CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As many honor the mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a university fraternity in Charlotte embraces its unique brotherhood with the civil rights leader.

King crossed into Alpha Phi Alpha’s Sigma Chapter at Boston University in 1952 while he was pursuing his doctorate.

What You Need To Know

  •  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. crossed into Alpha Phi Alpha's Sigma Chapter at Boston University in 1952

  •  The Alpha Omicron Chapter embraces King's legacy through community service and education 

  •  MLK spoke at Johnson C. Smith University 

Today, the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at Johnson C. Smith University has been working to carry on King’s legacy.

“I chose the route to become an Alpha, because I see what they symbolize. I see what they do in society, everyone is in service, everyone does work,” said Abrenton Jeffries, president of the Alpha Omicron Chapter.

For Jeffries, it took hard work and dedication to become an Alpha.

“The person you are when you start is not going to be the person you are when you end, and it's very supportive in the end,” Jeffries said.

Humanity, freedom and dignity were a few values that drew Jeffries and his line brother, Justin Jackson, into the fraternity.

“You set a big goal for yourself, and you actually accomplish it, and you feel like the best thing in the world. You know, I still wake up, and I’m like ‘Oh man, I’m an Alpha,'” Jackson said.

Those were also the same values that drew King into the brotherhood 72 years ago.

“He also kind of created a start to Alpha, so the things that he set out, the movement he had, it wasn't just for African-Americans. He was setting the table for, D9, Alpha, Ques, whatever it is, he set up the table for a very high standard for what we follow today,” Jeffries said.

At Johnson C. Smith, King’s brotherhood continues his legacy through community service and education.

“The legacy he just left in general, it creates a positivity in every man who walks today. The Alphas, they represent this high quality. They represent themselves in their good grades, good standards and good health. We like to motivate and promote that,” Jeffries said.

It’s a unique connection to the civil rights leader that the Alpha men hope they can embody every day.

“It’s really an honor, and you realize the shoes you have to fill to make your own legacy. And striving to keep A. Phi A. in good standings and in good name,” Jackson said.

King made several visits to Johnson C. Smith to speak and prepare sit-ins and marches with the student body, rallying the community to fight for equal treatment.