MLK Through The Lens of Food Part 2: The Morehouse Years
Courtesy of the New York Public Library
MLK attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, an all male Historical Black College (HBCU). MLK enrolled at the house at age 15 in 1944 graduating with honors in 1948! Morehouse was part of the Atlanta University Center (AUC), located in Southwest Atlanta, and African-American community. AUC schools included the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta University), Morris Brown College, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. Most HBCU students like King “were trying to go some place and get good food off campus. Because the food was just institutional,” remembers Spelman grad Stanlie M. James. The fact that HBCU cafeterias served one meal option that tasted “institutional,” translation—lacked soul, seemed the biggest complaint of students in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. More on MLK tomorrow.
