“Born in the shadow of slavery and on the lap of disenfranchisement”, Alpha Phi Alpha was founded to instil a spirit of high academic achievement and intellectualism, foster meaningful and lifelong ties, and racially uplift those brothers who would be initiated into its ranks. This collection analyses the fraternity and its members' fidelity to the founding precepts set forth in 1906.

This pioneering work provides a serious framework for future conversations and solutions.... If Alpha Phi Alpha, and black fraternities in general, intend to persist into the next millennium this work is a must read."" - Rodney T. Cohen, President, Association for Black Culture Centers""The history of Alpha Phi Alpha is the history of America's Black Leaders. Gregory Parks and Stefan Bradley's book helps to illustrate and inspire a greater understanding of the unique, and important role of the first, continuous intercollegiate African American Greek letter organization in United States."" - Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League""This book provides a special opportunity for the members of Alpha Phi Alpha and the larger community to understand not only the fraternity's history, but also its potential for addressing major societal issues, particularly those affecting young African American males. For anyone who believes in Alpha Phi Alpha, reading this book is a must because it forces us to reflect on the relationship of the fraternity's future to its rich past. Regardless of how successful any organization is, a robust analysis of its contributions and shortcomings can only lead to an even more productive organization. America needed Alpha Phi Alpha in 1906; it needs it even more today."" - Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)""Partly historical, partly sociological, partly a critique, and partly a call for reform.... A thoughtful book."" - Choice""As a member of the (hopefully) last generation of Alphas to know de jure segregation as a child, and the former president of Alpha Chapter Alumni Association, I welcome this publication edited by Brothers Gregory Parks and Stefan Bradley. My almost forty years as an Alpha have seen many changes in our beloved Fraternity and society, some positive, some not. It is for this reason that the reasoned debate in this book is particularly important. Specific discussions around symbolism, our collective identity, the internal and external mechanisms that created our history and identity, and the sad history of hazing must be told, and this publication provides that framework."" - Dean Burrell, former Alpha Chapter Alumni Association president""Drawing on organizational identity theory and a diverse array of methodologies, the authors raise and answer questions that are relevant not only to Alpha Phi Alpha but to all black Greek-letter organizations."" - The Chronicle""The authors raise and answer questions that are relevant not only to Alpha Phi Alpha but to all black Greek-letter organizations."" - Triangle Tribune""An intriguing chronicle on the fraternity's impact on these men, and its impact on overall society.... A fascinating study of the links that bring great minds together."" - Midwest Book Review""Eleven well written chapters defining the identity and complexity of the fraternity are broken into five parts: the organizational identity, men who shaped the identity, internal and external mechanisms that define the identity, and the processes that shape the identity."" - Tennessee Libraries""Overall, the book provides a valuable look at where the fraternity came from and suggests how it could best learn from its past to adapt to the future. [...] [T]he book does offer inspiration about how to bring history together with other disciplines to better understand the course of fraternal history in the United States."" - Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism