Faculty/Staff Spotlight

Spotlight: Lawrence P. Jackson

Lawrence P. Jackson is a professor of English and African American Studies at Emory. His latest book, My Father's Name:  A Black Virginia Family after the Civil War, (University of Chicago Press, available May 2012).  His previous book, The Indignant Generation:  A narative History of African American Writers and Critics, 1934-1960 received the American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence in literature; a literary award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Assoiation in the nonfiction category; and an award from the Modern Language Association of America. Professor Jackson is currently writing a full-length biography of the African American writer Chester Himes.

Undergraduate Degree from: Wesleyan University

Graduate Degree from: Ohio State University

Doctoral Degree from: Stanford University in English and American literature 

Area of Specialization/Research:  Twentieth Century African American Literature/biography/literary history

Current Course Offerings:  Hip Hop and African American Studies: Chester Himes: A Life in Letters

An Interview with Lawrence P. Jackson:

> How and when did you first become interested in your field of study? 

As an undergraduate I was overwhelmed by the reality of the slave trade and slavery, but very little had been done to reveal the inner lives of the people who had endured the genocide, which led me to literature.

> What made you decide to pursue a career in higher education?

After participating in the successful movement to pressure universities to eliminate investments with companies doing business with apartheid South Africa, I and others in my cohort like Greg Carr at Howard and Corey Walker at Brown believed that the next level of commitment was to attempt to transform the epistemological foundation of western society at tertiary academic institutions.

> Why did you choose to be a part of the academic community at Emory?   

Atlanta has a strong progressive tradition of culture and politics, from the modern-day Civil Rights Movement to the current renaissance in black literature occurring here now.  I had always admired people like Mark Sanders, Frances Smith Foster, Wole Soyinka, and Rudolph Byrd, and I was eager to join them and the exciting conferences and institutional imperatives that they had underway.

> What do you enjoy about teaching/serving the students, staff, of Emory? 

I enjoy having an impact on students who have career paths firmly set up in business or the sciences, who haven't had much time to think about the radical nature of the black experience in the western hemisphere.  It is also exciting to teach students who are the first generation in their families to attend college.  Emory has a large and growing international community, particularly from West Africa, and the students bring a wonderful variety of assumptions and knowledge-systems to class.

> What do you like about the university community?

It is inspirational to have people like President Jimmy Carter around, writing thought-provoking books, and championing progressive causes.

 >What University values, traditions or culture do you feel most connected or resonate most with you?

Ethical justice.  I coach soccer and basketball in the Decatur area and I see the challenges that privileged young people have committing themselves to justice and fairness.  I think ethically sound inquiry and social justice are things that are important at Emory and that we can improve on. 

> What special talents, contributions, service or insight do you bring to the community?

The most important thing I do, I think by far, is hold undergraduate and graduate students to high standards of written expression, and to demystify the writing process.  Inevitably, working on the nuts and bolts of expression requires the best in logical thinking and supporting ideas with evidence.  Good writing also has a way of making it outside of the university bubble, which in turn enriches all of our conversations.

For more information about Professor Lawrence P. Jackson, please visit lawrencepatrickjackson.com.