Mordecai Wyatt Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson
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| Born | January 4, 1890 Paris, Tennessee
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| Died | September 10, 1976 Washington, D.C.
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| Alma mater | Morehouse College |
| Employer | Howard University |
| Known for | First African-American president of Howard University |
| Awards | Spingarn Medal |
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson (born January 4, 1890 – died September 10, 1976) was a very important American educator and pastor. He made history as the first African-American president of Howard University. He led the university from 1926 until 1960. Many people consider Johnson one of the top African-American preachers of the early 1900s. He was often mentioned alongside famous figures like Vernon Johns and Howard Thurman.
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Early Life and Family
Mordecai Johnson was born on January 12, 1890, in Paris, Tennessee. His parents had been slaves before he was born. His father, Reverend Wyatt J. Johnson, was a preacher and worked in a mill. His mother, Carolyn Freeman, worked in homes.
Johnson married Anna Ethelyn Gardner on December 25, 1916. They had five children together. Their children were Carolyn Elizabeth, Mordecai Wyatt Jr., Archer Clement, William Howard, and Anna Faith.
Education and Learning
Johnson went to a small elementary school in his hometown. After that, he moved to Nashville to study at Roger Williams University. He also studied at Howe Institute in Memphis.
He later transferred to Atlanta Baptist College. This school is now known as Morehouse College, a historically black college. He finished his high school and college education there. At Morehouse, he was very active. He was on the debating team and in the Glee Club. He was also a star athlete in three different sports. He even played quarterback for the football team.
After graduating, Morehouse College offered him a job. He taught English and economics. For a year, he also served as the acting dean. Johnson always had a strong interest in economics. This interest showed up in many of his important speeches.
He continued his education after teaching for a year. He went to the University of Chicago and earned another degree. Then, he studied at the Rochester Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York. There, he earned his B.D. degree. At Rochester, he was greatly influenced by Walter Rauschenbusch. Rauschenbusch was a strong supporter of the "social gospel." Johnson's experiences there shaped his ideas and his entire career.
Career and Leadership
After a short time working for the Student YMCA, Johnson became a pastor. In 1917, he started leading the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia. He also helped start a local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Leading Howard University
On June 26, 1926, Mordecai Johnson was chosen to be the eleventh President of Howard University. He was only 36 years old. Everyone agreed on his election. This made him the first African American to be the permanent head of Howard University. Before this, Johnson had taught economics and history at Morehouse College. He was also a pastor at the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.
During his time as president, Johnson made many important changes. He appointed Charles Hamilton Houston as the dean of the law school. Houston played a huge role in fighting against the Jim Crow laws. These laws enforced segregation.
Johnson worked hard to raise money for Howard University. He raised millions of dollars for new buildings. He also improved all the schools within the university. National honor societies, like Phi Beta Kappa, were started on Howard's campus.
Under his leadership, Howard University became known for having many amazing African American scholars. Some of these famous scholars included:
- Alain LeRoy Locke: He graduated from Harvard and was the first African American Rhodes Scholar.
- Ralph Bunche: He was a political science professor and later won a Nobel Laureate.
- Charles R. Drew: He made big improvements in using blood plasma.
- Percy Lavon Julian: A very well-known chemist.
- Sterling Allen Brown: An English professor and a famous poet from the Harlem Renaissance.
Johnson brought Howard University to national attention. He served as president for 34 years, from 1926 until he retired in 1960. During this time, the number of students at Howard University grew a lot. It went from 2,000 students in 1926 to more than 10,000 in 1960.
Johnson as a Speaker
Mordecai Johnson was a powerful speaker. He spoke every year at the Education Night for the National Baptist Convention. He also spoke at the Ford Hall Forum in Boston. In 1957, he spoke alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom.
He traveled about 25,000 miles each year across the country. He mainly spoke about important topics like racism, segregation, and discrimination. In 1951, he was part of the American group that went to the NATO meetings in London.
Awards and Honors
In 1929, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) gave Johnson the Spingarn Medal. This was their highest honor at the time. He received it because he was able to get annual federal funds to support Howard University's financial future.
Later Life and Death
Mordecai Johnson passed away on September 10, 1976. He was 86 years old. He died in Washington, D.C..
