For nearly four hours Sunday, the campus of Morehouse College was charged with excitement and pride as families and educators celebrated the 2026 graduating class of 578 young men.
Alumni from the prestigious Atlanta HBCU, in crisp white fedoras, lined the pathways to welcome graduates during the processional, while African drummers led the Class of 2026 onto campus grounds beneath the ringing chapel bells. Freshly steeped in brotherhood, ritual, and excellence, the future leaders in black robes with fraternity stoles, honor cords, and Kente-patterned designs held their heads high during the 142nd Morehouse commencement.
Dejaun Wright, 24, a philosophy and religion major from Brooklyn, New York, who spent more than five years completing his degree while balancing work and personal challenges, described commencement as overwhelming in the best way.
“It had not hit until I got on the grounds,” Wright told Capital B. “This entire time, I’ve been holding my breath.”
“Let the drums go silent,” an official proclaimed as the ceremony formally began, ushering in one of Morehouse’s oldest and most sacred traditions.
Founded in 1867, Morehouse has long stood as one of the nation’s most storied historically Black colleges, producing generations of leaders across politics, business, entertainment, ministry, and civil rights. Sunday’s ceremony carried the weight of that legacy while also marking a new chapter for the institution.
This was the first commencement presided over by Morehouse’s new president, F. DuBois Bowman, who reflected on the resilience required to reach graduation day.
“Morehouse is a mountain,” Bowman told graduates during his opening remarks. “Not just any mountain. We’ll call it Kilimanjaro.”
He compared the Morehouse experience to climbing one of the world’s tallest peaks, requiring “endurance, grit, patience, persistence,” before reminding graduates that they were now prepared to face whatever came next.
“If you can conquer Morehouse,” Bowman said, “you are prepared for almost anything.”
The ceremony celebrated the idea of graduates being “crowned” into manhood and responsibility. Verdun S. Perry, chairman of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees and global head of Blackstone Strategic Partners, encouraged graduates to honor not only the family members present but also the ancestors and loved ones no longer physically with them.
“We never forget our family. We never forget our friends. We never forget our brotherhood,” Perry said.
Among the day’s most celebrated students were co-salutatorians O’Rell William Pressley Roberts and Mario Darnell Wells, who each graduated with 3.98 GPAs. Roberts’ story especially resonated with attendees after returning to complete his degree in his 30s.
Valedictorian Yamir Richmond, a mathematics major graduating with a 3.99 GPA, delivered one of the ceremony’s most heartfelt speeches, reflecting less on academic accolades and more on emotional wellness, discipline, and personal growth.
“The most important question to ask is not always how or why something is true,” Richmond said, “but given that it is, what will you choose to do?”
Richmond spoke candidly about developing healthier habits during his time at Morehouse, including journaling, going to the gym, and prioritizing emotional regulation alongside academic excellence. He also honored his late father, Michael Richmond, whose memory shaped his journey toward becoming a Morehouse man.
The college also awarded honorary doctorates to three distinguished figures: Christopher Womack, chairman, president, and CEO of Southern Co.; Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel; and Chris Paul, the 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Carter’s recognition drew one of the ceremony’s longest standing ovations. Recruited to Morehouse by Martin Luther King Jr. himself, Carter has spent nearly five decades shaping the spiritual and moral framework of the institution.
Under his leadership, speakers noted, the chapel became “a world center for ethical education and cultural diplomacy.”
Paul, meanwhile, brought humor, honesty, and life lessons rooted in accountability and perseverance. Referring to himself jokingly as “Dr. Chris,” the future Hall of Famer challenged graduates to become what he called “6-to-3 guys,” people committed to excellence long after the spotlight fades.
“Are you self-motivated and ready to do the work when no one is watching?” Paul asked. “That is the price of greatness.”
Paul also reflected on navigating predominantly white spaces, reminding graduates that Morehouse had prepared them for rooms where they may be “the only person that looks like you.”
“My challenge to you,” he said, “is not to build a wall, but to build a bigger table.”
Before conferring degrees onto the graduates, the college recognized two students who died before graduation. The family of Omar Cheesboro received an earned degree in his honor, while the family of Jayden Mango accepted a certificate of attendance.
For many graduates, the day represented years of sacrifice, detours, and perseverance.
Aniaba Jean-Baptiste N’guessan, 23, a triple major in economics, mathematics, and computer science from Côte d’Ivoire and Morehouse’s sixth Rhodes Scholar, said the walk into commencement was unforgettable.
“As soon as you step out, you see the whole crowd has been waiting,” he said. “That walk was so beautiful.”
Toward the end of the commencement ceremony, the Morehouse Glee Club delivered one final emotional crescendo with a rendition of “Dear Old Morehouse.” Students linked arms and swayed together, a cherished tradition, unmistakable symbolism of the brotherhood forged behind their precious gates.
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