约翰曾经申请位于他出生地阿拉巴马州特洛伊市的特洛伊大学（Troy University ），然而当时全为白人学校的特洛伊大学拒绝了他的入学申请。
John once applied to Troy University in Troy, Alabama, where he was born, but he was rejected because it was an all-white school at the time.