Quotes by the Beloved Jewels

"The chief significance of Alpha Phi Alpha lies in its purpose to stimulate, develop, and cement an intelligent, trained leadership in the unending fight for freedom, equality and fraternity. Our task is endless."
Jewel Henry Arthur Callis, May 1946

"We must never lose sight of the fact that we must take part in the development, not only of ourselves but of all humanity... I want you to understand that there never was or has been or will be, in the minds of the founders, including myself, the thought of any reward any notice coming to us for this experiment in brotherly cooperation and comradeship, which we initiated and which has developed, not necessarily because of any efforts of ours, into one of the best regarded organizations in the Negro collegiate world."
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman, 1931

"Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest of Negro Fraternities, with all of its members presumably far above the average American and having a good practical understanding of the salient factors involved in the Negro's problem, and which a membership upwards of eight thousand men, should be able to take into their hands the leadership in the Negro's struggle for status."
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones, August 1936

"We never founded Alpha Phi Alpha to be a light skinned fraternity or one in which fellows could trace their ancestry back for years and years. We chose Alpha Phi Alpha for men, regardless of family, for what they themselves are doing, what they can do for the future of the fraternity."
Jewel George Biddle Kelley, December 1933

"To say that your Founders met with discouragement is only putting the matter lightly. I can recall staying up with others as late as three A.M. trying to make some antagonistic brother see a point in argument, only to fail, and tackle the same again the following night."
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray, October 1936

"Founded on a platform of service, loyalty and reverence to God and our fellow brothers, we have learned that the greatness of any group of men lies not in the fine buildings they erect, or the numerous air castles planned but never erected, but rather in service to God and your fellow brothers, whether it can be in the fraternity house, on the street, on the school campus, at a public gathering, or in your own home."
Jewel Robert Harold Ogle, 1936

"Never before was it as incumbent upon every members to restate loyalty and exemplify fraternal obligation by consistent life and unimpeachable character. But these must be reinforced by a growing consciousness of the responsibilities that Alpha Phi Alpha faces in the world today, where, if ever the problems which beset us are to be solved and a way of deliverance discovered, it must be by the application of those principles upon which we are founded."
Jewel Robert Harold Ogle, March 1936

"I went though hell founding this organization and I want something done about these problems. Think of it, we have over a hundred and twenty chapters and I ask what are we doing...We must fight till hell freezes over and then fight on the ice."
Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy, December 1937