01/05/2026
Happy Founders Day!
The Founding and Core Values of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Introduction
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was established on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. This organization was founded by ten visionary African American students: Elder Watson Diggs, Byron Kenneth Armstrong, Ezra Dee Alexander, Henry Tourner Asher, Marcus Peter Blakemore, Paul Waymond Caine, George Wesley Edmonds, Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irvin, and John Milton Lee. Their collective goal was to create a fraternity that would nurture brotherhood, scholarship, and service among African American men during a period marked by widespread racial prejudice and significant social barriers in the United States.
Purpose and Vision of the Founders
The founders of Kappa Alpha Psi recognized the unique challenges faced by Black students at predominantly white institutions. Their mission was to provide a support system and encouragement for those navigating the difficulties of higher education in an environment often hostile to their presence. Through the fraternity, they sought to develop leadership skills, encourage academic achievement, and inspire service to their communities. The growth of Kappa Alpha Psi over the years has transformed it into a leading international fraternity, always committed to its foundational principles: achievement in every field of human endeavor, and honoring the enduring legacy of its founders.
Clarification on Hazing Practices
I would like to point out that there was no hazing involved during the founding of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The original members faced enough adversity, including discrimination, threats of violence, denial of educational opportunities, and the daily realities of being Black in early 20th-century America. Hazing was never part of the process to become a member (Brother) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Therefore, the practice of hazing—especially the physical abuse of young men seeking to join the fraternity—is not required, nor is it in alignment with the values and traditions of the organization. The actions of so-called "Renegade Brothers" who perpetuate these harmful practices only serve to undermine the positive goals of the fraternity. It is crucial to make clear that hazing is both a crime and punishable by law, and it has no place within Kappa Alpha Psi.