Mordecai Wyatt Johnson

Date of Birth: January 12, 1890

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: September 10, 1976

Biography

Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was a prominent American educator, university administrator, and public intellectual. He was born on January 12, 1890, in Paris, Tennessee, and is best known for his tenure as the first African American president of Howard University, serving from 1926 to 1960. Johnson’s leadership transformed Howard into a premier institution for higher education for African Americans. Johnson graduated from Morehouse College in 1911 and later attended the University of Chicago and Harvard University, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1922. He was also a prominent Baptist minister and an advocate for social justice, civil rights, and educational advancement for African Americans. Under his leadership, Howard University saw significant growth in its academic programs, faculty, and student body. He worked tirelessly to secure funding and expand the university’s infrastructure, making it a beacon of higher learning and social change.

5 Interesting Facts about Mordecai Wyatt Johnson

1. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was the first African American president of Howard University.

2. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1929 by the NAACP for his work in education.

3. Johnson was an influential speaker and civil rights advocate, working alongside figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

4. During his tenure at Howard, the university’s enrollment increased from 2,000 to over 10,000 students.

5. He played a critical role in the establishment of Howard University’s School of Social Work and College of Medicine.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mordecai Wyatt Johnson

1. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

2. “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”

3. “A university should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning.”

4. “True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not the enrichment of the leaders.”

5. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Mordecai Wyatt Johnson’s highest net worth isn’t well-documented as his contributions were more in the realm of education and civil rights rather than personal wealth accumulation. However, his impact on Howard University and the broader educational landscape for African Americans is invaluable.

Children

Mordecai Wyatt Johnson had five children with his wife, Anna Ethelyn Gardner Johnson. Their names are: 1. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Jr. 2. Anna Faith Johnson 3. Sara Smith Johnson 4. Ruth Johnson 5. Charles Johnson