Brief History of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a college Fraternity, now comprised of functioning undergraduate and alumni chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the country, is the crystallization of a dream. It is the beautiful realization of a vision shared commonly by the late founders. The fraternity was founded under the name of Kappa Alpha Nu on January 5, 1911 on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. During this time there were very few African-American students at the predominately White campus due to the Jim Crow laws. African Americans students rarely saw each other on campus and were discriminated from attending student functions and extra-curricular activities by the college administration and student body. They were also denied participation on athletic teams, with the exception of track and field. The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by the Founders strengthened their bond and interest in starting a social group. From the beginning, the Founders’ goal was to create a Fraternity founded on Christian ideals and the fundamental purpose of Achievement.