Mentoring MLK: The Impact of Benjamin Mays

Dr. King stood for justice, empowerment, love, and peace and is most famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech. Many Americans look to Dr. King as a national mentor, but few stop to recognize the impact of his mentors.

Although it is believed Dr. King had a handful of mentors throughout his life, one of the most significant mentoring relationships was with Dr. Benjamin Mays.

Mays was born to former slaves in South Carolina, and grew to be an influential educator and 27-year President of Morehouse College. Dr. King attended Morehouse College during the 1940s, and it was during this time that their paths crossed. Mays provided leadership and support to Dr. King, who later went on to become the most recognized Civil Rights leader.

Mays taught his students that every individual has the right to dignity and respect, which was the cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement. King was 15 when he became a freshman at Morehouse College, and Mays mentored him throughout his education and until King’s murder in 1968. Their bond was strong, and it is said Mays could often be found at the King Family’s Sunday dinners.

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., let us also remember the impact of Dr. Benjamin Mays.

With January designated as National Mentoring Month, take a moment to think about the lives you can influence. Who knows – that neighborhood “troublemaker” could grow to change the world for the better. What legacy will you leave? As Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”