At the beginning of the 20th century, Black students at American universities were often excluded from the fraternal organizations that were a cornerstone of student life for their white peers. In response to this exclusion, a group of Black students at Cornell University came together during the 1905–06 school year to establish the first Greek-letter fraternity created by and for Black students. Their goal was to foster a sense of unity, mutual support, and academic excellence among African American students facing racial and social barriers in higher education.