Generation Next
By: Mahari A. McTier
The question I often ask myself, is Birmingham in good hands with generation next? Who is generation next? I define generation next as the post Dr. Richard Arrington, Earl Hilliard, William Bell, and others who either spent decades crafting the landscape of Birmingham or who have been political stakeholders for many years and are at the twilight of their careers.
I have thought about this time for many years. I can go back to my 20s when I worked for Congressman Earl F. Hilliard, Alabama’s first African-American Congressman since reconstruction, and with Congressman John Lewis, civil rights icon, through Faith and Politics. I would watch these men fight injustices and for equality with an unmatched vigor. It was more than going through the motions, it was a deep rooted passion that often led these men to tears in their private moments as they dealt with the challenges facing their constituents and the nation. Through my employment, these fights and challenges became my fights and challenges. If I was ready for them or not, I was in the game and was responsible for carrying the burden of working tirelessly for the disenfranchised and hopeless of our district. In retrospect, I was at a huge disadvantage and ill-prepared for the challenges before me. I had no emotional point of reference to injustice and the movement, since I was born post the civil rights movement. I never marched, went to jail for the cause, or struck by a brick at a protest. I was a young man who grew up in Montgomery, Ala.; attended a private catholic school; and had a diversity of friends from different racial backgrounds. Unlike Hilliard and Lewis, who saw things at a level much deeper than me, I saw the world more analytically and logically. I am human, so yes I had emotions, but without a real life experience to make it reality, it was only so deep I could go.
During these years I would think about what will it look like when these leaders are no longer leading and the keys to the car have been turned over to the next generation. I approached this thought with much trepidation, because I saw my generation, for the most part, as ego and agenda driven with no real connection to the grass root community in which they would be serving. I worried because I saw firsthand how real the problems were, and that the responsibility to govern and lead was one to not be taken lightly. To lead and govern the people means that your decisions affect lives, not stock prices or market share. We would be the first generation to have no personal or direct connection to the civil rights movement. How would we replace the emotional connection of the movement? How would we understand the plight of the people if we never experienced poverty or discrimination? Will we respect and seek wisdom from our elders who opened the doors for us to have the opportunities we have been given to live the lives we have been blessed to live?
I am proud to see my dream for Birmingham’s future in good hands. The keys to the car have been partially turned over and we are driving extremely well with our permits. We are fortunate to have our elders in the back seat and our big brothers and sisters in the front. Birmingham will see incredible growth over the next 30 years. We have a well-balanced mix of leadership, both young and old. We have a youthful and vibrant City Council that is connected first to their communities and understand and respect the wisdom, vision, and seasoned leadership of the Mayor’s office. I have worked with many of them in several capacities and can validate that their hearts are in the right place. They are young visionaries who pay homage to those who blazed the path for them to be where they are today. They are not arrogant, ego driven, know everything already leaders. They have been raised well, educated, and wise enough to listen to wise men. Our school board is headed in the right direction under our 33-year-old President, Randall Woodfin. Randall is humble and only cares about what’s best for the children of Birmingham. If he and the other generation next on the school board stay focused on the kids, the future of Birmingham Public Schools will accomplish greater heights under their leadership.
Not only in government is generation next exceeding my expectations. We have young pastors who have been mentored by elder pastors that are now leading thriving congregations.
We have generation next leaders in the corporate sector that are poised for greatness. With business leaders like Dr. Jesse Lewis, Sr. taking a hands on approach through his Innovator Program to ensure the success of small businesses owned by young professionals, this sector will continue to strive and be well prepared for the challenges they will face as they go from good to great. Generation next accepts the challenge and promises to do all that they can do to take Birmingham to the next level.
Birmingham, rest assured the car is in good hands. Generation next promises to keep the car clean, maintain proper maintenance, obey the law, and always make you proud. I no longer doubt the sincerity and passion of my generation to lead. We have proven ourselves thus far.
(Mahari A. McTier is a Financaial Advisor with Tier 1 Advisors, LLC and can be reached at maharimctier.tier1@gmail.com)
assion that often led these men to tears in their private moments as they dealt with the challenges facing their constituents and the nation. Through my employment, these fights and challenges became my fights and challenges. If I was ready for them or not, I was in the game and was responsible for carrying the burden of working tirelessly for the disenfranchised and hopeless of our district. In retrospect, I was at a huge disadvantage and ill-prepared for the challenges before me. I had no emotional point of reference to injustice and the movement, since I was born post the civil rights movement. I never marched, went to jail for the cause, or struck by a brick at a protest. I was a young man who grew up in Montgomery, Ala.; attended a private catholic school; and had a diversity of friends from different racial backgrounds. Unlike Hilliard and Lewis, who saw things at a level much deeper than me, I saw the world more analytically and logically. I am human, so yes I had emotions, but without a real life experience to make it reality, it was only so deep I could go.
During these years I would think about what will it look like when these leaders are no longer leading and the keys to the car have been turned over to the next generation. I approached this thought with much trepidation, because I saw my generation, for the most part, as ego and agenda driven with no real connection to the grass root community in which they would be serving. I worried because I saw firsthand how real the problems were, and that the responsibility to govern and lead was one to not be taken lightly. To lead and govern the people means that your decisions affect lives, not stock prices or market share. We would be the first generation to have no personal or direct connection to the civil rights movement. How would we replace the emotional connection of the movement? How would we understand the plight of the people if we never experienced poverty or discrimination? Will we respect and seek wisdom from our elders who opened the doors for us to have the opportunities we have been given to live the lives we have been blessed to live?
I am proud to see my dream for Birmingham’s future in good hands. The keys to the car have been partially turned over and we are driving extremely well with our permits. We are fortunate to have our elders in the back seat and our big brothers and sisters in the front. Birmingham will see incredible growth over the next 30 years. We have a well-balanced mix of leadership, both young and old. We have a youthful and vibrant City Council that is connected first to their communities and understand and respect the wisdom, vision, and seasoned leadership of the Mayor’s office. I have worked with many of them in several capacities and can validate that their hearts are in the right place. They are young visionaries who pay homage to those who blazed the path for them to be where they are today. They are not arrogant, ego driven, know everything already leaders. They have been raised well, educated, and wise enough to listen to wise men. Our school board is headed in the right direction under our 33-year-old President, Randall Woodfin. Randall is humble and only cares about what’s best for the children of Birmingham. If he and the other generation next on the school board stay focused on the kids, the future of Birmingham Public Schools will accomplish greater heights under their leadership.
Not only in government is generation next exceeding my expectations. We have young pastors who have been mentored by elder pastors that are now leading thriving congregations.
We have generation next leaders in the corporate sector that are poised for greatness. With business leaders like Dr. Jesse Lewis, Sr. taking a hands on approach through his Innovator Program to ensure the success of small businesses owned by young professionals, this sector will continue to strive and be well prepared for the challenges they will face as they go from good to great. Generation next accepts the challenge and promises to do all that they can do to take Birmingham to the next level.
Birmingham, rest assured the car is in good hands. Generation next promises to keep the car clean, maintain proper maintenance, obey the law, and always make you proud. I no longer doubt the sincerity and passion of my generation to lead. We have proven ourselves thus far.
(Mahari A. McTier is a Financaial Advisor with Tier 1 Advisors, LLC and can be reached at maharimctier.tier1@gmail.com)
