King, the Alpha

[Senusret I]

"I can remember those days , very dark days, when many of us confronted a trial in court and I could look out and see our very eminent General President.
That made me feel good as an Alphaman and I want to thank you for what you have done all along."

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His is the name that is proudly called out as a brother of Alpha at Informational Seminars, Websites and Programs as our most illustrious brother.

While much is known about Dr. Martin Luther King’s impact as a Civil Rights leader, little is known or documented about his active involvement in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. With a magnificent memorial on slate to be erected, we must continue to answer his clarion call to provide leadership for those in the wilderness. Brother King is the reason why I chose to become an Alpha. He loved Alpha and was proud when he became a member according to his sister Christine. Enjoy this brief Historical Moment and apologies for any typos. Please share with others.
Skip Mason





Brother King’s first contact with an Alpha came on January 15, 1929, when he was delivered by Brother Dr. Charles Johnson(above), the family doctor,
a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and President of Eta Lambda Chapter. Brother Dr. Johnson was the personal physician of King’s mother Alberta and
good friends of the King family.

Martin King sitting in chapel listening to one of hundreds of speaker to speak in chapel each day during his four years at Morehouse College. Right Photo-The Freshman Class of 1944
When Brother King entered Morehouse in 1944, he was 14 years old, he like other Freshman had to wear the Maroon beanie, learn the Morehouse hymn and were subjected to the rigors of Freshman induction activities. He knew very little about fraternities and was more interested in dressing up and courting the young ladies. A snazzy and dapper dresser, King was known for his tweed jackets and developed the nickname “Tweedie.” His grades according to his biographer were "average."
In a paper titled “Ritual” for Professor Walter R. Chivers Sociology class, King( who was not a member of a fraternity) had this to say about Greek letter fraternities:
“Greek letter fraternities are also very important in relation to secular ritual. Such fraternities are: Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Phi Alpha, etc. The whole makeup of fraternal life is built around ritualism. The symbol of the fraternity, the fraternity colors, the initiation period and the oath of secrecy are nothing more than ritualistic practices. Let me give briefly a few of the ritualistic practices found in fraternities. First, most fraternities have as one their recognition signs the fraternal handsclasp. Like titles and passwords they are symbolic in character. Second we find most fraternities have a symbolic coloring. While the colors and the symbols vary considerably, there is one fairly common combination-red, white, blue-dignifying, no doubt the patriotic sentiments of the members. “