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National History
Overview
Kappa Alpha Psi is one of the oldest collegiate greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since its founding in 1911 at Indiana University, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin. The fraternity has over 105,000 members with 600 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, Japan, the West Indies and South Africa. The Fraternity is the first NPHC member to have been incorporated as a national body documented by the Kappa Alpha Psi Mid West Provinces Newsletter. |
| Elder Watson Diggs, Founder and First Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. |
The president of the national fraternity title is known as the Grand Polemarch, who assigns a Province Polemarch for each of the twelve provinces (districts/regions) of the nation. The fraternity has many notable members recognized as leaders in the arts, athletics, business, civil rights, education, government, and science sectors at the local, national and international level. The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal is the official magazine of the fraternity since 1914. Frank M. Summers was the magazine's first editor and later on became the 14th Grand Polemarch.
Kappa Alpha Psi is a major contributor in the fields of political, social, cultural and scholastic achievement. The fraternity sponsors programs providing community service, social welfare and academic scholarship through the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation and is a supporter of the United Negro College Fund and Habitat for Humanity. Kappa Alpha Psi is a member
of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The fraternity is the first predominantly African American Greek-letter society founded west of the Appalachian Mountains still in existence, and is known for its "cane stepping" in NPHC organized step shows.
The Beginning
Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on the campus of Indiana University on January 5, 1911. The Fraternity's fundamental purpose is achievement.
The men who founded Kappa Alpha Psi, and were dedicated to the principles of achievement through a truly democratic fraternity are:
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The founders endeavored to establish the fraternity with a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion. By the end of the first year, the ritual was completed and a design for the coat of arms and motto had begun.
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| The Sample Gates of Indiana University (IU). IU was the site for the founding of Kappa Alpha Nu in 1911—the name was changed to Kappa Alpha Psi in 1915. |
The fraternity may have begun in 1903 on the Indiana University campus, but there were too few registrants to assure continuing organization. In that year a club was formed called Alpha Kappa Nu, but the club disappeared after a short time. There is no record of any similar organization at Indiana until the fraternity was founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on the night of January 5, 1911 by ten African-American college students.
During this time there were very few African-American
students at the predominately white campus at Bloomington, Indiana and they were a small minority due to the era of Jim Crow laws. Many African-American students rarely saw each other on campus and were discouraged or prohibited from attending student functions and extra-curricular 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. From the beginning, the founders' goal was to create a fraternity founded on Christian ideals and for the purpose of achievement regardless of a person's race or social class.
By 1912, the fraternity expanded with the second undergraduate chapter opened at the University of Illinois—Beta chapter; then the University of Iowa—Gamma chapter. After this, Kappa Alpha Psi chartered undergraduate chapters on Black college campuses at Wilberforce University—Delta Chapter, and Lincoln University, PA—Epilson Chapter. In 1920, Xi Chapter was chartered at Howard University. In 1921, the fraternity installed Pi chapter at Morehouse College, its first chapter in the south. Kappa Alpha Psi expanded through the Midwest, South, and West at both white and black colleges.
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| In 1915, Kappa initiate Frank Summers was one of eighteen members of the Indiana University Track team awarded the letter "I" (team varsity letter). |
There are some who believe the greek letters Kappa Alpha Nu were chosen as a tribute to Alpha Kappa Nu, but the name became an ethnic slur among racist factions. Founder Elder Diggs, while observing a young initiate compete in a track meet, overheard fans referring to the member as a "kappa alpha nigger", 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 1915.
In 1947, at the Los Angeles Conclave, the National Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi were established as an auxiliary of the fraternity. Membership comprises wives or widows of fraternity members. In 1980, the Silhouettes were officially recognized and granted a seat on the Board of Directors of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation. Silhouettes provide support and assistance for the activities of Kappa Alpha Psi at the Grand Chapter, Province and Local levels.
Our Founders
ELDER WATSON DIGGS (1890 - 1947)
Diggs was born in Madisonville, Kentucky. In the spring of 1908, he graduated from Indiana State Normal School. In June 1916 he received a degree from Indiana University. His leadership ability, sincerity of purpose, enthusiasm and dedication earned him the respect of his fellow students as well as the office of Grand Polemarch of the newly established Fraternity, which he held for six consecutive years. In 1924 he was awarded the first Laurel Wreath, the Fraternity’s highest recognition for achievement.
EZRA DEE ALEXANDER (1892 - 1971)
Alexander was a native of Bloomington, Indiana. He was a graduate of Bloomington High School, and enrolled at Indiana University in the Fall of 1910. In 1917 he received his Bachelor’s Degree and in 1919 he received his M.D. Degree, also from Indiana University. He began practicing medicine in Indiana in 1920. He served several terms as a member of the Grand Board of Directors.
DR. BYRON KENNETH ARMSTRONG (1890 - 1980)
Armstrong was born in Westfield, Indiana, and entered Howard University in 1909, where he met Elder Watson Diggs. He, too, transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910 where he studied Mathematics and Sociology. After finishing at Indiana University, Armstrong earned his Master’s Degree from Columbia University, and subsequently the Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Michigan. His early continuing efforts in the Fraternity earned him the Laurel Wreath in 1935.
ATTY. HENRY T. ASHER (1890 - 1963)
Asher was born in Woodburn, Kentucky, but moved to Bloomington, Indiana
where he graduated from Bloomington High School in 1910. He enrolled at Indiana University where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1914. In 1917 he received his Master of Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota. In 1928 he was awarded the L.L.B. Degree by the Detroit College of Law.
