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| The April issue of the AYCGL newsletter highlights the Institute for Social Justice Research and Policy, led by Marisela Martinez-Cola, JD/Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology. This issue is dedicated to introducing the students and faculty involved in the Research Assistant Program (RAP). It also features Scholar of Distinction and Oprah Winfrey scholar Phillip Johnson, ‘26, an update on the Social Justice Scholars Program and scholar Evan Spann, ‘26, and introduces Ms. Cordney Smith who recently joined the AYCGL as administrative assistant. This issue opens with thoughts from Dr. Sinead Younge and Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola regarding the recent revelations about famed civil rights icon Cesar Chavez.
The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership seeks to extend Ambassador Young's legacy and expand Morehouse's footprint in the community and around the world. The Center is home to programs designed to inspire and prepare the men of Morehouse to create and implement solutions to social justice challenges and to become global leaders prepared to advance social, economic, and educational equality in the U.S. and abroad. |
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| | A Movement Cannot BeMeasured By A Man |
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| In the U.S., one in five women and approximately one in four men have experienced some form of sexual violence, with a substantial proportion of these experiences occurring during youth, aged 11 to 17. Gender Based Violence and child abuse remain a prominent global issue. Because March is Women’s History Month and also marks the birth month of Cesar Chavez, which is often celebrated with various commemorations, it is important to reflect on recent news.
Cesar Chavez. That’s all I (Marisela) saw at first. Just his name. It was a name that always evoked a tremendous sense of pride in my Chicana soul. A civil rights icon who, through a multiracial coalition, co-founded what became the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. Then I read the rest of it, “is accused of abusing...”. The moment I clicked that link, the historic figure that I had held deep in my heart was shattered. Our hero had been accused of sexually abusing and assaulting girls who volunteered for the movement. Even more, he had sexually assaulted his co-organizer, Delores Huerta, which resulted in two children that she gave up to other families. As I read the article, I wept for the survivors. I wept for Delores and the secret she held for 60 years. I wept for the collective broken heart of a community that lost someone who was supposed to represent our pride, our dignity, and our tenacity. I wept also for myself and other Brown girls like me who suffered and are still suffering in silence over our own violations of trust, protecting people who were supposed to protect us.
While driving to work, I (Sinead) heard the story on NPR. Just a few days before, my alma mater, San Diego State University, held its 21st Annual Cesar Chavez Scholarship Luncheon, which came across my social media feed. While listening to the news story of the allegations, I reflected on growing up in Southern California and learning of the Farmworkers Movement, being awarded the Martin Luther King-Cesar Chavez graduate fellowship at Michigan State University, and my own work in farming communities in rural Michigan. A few hours later, I received a text from a mentee-turned-friend who lives on the West Coast, asking if I had heard the news. I told him I had and that my heart was broken. My mentee described the awful feeling he felt for the victims and the grief he felt as a Mexican American man with “virtually no public icons” in the country now. He also expressed his concern that the allegations reinforced the racist tropes about Mexican men and the lack of public figures to look up to. I am sharing this message with his permission.
Charismatic leaders like Chavez often take up a lot of space, overshadowing the work of many. Such a shadow has been cast over UFW co-founder Delores Huerta and many others, obscuring their critical contributions. In response to the NY Times article, Delores Huerta released her own statement. She explained that she held her devastating secret because, “I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for.” Another important organizer overshadowed by Chavez was Modesto “Larry” Itliong, a Filipino-American union organizer who worked on West Coast agricultural workers’ rights, starting in the 1930’s. Itliong, along with Benjamin Gines, Pete Velasco, and Philip Vera Cruz, organized what became known as the Delano Grape Strike.
The New York Times article revealed that a movement can and must be more than a singular man. Throughout history, social movements have relegated women to the margins, where their stories were almost lost through a combination of racism, classism, and sexism. The Civil Rights Movement could not have happened without the extraordinary efforts of Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King, Septima Clark, Rosa Parks, and countless others. The Black Panther Party, which was 60 percent women, relied on the labor of women such as Assata Shakur, Elaine Brown, Kathleen Cleaver, and Angela Davis to implement its ideals, like the free breakfast program and free health clinics. Several prominent former members of the Black Panther Party have detailed their own experiences with violence while advocating for others.
