At the start of the 20th century african-american students were mostly excluded from the prestigious independent white social clubs on campuses known as Greek letter organizations these segregated clubs were traditionally divided into fraternities for male members and sororities for female members the first such organization established for black
American men was the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity or a Phi a founded in 1906 at Cornell University two years later on the 15th of January at historically black Howard University in Washington DC nine coeds led by fo Hegeman courageously broke with tradition and founded the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated or aka
The first college sorority started and incorporated by African American women young miss Hegeman who was inspired by her English teacher’s accounts of sorority life at Brown University envisioned a support network for black women with like minds to coalesce their talents and strengths for the mutual uplift and benefit of others the mission
Crafted for Alpha Kappa Alpha comprised five basic tenants that have remained unchanged since the sororities inception more than a century ago these tenets are to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards promote unity and friendship among college women study and help alleviate problems concerning young black females in order
To improve their social stature maintain a progressive interest in college life and be of service to all mankind since Alpha Kappa Alpha humble beginnings on the campus of Howard University the sorority has flourished into a globally recognized organization with 986 chapters spread across North America the Caribbean Germany Africa and Asia
But the sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated remain committed to founder Ethel hegeman’s mission of servant leadership and are consistently at the forefront of effective advocacy for civil rights fair labor social justice improving education and the uplift of all citizens
source
