“OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” : MORDECAI WYATT JOHNSON

In 1991, Michael Jackson had a hit song called “Black or White.” It went something like this, “Now, I believe in miracles, and a miracle has happened tonight, Hee! - but, if you’re thinking about my baby, It don’t matter if you’re Black or White! Regretfully, in America, it does “STILL” seem to matter if you’re Black or White. It matters so much that a rule was used to determine whether people were considered White or another race. Although the “One Drop Blood Rule” wasn’t codified as law until the 20th century, it was used in 1926 when Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was installed as President of Howard University on June 26, 1926[ Note : Howard University is known as “The Black Harvard” of HBCUs ]. Even in 2022, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson remains one of the most “overlooked” Negro Leaders of The 20th Century. He was born on January 4, 1890 in Paris, Tennessee, to the Reverend Wyatt and Carolyn Freeman Johnson{ both of his parents were former slaves }. After his mother’s death, he decided that he would become a preacher. Later, he earned his BA from Atlanta Baptist College—now Morehouse College. Not long after his arrival at Atlanta Baptist College,there was a Race-riot. Clearly,he didn’t participate in the horrible Atlanta “1906 Race-riot,” but he never was able to forget the violence and turmoil that he witnessed! He later went on to form a strong bond with the President of Atlanta Baptist College, John Hope. When he graduated, the President offered him a teaching job at the University. Furthermore,he is best known for becoming the first Negro President of Howard University, and for having served in the position as President the longest( he served as President of Howard University from 1926 - 1960 ). Although, he was an Educator, he was also a Baptist Preacher. In 1917, he became pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.Also, he was considered to be one of the three leading African-American preachers of the early 20th-century, along with Vernon Johns and Howard Thurman. Going by appearance and skin color alone, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson could easily “PASS”[ many Negroes of light skin complexion actually passed themselves off as being white, lived in White neighborhoods, and lived as Whites lived ] as being a member of the White race. However, due to the “Blood Rule,” he was considered a Negro. It is confusing{ almost disturbing } to me how a man who looked White, but was considered Black could be so overlooked in the teaching of American history in our public schools. Especially since Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was President of Howard University for more than “30 years!” Additionally, he ranked high amongst the Baptist clergy of his day. Remember, we’re not talking about your “Average Leroy” on the streets of Monroe, Louisiana. We’re talking about a Negro who actually met, talked to, and collaborated with most of the major National Black Leaders of the 20th Century such as Martin L King Jr , Thurgood Marshall , Dr Ralph Bunch,Andrew Young, Jessie Jackson, and many, many others! During his tenure as President, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson kept copious notes and documentation known as his”Presidential Papers.” Many of them are still not available to the public. Hopefully, as they are made known. We will gain a better understanding of how he was able to lead Howard University through those turbulent times, and maybe learn why his story was left out of the American history books in our public schools. On September 6, 1973,”The Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Administration Building” was dedicated in his honor. He died on September 10, 1976.