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State Representative, Georgia’s 13th District

For Congressman David Scott, celebrating the 75th birthday of his good friend and fellow political activist Andrew Young was a welcomed display of the appreciation that Scott has for Young. “Andy is my mentor. I go back with him to 1970,” says Scott. “I was there helping in his first campaign [and] again in 1972 when he made it to congress; and in 1974 two years later, Andy Young was out there on the south side of Atlanta walking door to door to get me elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. So we’ve been together ever since those days.”

Now the representative for Georgia’s 13th district, Scott credits a large portion of his success to the contributions that others such as Young have made throughout his career. “We’re still standing on [their] shoulders because we’re an oppressed people and when you’re an oppressed people your future hinges on your unity.

If you don’t give back, who’s going to do that for you? That’s the whole essence,” adds Scott. Only a student when he first began working for the former mayor and ambassador, Scott mirrors many of the same ethics and strategies Young exhibits. “We’re very much similar in terms of having an eye on civil rights and economic rights. As you know, Andy understands the business and economy end of things and he brings that together with politics and civil rights and that’s what I do, so we’re just natural soul mates,” finishes Scott. –f. bangal