PHOTOS: Morehouse College holds 142nd commencement ceremony

Education

Morehouse College held its graduation ceremony on its Century Campus on May 17, 2026, featuring NBA All-Star Chris Paul as the keynote speaker.

A student poses for a photo before the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Nolane Purifoy wears a shirt with his brother-in-law’s childhood photos before the start of the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Earle Horton (left) gets a little help with his tie from Brogan Korta as they prepare for the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Morehouse College alumni line the alumni corridor as the 2026 graduates begin their procession Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Devotes Jones, Morehouse College class of 1995, cheers on graduates as they walk the alumni corridor on the way to commencement Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Morehouse Men line the alumni corridor and applaud as this year’s graduates make their way to commencement Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Graduates make their way down the alumni corridor on their way to Morehouse College commencement Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

John Radford, Morehouse College class of 1996, cheers on students as they make their way down the alumni corridor on the way to commencement Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A person shoots video of students in the procession to the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A person reacts as students walk to the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

People react as students walk to the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A person reacts as students walk in the procession before the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

People attend the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A student takes a selfie before the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

The sun beams down on graduates during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A person blocks the sun during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

The Rev. Hardy Spurgeon Bennings III rings the bell at the beginning of the Morehouse College graduation ceremony Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

The Morehouse College Glee Club sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Morehouse College President F. DuBois Bowman give opening remarks during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Graduates applaud during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Morehouse College valedictorian Yamir Richmond (left) grins after President F. Dubois Bowman announced that it was Richmond’s birthday during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A Malcolm X quote is printed on a student’s mortarboard during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Christopher Womack (left), chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, shakes hands with Morehouse College President F. DuBois Bowman after receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

The Rev. Dean Lawrence Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

NBA All-Star Chris Paul receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during Morehouse College’s graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. Paul later delivered the commencement address. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

NBA All-Star Chris Paul delivers the commencement address at Morehouse College on Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A graduate snaps a photo during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Co-salutatorian O’Rell Roberts cheers during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Co-salutatorian O’Rell Roberts adjusts his tassel
during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Morehouse College graduates celebrate after turning their tassels during graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Students prepare to take the stage and receive their diplomas during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A student celebrates after receiving his diploma during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Illya Davis, director of freshmen and seniors' academic success at Morehouse College, greets students as they head to the stage to receive their diplomas Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Geondre Baldwin hugs auntie Tasha Allen-Maximo under a huge cutout of himself held by his mother, Nefertari Soleberry, after receiving his diploma at the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A student reacts after receiving his diploma at the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

People react as their student receives his diploma during the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Students wait to receive their diplomas at the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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A student poses for a photo before the Morehouse College graduation Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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