GEORGIA— Long before
Samuel L. Jackson became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, he was a Morehouse College student.
Whose life intersected with the
Civil Rights Movement during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
In April 1968, Jackson was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
After King was assassinated on April 4, Jackson volunteered to serve as an usher at Dr. King’s funeral, which was held at Morehouse.
Jackson later recalled helping people find their way around the campus and to their seats.
He has described the funeral as somewhat of a blur.
Jackson did remember seeing prominent figures including Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier and hearing Mahalia Jackson sing,
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”
But his connection to the events surrounding the Civil Rights Movement didn’t end with the funeral.
A year later, Jackson became involved in a dramatic Morehouse protest.
In 1969, Jackson joined fellow Morehouse students who were demanding changes at the college, including reforms involving the curriculum and governance.
Jackson was a college student witnessing the aftermath of Dr. King’s assassination and participating in the political and social activism taking place on his campus.
The students attempted to meet with the school’s Board of Trustees.
When their requests were unsuccessful, they organized a campus lock-in, chaining the doors of the building where the trustees were meeting.
Jackson was among the students participating in the protest.
Among the trustees inside was Martin Luther King Sr., the father of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The protest lasted approximately
29 hours.
When King Sr. experienced chest pains, the students allowed him to leave the building using a ladder through a second-story window.
Jackson later faced legal consequences for his participation.
He was convicted of unlawful confinement and suspended from Morehouse for two years.
He eventually returned to the college and earned his degree in drama in 1972.
From Morehouse protester to Hollywood legend.
Samuel L. Jackson would eventually become an internationally recognized actor, appearing in films such as Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park, Shaft, and numerous Marvel films.
His story offers a reminder that history isn’t always separated into neat chapters.
Sometimes, the person we know today was already being shaped by history long before the world knew their name.
