Do you remember Theodore “Theo” Shaw, one of the “Jena 6” who was arrested in December 2006 and charged for beating a white classmate? Well, he is now among the five recipients of Gates Scholarship on Public Service Law to study at the School of Law of University of Washington.

Back in 2006, Shaw and five other classmates came to be known as the “Jena 6” were charged with attempted murder for beating a white classmate. This same classmate was later discharged from the hospital and was well enough to attend a school event the following night. The boys became a symbol of the harsh punishment received by young black males as opposed to their white counterparts. The case attracted national attention and a protest was organized and attended by thousands of people in the small town of Jena, Louisiana.

Unable to pay bail, Shaw, only aged 17 back then spent 7 months in jail. Before going to jail, Shaw had no plans to attend college. His experience with the judicial system sparked a flame in him and motivated him to be a force of change. Seeing that the judicial system doesn’t treat black males the same as they treat white males, I’m sure was disheartening but it helped to push him in the right directions.

According to Friends of Justice, Shaw said, “The Jena 6 situation could have ruined my life, but it was really an opportunity to build my character. During that journey, I found my calling in life.” He attended the University of Louisiana-Monroe and graduated with a BA in Political Science in 2012. Now, he is headed to Law school. He received a  scholarship which covers the entire tuition fees and other expenses such as expenses on books and boarding fees. We know he has a bright future ahead of him and aspires to make a real difference in this systematically corrupt world we live in.