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 小蝌蚪APP. Between his admission in 1959 and his graduation with a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in educational administration and supervision in 1963, he was among a small number of students of color at the 小蝌蚪APP.
Speaking at on Tuesday, Jackson revealed that the major struggle he faced while a graduate student wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 related to his enrollment小蝌蚪APP檚 pathbreaking nature, however. It was that C in geography.
小蝌蚪APP淚t wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 my fault,小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP檚 transcript.
Jackson nevertheless earned his master小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 and provides academic and social support to underrepresented and minority grad students. It小蝌蚪APP檚 named for James Jackson to honor his groundbreaking status in 小蝌蚪APP 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 小蝌蚪APP. After earning a bachelor小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP檚 supportive administration 小蝌蚪APP and its reputation for tough academics 小蝌蚪APP drew him to campus. He commuted daily from Crowley, where he and Bettye were living with an infant daughter.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP recounted Jackson, now 85.
Bettye began typing his class notes and assignments to relieve his aching hands, but Jackson said support at home wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 the only way he persevered. He found encouragement from fellow graduate students, too.
小蝌蚪APP淚f you try to do it alone, you are not going to make it,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Bettye Jackson echoed her husband小蝌蚪APP檚 sentiments. 小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淭here were people here at UL that showed an interest in me,小蝌蚪APP she continued. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
Hollis Conway moderated the conversation with the Jacksons. He小蝌蚪APP檚 the assistant director for Diversity, Leadership and Education in the Office of Campus Diversity. Conway underscored the Jacksons小蝌蚪APP message of finding support from peers.
小蝌蚪APP淒on小蝌蚪APP檛 be afraid to reach out. You aren小蝌蚪APP檛 going to do it by yourself, but success isn小蝌蚪APP檛 meant to be something accomplished by yourself. It小蝌蚪APP檚 about people. It小蝌蚪APP檚 about relationships. Please take that (lesson) with you from what they said.小蝌蚪APP
Emily Covington did. She小蝌蚪APP檚 pursuing a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in communications, and was among the 40-plus graduate students who attended Tuesday小蝌蚪APP檚 talk.
小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淗e was the first person of color to get a graduate degree from here,小蝌蚪APP Covington continued, referring to James Jackson. 小蝌蚪APP淪o, if he can push through the struggles the average grad student faces 小蝌蚪APP and being one of the only people of color in the classroom 小蝌蚪APP then we all can absolutely do it, too.小蝌蚪APP
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 / 小蝌蚪APP)