Prairie View mayor Frank Jackson gave a riveting seminar Monday in the New Science Building in which he discussed black history and heritage.”The role of black history is to restore your historical memory,” said Jackson as he spoke about the veil that black people live behind. “It is a veil that blinds black people. It conceals knowledge of their rich history and supports the continuity of black people living without knowledge of self.”
Jackson went into a humorous tirade about the behaviors of the student body and the escalating violence on campus. “That’s not the way you behave when the veil has been lifted,” he said. Dwelling on the way some people use foul language, fighting and illegal activities that occur on HBCU campuses, he recalled one of his favorite moments in a student’s college career, the arrival. The arrival on campus is the beginning of the transition, the first of the many steps taken to lift the veil. Watching parents with students in tow the first day and realizing that they bring “dreams to our doorsteps,” is what inspires Jackson not to give up on students but encourage them to aspire for excellence.
“We know who you are,” said Jackson, “you’re somebody’s dream.” That is a dream he helps to nurture so that it may flourish.
“The early Egyptians believed that knowledge was power,” said Jackson as he educated the crowd on the history of Prairie View. “Prairie View A&M University was built on top of the Kirby slave plantation. It sits in the Brazos River Valley, an area the ancient Indians called ‘the arms of God.’ You are sitting in the arms of God.”
When asked if he believed attending an HBCU hampered black students from understanding how to interact with other cultures, Jackson adamantly said no. Referring to the enlightening experiences he had with people of other cultures he points out that “race is political, it’s not biological.” He also adds that he “could have used it as a crutch,” but chose not to do so. Instead, he opted to focus on his own transition. With these thoughts turning over in the minds of students, the seminar closed with a heartfelt rendition of the national black anthem.
Jackson has been in office as mayor since 2002. He is from Luling, Texas, and graduated in 1973 from Prairie View A&M University.
After graduation, Jackson was an active member of the United States Navy for 10 years and served aboard ships including the USS Longbeach, a nuclear missile warship. He was promoted to captain in 1995.
Jackson served as city councilman in Prairie View for 12 years. He heads the volunteer firefighters association.