100 Years of Achievement In Every Field of Human Endeavor

The Founders

   

Disclaimer: This post is dedicated to the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. I am not a member of any organization within the Divine 9 also known as the National Pan -Hellenic Council. Although I have family and friends that are members and they have shared and discussed their experiences with me. Congratulations to the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. for celebrating a century of achievements.

On January 5, 1911 ten young men took it upon themselves to start their own fraternity while attending Indiana University Bloomington. The founders are the following Elder Watson Diggs also known as "The Dreamer," Dr. Ezra D. Alexander, Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong, Atty. Henry Tourner Asher, Dr. Marcus  Peter Blakemore, Paul Waymond Caine, George Wesley Edmonds,  Dr. Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irvin, and Sgt. John Lee. These men endeavored to establish the fraternity with a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion.

The Founding: The fraternity was founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on the night of January 5, 1911 by ten African-American college students. The decision upon the name Kappa Alpha Nu may have been to honor the Alpha Kappa Nu club which began in 1903 on the Indiana University campus, but there were too few registrants to assure continuing organization. At the time as many of us know there was a small amount of African-Americans attending predominantly white college campuses.

Many African-American students rarely saw each other on campus and were discouraged or prohibited from attending student functions and extracurricular activities by white college administrators and fellow students. African-American students were denied membership on athletic teams with the exception of track and field. The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by the founders strengthened their bond of friendship and growing interest in starting a social group.

Coat of Arms

Facts: Founder Elder Watson Diggs, while observing a young initiate compete in a track meet, overheard fans referring to the member as a "kappa alpha nig", and a campaign to rename the fraternity ensued.The resolution to rename the group was adopted in December 1914, and the fraternity states, "the name acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and KAPPA ALPHA PSI thereby became a Greek letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation." Kappa Alpha Psi has been the official name since April 15, 1915.

The Kappa "Kane": In the 1950s, as black Greek-letter organizations began the tradition of step shows, the fraternity began using the "Kappa Kane" in what it termed "cane stepping." These canes were longer. In the early 1960s, the cane was decorated with the fraternity colors. In the 1970s the cane was shortened so brothers could "twirl" and tap the cane in the choreography with high dexterity. The process of covering the cane in the fraternal colors is considered as 'wrapping' and is done very specifically.

At my school Western Kentucky University Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. was chartered May 10, 1969 they are known as Epsilon Rho aka EP "Extra Pretty" Chapter. Their first line was called the "Nasty Nineteen" which is by far the largest line they have ever had. My cousin is a proud member of the fraternity and had told me stories about his experiences at Western Kentucky University and shows much love to his fraternity. He was a member of the "Nasty Nineteen" at Western Kentucky University.

Prominent Members of Kappa Alpha Psi are: Johnnie Cochrine, Cedric "The Entertainer" Kyles, Tavis Smiley,Tennis Player Arthur Ash, Basketball player Allen Houston, Robert Johnson Founder of BET, Singers Montell Jordan and Pretty Willie, Marvin Sapp just to name a few.

Pretty Willie