[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1546-E1547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 2006

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 
384, a resolution recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of the 
founding of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the first 
intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African 
Americans.
  Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 
Inc., has provided voice, vision, and pride to the struggle of African-
Americans and persons of African descent around the globe.
  Alpha Phi Alpha, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New 
York, by seven college men who 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. Alpha Phi Alpha chapters quickly spread to other 
colleges and universities, many of them historically black 
institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. While

[[Page E1547]]

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 and persons 
of African descent around the world.
  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. 
These principles of this organization hold true to this very day.
  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, and Paul 
Robeson.
  For almost a century, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and all the 
``Brothers of the Black & Old Gold,'' the official colors of the 
fraternity, have continuously served their community, country, people, 
and each other in a manner that is befitting of an organization of such 
character, dignity, and commitment. I, too, am a proud member of Alpha 
Phi Alpha, and it is an honor to be a part of an organization with such 
a rich legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution 
recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate 
Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans. Please vote 
in support of H. Con. Res. 384.

                          ____________________