Quote:
Originally posted by Gina_lynn:
Yes, APhiA was founded at Cornell (a non-HBCU), but even then, you must dig deeper into your history. The site of Cornell University was one of the original stops on the Underground Railroad, and consequently became a haven for escaped slaves. A strong, self-identified black community had been established their for GENERATIONS. Because of the segregation of the time, the members of the study group that became Alpha Phi Alpha were on a whole other side of the university, and (most) came from families that were strong in the emerging civil rights culture of the time. It is highly unlikely that they would have sought membership in the greek culture of that university given the strong black commuity there.
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I am sure, of course, there were some other historical meanings behind the beginning of Alpha Phi Alpha. But the bottom line is, during that time, even during the time that the last Black sorority in the NPHC, Sigma Gamma Rho was founded in 1922, traditionally white Greek-letter organizations had no African-American members, nor did they intend to. You and I both know that it had absolutely nothing to do with acceptance of the fraternity's (APhiA) objectives.
Judging by your screen name, I take it that you are not a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I am an AKA and obviously not a member either. I think it would probably be helpful to all of us if some members of Alpha Phi Alpha shed some light on this subject.