Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (ΑΚΑ) is the first historically African American Greek-lettered sorority for college-educated women.

 

The organization was founded on five basic tenets:

• to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards

• to promote unity and friendship among college women

• to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature

• to maintain a progressive interest in college life

• to be of 'Service to All Mankind'

 

The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of sixteen students led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Forming a sorority broke barriers for African-American women in areas where they had little power or authority due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early 20th century.

 

Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated on January 29, 1913.