Why We Need to Save Legislative Scholarships to Make a Million More – by Maze Jackson
What I find particularly inspiring though, is not only the recognition of the fact, but that he wants to see “a million more.” I’m assuming with age he has begun to recognize the inequity in the distribution of power in the United States, and recognizes that if we as a people are ever to succeed we are going to need to come up collectively, not individually, not just one man, but all of us. But just how do we create that million more?
Now, I am forty years old, and openly admit that I have been blessed mightily, and I really have no complaints. I always want more, as is my nature, but comparatively, I’ve done OK for myself, but I won’t say it wasn’t a struggle. I think I am just now realizing my full potential, but I often think back to a couple of recent campaigns I worked, in which I was surrounded by young 21-25 year olds White kids, college grads, hard working, and willing to take direction. Great kids, on a path to success, and I often thought, “If only I had this opportunity when I was 21, I’d probably be a multimillionaire, by now.”
Here I am damn near 40 getting my “shot” while these guys are 21, and they are STARTING at this level. I would often remind them of how lucky they were for what I considered the “opportunity of a lifetime” at 38, to be what they considered an “option” at 21. At first I blamed it on fairness. I said, “We don’t have the opportunity!” but that was the easy way out, and did answer the fundamental question, “How do we make a million more?” I thought back to those kids, and realized they had a plan.
Graduated from college, served in government, leave, make money. But graduating from college was key in this world, because it provided the validity to the powers that be that they were “qualified” even though they may have had little to no practical experience. As much as we try to downplay the value of the college education these days, I know it has its benefits and is one of the keys to success.
So here’s what I propose: Instead of banning the legislative scholarships, use them to develop our next generation of leaders. Look beyond the short term political benefits, and think of them as an opportunity to build a core group of young, conscious, and ready Black men and women capable of filling positions in business, government, and civic organizations.
But in exchange for their scholarships, they must commit to serve in government for 3-4 years, during which time they will work hard for little pay, but they will LEARN. And after their service, they will be of significant value to corporate America or in government, while remembering who, why, and how they became valuable. Their opportunities will be limitless at 30, and they will be tasked with bringing the next one up. And that’s why we need to save the legislative scholarship process and use it to make a million more.
(Maze, co-founder, Next Generation Leadership Council and President of Compass Public Affairs, LLC. Contact at maze@mazjac.com, facebook.com/mazjac, Twitter @mazjac. Check out blog The MazJac Chronicles at mazjac.wordpress.com).
