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Morehouse Celebrates King’s Legacy ATLANTA, THE CITY too busy to hate, honors native son Martin Luther King Jr. ’48 as any hometown would – with services, parades, rallies and marches. And each year, a cadre of speakers remark on King as a figure larger than life – a peaceful leader during a turbulent time. In January 2006, Morehouse celebrated the 78th birthday of its most famous alumnus with two major events. At the 15th annual “A King Celebration” concert in King Chapel, Morehouse’s Glee Club joined with the Spelman Glee Club and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in honoring King through music and song. At the celebration, sponsored this year by Target, spoken word joined that list, as noted poet and author Maya Angelou recited “A Pledge to Rescue Our Youth.” Angelou’s pledge promises that the current generation will lend resources and support to future generations. While more than two million people tuned in to the concert on radio as it was broadcast on Jan. 15, others chose to see the civil rights leader’s work first hand at the opening of the first public exhibition of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. The exhibition, titled “I Have A Dream,” opened on Jan. 15 at the Atlanta History Center. The 600-piece exhibition, which is organized into 10 sections chronicling
President Walter E. Massey ’58 greets poet and author Maya Angelou during a reception at the annual “A King Celebration.”
King’s life, includes drafts of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and personal notes. Visitors also were able to view King’s books translated into numerous languages; telegrams for prominent business and civic leaders; and memorabilia from his days at Morehouse. ■ —SNA
A King Among Presidents ON MONDAY, November 13, 2006, several thousand individuals braved the cold and bitter winds to witness the groundbreaking for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. Despite the inhospitable weather, distinguished guests such as President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Ambassador Andrew Young, U.S. Congressman John Lewis and many others greeted a cheerful audience and spoke on the life and legacy of one of the greatest Americans of all time. Because a Morehouse student effort raised more than $8,500, the highest grossing fundraising effort at any undergraduate institution, the Build the Dream Foundation sponsored travel accommodations and lodging for a Morehouse delegation, including seniors Brandon Jackson, Harry Johnson, Marcus Emebo, John White, Chris Hollins and Micha Moon, a junior. President Bill Clinton authorized the memorial’s construction in 1998. Since then, effort has been geared towards fund raising for the $100-million project. Led by the project president and CEO, Harry Johnson, Sr., and the executive leadership cabinet, the Build the Dream Foundation has raised nearly three-fourths of its goal. Morehouse College recently contributed $500,000 to the foundation. General Motors and Tommy Hilfiger are among the highest contributors, donating $10 million and $9.9 million respectively. ■
Morehouse students Harry Johnson Jr., Micah Moon, Brandon Jackson, Marcus Emebo and John White join the groundbreaking ceremony for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.
—Micha Moon, junior English major from Marietta, Ga. S U M M E R
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MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE