Martin Luther King Was an “Alpha Phi Alpha Man,” and So Were Many Others

BET.com celebrates notable men in the fraternity.

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Martin Luther King Jr. - Almost 60 years ago in 1952, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., an organization dedicated to developing leaders, promoting brotherhood, encouraging academic excellence and service, and  promoting advocacy for minority communities. In a documentary airing Aug. 28, in commemoration of the unveiling of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C., BET Networks will tell the story of the civil rights leader’s life as an “Alpha Man.”Similar to King, over the years, many of America’s African-American movers and shakers have held the same title as men of the group, and in the following pages BET.com recognizes some of the fraternity’s most notable members. * Deceased

W.E.B. Dubois* - Writer, historian, civil rights activist

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W.E.B. Dubois* - Writer, historian, civil rights activist

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Thurgood Marshall* - Civil rights activist, Supreme Court justice(Photo credit: National Archives/MCT /Landov)

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Frederick Douglass*  - Anti-slavery activist(Photo Credit: Narrative Of Ferderick Douglass)

Photo By Narrative Of Ferderick Douglass

Paul Robeson - Known as a singing and acting legend, the great Paul Robeson is equally known for his political activism. In the '40s, he was an early advocate for civil rights, fighting against lynching and job/voting discrimination.(Photo: Landov)

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Paul Robeson* - Activist, scholar, singer, professional football player(Photo: Landov)

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Cornel West - Author, professor, activist

Winston Scott   - United States Navy captain and former NASA astronaut(Photo: Nasa)

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Winston Scott   - United States Navy captain and former NASA astronaut(Photo: Nasa)

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Kwame Kilpatrick - Former mayor of Detroit

Photo By Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Marc Morial - President and CEO of the National Urban League

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Marc Morial - President and CEO of the National Urban League

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Charles Rangel - Congressman, New York (15th District)

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Donny Hathaway* - Musician(Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)

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Donny Hathaway* - Musician(Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)

Photo By Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns

Keenen Ivory Wayans: The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show - After walking away from his groundbreaking sketch comedy show In Living Color, Keenen went in a totally different TV direction, venturing into late-night talk show territory. His show would become part of the gluttony of black-hosted late-night talk programs in 1998, including Vibe (with comedian Chris Spencer) and The Magic Hour hosted by Magic Johnson.(Photo: Terrence Jennings/Picture Group)

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Keenan Ivory Wayans - Comedian, producer, actor

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Jesse Owens* - Participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, and won four gold medals in track. (Photo: Landov)

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Stuart Scott - ESPN anchorman

Roland W. Burris - Former U.S. senator for Illinois

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Roland W. Burris - Former U.S. senator for Illinois

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Dick Gregory: October 12 - The comedian and social activist celebrates his 79th birthday. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

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Dick Gregory - Former Comedian, Activist

Art Shell  - Second-ever African-American head coach in the NFL. He served as head coach and a Hall of Fame offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders.(Photo: Getty Images)

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Art Shell  - Second-ever African-American head coach in the NFL. He served as head coach and a Hall of Fame offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders.(Photo: Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images

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The Honorable Andrew Young - Former mayor of Atlanta and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations

Robert C. Scott - Congressman, Virginia (3rd District)(Photo: Landov)

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Robert C. Scott - Congressman, Virginia (3rd District)(Photo: Landov)

John H Johnson* - Founder and publisher of Ebony & Jet magazines(Photo: www.blackenterprise.com)

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John H Johnson* - Founder and publisher of Ebony & Jet magazines(Photo: www.blackenterprise.com)

Photo By Photo: www.blackenterprise.com

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The Honorable Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver II   - Former mayor, Kansas City(Photo: Landov)

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The Honorable Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver II   - Former mayor, Kansas City(Photo: Landov)

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Duke Ellington* - Jazz musician

Delano Lewis  - Former ambassador to South Africa (Photo: www.delanolewis.com)

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Delano Lewis  - Former ambassador to South Africa (Photo: www.delanolewis.com)

Photo By Photo: www.delanolewis.com

The Honorable Willie Brown - Former mayor, San Francisco(Photo: Getty Images)

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The Honorable Willie Brown - Former mayor, San Francisco(Photo: Getty Images)

Quinn Buckner   - Former NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers. He also served as head coach for a short period of time for the Dallas Mavericks. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Quinn Buckner   - Former NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers. He also served as head coach for a short period of time for the Dallas Mavericks. (Photo: Getty Images)

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The Honorable Edward William Brooke - First African-American to be elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate. He served as a Republican senator for Massachusetts.

Charles Haley   - Former NFL superstar for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys (Photo: Getty Images)

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Charles Haley   - Former NFL superstar for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys (Photo: Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images

Gene Upshaw* - Former president of the NFL Player's Union

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Gene Upshaw* - Former president of the NFL Player's Union

Harry E. Johnson, Sr.   - President & CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.(Photo: www.harryejohnson.net)

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Harry E. Johnson, Sr.   - President & CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.(Photo: www.harryejohnson.net)

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Garrett Morgan*  - Inventor of the traffic signal(Photo: Wikipedia Commons)

Photo By Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Frederick Patterson*   - Founder, UNCF(Photo: www.encyclopediaofalabama.org)

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Frederick Patterson*   - Founder, UNCF(Photo: www.encyclopediaofalabama.org)

Earnest "Dutch" Morial* - First Black mayor of New Orleans(Photo: Wikipedia Commons)

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Earnest "Dutch" Morial* - First Black mayor of New Orleans(Photo: Wikipedia Commons)

Photo By Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.*   - Civil rights activist(Photo:Wikipedia Commons)

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Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.*   - Civil rights activist(Photo:Wikipedia Commons)

The Honorable David Dinkins - Former mayor, New York City

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The Honorable David Dinkins - Former mayor, New York City

Hill Harper - Film, stage and television actor, activist, lawyer, and author (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

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Hill Harper - Film, stage and television actor, activist, lawyer, and author (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

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Video Director of the Year - Benny Boom - Benny Boom has been bringing rap's lyrics to life for years now. Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and more have commissioned the visual visionary's distinct talent for storytelling. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Benny Boom - Music video director for A-List names including 50 cent, Monica, Kelly Rowland, LL Cool J and more (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Will Packer - Film Producer. Produced movies including Chocolate City, This Christmas and Stomp the Yard (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Will Packer - Film Producer. Produced movies including Chocolate City, This Christmas and Stomp the Yard (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Maynard Jackson   - Former mayor of Atlanta(Photo: Barnhardt & Ashe Pub Inc)

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Maynard Jackson   - Former mayor of Atlanta(Photo: Barnhardt & Ashe Pub Inc)

Photo By Photo: Barnhardt & Ashe Pub Inc