Many organizations have decided to immediately tear down or remove Chavez’s likeness. Poet and author of How the Word is Passed, Clint Smith, staff writer for The Atlantic, wrote a 2022 article entitled “Monuments to the Unthinkable,” Smith writes about how Germany uses history and public memory to confront the atrocities of the past and suggests that the United States should engage in a similar practice. In his article, Smith writes that “American soldiers wondered how this could have happened. How thousands of people could have been held captive, tortured, and killed at the camp, while just outside its walls was a small town where people were going about their lives as if impervious to the depravity taking place inside.” We have the opportunity to ask the same questions.
Some have suggested that the numerous monuments to Cesar Chavez be renamed for Delores Huerta (who has objected to the idea); however, it should not take allegations against a prominent man and what appears to be his pending erasure to raise a woman to prominence. Violence and oppression are intertwined. Erasing the alleged perpetrators does not exonerate the wrongdoing from our collective memories or collective traumas.
What the decades-long silence that protected Cesar Chavez teaches us is that we must interrogate how we, as a society, are complicit when we stay silent about rape culture, toxic masculinity, and misogyny/misogynoir. What is being done to give more women like Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Delores Huerta the courage to come forward and expose the ugly truths our communities ignore, overlook, and hide? While these revelations will no doubt spark discussion, we must move beyond critical conversations to implement systemic change that transforms our institutions, such as education, churches, media, and government. We must generate a sense of safety within our families that says, “We believe you!”
The Oprah Winfrey Scholars are hosting the AUC College Charity Run against sexual assault on April 25th, 2026 at Morehouse College.
Marisela Martinez-Cola is an Associate Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Institute for Social Justice Research and Policy in the Andrew Young Center.
Sinead Younge is the David Packard Endowed Chair in Science and Professor of Psychology and Director of the Institute for Social Justice Inquiry and Praxis in the Andrew Young Center.
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| | Research Assistant Program |
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| The Research Assistant Program (RAP) was created to support faculty members in their social justice research and to provide young scholars with an opportunity to gain valuable research experience. The Institute for Social Justice Research and Policy received 15 requests from faculty members across campus and 24 applications from students. Ten projects were selected. |
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How Free Trade Protectionism Affects African Economies Faculty Member: Hye Ryeon Jang, PhD | Research Assistant: Andrew Ratcliff |
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| According to Dr. Jang, Assistant Professor in Political Science, she and Andrew Ratcliff have completed the first round of their annotated bibliography, which has helped them refine their theoretical framework. Andrew is collecting international and Africa-specific trade and tariff data, while Dr. Jang is developing the spatial work analysis models to examine the broader structural effects of tariff policies in Africa. On February 23, they were invited to present their research at George Washington University (pictured above). |
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Stop Motion Animation that uses Mythology as a Framework Faculty Member: Maria Korol, MFA | Research Assistant: Pierce Newson |
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| Pierce Newson, an Art Major/CTEMS Minor and Howard Thurman Honors Program Scholar, has been working with Professor Maria Korol, Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, to produce a stop-motion animation that uses mythology as a framework to reflect on the contemporary forms of displacement and migration. Dr. Korol shares, “The slow, tactile process of stop-motion--its emphasis on frame-by-frame construction--mirrors the fragile and persistent nature of diasporic identity, while the music will function as both connective tissue and emotional undercurrent, guiding viewers through an immersive audiovisual journey.” |
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Black Military History and Local State Histories of Black Pentecostalism Faculty Member: Ovell Hamilton, PhD | Research Assistant: Braxton Broady |
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| Dr. Ovell Hamilton, Department Chair of Africana Studies and History, is working with Braxton Broady, a Junior History major with aspirations to attend law school. He is researching, editing, and writing about Black Military History and local state histories of Black Pentecostalism. When asked about his experiences, Braxton shares: |
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| My work with Dr. Hamilton this semester has been extraordinarily eye-opening...Having the opportunity to conduct sustained research under his mentorship has been invaluable...I have been able to look at primary sources from veterans, religious leaders, and help organize interviews. My work so far has required much refinement of my organization and management abilities, as well as given me skills that will aid my academic journey beyond this project as I look towards graduate school programs. |
