Education’s Unsung Hero of Howard University’s Campus

Each day Howard University students bustle along Georgia Avenue aiming to make it to class on time while not even looking up to notice the elder, slender man, Montu. Montu sets up his table to sell a large collection of about 200 books that emphasize “the destruction of the Black civilization and miseducation of the Negro.”

This is his story.

Montu, originally from Virginia, is Howard’s community bookstore. Since 1979 he has been coming to Howard’s campus, on and off, to provide what he calls “balance” to scholastic learners. The balance he refers to is described as,” whatever subjects you’re studying doesn’t necessarily equate to some of these things [ his books]. So I call it balance, you can get overwhelmed with a college education and not know what’s really going on and other important things.”

Montu’s selection displays various classics that share the stories of a tumultuous past like “The 1619 Project” by Nikole Hannah-Jones, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, and “I Am Not Your Negro” by James Baldwin.

He provides these balancing books to students because he says the same was done for him back in the 1960s and he is paying that back to students today. Back in the 60s, his brother sparked his passion for books during the Civil Rights Movement which was a challenging time for African-Americans in the United States. 

Lakelani Joseph, a sophomore psychology major and African studies minor, has purchased several stories from Montu’s bookstand.

“Mr. Montu’s bookstand represents mental liberation for me, and it has influenced me to dig deeper into my culture. As a result, I have learned more information about topics like Black consciousness, mental and physical well-being, spirituality, and history.”

Montu comes to Howard’s campus whenever he can. The cold weather outside doesn’t bother him but he tries to come when it’s a decent day outside with little wind and no rain. You can find him here often on Georgia Avenue and Barry Plaza N.W. in front of Chipotle. 

”Whether it is cold, hot, or windy, he would always set up his stand,” Christine Collins, a sophomore marketing major at Howard, said.

If you are interested in balanced learning from innovative thinkers and storytellers of the past visit Montu’s table, he says, and purchase a book that interests you.