When I was in college there was a guy who had a bit of a bad reputation. Out of respect for his privacy, I will call him Malcolm. Malcolm was pretty well-known throughout the campus of Jackson State University, primarily because he was somewhat of a tough guy known for his quick temper. We would always hear about Malcolm going off on someone or he and his friends getting into some sort of off-campus altercation with a group of guys.
Naturally, Malcolm was not someone that I was particularity interested in knowing. However at some point during my junior year, I was introduced to Malcolm. While I can’t remember the exact particulars of our initial meeting or even what the conversation consisted of; from that point forward, when Malcolm and I saw each other on campus we would exchange friendly greetings and occasionally hold brief conversations.
There was one day in particular that I will never forget. I saw Malcolm on campus and he was standing alone. I stopped to say hello and something deep within me sensed that something was troubling Malcolm. I was headed to class, so I gave him my phone number and asked him to call me that night.
Reading this you are probably thinking of the “good girl likes bad guy” scenario, right? Well it was not that at all. I just felt like he needed to talk…like something was bothering him.
That evening, Malcolm called me and we talked for hours – maybe five or six. I learned so much about him, which really put things in perspective for me.
To make a long story short, Malcolm was from Detroit, had been in a notorious gang, witnessed his father being stabbed to death and watched his mother die from cancer. Add to that the fact that his sister was a prostitute and his brothers were in-and-out of jail constantly. When I learned of his upbringing, I was floored. It was like something out of a movie, except for Malcolm, it was a harsh reality.
As our conversation continued, I heard the sadness in his voice and I felt his pain. At that moment, I understood why he had such a temper and why he felt he needed to fight people – it was all he had known; it was a lifestyle he was accustomed to.
However, despite all the anger and hurt he had experienced throughout his life and even the very difficult times, Malcolm had a deep passion to do more and be better than everything he’d witnessed in life.
It was during that same conversation that I learned Malcolm was an IT major and had a 3.8 GPA. If one were to judge a book by its cover, they would have assumed that Malcolm, who always wore jeans and white T-shirts, was nothing more than a thug who hung out on college campuses stirring up trouble. No one would have even considered him to be as academically gifted as his was.
When he graduated with honors from Jackson State, Malcolm was recruited by several technology companies throughout the United States. He chose one in the Midwest. In addition to a near-six figure salary, the company gave him a hefty signing bonus and set him up in a nice apartment. Twelve years later, Malcolm is still with the same company, his salary has evolved well into six-figures and he is a proud father of an adorable daughter.
Not bad for a former gang-banger who endured so many obstacles in life.
I was always impressed with Malcolm’s ability to not only defy the odds, but his tremendous desire to want more for himself despite not having any positive influences. I can say I am who I am today because I had an incredibly strong mother who was very involved in my life and guided me in the right direction. I’ve also had some awesome mentors, even as an adult, who helped me throughout the years and continue to do so. Malcolm had no one, yet he still persevered. His will and determination allowed him to work towards something and accomplish things that he had never known anyone else to do. His sheer determination to succeed was amazing and impresses me even today.
Jazmor Jennings’ resolve reminds me of my friend Malcolm. As our story on page A1 details, Jennings has been accepted to Tennessee State University, yet he is in need of nearly $7,000 to offset fees.
When I heard of Jennings’ story, I was compelled to do something – personally and within the pages of this paper. Jennings has primarily been raised by his grandmother. He is one of six children and the first to graduate from high school. Despite his adversities, Jennings excelled in high school, took AP classes and maintained an excellent grade point average.
Like Malcolm, Jennings has something within him that fuels his desires to succeed and break stereotypical perceptions. He wants to accomplish great things and I believe he can. He just needs help.
I encourage you to assist Jennings and any other child like him who needs the support of others to provide opportunities that will ultimately enhance their lives. It is important to note that Jennings is not a slacker who missed the financial aid deadline. He submitted his application on time, but funds simply were not available. Blame that on the government, but I digress.
When I hear of stories like Malcolm and Jennings’, I am moved to tears because I can only imagine how drastically different my life would have been had I not had key people such as my mother guiding me. The fact that people who endure so much pain and heartache have the tenacity to fight through it and persevere is amazing. I truly admire their resolve.
So often we criticize our youth, particularly Black males, for all the things that they do wrong. Helping Jennings is an opportunity for you to commend a young Black male for something that he is doing right. The old adage “It takes a village to raise a child” still holds true today. Hopefully our village can help this child go to college.
Donations to the Jazmor Jennings Educational Fund can be made at any Key Bank.
You can e-mail comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
