On December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha was established at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where it became the nation’s first predominantly African-American fraternity.

It organization was founded by seven college men who recognized the need for a bond of brotherhood among African-American students. Within a year, it had established chapters at Howard University and Virginia Union University.

Since 1940, the fraternity has expanded to more than 185,000 members and has been open to men of all races. Currently there are more than 900 active chapters in the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and Asia.

Among the organization's most prominent members are civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Olympian Jesse Owens, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, singer Lionel Richie and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young.

In celebration of Alpha Phi Alpha’s 115th year, a virtual founders day event was planned for Saturday evening at 7:06 p.m. EST via Zoom. The guest speaker was slated to be APA Southwest Regional Vice President Jeramaine O. Netherly. Additionally, Jackie Harris, a lawyer from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, will be honored with the 2021 Brother of the Year.