Why Do Kappas Carry Canes?
When a member of Kappa Alpha Psi is spotted, whether on a university campus on walking around town, they are undeniably identified by one main feature: the Kappa cane. The cane has been a symbol of Kappa men since their inception in 1911, and continues to be so today. The cane projects an image of an established gentleman who seeks to achieve greatness in life and through his fraternity. History For members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the cane has been part of their culture since the inception of the fraternity in 1911. Although the cane has several historical points of significance, the most feasible for Kappa Alpha Psi is rooted in African rites of passage. In African villages, the cane was a symbol of manhood . The young men on the cusp of manhood would carry canes to show elder men they were ready to be accepted into the tribe as an adult. Within the fraternity the cane evolved to a status symbol, indicating a gentleman. Significance The cane has become synonymous with fraternit