• Home
  • Features
    • Featured Articles
      • Black Art News
      • Artist Spotlight
      • Artist Interviews
      • Emerging Artist of the Month
      • Museum Spotlight
      • Art Terms
      • African American Theatres
      • Organizations
      • Spotlight Photos
      • Contests
    • African American History
      • Black Historical Facts
      • Monuments and Statues
      • Humpday Hero
    • Photoblog
    • Featured Products
      • Top Sellers
      • Art Print of the Week
      • Book of the Week
      • Sculpture of the Week
      • Movie of the Week
      • Affiliate Showcase
    • African Proverbs
  • Marketplace
  • Artist Directory
    • A-D
      • Alonzo Adams
      • Ernie Barnes
      • Cbabi Bayoc
      • Chalres Bibbs
      • Charles Bibbs
      • Bryan Collier
      • Doyle
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Black Art Depot Today

Your #1 Source for News About African American Art

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home African American Leaders Benjamin Mays 10 Facts About Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

Kani Saburi Ayubu July 9, 2011 2 Comments

10 Facts About Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.”

Dr. Benjamin Mays Sculpture at Morehouse College

Dr. Benjamin Mays Statue
(Morehouse College)

1. Dr. Mays was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King from the time he was a student until his murder in 1968. He instilled in him and all of his students two concepts that helped inspire the Civil Rights Movement. The first was the dignity of all human beings and the second was the incompatibility of the United States of America’s democratic ideals and social practices of discrimination and racism. Dr. Martin Luther King labeled Dr. Mays as a “Spiritual Mentor” and an “Intellectual Father”. Dr. Mays even delivered the eulogy at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s funeral.

2. Dr. Mays is best known for serving as the School of Religion’s Dean at Howard University from 1934 to 1940 and as the President of Morehouse College from 1940 to 1967.

3. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays was one of the most outspoken and articulate critics of segregation prior to the start of the Civil Rights Movement.

4. During Dr. Benjamin Mays lifetime he wrote nine books, almost 2000 articles, received 56 honorary degrees including a posthumous degree from Columbia University. He was named to the Schomburg Honor Roll of Race Relations in 1944 and was also called one of the 12 most powerful men in American by the Pittsburgh Courier in 1950.

5. Dr. Benjamin Mays was born in Epworth, South Carolina on August 1, 1894 and made his transition on March 28, 1984. His first wife was Elle Harvin who passed in 1923 after complications from a surgery in an Atlanta hospital and his second wife was Sadie Gray who passed in 1969 after forty-three years of marriage.

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Childhood Home

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Childhood Home

6. The childhood home of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays is now a historical site and museum located in Greenwood County, South Carolina. He currently has at least one high school, one street and seven academic buildings named in his honor.

7. Dr. Mays was the first African American president of the Atlanta Board of Education. During his tenure he presided peacefully over the desgregation of Atlanta Public Schools.

8. Benjamin Mays traveled a great deal during his life. However, it was his meeting with Mahatma Ghandi in India that had the greatest impact on his life and career. During this meeting he had the opportunity to exchange ideas and speak at length with the equal rights leader about non-violence.

9. Benjamin Elijah Mays was a star intercollegiate debater at Bates College and coached the debate team at Morehouse College until 1924. During his tenure as Debate Team Coach at Morehouse College he taught such stars as James Madison Nabrit, Jr., Howard Thurman,and Brailsford Brazeal.

10. Dr. Mays is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and is one of the founders of the Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi at Morehouse College.

Visit our: Benjamin E. Mays Poster & Art Print Collection

Kani Saburi Ayubu

July 9, 2011

2 Comments

Related

Filed Under: Benjamin Mays, Black Historical Facts, Civil Rights Movement, Morehouse College Tagged With: atlanta, author, civil rights, educator, howard university, mentor, morehouse college, non-violence, teacher

Comments

  1. Polly Curran says

    February 27, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    What an inspirational man Dr. Benjamin Mays was. He has influenced a young friend of mine in Washington, DC, Mossi Tull, who is being honored by the NAACP in April, 2012.

    Reply
  2. Charles Micheaux says

    August 24, 2012 at 8:08 am

    My favorite poem was written by the great Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays:
    SIXTY SECONDS
    Life is just a minute,
    Only sixty seconds in it.
    Forced upon you can’t refuse it.
    Didn’t seek it.
    Didn’t choose it.
    But it’s up to YOU
    to use it.
    You must suffer if you loose it.
    Give an account if you abuse it.
    Just a tiny little minute…
    But eternity is in it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ABOUT COMPANY

The Black Art Depot

The Black Art Depot

Welcome to the World of African American History, Art & Culture    Learn More

ABOUT ME

Kani Saburi Ayubu

Kani Saburi Ayubu

Founder of The Black Art Depot Read More

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, new product offerings, specials and exclusive articles.

Categories

Featured Products

2018 African American Calendars

Laurie Cooper Art Gallery

Black Religious Art Collection

Featured Book

Warriors Don't Cry

Featured Movie

Africans Vs. African Americans

Recent Pins

I saw this cell phon...
Stainless steel wate...
Command Sgt. Maj. Ja...
Love these African M...
This customer has fe...
Richard Beavers of T...
Authentic African ea...
April Harrison recen...
Internationally accl...
A new work of art by...
Follow Me on Pinterest

Join Our Community!



Monthly Specials

Monthly Specials

Copyright © 2019 · Streamline Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in