DCPS proposes August Wilson for new name
April 20, 2021
DCPS has proposed to rename Woodrow Wilson High School after August Wilson.
Many support August Wilson, a distinguished Black playwright, as the new namesake because it allows for the school to still be referred to as “Wilson.” Others believe this is not a radical enough change.
Chancellor Lewis Ferebee’s proposal was sent to the DC City Council on Tuesday, where it will be put under review and up for a vote. If the Council approves the proposal, the school’s new name will officially be changed by the beginning of next school year.
In a press release, Ferebee stated, “At DCPS, where a majority of our school leaders and students, and nearly half of our teachers identify as Black, we are committed to fulfilling the efforts of social activism and ensuring that the names we call our schools reflect our values and commitment to diversity.”
Principal Kimberly Martin said she was “thrilled” about the new name.
“As a former English and history teacher, I could not be prouder to celebrate the new name of our high school,” she announced in a message to the community. “For decades, August Wilson’s words have inspired pride, hope, and determination for African American students especially, but for all students who study his work.”
After decades of protest about Woodrow Wilson’s racism, the DC Council resolved to rename the school in September of 2020. A process of public input to decide on a new name followed, involving community surveys to nominate and vote on options.
While the final name proposal was in the hands of the mayor and the chancellor, Tuesday’s press release cited a survey that “indicated August Wilson High School as the overall preferred name and the most popular among almost all respondent subgroups.”
In that survey, community members had the option to vote for either August Wilson, William Syphax, Northwest, Hilda Mason, Marion Barry, Edna Jackson, and Vincent Reed.
August Wilson received 29 percent of the over 6,000 votes. Vincent Reed, the school’s first Black principal, and Edna Jackson, one of the school’s first Black teachers, closely followed with 19 percent and 17 percent of the votes, respectively.
Supporters of August Wilson include junior Marie May, who likes that the school’s “name is still going to remain ‘Wilson,’ however it’s going to be named after a better person.” May explained that this allows the school to maintain its brand and reputation while honoring a deserving figure.
Two-time Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson is regarded as one of the most prominent playwrights in American history. Born to a Black mother and white father in Pittsburgh, many of August Wilson’s plays center around his relationship with race and his community. He is perhaps best known for his “Pittsburgh Cycle,” a collection of 10 plays that includes “Fences,” which is read by all freshman English classes at Wilson.
Although August Wilson’s impact on American, particularly African American, culture is widely recognized, some feel that his name is not enough to distance the school from Woodrow Wilson’s legacy.
Advocates have long argued that Woodrow Wilson’s racist policies and beliefs do not represent the school and they fear that keeping some semblance of his name is harmful to the community.
Co-founder of the DC History and Justice Collective Judith Ingram believes that the change is too moderate. “This allows the school to continue to be called Wilson and it doesn’t force the kind of reckoning with history that we’ve been working toward,” she said.
The DC History and Justice Collective is a local organization that has been deeply involved in the recent efforts to rename the school and they have already begun calling on the City Council to reject the proposal on Twitter. Despite their disappointment, Ingram emphasized, “We will continue our grassroots education efforts, that has always been the most important part.”
Martin thinks that many of the reasons people are upset are short-term concerns. “Ten years from now, 20 years from now, people will likely not remember that it was Woodrow Wilson—it will only have been August Wilson,” she said.
Still, others had hoped that the new name would have more of a connection to the community. Social Studies teacher Aaron Besser explained, “The fact that [August Wilson] is not a DC native and the fact that we’re still Wilson High School… just isn’t as meaningful a name change as it could have been.”
Besser, like many other teachers, preferred the name Edna B. Jackson. In a survey of 119 staff members, over 70 percent of respondents said they supported renaming the school after its first Black, female teacher. The survey was created by history teacher Michele Bollinger, who felt teachers hadn’t been included enough in the process.
Some students felt similarly underrepresented in the process. SGA President Racquel Jones and Vice President Danny Page were the only two students present in discussions about choosing a name. “It was mostly admin and alumni involved, and it wasn’t something students were really aware of until it was time to vote,” Jones said.
Jones made an effort to spread as much awareness as possible through social media but recognizes that there was only so much that she could do. Ultimately, she is satisfied that the school is no longer named after Woodrow Wilson, but thinks that choosing August Wilson is not much of a change.
Opting to keep the name Wilson does have some cost-cutting benefits. While Martin doesn’t know exactly how much will be saved, she is confident that being able to keep everything in the building that simply says “Wilson” will make the transition to the new name much cheaper.
Starting when the name change conversation reemerged a few years ago, Martin began asking sports teams and other groups to omit “Woodrow” from their gear. She also planned this year’s graduation regalia, including diplomas and stoles, to simply say “Wilson High School.”
