Beginning with the Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...

, there are many historically African American

African American

African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 fraternal

Fraternal

Fraternal can refer to:*A fraternal benefit society is a non-profit, mutual aid organization that ensures members and their families and maintains an active lodge system. Members of a fraternal benefit society come together as local volunteer groups that conduct activities to benefit members and...

 organizations. The organizations include members such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a member of Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...

 and Sigma Pi Phi

Sigma Pi Phi

Sigma Pi Phi is the first African-American Greek-lettered organization. Sigma Pi Phi was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1904. The fraternity quickly established chapters in Chicago, IL and then Baltimore, MD....

; Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson

Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...

, a member of Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...

; and Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...

, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...

. Some organizations, such as the Prince Hall Masons, Swing Phi Swing and Groove Phi Groove

Groove Phi Groove

Groove Phi Groove is a social fellowship founded at Morgan State College as an alternative to mainstream Black fraternities...

 don't use Greek letters solely. The first and oldest successful African-American collegiate fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...

, was formally established as a fraternity at Cornell University

Cornell University

Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...

 in 1906, though it operated as a social study club in 1905. Precursors to Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...

 included Sigma Pi Phi (a non-collegiate fraternity), and unsuccessful attempts such as Gamma Phi Fraternity at Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...

 (first campus recognition documented in 1923; a 1923 yearbook entry reported operation as early as 1905), Alpha Kappa Nu

Alpha Kappa Nu

Alpha Kappa Nu was one of several unsuccessful attempts to create an African-American collegiate fraternal organization in the United States in the early 1900s.-Social club:...

 at Indiana University

Indiana University

Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...

 (formation attempted in 1903, but involved too few registrants to assure continuing organization), and Pi Gamma Omicron at Ohio State University

Ohio State University

The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...

 (formation originally reported in the Chicago Defender

Chicago Defender

The Chicago Defender is a Chicago based newspaper founded in 1905 by an African American for primarily African American readers.In just three years from 1919–1922 the Defender also attracted the writing talents of Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks....

 in 1905; but organization failed to receive school recognition). Through 1920, the eight organizations who made up the National Pan-Hellenic Council

National Pan-Hellenic Council

The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...

 until 1996 would be formed. Black fraternities and sororities were based on existing fraternities and sororities but cultural additions were made including calls, open hand signs, and step shows; though social in nature, many African-American fraternal organizations were formed with an emphasis on public service and civil rights.

Unsuccessful Attempts at Formation

Name	Year Formation Attempted	Incorporated	Collegiate	Greek Lettered
Alpha Kappa Nu Alpha Kappa Nu Alpha Kappa Nu was one of several unsuccessful attempts to create an African-American collegiate fraternal organization in the United States in the early 1900s.-Social club:...	1903
Pi Gamma Omicron	1905
Gamma Phi	1905
Gamma Tau	1934

Fraternities

Name	Founded	Incorporated	Collegiate	Greek Lettered	NPHC	Website
Sigma Pi Phi Sigma Pi Phi Sigma Pi Phi is the first African-American Greek-lettered organization. Sigma Pi Phi was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1904. The fraternity quickly established chapters in Chicago, IL and then Baltimore, MD....	1904					http://www.sigmapiphi.org/home/
Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...	1906					http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/
Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...	1911					http://www.kappaalphapsi1911.com/
Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...	1911					http://www.oppf.org/
Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...	1914					http://www.pbs1914.org/
Sigma Rhomeo	1936					http://www.sigmarhomeoinc.org/
Wine Psi Phi	1959					http://www.winepsiphi.org/page12.php
Iota Phi Theta	1963					http://www.iotaphitheta.org/
Phi Delta Psi Phi Delta Psi Phi Delta Psi Fraternity was founded on March 21, 1977 on the campus of Western Michigan University.-Organizational philosophy:Phi Delta Psi was founded on the principles of eternal honor, perseverance, leadership, achievement and brotherhood...	1977					http://www.phideltapsifraternity.org/
Delta Psi Chi	1985					http://www.deltapsichi.net
MALIK Fraternity, Inc.	1977					http://malikfraternityinc.org/
Sigma Phi Rho Sigma Phi Rho Sigma Phi Rho fraternity incorporated is a collegiate African American fraternity. Sigma Phi Rho Fraternity, Inc. transitions men into greater manhood academically, socially, spiritually, and professionally through mentorship and the development of relevant activities that help guide each member's...	1979					http://www.sigmaphirho.org/
Phi Rho Eta Phi Rho Eta Phi Rho Eta is a nationally incorporated, fraternity that was founded on August 22, 1994 at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois...	1994					http://www.phirhoeta.org/
Gamma Psi Beta	2010					http://www.gammapsibeta.org/

Sororities

Name	Founded	Incorporated	Collegiate	Greek Lettered	NPHC	Website
Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...	1908					http://www.aka1908.com/
Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...	1913					http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/index.asp
Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...	1920					http://www.zphib1920.org/
Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana...	1922					http://sgrho1922.org/home
National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.	1923					[N/A]
Iota Phi Lambda Iota Phi Lambda Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc. is the first African American Greek-lettered business sorority established by African American business women. There are now more than 100 chapters with membership numbering more than 5,000 in 85 cities and the US Virgin Islands...	1929					http://www.iota1929.org/
Eta Phi Beta	1942					http://www.etaphibetasorority.com/
Gamma Phi Delta Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. was founded in February, 1943 at the Lewis Business College Detroit, Michigan by Mrs. Elizabeth Garner, an instructor at the College, assisted by her sister, Mrs. Violet Lewis, owner and President of the College...	1943					http://www.gammaphideltasorority.com/

Other

Name	Founded	Incorporated	Collegiate	Greek Lettered	NPHC	Website
Prince Hall Freemasonry Prince Hall Freemasonry Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...	1775					http://www.princehall.org
Groove Phi Groove Groove Phi Groove Groove Phi Groove is a social fellowship founded at Morgan State College as an alternative to mainstream Black fraternities...	1962					http://www.groove-phi-groove.org/history.htm
Swing Phi Swing	1969					http://www.swingphiswing.org/

See also

• National Pan-Hellenic Council
  National Pan-Hellenic Council
  The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...