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African American Pentecostal Biblical Hermeneutics and Social Justice in the Age of AI and Afrofuturism Faculty Member: Harold Bennett, PhD | Research Assistant: Andra Taylor |
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| Dr. Harold Bennett, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Endowed Chair of Philosophy and Religion, is working with Andra Taylor, a senior majoring in Religion. Together, they are working on a project exploring African American Pentecostal biblical hermeneutics and social justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence and Afrofuturism. When asked what he has gained from RAP, Andra replied: |
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| The Research Assistant Program has provided space to critically examine how emerging technologies intersect with faith traditions committed to social justice. My work explores how data and algorithms can be evaluated, and ultimately shaped, through African American Pentecostal ethical frameworks so that artificial intelligence becomes a tool for advocacy rather than a mechanism of inequality. |
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Landscape, Home, and Memory: Gullah Geechee People and the Radical Aesthetics of Place Faculty Member: Corrie Claiborne, PhD | Research Assistant: Omar Culbreath, Jr. |
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| Omar Culbreath, Jr., a senior majoring in African Studies, has been working with Dr. Corrie Claiborne, Associate Professor in English, on her book project titled Landscape, Home, and Memory: Gullah Geechee People and the Radical Aesthetics of Place. Omar shares, “Dr. Claiborne’s work in collaboration with my expertise allows for a powerful synthesis of home, place, culture, and heritage, which highlights the lives of four trailblazing Black women who hail from the low country of South Carolina. He has already presented his findings. |
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| | This recurring feature of the Andrew Young Center newsletter highlights an outstanding Morehouse scholar who exemplifies excellence through character, academic achievement, and service to the community. This month, Phillip Johnson, ‘26, an Oprah Winfrey scholar majoring in Psychology, is featured. |
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| | My name is Phillip Johnson Jr., a graduating senior Psychology major originally from Chicago, Illinois. My journey through Morehouse College has been defined by both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Along the way, I have struggled, questioned, and even doubted myself, yet I have remained resilient and grounded in faith, trusting that everything will unfold as it is meant to. That belief has shaped not only my path, but the person I am becoming.
Growing up on the West Side of Chicago, my life was marked by constant movement from Chicago to Carbondale, to St. Louis, and back again to Carbondale. Despite the instability, I remained deeply involved in sports, music, and community activities. Outside of my grandmother’s home in Chicago, I rarely felt rooted in a single home, but those experiences taught me adaptability and perseverance. My mother instilled in me a lasting principle: Always leave my mark and give my best through leadership. That mindset was tested when I underwent surgery for hip dysplasia, forcing me to relearn how to walk and run. The physical and emotional toll challenged my identity, but ultimately deepened my self-awareness.
My passion for psychology stems from both curiosity and lived experience. As a freshman at Morehouse, I initially aspired to become a therapist and, during that same year, founded my mental health initiative, Black Men Need Hugs, to create spaces that promote emotional maturity among Black men. By my sophomore year, I discovered sports psychology, and everything aligned. Inspired by my own athletic journey, I became committed to helping athletes rediscover confidence and mental strength. What began as a general interest evolved into a focused purpose centered on mental performance and holistic well-being, with a commitment to humanizing performers who are too often reduced to spectacles.
Morehouse quickly became a place of transformation. After being accepted on the spot during a campus visit, I knew I had found where I belonged. Through the Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholarship, that opportunity became reality. Since then, I have served as the Vice President of Brazeal Hall, Mister Sophomore, and a two-term Health and Wellness Chair for Collegiate 100. I also founded the I AM Illinois Club and now serve as President of Psi Chi, which is the International Honors Society in Psychology. Beyond campus, I have expanded my impact through roles as a campus ambassador for the Atlanta Hawks and community engagement fellow with the Atlanta Falcons, an assistant team advisor for the National Student Leadership Conference in Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University, and a marketing and events intern with Georgia Tech’s Athletic Association. Through Black Men Need Hugs, I have established a scholarship initiative for high school males at Carbondale Community High School, awarding over $1,500 in scholarships over the past three years. These experiences have allowed me to merge service, leadership, and advocacy into meaningful, tangible outcomes. Through Morehouse and the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program, I have also had the honorable privilege of traveling to South Africa and the United Kingdom for leadership development experiences centered on the African diaspora. These global perspectives have deepened my understanding of identity, community, and responsibility.
