A mother’s joyful video celebrating her son’s acceptance to Morehouse College is going viral because of his unbridled enthusiasm.
“I got in! I got in!,” shouted Amir Staten, 17, of Philadelphia, in a video his mom recently posted to her Instagram account. “Mom, I just got in!”
In the video, the teen runs up and down a street, jumps for joy, claps his hands and embraces his mother, Karlynne Staten. She said several of his friends had previously received early admission acceptance into Atlanta’s Morehouse, the private, historically Black college for men. Her son had begun to fear he might not get in because he hadn’t yet heard from the school.
Instead, an email popped up on his phone with a life-changing word: “Congratulations.” His elation has since been viewed thousands of times.
His mother thinks the video resonated with many because it offered hope to a city that’s experienced so much tragedy and violence, including the 2021 shooting death of Amir’s 18-year-old godbrother in Philadelphia.
“I think in that moment he thought about all of that,” said Karlynne Staten, in a telephone interview Tuesday with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Since her godson’s death, she’s been wracked by anxiety. She’s terrified every time Amir leaves the house.
Her son is typically laid back and a bit reserved, so when he dashed down the street, rejoicing in his college acceptance, she hit record. She ended up capturing a moment that’s inspired many.
“It’s just showing a different light,” said Karlynne Staten. “To see a young Black man in Philadelphia celebrating an educational victory is like unheard of.”
She added: “I love my city, but I’m happy he’s getting out.”
Morehouse, founded in 1867, has educated numerous influential men, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor, and filmmaker Spike Lee. The school enrolls just over 2,500 students.
A Morehouse spokeswoman confirmed to the AJC that Amir Staten was accepted through the regular decision admissions process for the fall 2023 semester. The school sent out notifications on those admissions decisions on Feb. 15. Morehouse will send out additional admissions notifications to more applicants on March 15, she said.
Karlynne Staten started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for her son’s college costs. In just over a week, the effort already raised more than $25,000.
“I promise you there couldn’t be a more deserving kid,” she wrote on the site, adding that her son has overcome “every obstacle put in front of him” and is an honor-roll student, athlete and peer mentor.
The Instagram video prompted hundreds of congratulatory comments, including from Morehouse’s own social media account which reposted the video.
“Welcome to The House, Amir! The class of 2027 continues to assemble. Take this joy and sprint into your weekend,” the college posted.
Other commenters said they were moved to tears by Amir Staten’s reaction.
“Welcome young king,” wrote one well-wisher, “Keep this energy and passion during your Morehouse journey.”
Another wrote: “Black boy joy!”
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