Dr. Ernest C. Tate, educator and author, was the son of James and Nancy Tate. Dr. Tate, born in Atlanta, Georgia was a graduate of Atlanta University. He also received his M.A. and Ph.D degrees from New York University in English. He was a member Big Bethel AME Church located on historic Auburn Avenue. He married Miss Faustina Hall and from this union three children were born Renee, Ernest, and Lafayette.

Dr. Tate taught at numerous high schools, colleges and universities, including Alabama State Teachers College, Florida A & M University, Atlanta University and Morris Brown College. Dr. Tate had a professorship at Morris Brown College for 27 years and was Chairman of the English Department where he obtained emeritus status. He taught on the high school level for 28 years.

Dr. Tate served as a first lieutenant in World War II and received certificates of graduation for training from the School of Personnel Services, Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Virginia, and from the School of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Warfare, at Frankfurt, Germany.

Dr. Tate is the author of two books - The Social Implications of the Writings and the Career of James Weldon Johnson and Wordplay and Poetry. He was active in many organizations, including Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity.