James Height Jr., a senior Religion major from Greensboro, North Carolina, is no stranger to legacy. Born in the same city that birthed the Greensboro Four, Height stands as a modern-day embodiment of their spirit—boldly blending scholarship, artistry, and activism on a global stage. This March, Height traveled to New York City to attend the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) Conference at the United Nations.
Representing the PEAC Institute, Students for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Back from the Brink campaign, he made history in Manhattan by becoming the first documented rapper to ever perform at a global disarmament meeting. Dressed in a suit and coat reminiscent of the Greensboro Four, he used his presence—and his performance—to honor the intergenerational struggle for justice, signaling that the work of civil rights leaders past continues through new mediums and modern voices.
“As a youth trustee on the United Nations floor, I was not just there to witness history—I was there to shape it,” Height reflected. “Hip-hop became my tool of resistance and reflection. It gave me a revolutionary language to join the global call for peace.”
This milestone was only one chapter in an extraordinary semester. Just weeks earlier, Height made history at the International Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora (IGGAD) Conference by presenting two separate research projects in two different rooms—live and in person—without any virtual aid or pre-recorded support. Running between panels to deliver both presentations, he became the first documented scholar to achieve this feat at the IGGAD conference.
“These moments weren’t just about personal achievement,” Height emphasized. “They were about pushing the boundaries of how Black scholars engage, innovate, and lead.”
Height’s story is a powerful reminder of the living legacy Morehouse students carry with them. His work sits at the intersection of culture, history, and justice—carving out new spaces for Black excellence in global discourse.
As Morehouse continues to cultivate scholars who shape the future, James Height Jr. stands as a resounding testament to what it means to be a Morehouse Man: a bridge between the past and the future, and a vessel for truth, justice, and transformative change.
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