When he began his studies at Morehouse College in 1944, Martin Luther King Jr. was the third member of his family to do so. His father, Martin Luther King Sr., and his grandfather had both chosen the prestigious school for how it shaped youthful boys into Morehouse Men. Now, in collaboration with MTV Entertainment Group, Dr. King’s alma mater is honoring MLK’s impactful work with a short film that delves deep into his life and legacy.
Starting in a timely fashion on this year’s national MLK holiday, the MTV Entertainment Group has been intentional about ensuring that viewers across its mammoth platform can take in the moving short film “Here We Are.” Written and produced by faculty of the Morehouse College Cinema, Television, & Emerging Media Studies (CTEMS) program and Morehouse’s Class of 2022 seniors, the film highlights how the Class of 1948 alumnus made his mark on the civil rights movement, and how he continues to support Black liberation. Now, viewers will be able to watch the film honoring his legacy by tuning into nine separate channels: MTV, VH1, Country Music Television (CMT), Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Logo, TV Land, Pop TV, and Smithsonian Channel.
In addition to its platform, MTV Entertainment Group provided the funds and resources to elevate Morehouse’s seniors through this groundbreaking collaboration. “MTV Entertainment Group is committed to using our platforms to lift up voices that need to be heard, so we felt there was no better way to honor Dr. King than to give this opportunity to the living embodiment of his legacy, the students at Morehouse College,” shared MTV Entertainment Group chief marketing officer Jason White. “This is also an extremely talented group of up-and-coming filmmakers, and they’ve created a powerful piece that we’re proud to air across all our channels.”
CTEMS faculty, staff, and students all united to bring “Here We Are” to fruition. According to academic program chair Dr. Stephane Dunn, the significant collaboration fits perfectly among the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities the college is known for. “Providing unique learning experiences outside of the physical classroom is imperative for a robust educational program,” said Dunn. “The team effort for this national brand allowed us to showcase the research and intellectual productivity as well as the professional experience and skill development possible at Morehouse. We hope this opens the door for additional partnerships and funding that helps us scale our departments’ capabilities and impact.”
As for the college’s seniors who worked on “Here We Are,” the project has solidified the importance of their Morehouse education in a global context. Seniors like Chase Stokes for example, will now value the collaboration with their peers and faculty as a way to shine a light on the value of teamwork. “Working with my peers from the CTEMS program was such a great experience because it gave us the opportunity to discover each other’s strengths,” said Stokes. “The faculty were instrumental in helping us hone and guide our skills. Now that this project will be aired on such a major platform, the world will see the magnitude of what Morehouse College has to offer.” “Here We Are” has become the perfect way to elevate the next generation of storytellers, who are led by the shining legacy of the alumnus who came before them.
