Kappa Alpha Psi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

During this time there were very few African-American students at the majority-white campus at Bloomington, Indiana, and they were a small minority due to the era of the Jim Crow laws.

The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by the founders strengthened their bond of friendship and growing interest in starting a social group.

Founder Elder Watson Diggs, while observing a young initiate compete in a track meet, overheard fans referring to the member as a "kappa alpha nig", and a campaign to rename the fraternity ensued.

[8] In 1947, at the Los Angeles Conclave, the National Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi were established as an auxiliary group, whose membership comprises wives or widows of fraternity members.

Silhouettes provide support and assistance for the activities of Kappa Alpha Psi at the Grand chapter, province and local levels.

[14] Kappa Alpha Psi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

"[9] Senior Grand Vice Polemarch Ulysses McBride complained about the vulgar language and obscene gestures sometimes engaged in by cane-stepping participants during these stepshows.

[9] In 1986, during the fraternity's 66th national meeting, cane stepping was finally recognized as an important staple of Kappa Alpha Psi.

Conceived in 1922 by Leon Wop Stewart, and suggested at the twelfth Grand chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Guide Right became the fraternity's national service program.

The Kappa League is a series of activities designed to help young high school male students develop their leadership talents.

[20] The Student of the Year competition is a contest that encompasses six areas deemed critical to a successful life: scholarship, talent, community involvement, poise and appearance, career preparation, and model chapter operation.

[20] The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, established in 1981, is the philanthropic arm of the fraternity and assists both alumni and undergraduate chapters in support of scholarships, after-school programs, and national projects such as Habitat for Humanity.

For consideration into Kappa Alpha Psi on the alumni level, a candidate must possess a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university.

[29][30][31][32] In 1990, Kappa Alpha Psi along with fellow NPHC organizations issued a joint statement announcing the elimination of pledging.

In 1994, Michael Davis, a Southeast Missouri State University student, was beaten to death participating in a pledging ritual by members of Kappa Alpha Psi.

[35] In February 1996, a University of Pittsburgh pledge for Kappa Alpha Psi named Santana Kenner-Henderson was beaten severely and in critical condition for more than a week; he was 20 at the time.

[36] Donald Edwards was pledging to be a part of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and experienced hazing which included a bruised kidney, a concussion, and cigarette burns, in addition to getting extorted for his money.

[37] In 1998, eleven Kappas affiliated with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore were charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment for hospitalizing several pledges.

One pledge was admitted to a hospital for two days after a brutal night of hazing left him with a ruptured ear drum and half a pint of lost blood.

[39][40] In 2009, Louisiana State University (LSU) placed an eleven-year ban on the fraternity for repeated hazing violations and severe abuse of pledges.

[42] In 2010, a pre-med student at Wayne State University suffered kidney failure and was hospitalized for twelve days after weeks of physical abuse by men of the fraternity.

[43] Also in 2010, the fraternity chapter was permanently banned from the campus of Georgia State University for being a repeat offender and beating a pledge so badly that he coughed up blood.

[citation needed] In March 2012, the University of Florida chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was suspended because of thirteen misdemeanor-level sworn complaints involving striking and harassing pledges.

[48] In 2013, a former pledge at California State University-Bakersfield sued the fraternity after being shot with a BB gun and hit with canes and horse whips that left him paralyzed.

[58] In 2016, three unidentified men affiliated with the fraternity at the University of Central Florida (UCF) were brutally beaten by Kappas after dropping their twirling canes while dancing according to witnesses.

[60] In 2018, it was reported that the chapter at Edward Waters College was beating and paddling pledges as well as forcing them to take a designer drug called "jig," a mixture of synthetic heroin, cocaine, and LSD.