Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the first international fraternal organization founded on a historically Black college campus, is celebrating its 110th anniversary today.

Howard University undergraduates Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman, joined by their faculty advisor Ernest Everett Just, established the brotherhood inside the Howard Science Building (later known as the Thirkield Hall) on November 17, 1911. 

Eleven other undergraduate men were later selected along with Love, Cooper, and Coleman to join the Alpha chapter organized on December 15, 1911. The fraternity formally became incorporated on October 28, 1914, and was recognized as a fraternity by Howard.

The values of the fraternity, "friendship is essential to the soul," have always been to build a "strong and effective" unit through the binds of brotherhood. The organization now has over 700 chapters in Germany, Japan, and the United States. With the principles of "manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift" guiding them, Omega Psi Phi has been a prominent force in the Black community for over 100 years.

The brothers of this fraternity have been at the frontlines of the most pressing issues in our country's past and present, including police brutality and systemic racism. Numerous brothers are helping spread the positive impact of Omega Psi Phi, including notable figures in areas such as entertainment, sports, and civil rights.

Here are a few respected members of Omega Psi Phi we admire! 

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey is a comedian, author and TV personality known for being the host of Family Feud, his best-selling books such as Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and his timeless comedy specials.

Harvey has won many accolades throughout his career, including the 2001 Entertainer of the Year from the NAACP Image Awards, and in 2013, he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tom Joyner

Tom Joyner is the host of the beloved Tom Joyner Morning Show. Joyner joined Omega Psi Phi while attending Alabama's Tuskegee University. While hosting his show, Joyner used his platform to help the Black community through programs such as the Tom Joyner Foundation and providing news through BlackAmericaWeb.com.

Micheal Jordan

Arguably known as the GOAT of basketball, Micheal Jordan represents Omega Psi Phi both on and off the court. He helped lead the Chicago Bulls basketball team to numerous NBA championships in the 1990s and earned multiple MVP titles.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O'Neal moved from being a star basketball player for NBA teams, including the LA Lakers and Miami Heat. After retirement, Shaq became a well-known sports analyst and TV personality. He states that the Que Dawgs showed him "so much brotherly love" while attending Louisiana State University, the Philadelphia Tribune reported.

Earl Graves

Earl Graves was the former chairman and CEO of Black Enterprise Magazine and widely known as "the definitive resource for African American business professionals, entrepreneurs, and policymakers in the public and private sectors." 

He also received the National Award of Excellence in recognition of his achievements in minority business enterprise. And in 1974, Graves was named one of Time Magazine's 200 future leaders of the country.

Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson served with Martin Luther King to fight for civil rights and equality for the Black community. He also established the National Rainbow Coalition and Operation PUSH to support "Black self-help" and "equal rights for African-Americans, women, and homosexuals." In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Happy Founder's Day to the Ques!

Blavity-UBlavity-U-NewsFounder's DayHoward-universityOmega Psi Phi