Merging Civil Rights and Black Economic Empowerment- A Case Study- Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr.

Odds are that if you have flown into or out of Atlanta, you have heard of Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. This is because (you may or may not know) that he led the expansion of the Atlanta International Airport, now named the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Netflix has a new documentary about his life, entitled, Maynard, produced by his family including nd his first wife, his widow, and his namesake, Maynard Holbrook Jackson, III. What you may not know is that Mayor Jackson, single-handedly created several now generations of African American millionaires in many ways, but most prominently through the expansion of the airport. In addition, he did so at great personal gain, to himself personally and professionally. Indeed, after leaving office as mayor, he was not able to secure employment, as a lawyer, in Atlanta, due to the retaliation of businesses people who felt jolted by his actions as mayor. But because, he stood up, despite the damage to himself, he was able to advance economic development and empower African American businesses. It is this kind of leadership that turned Atlanta into the thriving African American metropolis that it is today. One question that has permeated the conversation in Black American recently is how to create opportunities for African Americans and other minorities. In fact, this was the subject of the last Democratic Presidential Debate in Nevada, and also the subject of various political ads and promises by the candidates, including most notably former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But neither the candidates, nor the political ads, are able to really get at the heart of this problem. I believe that Mayor Jackson, and perhaps his life and career as mayor provide keys to the answer to this problem. As a lawyer, I would be remiss, if I did not admit that since Maynard’s day, the U.S. Supreme Court has invoked the spirt of its ancestors including those that decided the Dred Scott v. Sanford and the Plessy v. Ferguson cases, by erecting severe limitations, on more than one occasion to public minority business contracting. However it is still possible to have such initiatives, for instance, engaging in disparity studies and minority participation goals. But goals and studies are meaningless, unless you have leaders, in the Jacksonian tradition who are willing to stand and fight for true economic equality for African American businesses and communities. So go watch Maynard today or as soon as you can. Also, remember that the struggle for civil rights and minority economic empowerment are not mutually exclusive. If you would like more information about how, or for more content like this, visit us at Civil Rights University , where we provide a different kind of education.