Morehouse Whiz Kid Destined for Greatness

The editor takes a moment to pose with child prodigy Stephen Stafford, II.

With education seemingly taking a backseat with so many African American boys these days, who yearn to play professional sports, become a well-known rapper or the next Reality TV star, its refreshing to find a diamond in the rough like fourteen-year old child prodigy Stephen Stafford, II, a junior at Morehouse College. The editor, who is a graduate of the all-male institution, had an opportunity to hear his fellow Morehouse Brother deliver an inspiring speech during a Youth Day Event at one of  Atlanta's local churches. Not only is Stafford super smart, but his parents keep him grounded, requiring that their son speak to youth in schools, churches and community organizations in hopes that they will choose education as a means to better their lives.

Stafford, who started taking courses at Morehouse College at the age of eleven, is expected to graduate with  concentrations in Mathematics, Biology and Computer Science by the time he turns seventeen. Like Stafford, Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African American mayor who was lauded for creating lucrative government set aside construction programs for minorities, a graduate of Morehouse College was also considered a child prodigy. Jackson entered the historically black college at the age of fourteen. And Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, a civil rights change agent, entered the all-male institution at age fifteen, when most students his age were just sophomores in high school. Based upon this small club Stafford has become affiliated with, it seems as though this young genius is destined for greatness.

By the way, the child prodigy's mom, Michelle Brown-Stafford, has her own website designed for parents to take an active role in their child's education.