| Show Centenarian speaks on I H diversity Shar Brannam Campus Reporter Centenarian Allan Jackson spoke in honor of Black History Mon Month th last Thursday at the Student Event Center Students gathered to hear the words and wisdom of Jackson age Jackson started his speech by telling everyone assembled that what he saw when he looked around was a beautiful rainbow of people We are all people of color said Jackson Jackson first came to Utah on June 12 1936 and was stationed in the military at Ft Douglas When Jackson first arrived he was one of only a few African Americans in a primarily dominated Caucasian-dominated state In 1953 Jackson fell in inlove inlove inlove love with a white woman When he attempted to marry her he was prevented from doing so by state officials Laws were in place in Utah until 1967 that outlawed interracial marriages Jackson had seven wives during his lifetime and has a total of 30 children from his different marriages Jackson was married to his last wife for 42 years until she passed away His second wife was killed in a hunting accident in Alabama while he and anda a group of friends' friends were shooting muskrat A stra stray y bullet ricocheted off a arock rock and struck his wife between the eyes She died in my arms said Jackson Jackson spent his childhood y years ars growing up on his family's farm farmin in Montgomery Alabama and is s one of three sets of twins Jackson had never neverseen neverseen neverseen seen a white white- person until he was 25 years old Jackson has one older brother who is an attorney currently practicing law His brother brotheris I is years old Jackson has been a 1 substitute teacher at for the Family and Leadership class affiliated with the church Jackson is currently coauthoring coauthoring coauthoring co- co authoring a book with Deidre Tyler which will be published next year The I book is titled Mr Diversity and Friendship and is an autobiographical collection of stories Jacksons Jackson's greatest joy in life has been his ability to I get along with individuals of every colorI color I treated everybody like I IId Id I'd like to be treated said I Jackson In Jacksons Jackson's lifetime he has encountered many issues dealing with racism but believes those problems can be overcome You Youcan Youcan Youcan can find a racial problem anywhere said Jackson Youve got to be persuaded by your own opinions Jackson believes racial diversity has come a long iong longway longway way in Salt Lake City yet it has a long way to go Jackson believes every everyone me should love one another no matter their race Dr David Richardson vice president of Academic Affairs presented Jackson with a plaque and event sponsor Dr John McCormick dean of the School of Humanities and Social Science presented him with an honorarium Jackson left the crowd with a 3 smile and the statement Thank God Almighty we are all alive |
