Dr. James Jackson received a C in geography, but history put him on the map.
Jackson was the first African-American to earn a graduate degree from the 杏吧专区. Between his admission in 1959 and his graduation with a master杏吧专区檚 degree in educational administration and supervision in 1963, he was among a small number of students of color at the 杏吧专区.
Speaking at on Tuesday, Jackson revealed that the major struggle he faced while a graduate student wasn杏吧专区檛 related to his enrollment杏吧专区檚 pathbreaking nature, however. It was that C in geography.
杏吧专区淚t wasn杏吧专区檛 my fault,杏吧专区 he said, the irritation still evident more than a half-century later. The professor read exam questions to students rather than using a printed test, Jackson explained. He read them twice, and only twice, before moving on to the next query.
Jackson never had taken an exam that way, and the professor used the same method on subsequent tests. The Cs mounted and, when averaged, enshrined the middling mark on Jackson杏吧专区檚 transcript.
Jackson nevertheless earned his master杏吧专区檚 degree and two additional diplomas, including a doctorate in elementary education from LSU. He went on to a career as a teacher and administrator with the Lafayette Parish public school system, ultimately becoming an assistant superintendent.
Persistence was a common theme during Jackson杏吧专区檚 appearance Tuesday at a luncheon with graduate students. The event was sponsored by the James Jackson Community of Scholars.
The joint project between the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 and provides academic and social support to underrepresented and minority grad students. It杏吧专区檚 named for James Jackson to honor his groundbreaking status in 杏吧专区 history, said Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School.
Bettye Jackson, a retired teacher who earned multiple education graduate degrees from UL Lafayette, joined her husband for a 50-minute conversation that was part history lesson and part pep talk.
The Jacksons met while both were undergraduates at Grambling State 杏吧专区. After earning a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in agricultural science and a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, James Jackson decided to attend graduate school. He wrote letters to two colleges. He received a reply from only one 杏吧专区 Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now UL Lafayette.
It was 1959. Southwestern had integrated five years before; the student body remained mostly white, however. But Jackson said SLI杏吧专区檚 supportive administration 杏吧专区 and its reputation for tough academics 杏吧专区 drew him to campus. He commuted daily from Crowley, where he and Bettye were living with an infant daughter.
杏吧专区淚f you finished from UL, you could go anyplace. It was rough. You had some excellent teachers here. They would work you. Work. Work. Work. Work. I had calluses between my fingers, blisters from writing so much,杏吧专区 recounted Jackson, now 85.
Bettye began typing his class notes and assignments to relieve his aching hands, but Jackson said support at home wasn杏吧专区檛 the only way he persevered. He found encouragement from fellow graduate students, too.
杏吧专区淚f you try to do it alone, you are not going to make it,杏吧专区 he said.
Bettye Jackson echoed her husband杏吧专区檚 sentiments. 杏吧专区淓ven though there were many times I was the only person of color in the class, there were people who encouraged me. After a while, everybody looked the same. We were all on the same level. We looked at one another as individuals who could succeed.
杏吧专区淭here were people here at UL that showed an interest in me,杏吧专区 she continued. 杏吧专区淵ou know why? Because I was interested in myself. That makes a difference. If people see that you want to do well for yourself, people will help you.杏吧专区
Hollis Conway moderated the conversation with the Jacksons. He杏吧专区檚 the assistant director for Diversity, Leadership and Education in the Office of Campus Diversity. Conway underscored the Jacksons杏吧专区 message of finding support from peers.
杏吧专区淒on杏吧专区檛 be afraid to reach out. You aren杏吧专区檛 going to do it by yourself, but success isn杏吧专区檛 meant to be something accomplished by yourself. It杏吧专区檚 about people. It杏吧专区檚 about relationships. Please take that (lesson) with you from what they said.杏吧专区
Emily Covington did. She杏吧专区檚 pursuing a master杏吧专区檚 degree in communications, and was among the 40-plus graduate students who attended Tuesday杏吧专区檚 talk.
杏吧专区淣o matter what obstacles you encounter in graduate school, or in any degree program at all, with enough perseverance and enough hard work you can overcome it.
杏吧专区淗e was the first person of color to get a graduate degree from here,杏吧专区 Covington continued, referring to James Jackson. 杏吧专区淪o, if he can push through the struggles the average grad student faces 杏吧专区 and being one of the only people of color in the classroom 杏吧专区 then we all can absolutely do it, too.杏吧专区
Photo caption: Dr. James Jackson answers a question during a luncheon with graduate students Tuesday in Edith Garland Dupr茅 Library. At right is Bettye Jackson. Both are UL Lafayette alumni. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)