Just like his roles in his movies, Samuel L. Jackson is equally bad**s in real life as well. The actor joined Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1966 in order to pursue a degree in marine biology, however, he was expelled from the institution in 1969 because he locked the board members of the college in a building for two days. This was done in protest of the school’s curriculum and governance.
One of the board members locked in the building was Martin Luther King Sr., the father of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The actor talked about the civil rights movement and his experience of facing something like this.
Samuel L. Jackson held Martin Luther King Sr. as a hostage
In 1969, actor Samuel L. Jackson and his peers were unhappy with the curriculum of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and wanted more black people on the governing board of the institution. As a protest, Jackson locked the board members of the school in a building for two days.
Martin Luther King Sr., the father of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., was also one of those who were locked in the building. Eventually, the institution agreed to their demands, but Jackson was expelled from the college.
The actor’s life was in danger
The events took place one year after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and things were quite tense at the time. The expulsion was not the only problem as Jackson’s life was in danger. In an interview with Parade, the actor recalled that he connected with some people in the Black Power movement,
“I was in that radical faction. We were buying guns, getting ready for armed struggle. All of a sudden, I felt I had a voice. I was somebody. I could make a difference,” adding, “My mom showed up and put me on a plane to L.A. She said, ‘Do not come back to Atlanta.’ The FBI had been to the house and told her that if I didn’t get out of Atlanta, there was a good possibility I’d be dead within a year. She freaked out.”
The actor then lived in Los Angeles for two years, working in social services. Around this time, he discovered his passion for acting.
Samuel L. Jackson returned to Morehouse College
After returning to Atlanta, Samuel L. Jackson re-enrolled in Morehouse College, this time he pursued a BA in drama. The actor graduated from the college in 1972. Jackson debuted on film with a small part in Miloš Forman’s movie Ragtime (1981).
Since then, the actor has consistently delivered outstanding performances in many blockbuster hits, making him the highest-grossing live-action actor of all time in 2021. In 2021, Samuel L. Jackson received the Honorary Academy Award and also has a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Supporting Role under his name for his work in 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
Source: Parade Magazine
