Yesterday, I was ecstatic to see an idea come to fruition. I believe that young African American men need exposure to the legal system from more than just the enforcement perspective. As the only African American male in my part time section of law school (which is unfortunately not uncommon) I promised I would do something as an alum to help impact those numbers. I called on Stetson Law, Professor Robert Bickel, Attorney Alec Hall, and Tampa Historian Fred Hearns to help me put on a workshop for High School aged AA males in Tampa. This first annual Spring Break Legal Workshop was a huge success. Three and half hours of lecture, video and amazing Q & A, left us feeling hopeful about the promise these young men have to mirror the actions of the Freedom Riders and tackle the constitutional and civil rights issue of our time. To hear them intelligently discuss their feelings on the civil rights movement, stand your ground laws, armed school teachers and how they should interact with law enforcement made me wish the naysayers were in the room to see that everything they think they know about this generation is wrong. The future has great potential if we are willing to invest in it. Thanks to everyone who helped take an idea and turn it into a magical afternoon. To see the Men of Vision, Sigma Beta, Kappa League and Men of Tomorrow students in a Stetson classroom made me proud and very hopeful. The seeds were planted and we now must continue to water and nourish them. I have a feeling the final harvest will be well worth it.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:20:11 +0000
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