Biography of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays


Benjamin Elijah Mays, was born in 1895 in South Carolina, and graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1920. He attended the University of Chicago for his Master's degree and doctorate. While working on those degrees Benjamin Mays was ordained into the Baptist ministry. Dr. Mays taught at Morehouse College and South Carolina State College. From 1934 to 1940, Dr. Mays served as dean of Howard University School of Religion and following moved on to the presidency of Morehouse College, a position he became distinguished for the next quarter of a century. Dr. Mays also served his community, becoming the first black president of the Atlanta school board.

Did You Know ...?


UC Berkeley has 38 graduate Mellon students originating from 20 different institutions.

 


Dr. Mays spoke early and often against segregation and for education. He received nearly thirty honorary doctorates and other honors and awards including election to the Schomburg Honor Roll of Race Relations, being one of a dozen major leaders so honored. Dr. Mays was a role model for one of his Morehouse students, Martin Luther King, Jr., serving as his unofficial senior advisor. Mays also gave the eulogy at King's funeral.


Among his books were the first sociological study of African-American religion, The Negro's Church, 1933; The Negro's God, 1938; Disturbed About Man, 1969; and May's autobiography Born to Rebel, 1971. These books reveal a combination of sharp intellect with religious commitment and prophetic conviction.


The American National Biography website has a comprehensive biography on Dr. Mays.