Letter to MacKenzie Scott

Originally posted on Medium

I want to thank you for your generosity! Your pledge to give the majority of your wealth back to society is inspiring and reinforces the belief that an intrinsic good is part of us all, even more so, you acknowledging a dichotomy existing in our current social structure. One that is a savior to some, but a nemesis for most. I salute your team of non-profit advisors. They helped you curate a vast list of impactful organizations that deserve every dollar donated and every positive media mention that has generated in result. Thank you!

I write this letter in hopes that you give Prairie View A&M University serious consideration as a future awardee. Prairie View A&M is a historically black university in Prairie View, TX which is a rock’s throw from Houston. This HBCU is doing transformative work in Racial Equity, Gender Equity, Economic Mobility, and Public Health.

Prairie View A&M ranks in the top 3 of schools for black enrollment (over 60% women), the top 3 of schools producing black engineering graduates, the top school graduating black architects, and has one of the best nursing programs in the state of Texas. The university is led by Dr. Ruth Simmons, the first African-American president of an Ivy League institution (Brown University, 2001–2012) and also the first African-American female president of any major college or university (Smith College, 1995–2001).

With most blacks becoming first-generation college graduates, Prairie View A&M has contributed a lion’s share to the emergence of African-American representation across all STEM fields, as well as the income associated with these high-paying professions. I humbly ask that you give “the hill” a thorough look the next go-round. My time there added irreplaceable value to my adulthood, and countless others.

Divers Issues in Education Top 100 Rankings

I look forward to this letter finding you.

Sincerely,

Rashad