Beginning with the
Prince Hall Freemasonry, there are many historically
Black fraternal organizations. The organizations include members such as Congressman
John Lewis, a member of
Phi Beta Sigma,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a member of
Alpha Phi Alpha and
Sigma Pi Phi;
Bobby Rush, a member of
Iota Phi Theta;
Jesse Jackson, a member of
Omega Psi Phi; and
Wilt Chamberlain, a member of
Kappa Alpha Psi. Some organizations, such as the Prince Hall Masons,
Swing Phi Swing and
Groove Phi Groove don't use Greek letters solely. The first and oldest successful African-American collegiate fraternity,
Alpha Phi Alpha, was formally established as a fraternity at
Cornell University in 1906, though it operated as a social study club in 1905. Precursors to
Alpha Phi Alpha included Sigma Pi Phi (a non-collegiate fraternity), and unsuccessful attempts such as Gamma Phi Fraternity at
Wilberforce University (first campus recognition documented in 1923; a 1923 yearbook entry reported operation as early as 1905),
Alpha Kappa Nu at
Indiana University (formation attempted in 1903, but involved too few registrants to assure continuing organization), and Pi Gamma Omicron at
Ohio State University (formation originally reported in the
Chicago Defender in 1905; but organization failed to receive school recognition). Through 1920, the eight organizations who made up the
National Pan-Hellenic Council until 1996 would be formed. In 1996
Iota Phi Theta was invited into the
National Pan-Hellenic Council, which then created the "Divine 9". 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.