Howard ThurmanHoward Thurman (1899–1981) was a spiritual mentor to civil rights leaders. A grandson of slaves, he graduated as valedictorian from Morehouse College in 1923 and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1925. Later studies with Quaker theologian ufus M. Jones and an encounter with Mohandas K. Gandhi informed his writings on segregation, nonviolence, and spirituality. Read More Read Less