Johnny C. Taylor, who is a lawyer, entrepreneur and CEO and president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, spoke to the male members of the Freshman Class at Grambling State University last week in Grambling Hall.The program was a part of The Males Initiative, which kicked off Oct. 24, 2010.
His visit to Grambling and other HBCUs across the country primarily focused on “How the world is looking for African American males to be successful in business and productive members of society.”
This phenomenal speaker received his BS in communication from the University of Miami and holds a JD from Drake University.
His bar memberships include Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C.
Taylor spoke on some of the issues that Black males face such as poverty and single family homes.
In the year 2011, being a first generation college student is no excuse, Taylor said.
He said, “The crab in the bucket holds no value.”
Taylor elaborated on introspection and the process of discovering collegiate and post-collegiate plans, said Corbin Bell, an economics major.
The help of Edward Scott, specialist for the Office of Retention and Dr.. Paul Bryant were vital in bringing Taylor to GSU.
Bell attended the Thurgood Marshall Conference in New York earlier in the year.
It was there that he met Taylor. After meeting him and hearing him speak, Bell knew Taylor had to come and share his knowledge.
At the end of Taylor speaking, he said he was so impressed with the determination of Bell that he awarded him with a full scholarship to finish his tenure at Grambling.
Scott said that it was great that, “Taylor talked about his beginnings from having nothing and the obstacles he overcame and finding a way to help navigate young men.”
Taylor also spoke about enjoying college life, but remembering that this is a place of business.