There exists a little-known but significant historical connection between Rev. John Chilembwe of Nyasaland (now Malawi) and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a central figure in the United States’ civil rights movement.
1. A Shared Historical Date: 15 January
15 January holds importance in both the history of Malawi and the history of the civil rights movement in USA. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on 15 January 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. In Malawi, 15 January is a public holiday commemorating Rev. John Chilembwe, the nationalist and Baptist minister who led the 1915 uprising against British colonial rule in Nyasaland (Malawi).
2. Virginia Theological College and the Philosophy of Self-Help
Rev. John Chilembwe studied at Virginia Theological College in the United States (1898-1900). At the time, the institution was led by Gregory Hayes as President, a strong proponent of the philosophy of self-help among Africans as a means of resisting oppression in USA and elsewhere. Hayes and Chilembwe worked closely together, and both appear as founding members of the African Development Society established during Chilembwe’s period of study at the institution.
3. An Intellectual Lineage
After Chilembwe’s departure, Rev. Vernon Johns studied at the same college. He was influenced by Gregory Hayes and the intellectual environment that had earlier shaped Chilembwe’s thinking.
4. From Vernon Johns to Martin Luther King Jr.
Rev. Vernon Johns later became a mentor to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1953, Martin Luther King Jr. succeeded Vernon Johns as resident pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, placing him within this same intellectual and theological lineage.
Conclusion
Through shared institutions, mentors, and ideas, a clear historical thread connects Rev. John Chilembwe of Malawi to the broader genealogy of the United States civil rights movement represented by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
