Should Justin Combs Really Come Up Off That Scholarship?

June 1st, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: Extratv.com

Diddy’s son Justin is feeling a lot of pressure these days and dealing with backlash that’s totally wrapped up in his race and his wealth, i.e., rich black people problems.

Everyone has an opinion on what the 18-year-old should do with the four-year, $54,000 merit-based (keyword) scholarship he accepted to attend UCLA which has people asking, should he have accepted it in the first place? Should he give it up? Should he donate it? Not to mention, who’s paying for it? But at the end of the day it comes down to one simple fact. Justin Combs, him, himself, and he, earned it all by hard work.

I admit, I was in the donation camp when I first heard the news about his scholarship. I’m pretty sure the ghost of Sallie Mae was haunting my thoughts and all I could think was that he doesn’t really need that money and how cool would it be for another student who will likely have to take out outrageous loans to pay for an education to now have a chance to go to school. Thankfully, looking at comments on the subject from a number of different sites opened my eyes enormously and now I can see I was full-blown trippin.’

The piece I totally missed in this entire discussion and celebration of this young man’s achievement, which has been overshadowed by this scholarship foolishness, is the awesome example Justin is setting for black males, rich and poor alike. If Diddy was our daddy how many of us would be thinking about college? Let along how many of us would have been focused enough to earn a 3.75 GPA while being a star on the football team? That’s not a common story that’s told, especially about black men and no one should try to take away his shine by making him appear to be at fault for working toward academic and athletic excellence and being rewarded for it accordingly. Sure Justin would have likely gone to school for free anyway on his father’s dime, but Diddy didn’t get Justin into school, Justin got himself into school—for free—and I think he’s an amazing example of self-determination and a young man who, as his mother said, “is his own man,” and who will “earn his way through life.” How many rich kids out there can say the same? Certainly not the ones we always talk about in media headlines.

Perhaps it’s the fact that the university had used more than $2 million from student fees to cover an athletic department funding gap the year before that has everyone in a tizzy, but what does that have to do with Justin? Why is this boy in some ways being punished for excelling simply because of who his father is? As many people have pointed out, is this type of fuss ever made over the children of white CEOs and businessmen who could easily afford to pay for their kid’s education but don’t because their children excelled in the classroom and earned free rides. Why is Justin any different?

With the taxpayer nonsense killed thanks to a statement from UCLA that reinforced the fact that this scholarship is merit- and not needs-based, people really need to let this go. I feel like this discussion has grown to the level of Obama’s birther debate and people won’t be satisfied until they find some sort of way to take away from the success of a black man and it’s just not fair. Justin needs to be allowed to have his moment and to say when all was said and done that he put himself through college. If he wants to donate his scholarship to someone else, I think that’s amazing. And if he doesn’t that’s amazing as well. We should demand nothing more from him then we do other men from wealthy backgrounds who earn scholarships the same as he did. And when we see a man exceed expectations like this, we should celebrate it without reservation.

What do you think about the Justin Combs scholarship debate? Is there any merit to it?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • FancyAParis

    I’m sorry but wasn’t this the same kid that had a lavish sweet 16 on national television? Also if Diddy can afford to buy million dollar chain pieces i think he can afford to give away the same amount to a scholarship fund. What about United Negro College fund for starters? I commend Justin for his hard work and it should be applauded but this is where Diddy should step in and show him the right thing to do as the kid of a wealthy child. I rarely hear of Diddy doing anything charitable when it comes to scholarships. Here would be a good place to start.

  • Veratta Pegram-Floyd

    I am happy for Justin, I applaud his efforts and do not think that he should have to give that scholarship money back if he decides to attend UCLA. Where I do have an issue (again, not with Justin): “It comes at a time when student fees are rising and a year after the university had to use more than $2 million in student fees to cover an athletic department funding gap.” Student fees are charged to all students and since those fees are now being raised (with tuition in general), those extra fees and tuition have a disproportionate impact on all students, especially low-income students (who typically are students of color). My second issue (through discussion about this scholarship on my FB page): why is it that we are so proud of athletes that accomplish 3.7 GPAs or higher? What specifically makes those students (athletes) any different from other students who chose to be involved in a time intensive activity (or set of activities) on campus? I understand the statistics behind student athletes and their grades, however, there is an underlying issue and/or giving them passes because they provide revenue.

  • tracee

    He earned it, he should keep it.

  • Karla

    Black white or indifferent, rich, middle class or poor…this kid earned his scholarship. Has nothing to do with race or money. The child was brought up properly and taught how to work for what he wants and that he did!! Congrats Justin! Congrats to the Combs family for doing their jobs as parents!

  • Tagirl

    I hope Justin doesn’t cave into the pressure. This is a non-issue. He’s not the first rich kid to get a scholarship and he won’t be the last. Hopefully Puff reminds him that he worked hard for this and deserves it. An 18 year old kid shouldn’t have to go through this.

  • lola

    No, he earned it. If his father was not Sean Combs would he be asked to give it back?

  • Brian Phelps

    Honestly, he shouldn’t have applied for scholarships. There are millions of students who want to go to school, but simply can’t afford it. I could have a 4.0 GPA, and if my parents were worth millions of dollars I clearly wouldn’t be APPLYING for scholarships. Scholarships are supposed to be the great equalizer between poor and rich kids. I’m happy that he has a 3.75GPA, but that doesn’t need mean he NEEDS a scholarship. Scholarships are for people who NEED THEM. It has nothing to do with race. I’m bi-racial, and I think him applying for scholarships he CLEARLY does not need takes away from people who do need them.

    What was it Uncle Phil said on Fresh Prince to Will: “Having people open a door for you doesn’t make you any less of a man to go through it”.

    • Trisha_B

      He didn’t apply for the scholarship. You don’t apply for merit based scholarships. When you play a sport, by your junior year in high school colleges start scouting. They look at the star players of the team at the school & think about offering them a position at the school & will offer them a scholarship. You can’t apply for a athletic scholarship. Smh It’s clear a lot of people in here don’t know how Financial aid/scholarship/grants work

      • Mrsadkiah

        Lol I’ve pretty much said everything in your comment. These people don’t understand. Educate yourself a little bit more about a subject before you call yourself creating an opinion.

    • Tellyouright

      The funny thing with MERIT scholarships is that they are usually awarded to you whether you apply or not. I, myself was the recipient of a few of those while in college, although, I did not apply for them. He did not receive a NEEDS-BASED scholarship; the article clearly said it was merit-based which means, he EARNED the grades, he EARNED entry into the school, and he EARNED scholarship.

  • jk2001

    He deserves the scholarship and should take it, but his family is wealthy, and propriety dictates that wealthy families give large donations to the university. They’ll also name things after the family – and to do it right, that should be delayed until well after graduation.

    All that nice stuff on campus didn’t just appear, and while a big portion is publicly funded (UCLA is a public school), big donations built a lot of the facilities, and big scholarship funds help fill the seats in the classes.

    The scholarship is not only a reward and recognition, it’s also money that’s used to pay for professors and the facilities. People who can’t afford it get need based scholarships, and they also work as they attend school. People who can afford it, pay their way. People who are in the 0.1% like P Diddy, are supposed to pay a lot more to help provide for those who cannot afford it. That’s the way it’s operated in the US for three centuries.

  • Mrsadkiah

    From the comments I see that a lot of people don’t know much about the general finical aid process. 

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