After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in sports psychology while expanding Black Men Need Hugs into a broader movement. Guided by the principle of Ubuntu, I understand that my journey is not just for me, but for the collective. For much of my life, home was something I searched for, only to find it briefly in my grandmother’s house. Ultimately, for much of my life, “home” was not a fixed place but a feeling I was constantly searching for and something I briefly found within the walls of my grandmother’s house on Avers Street. Today, as I reflect on my journey, I realize that I have found that sense of home once again. Not just in a place, but in a purpose. Morehouse has been more than an institution, but it has been a house that shaped me, stretched me, and sustained me. And so, my journey no longer seeks home, but creates it within myself, and for those I am called to serve. |
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| Social Justice Scholars, Ireland Study Abroad, January 26 |
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| | This spring, four Social Justice Scholars will graduate with degrees in Psychology from Morehouse College: Noah Grayon, O’Rell Roberts, Jamarrea Anderson, and Evan Spann. Each scholar has made an indelible mark on the College. We would like to highlight Evan Spann's journey. Evan applied and was accepted into the Social Justice Scholar Program as a first-year student and is part of the inaugural cohort of the program. Evan hails from Howard County, Maryland, and has played an active role in the Morehouse community for the past four years. Evan has participated in numerous campus organizations, worked as a research assistant, interned at Bear Creek Middle School, and engaged in various summer research training programs and several study-abroad experiences, including Liberia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. This fall, Evan will begin pursuit of a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. In the future, Evan will join the approximately 2% of Black male counselors/clinicians. Evan plans to start a therapeutic and psychological assessment practice to address pervasive international mental health crises and the need for more African American male representation and liberation praxis in the psychology field. We congratulate all of our graduating seniors and wish them well with their future endeavors. |
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| | | | Welcome Ms. Cordney Smith |
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| The AYCGL community welcomes our new Administrative Assistant, Ms. Cordney Smith. Ms. Smith is a dynamic, results-driven administrative professional with over a decade of experience in higher education, primarily at Morehouse College. Throughout her tenure, she has served in key roles across multiple departments, including Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Admissions, Title III, and the Bonner Office of Community Service.
As a Senior Academic Division Administrator, Cordney has successfully managed academic logistics, budget oversight, faculty onboarding, and institution-wide communications. Her diverse professional background also includes leadership experience in the retail, banking, and finance sectors, further strengthening her operational and strategic expertise. She is highly skilled in navigating higher education systems and is known for designing and improving efficient administrative processes.
Cordney holds certifications in customer service, business management, administrative support, and grant writing. A devoted Morehouse mom, she is recognized for building meaningful and supportive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Often regarded as a mentor, confidante, and advocate, she brings a unique blend of professionalism, compassion, and community-centered leadership to her work.
Her unwavering dedication to student success and institutional excellence makes her an invaluable member of the Morehouse community. |
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| | | Washington, DC, Leadership Study TourApril 9-12, 2026 Washington, DC The AYCGL is pleased to host the Washington, DC, Leadership Study Tour. The study tour will include visits to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, Howard University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University. The Washington, DC, Leadership Study Tour is funded by a generous award from the Julian Grace Foundation. |
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| | The AUC College Charity RunApril 25, 2026 Morehouse College This spring, the Oprah Winrey Scholars Program will host a fundraiser to support an organization serving survivors of sexual assault. The AUC-wide event, “College Charity Run”, will be held in collaboration with other Morehouse and AUC student organizations and will be designed to educate and inspire the AUC community. To learn more, reach out to Ms. Sage Anderson (sage.anderson@morehouse.edu), AYCGL Program Coordinator. |
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| The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership’s video podcast More Conversations was initiated in the fall 2020 and aims to put scholars and subject matter experts in conversation about topics that are important to both the collegiate and broader communities. |
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| | | A Note of Gratitude to Our Sponsors |
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| The work of the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including The Coca Cola Company, Bank of America, Ms. Oprah Winfrey and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, The Julian Grace Foundation, Delta Airlines, the Microsoft Corporation, and the Cigna Foundation. We wish to thank these donors for their sustained support of the AYCGL. |
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