DR. MARCUS PETER BLAKEMORE (1889 - 1959)
Born in Franklin, Indiana, Blakemore attended common and high schools in
Anderson, Indiana. He graduated from high school in 1909, and entered Indiana University the following year. As a roommate of Byron K. Armstrong, he became enthusiastic about the new Fraternity and contributed significantly to Kappa Alpha Nu. In fact, it was he who pawned his corsican watch to pay the Fraternity’s Incorporation fee. He later entered the Dental School of the University of Pittsburgh, and received his D.D.S. Degree in 1923, and practiced until his death.
PAUL WAYMOND CAINE (1891 - 1922)
Caine was born in Charleston, Indiana but attended grade school and high school in Greencastle, Indiana. He enrolled at Indiana University in 1909 and helped the other Founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Nu. Because of a disastrous fire in the Fraternity house in which he was employed, he never finished his sophomore year of school. In later years, Caine went into the catering business, and published a book on catering, which was copyrighted in 1919 by the Hurst Publishing Company.
GEORGE W. EDMONDS (1890 - 1962)
Edmonds was born in Vanderburgh County near Evansville, Indiana. Upon his graduation from Clark High School in 1910, he entered Indiana University. After returning home in the summer of 1911, his father became ill with pneumonia and died. George, being the eldest son, became head of the family, thus preventing his return to school. Edmonds took a job with the area coal mines and worked there until he, too, died of pneumonia.
GUY LEVIS GRANT (1891 - 1973)
Born in New Albany, Indiana, Grant graduated from Scribner High School in 1909, and later entered Indiana University. While there he majored in Chemistry, graduating with a A.B. Degree in 1915. In 1920, he received his D.D.S. Degree from the Indiana University School of Dentistry. He then practiced dentistry in Indianapolis until his death. Grant served as a member of the Grand Board of Directors and was the Fraternity’s Historian.
EDWARD GILES IRVIN (1893 - 1982)
Irvin was born in Spencer, Indiana and graduated from Kokomo High School in 1910. In the fall he entered Indiana University and studied Journalism. In the year of the founding of the Kappa Alpha Nu, Irvin served on the Incorporation Committee. After leaving Indiana University, he pursued a journalistic career in various cities throughout the country until World War I.
JOHN MILTON LEE (1890 - 1958)
Lee was born in Danville, Indiana and graduated from Danville High School in 1910. He entered Indiana University in the fall of 1910 where he completed 3 years of pre-medical study. In 1915 he attended Temple University but was compelled to leave school because of a death in the family. In 1918, he enlisted in the 349th Field Artillery and served overseas as a sergeant first class and gunner.
History of the Cane
Members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity have always worn or carried canes since the beginning of the Fraternity in 1911. Although unintentional in its inception, this occurrence soon became an unofficial tradition of Kappa men, as Kappas have always strived to be noble and productive members of the community. The cane, being the symbol of a Gentlemen who exhibits such characteristics, was then proudly adorned by members of the Fraternity.
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| Members of the Kappa Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc perform a step show at the University of Memphis in 1999 Note that the average cane is about knee high (app. 2 feet) |
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." In the 1960s, the cane was decorated with the fraternity colors, and shortened in the 1970s so brothers could "twirl" and tap the cane in the choreography with high dexterity. The national organization did not condone the use of canes in step shows and contended that "the hours spent in step practices by chapters each week would be better devoted to academic or civic achievement." Senior Grand Vice Polemarch Ullysses McBride complained about the vulgar language and obscene gestures sometimes engaged in by cane-stepping participants. The Fraternity succumbed to the pressure of undergraduate chapters in 1986 and added cane stepping as an official item on the Grand Chapter agenda. At the 66th Grand Chapter meeting in 1986, a dazzling competition was held in front of hundreds of onlookers during a picnic in Washington's Rock Creek Park to illustrate the skills of the trade.
Now that cane stepping was openly embraced by the National Organization of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, publicity of the old tradition was gaining and many television shows, commercials, and music video artists sought out to display Kappas stepping in their respective forums. One of the first national airings came about on February 2nd, 1989 when NBC chose members of Kappa Alpha Psi to perform a step routine on the Black college sitcom "A Different World". Later, members of Kappa Alpha Psi could be found stepping in Brother Montell Jordan's remix of "This is How We Do It" in the summer of 1996. Also airing in the summer of 1996 was another display of Kappas stepping in an episode of FOX's "New York Undercover."
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| During the 70's, members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. began to "twirl" canes. |
Kappas were again called upon to perform in songstress INOJ's music video "Love You Down" which ran in the Spring of 1997. WB's sitcom "Sister Sister" ran an episode that focused on college fraternities in the spring of 1999, and members of Kappa Alpha Psi were chosen to perform the stepping segment. Other music videos that feature members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are "Woof!" by rapper Snoop Doggy Dog which ran in the spring of 1999, and "Imma Shine" by Mia X which ran in the summer of 1999. Currently the members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are featured in the B Rich "Whoa Now" Video, 2002.
Therefore, the tradition of the Kappa Cane has a longstanding history that reaches back as far the the history of the cane itself, and sweeps forward with the introduction of Black Greek Letter Organization step shows, cane stepping, cane tapping, cane twirling, and finally the acceptance of this tradition as an official and integrated part of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. which truly sets it apart from any other organization of its type.