SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 279

WHEREAS, Proud members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity are gathering at the State Capitol on February 27, 2017, and this is a fitting opportunity to celebrate the fraternity's exceptional legacy of civic engagement; and

WHEREAS, Established at Cornell University on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha was the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established by African Americans; founded by seven men who came to be known as the "Jewels" of the organization, Alpha Phi Alpha initially served as a study and support group for minority students who were struggling against racial prejudice; these early leaders laid the foundation for the fraternity's principles of scholarship, fellowship, character, and the uplifting of humanity; and

WHEREAS, In the years that followed, Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were formed at other colleges across the nation; while the fraternity placed a strong emphasis on the academic excellence of its members, it also expanded its focus to address the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African Americans and people of color around the world; over the decades, many former Alpha Phi Alpha members have stood at the forefront of the fight for civil rights, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Edward Brooke, Andrew Young, and William Gray; and

WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has been an interracial group since 1945 and now has chapters in five regions in the United States; the fraternity has an especially rich history in the Lone Star State, which has been home to three of the organization's general presidents; in addition, a number of prominent Texas leaders are Alpha Phi Alpha alumni, including several members of the Texas Legislature; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has sought to foster a brotherhood of concerned citizens who devote themselves to working for the greater good, and its members may indeed reflect with pride on their organization's noteworthy tradition of activism and achievement; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby recognize February 27, 2017, as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting members sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the fraternity as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Miles

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 27, 2017.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate