Trayvon Martin’s friend gets college scholarship offer from Tom Joyner
The future may have gotten a little brighter for Trayvon Martin’s friend Rachel Jeantel.
Syndicated radio talk show host Tom Joyner has offered Jeantel a full scholarship to show support for the teen who was roundly criticized as being ‘ghetto’ after her testimony in the trial of George Zimmerman.
Zimmerman was acquitted Saturday of a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death last February of 17-year-old Martin. Jeantel was on the phone with Trayvon Martin the night he was killed.
On Tuesday morning, Joyner spoke with the 19-year-old Jeantel and expressed support to her, saying, “I love you, I really do love you.”
He continued: “If you want to graduate from high school, and go to an HBCU [historically black college and university], even if it’s not in Florida, but especially Florida, like Florida Memorial, Edward Waters or FAMU, if you want to do that, I want to help you do that,” Joyner told the young woman.
Joyner offered additional support to ensure that Jentel would be college ready.
“I will help you get tutors to get you out of high school, tutors to help you pass the SAT and I will give you a full ride scholarship to any HBCU you’d like,” he said.
Jeantel politely responded with a "thank you," and then explained she may want to pursue a law enforcement career. You can find out more on Joyner's offer at blackamericaweb.com
After she testified during Zimmerman‘s murder trial, Jeantel was mocked for her looks, speech, weight and ‘ghetto’ disposition.
On Monday, on CNN with Piers Morgan, she called the verdict “BS” and said Martin “was a calm, chill, loving person who loved his family, definitely his mother, and a good friend.”
Joyner is heard in Atlanta on 104.1.
About the Author
Fran Jeffries is a Newsletter Producer. She joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2005 as an Education Editor. She worked as a Breaking News Editor and Social Media Producer before joining the Newsletter team.
