Dr. Rich McCormick, an emergency room physician and the Republican nominee running for a House seat in Georgia’s 7th congressional district, says he has the right to call himself a 'Morehouse Man,' a title alumnus of Morehouse College, an all-male and historically black institution, use to refer to themselves, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
McCormick is white and didn’t graduate from Morehouse College, but did attend and graduate from the nearby but independent Morehouse School of Medicine. MSM was founded in 1975 as the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College and became an independently chartered institution in 1981. The school describes itself as one of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium.
McCormick didn’t use the term 'Morehouse Man' but was referred to as one in a TV ad paid for by his campaign.
Critics say he is using the term to project proximity to blackness in a way that is disingenuous.
“McCormick’s political blackface ruse wouldn’t be so egregious if he was trying to help actual Morehouse men,” writes Michael Harriot for The Root. “Instead, McCormick has promised to eliminate Obamacare, fight Medicare for All and extinguish the “radical left,” including “Nancy Pelosi and her socialist Squad.”
Campaign spokesman John Simpson told the AJC the ad isn’t coming down.
“Dr. McCormick is immensely proud to have taught at Morehouse, obtained his Medical Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, been elected by his diverse peers as Student Body President, and to have spoken at graduation,” he said. “He doesn’t see why he shouldn’t be able to share that honor with voters.”
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.