King in College

Before Dr. King was “Dr. King,” he was a student at the renowned institution of Morehouse College. Morehouse, was/is a college institution, founded in 1867 by David A. Thomas. An historically African American College, Morehouse invited some of the most prominent figures in the Black movement. Of course, one of the most remembered (if not the most) of these students was Martin Luther King Jr.. King, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. At the age of 15, he enrolled into Morehouse College.

What is oftentimes forgotten about Dr. King, is his journey to leadership. His ideologies were not instilled in him at birth. It took influencing, aspiration by King, and strong will, to become such a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement. This aspect of King is fascinating to me, because people rarely question who inspired him. Other than the obvious teachings of Gandhi, who are the Black men, closely connected to King, that inspired him? Morehouse College harbors the answer. During his residence at Morehouse College, King was exposed to a variety of mentors, willing to work closely with him, towards his degree. Battling the question of how to create change among the Black community, the (then) president of Morehouse and Christian Minister, Benjamin Mays, was a significant and dedicated mentor to King.

King took advantage of his bond with Mays, and sought ideological instruction. Mays conversed frequently with King about the method of nonviolence, and King attended his sermons. Not only was Mays an academic advisor, but he was a mentor to King on the road to theology. King was dedicated to his Christian moral, and had he not been exposed to figures like Mays, his methods for freedom might have resulted differently.

This photo above is inspirational not only because King is present, but because he is among his Morehouse brothers. Some of these men would remain unknown for the rest of their lives. And this in a way humbles King. It places him as simply a young Black man, with goals to be successful. This photo depicts a King who had life ahead of him. It shows King before he was King.

I have spent time of Morehouse’s campus in my lifetime, and I cannot help but be mildly star struck when I admire the monument of King outside of the campus chapel. I get goosebumps thinking about the pride that must prevail in the students on campus, knowing that a man who was truly one of a kind, once walked the same grounds. Morehouse College is a college built for molding Black men to be the best version of themselves that they can be. Educated, intellectual, problem solver, are each words that come to mind when thinking of a “Morehouse Man.” Each of these, King was.

http://www.morehouse.edu/kingcollection/images/picBox/king-3.jpg