of what can be achieved when commitment and a vision for a better world unite.

1. Omari Hardwick

Omari Hardwick

Zeta Pi

2. Roland Martin

Roland Martin

Pi Omicron

3. Hill Harper

Hill Harper

Kappa Phi Lambda

4. Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie

Alpha Nu Lambda

5. Keenan Ivory Wayans

Keenan Ivory Wayans

6. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. During The Birmingham Campaign Source:Getty

Sigma

7. Raphael Warnock Alpha Gamma Lambda

Democrat Raphael Warnock Campaigns In Final Days Before Runoff Election Source:Getty

Alpha Gamma Lambda

8. Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall, Attorney for NAACP, Seated Portrait, Thomas J. O'Halloran, September 17, 1957 Source:Getty

Nu

9. Paul Robeson

Song Of Freedom Source:Getty

Nu

10. Tim Reid

Chris Tucker Celebrity Golf Tournament Source:Getty

Eta Lambda

11. Kevin Powell

USA - 4th Annual Black Girls Rock Awards in New York City Source:Getty

Zeta Eta

12. Joseph C. Phillip

Los Angeles Dream Dinner Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial - February 28, 2006 Source:Getty

 Iota Zeta Lambda

13. Will Packer

Jay "Jeezy" Jenkins' 2nd Annual Sno Ball Gala Source:Getty

Beta Nu

14. Christian Keyes

5th Annual Black Love Summit Source:Getty

Zeta Beta

15. Barry Jenkins

The IMDb Official Portrait Studio At D23 2022 Source:Getty

Iota Delta

16. Rusty Cundieff

47th NAACP Image Awards Nominees' Luncheon - Arrivals Source:Getty

Alpha Delta

17. Benny Boom

2022 MTV Video Music Awards - Press Room Source:Getty

Pi Rho

18. Darryl M. Bell

Darryl M. Bell, American Actor Source:Getty

Delta Zeta

19. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

"Topdog/Underdog" Broadway Opening Night Source:Getty

Alpha Epsilon

20. Donny Hathaway

Photo of Donny HATHAWAY Source:Getty

Beta

21. Duke Ellington

Portrait of Duke Ellington, Aquarium, New York, N.Y., between 1946 and 1948 Source:Getty

Alpha Zeta Lambda

22. Jerry “Iceman” Butler

Jerry Butler Source:Getty

Xi Lambda

23. Gerald Albright

Gerald Albright And Marcus Anderson In Concert - Detroit, MI Source:Getty

Iota Chi

24. Robert F. Smith

W.E.B Du Bois Medal Ceremony At Harvard's Sanders Theater Source:Getty

Alpha

25. John H. Johnson

Johnson Publications CEO John H. Johnson Source:Getty

Theta

26. Dr. Cornel West

The 57th Commemoration of Malcolm X Source:Getty

Zeta Beta Lambda

27. Stuart Scott

UJA-Federation of New York honors ESPN'S Mark Shapiro Source:Getty

Mu Zeta

28. Jason Wright

WFT new team name Source:Getty

Alpha Mu

29. Charles Haley

Los Angeles Rams V San Francisco 49ers Source:Getty

Xi Delta

30. Lenny Wilkins

Cleveland Cavaliers v Washington Bullets Source:Getty

Zeta Pi Lambda

31. Walt “Clyde” Frazier

Walt "Clyde" Frazier at His New York City Offices Source:Getty

32. Adrian Holmes