“I’ve been looking forward to coming to Howard for a very long time,” said Jehu King. With a growing interest in public service, King will begin his studies in political science and economics at the university this fall. Learning more about the university while working on a congressional campaign last summer, King is excited to continue his work to support and advocate for his community, while officially beginning his journey to public service at the Mecca. 

“Now, I’m here; my studies have always been aligned with public policy and science — I’ve always been an advocate, civically engaged, and have been very interested in the atmosphere of being of public service.” 

The Jacksonville, Florida native is equally inspired by the location of his HBCU. “The closeness of the capital has been aligned with my goals very strongly,” said King who was able to come to Howard before classes began to participate in a Summer Bridge Program as part of his acceptance into the Humanities & Social Sciences Scholars Program (H3SP). 

A Life Changing Opportunity  

“The Humanities and Social Science program, it’s like the other wing to Karsh STEM,” explained King. “The focus is primarily on understanding literature, diving deep into text, and then presenting research that will further you toward your doctoral path.” 

King learned about the scholarship from his high school counselor who recommended he apply for it after he shared his desire to attend Howard. “She got the information through a call, and I applied. … Thank God for my counselor, because I wouldn’t have known any other way.” Noting that the process to apply for the scholarship wasn’t easy — requiring a certain GPA and relevant course work, several essays, and more — King emphasized the requirement that scholars be prepared to really dive into the research and commit to the “long haul.” 

“That’s the key determining factor in getting into the program,” he began. “Are you here for the long haul? Are you here for the written work, studies, the surveys, the qualitative and the quantitative data? Are you ready to go into the world and go through catalogs and catalogs of information so you can come up with the synthesis of what it is?” 

This aspect of the scholars’ program was most attractive to King.

“I want to be a field expert,” he said. “I want to know my subject area from the back of my hand. That requires long reads. That requires in-depth liberal arts study.” He went on to emphasize that he’s not motivated by the “higher paychecks” doctorates can provide, but by the many areas he can go into professionally and the impact he can make as an expert. “You’ll be respected in the field and you’ll be able to contribute to the conversation; you’re going to introduce new ideas, and your impact society in many ways.” 

“The STEM side needs storytelling, and that’s what we’re here for.” 

Stressing that “it’s not just the STEM side” that is striving to move humanity forward, King wants to challenge societal norms. “When it comes to critical thinking and consciousness and how we think as a nation, how we think as a state, how we think as a whole human society on a global scale — it takes the humanity and social science majors to say, ‘hey, where our country is going is not the right direction. These policies are not doing what they’re supposed to do; we need reform in this area.’” He continued, “the STEM side needs storytelling, and that’s what we’re here for.”

A first-generation college student, earning the scholarship was life changing for King. “This was monumental, and when I eventually got the scholarship, boy, I was through the roof!” he said. “That sacrifice and persistence and determination was very strong, simply because there was a lot on my shoulders — I’m the oldest of four other siblings — so that’s one aspect of it that really helped me get to this point.”

As a result of both his admittance as a H3SP scholar and participation in the summer program at the university, King says his goals are evolving, and he fully expects for them to continue to do so. 

“My ambition here at Howard has changed,” began King. “Being in the program, I know I want to get a Ph.D. in public policy and economics. I know right now my research interest lies in understanding Black-owned banks and how they impact the economic development of marginalized communities, historically redlined communities, and Black and Brown communities.” He continued, “so that’s where I want to start. And I know it’s going to change eventually because I want to bounce around and I want to understand the significance of my research.” 

College Life — The Beginning of an Evolution of Self 

King, alongside other H3SP and Karsh STEM scholars, participated in a six-week college-readiness Summer Bridge Program designed to prepare the students for their lives as undergraduates as well as future career professionals. When asked what this sneak peek at college has meant to him, King called it a “dream come true.” 

“Every day I reflect on it,” he began. “Every day, back and forth to Blackburn, I’m looking at Founders Library... I’m still grateful. And the college hall, the community, to have a roommate — that experience I’m not new to, but it’s also like, ‘okay, this the real deal now, this is college!’” He went on to express how grateful he is to have had the opportunity to explore the campus and map out things like his path to classes and said that Howard and the city are already starting to feel like home. 

“Living on campus made me feel like a true Howard student, like a true bison. It’s historical,” he said. “We took a tour of the Founders Library, and I felt like I went back in time — I feel like I’m honoring a legacy while also standing on the shoulders of giants and building on what was here before. So, it comes with a lot of responsibility.” 

Not that the incoming freshman is only looking forward to studying and research. “I’m looking to find my community, my group of people,” he began. “I’m looking to join the Howard University Students Association; doing student government campaigning and doing a lot of advocacy [work] on the ground, just that kind of service. I’m looking forward to rebranding myself and learning new values and the social life is so electric here … and homecoming. I’m looking forward to Homecoming!”  

The young scholar’s community grew larger this summer, and he’s looking forward to expanding his worldview as well. “A lot of people from all the world come to Howard,” said King. “I hope to connect and gain a better world and global view. That’s why going to Ghana is so important to me.”

Speaking of the six-week college-readiness program, it ended with a two-week trip to Ghana intended to provide the scholars with a global perspective. 

When asked what he hopes to gain from the trip, King explained that the students have been reading Maya Angelou’s “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes,” detailing her pilgrimage to Ghana to reconnect with her African roots and understand the Pan-African diaspora. “We’re kind of moving parallel to that; we’re going to understand our African roots,” said King, who’s looking to bring back more than simple souvenirs. “I’m looking to bring back the dialogue — my mother said to bring back a piece of dirt because it’s spiritual.” 

Most importantly King wants to bring back knowledge of the people, and in turn, self. “I want to get to know the people of Ghanian society and the history, and in what ways that’s connected to me.”  

Ultimate Goals and Howard’s Impact

“I’m looking to become a field expert, a Ph.D. holder, a Dr. King, if you will — and maybe a juris doctorate,” answered King when asked what he wants to be when he “grows up.” “I want Howard to prepare me to have intellectual and academic growth. To equip me with the tools and the systems that make me feel like I am capable of doing reform through understanding the data sets that I create. I’m looking to become a voice for my community, especially for those who are underrepresented.” 

Using redlining as an example, King wants to be a voice in making a difference for the communities impacted. “I want to be able to openly voice the issues of that community so they can fight against these inequitable events happening in their community.” 

King believes he can do all this through hard work, as well as through the networks he’s already building, and due to the legacy of his HBCU.  

“The people in the program already, the connections H3SP has, they have so many peers here who are already in my field. They have a lot of mentors, and then the lens that Howard will give me,” he continued. “I want to approach this as a Black scholar that isn’t radical — it isn’t radical to be a Black scholar — and that’s what Howard’s teaching me. It’s preparing me to reshape my own work, outside of what typical institutions teach us to think about systemic disparities, finance health, and education.”