Schools
Morris Brown Jericho’s Walk: A Spiritual Celebration of the College's Legacy
Several hundred Morris Brown supporters turn out for Saturday march and celebration, despite threat of rain.
Rain could not stop the hearts and souls of those who loved Morris Brown College from participating in Jericho’s Walk on this past Saturday. The momentum of the current college president, Dr. Stanley Pritchett, the alumnae, clergy, the current student body, professional staff, and visitors created a spiritual atmosphere speaking to the unrelenting accomplishments of the college. Also, there was a sense of visionaries standing in the midst of struggles among the gray skies.
Jericho’s Prayer Walk was sponsored by Big Bethel AME Church. Morris Brown College was founded by slaves in the basement of Big Bethel African Methodist Church in 1881.
Approximately 300 visitors participated in the on-campus event. Participants were requested to walk around the campus seven times in silence. The Prayer Walk symbolizes a biblical story of Joshua leading the Israelites, God’s chosen people, to conquer the city of Jericho.
Find out what's happening in Cascadewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Joshua received a message from God that instructed seven priests to carry the ark of the covenant and walk around the city of Jericho seven times, sounding their trumpets seven times, and then, let out a shout. After the ritual, the wall would come “tumbling” down allowing the Israelites to enter and conquer the city of Jericho.
During Jericho’s Walk, the supporters’ participation was a metaphor exemplifying the resilience of God’s people in the presence of adversity. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the college’s accreditation in 2002 when criminal investigations revealed that the president, Dolores Cross, and financial aid director, Parvesh Singh, had systematically misappropriated federal monies for student scholarships to cover operating costs.
Find out what's happening in Cascadewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
However, Morris Brown College’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Robert Johnson, states that the school is currently on track for accreditation. Nine out ten requirements have been met. School administrators are working diligently on the tenth requirement.
The alumnae are very proud of the quality of education they have received from Morris Brown. Janita Anderson, graduate of the class of 1964, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Morris Brown College.
“I owe all my education to Mrs. Ann Cochran who was over the Education Department when I attended Morris Brown at the time” Anderson said.
Anderson was able to further her learning at Atlanta University, the graduate school for higher learning of the four historical black colleges in the Southwest Community. Classes for Atlanta University were taught on the Morris Brown College campus, as well.
Anderson received her Master’s Degree and Specialist Degree in Reading. The Atlanta University Center includes Morris Brown, Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Colleges.
Evangelica Hunt, Class of ’82, described Morris Brown as "a haven for all hungry souls, and as long as you were hungry for knowledge, they would work with you on a payment plan for your student balance."
"I worked and went to school to pay off my balance," Hunt said. "So far, I feel a strong need to give back what was given to me. Morris Brown has been very strong academically, educating biology majors, teachers, and business majors. Academic funding was lost over finances. However, the high quality of the educational experience by students who have attended Morris Brown is priceless.”
Rudolf “Rootman” Jones, Class of ’69, pledged as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Also, when he attended Morris Brown College, he remembers cleaning up the Vine City community, as well as, attending protest and marches during the Civil Rights Movement with Rev. Hosea Williams, a civil rights icon during the ‘60’s and a Morris Brown graduate, as well.
Morris Brown’s President Stanley Pritchett said, “the significance of Jericho’s Walk is to remind the people of community of the wonderful legacy of Morris Brown College.
"Also, despite the adversity of that the school has gone through, Morris Brown College has sustained itself and it is preparing itself for the future. Morris Brown was founded on the principalities of self-help. Self help meaning that we look towards ourselves for help, not expecting support from others. Morris Brown was founded by slaves who financially supported themselves. These are the type of ideals we want to teach the young people that we encounter today.”
The majority of Morris Brown’s financial support comes for alumnae and financing from the African Methodist Church. Alumni, Jerry Howard, made a significant donation of $50,000 last week. “Rootman” Jones spoke highly of his friend stating that Jerry did not have much when he came to Morris Brown. However, after his educational opportunity at Morris Brown College, Jerry did well for himself in the workforce and was able to give back to his almater in a phenomenal way.
Furthermore, the auxiliary organization, “The Women for Morris Brown College”, made a significant contribution to the college in the amount of $18, 530. The auxiliary’s president, Mrs. Willene White Smith, ’77, looks forward to the amount being $20,000 by their next meeting.
The community can support Morris Brown College by voting for the school everyday at www.retoolyourschool.com. Home Depot will donate $50,000 to the school that gets the most votes. Currently, Morris Brown is in 4th place.
For more community involvement activities, please contact Willene White-Smith, President for "Women for Morris Brown College" at nolajean@atl.com or (404) 273-1626.