Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, born on this day in Paris, Tennessee, became the first African American president of Howard University, serving from 1926 to 1960. A powerful orator, minister, and educator, Johnson was a champion for racial justice and higher education for Black Americans.
Under his leadership, Howard University grew significantly in both academic stature and enrollment, becoming a premier institution for Black intellectuals and professionals. Johnson was a graduate of the University of Chicago and Harvard University, and he used his platform to speak out against segregation and inequality across the U.S.
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