Golden Nuggets: DeSean Jackson and Jeff Tedford Give Back to Bay Area Communities
Last week DeSean Jackson and Jeff Tedford delivered some inspirational messages to youth at West Oakland’s McClymonds High School. Jackson continued spreading positive messages by visiting San Quentin and Palo Alto High on Friday.
Oakland rapper/entertainer Ray Luv and Cal football coach Jeff Tedford also spoke – Tedford of an alcoholic father who left when he was 9 years old.
“I know there’s challenges and I know you have dealt with adversity,” Tedford told the students. “You can have a poor attitude or a positive attitude about it. It’s all about developing the right habits, pushing forward.”
Jackson then addressed bullying, a topic he later admitted is a “tough sell” to kids who are “raised with bullying being a way of life, a way to survive – I was a bully when I was a kid.”
Jackson told the students about a 13-year-old Philadelphia boy who was beaten severely by six older kids. Nadin Khoury is his name, and he inspired Jackson’s newfound social activism when Jackson found out he was the kid’s idol.
When Nadin went on the TV show “The View” to raise awareness about bullying, Jackson surprised him there and gave him the Eagles jersey off his back.
“That little bro inspired me,” Jackson told the McClymonds students, before challenging any of the bullies in the crowd to come up on stage and talk to him.
“Bullying is not going to make your mom proud,” Jackson told the students. “It’s not going to pay your bills. It’s nothing to be proud of.”
DeSean Jackson Foundation 