From the Yard to the World: Matthew Harper Excels In ATL's Ecosystem Thanks To Morehouse
Written By: Dani Canada
Tenacity pays off, and no one knows that more than Matthew Harper. The southwest Atlanta native is a thriving graduate of Morehouse College, but that’s far from how his HBCU story began. Unbeknownst to many, Harper initially attended Alabama A&M despite his childhood mentor encouraging him to attend Morehouse. According to Harper, Atlanta Life Insurance CEO Ronald Brown had hoped that he would attend his alma mater but Harper was disinterested in attending the prestigious all-male school because it was far too close to home. Instead, he journeyed to Huntsville, Alabama where he had an “amazing experience” at A&M but didn’t take full advantage of his acumen to be successful. Then tragedy struck.
Ronald Brown passed away during the spring semester of Harper’s freshman year leaving him with a deep sense of loss and a desire to honor Brown’s legacy, so he decided to transfer to Morehouse.
"I felt like that was the greatest respect that I could pay him,” he told OffTheYard.
Harper's transfer journey was not straightforward however as he was his application was denied. Despite being turned away the tenacious scholar staked out the admissions office for two weeks until Morehouse staffer Darryl D. Isom heard him asking an admissions counselor for a chance to “make something of himself” and admitted him on academic probation with the promise that he make a 3.0. A determined Harper did just that and his storied journey at the historically-black college began.
Harper’s unique enrollment opportunity speaks to the bond between Men of Morehouse [matriculating students] and Morehouse men [alumni], which the HBCU grad told OffTheYard is something to cherish.
Similarly, he has a special affinity for “Mother Morehouse’s” stellar and diverse network that varies from preachers and Wall Street brokers to leaders in entertainment, the arts, and culinary.
“It's just so rich and diverse and I appreciate the network of talented brothers from all around the world,” he told OffTheYard. “I'm from Atlanta and Morehouse College is in Atlanta, but I got a holistic, global experience from attending Morehouse that I appreciate.”
“I have some of my best friends and line brothers who are Nigerian from the Igbo and Yoruba tribes and are from all around the world and different walks of life,” the member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. continued.“I appreciate and have built genuine relationships and gained more cultural awareness from the world around me. It’s afforded me a lot of opportunities both personally and professionally.”
Today, Harper is the Multicultural Account Manager in Georgia for Bacardi USA, a position he attributes to the skills and network he developed at Morehouse. Not only that, he connects over 20,000 young, affluent Black professionals through targeted event programming via his Esquire Branding Agency which also offers creative services like photography, videography, cinematography, and brand storytelling.
He’s especially proud of not just his business and school-acquired skills, but a recent full-circle moment where he facilitated a $10,000 donation from Bacardi to the Morehouse College marching band. "It was just amazing tying my education and my sales and skills background to Bacardi and Morehouse where all parties benefited. It was a surreal, humbling, and grateful experience."
Harper's story is a testament to the transformative power of the Atlanta HBCU, where academic rigor, legacy, and community shape the thriving leaders of tomorrow just like this initial A&M student turned Morehouse man.