While Martin had been aware of the selected name since early January, she wasn’t able to use it for graduation preparations because it hadn’t been made public in time to place orders. DCPS has given little reason for its nearly four-month period between name selection and announcement, other than logistical challenges such as working with August Wilson’s estate.
Michael Swit • Apr 25, 2021 at 8:47 pm
This is a cop-out decision. While August Wilson was an incredible playwright, he has little connection to D.C., let alone our high school. While I can understand the easy choice of keeping “Wilson” in the name, the better choice would be to honor Edna B. Jackson, who was not only a pioneering educator, but an incredibly talented one at that (I had her for two history classes during my h.s. days).
And, how much money will this really save?
Finally, how many D.C. high schools are named after a woman?
The city council should reject the superintendent’s recommendation and honor Edna Jackson.
Michael Swit
San Diego, CA
Class of ’74
Thorval Hickman, Class of '60 • Apr 21, 2021 at 2:18 am
April 21, 2021
Dear Chancellor Ferebee,
Many in the Woodrow Wilson Class of 1960 feel strongly that Edna Burke Jackson should become Woodrow Wilson High Schools’ next eponym. We agree with the sentiments of the D.C. History and Justice Collective that Mrs. Jackson’s memory and lessons to succeeding generations of students should be memorialized as the High School’s new name.
Students are for Edna Jackson –
Attached are 13 testimonials from the Class of 1960 alumni regrading Mrs. Jackson. These testimonials may help you to see further into the mind and dignity of Edna Burke Jackson. We understand that this year’s Student Government head and the Beacon editorial board have already seen the virtue of her name.
Edna Jackson has left writings and community advocacy for all to read –
Edna Jackson has a written and pertinent record on human rights exemplary to all persons. Mrs. Jackson has an as yet unresearched, as far as I know, written record as listed in Leland Barrow’s attached testimonial which shows at least three sources of Edna Jackson’s writings or speeches:
• A weekly column over many years in an Oklahoma newspaper.
• Book reviews over many years in an African American Journal.
• Appearances before the Prince George’s County Council advocating for her community needs. The Lincoln-Vista Civic Association still exists.
Researching these materials can keep future Edna Jackson High School student historians busy researching for many years. Details on these sources are found in the attached testimonial #11 from Leland Barrows.
Testimonies can be on video media for future student generations –
For the benefit of future student generations, we have a least thirteen (and likely four score and more living alumni who can give live video recorded testimony about Edna Jackson. The new Edna Jackson “Media Crew” could very well videograph these live testimonials for future EJHS students to learn from.
Thirteen written testimonies –
Please see Attachment #1 for the text of the thirteen testimonials in order to learn more about Mrs. Jackson’s example of dignified comportment for women and men alike.
Excerpts from a Stephan Fatsis article –
Please see Attachment #2 for excerpts from a Stephan Fatsis Washington Post article of December 28, 2020 showing further personal qualities of Mrs. Jackson.
From the Stephan Fatsis article: ”Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson would appease alumni attached to the surname but has no personal connection to D.C. A Wilson parent who was involved in the name-change effort, Zerline Hughes Spruill, who is Black, said Bowser “put ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the street in front of the White House. I’d like to think she wouldn’t put ‘Wilson’ back on the name of the school.”
August Wilson was a great playwright, but was never associated with the High School. We, therefore, respectfully request that you reconsider your recommendation of August Wilson to become the high school’s new eponym and change your recommendation in favor of Edna Burke Jackson, a true heroine.
Thorval Hickman,
Woodrow Wilson Class of 1960 Spokesperson
50 W. Bellmeade Place
The Woodlands, Texas 77382
832-663-5765
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TESTIMONIALS REGARDING THE CHARACTER AND PESONAL NATURE OF
MRS. EDNA BURKE JACKSON,
WHOSE NAME IS IN CONTEST TO BE THE NEW EPONYM IN PLACE OF THE CURRENT NAME OF
WOODROW WILSON, A SCHOLAR AND POLITICIAN IN A RACIST SOCIETY
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The following are letter excerpts from alumni of Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 1960 regarding their experiences and memories of Edna Burke Jackson. They are edited by Thorval Hickman, who has added in bold italic font summary captions of many of Mrs. Jackson’s qualities, honors and interests.
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1. From Dale Jacobs Ugel, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Wonderful teacher, great dignity and intelligence.
This was a very informative article [referring to the Stefan Fatsis article at the end of these testimonials]]. I get the impression [some] did not have the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Jackson. Once you had been in her class, you stopped noticing her race. She was a wonderful teacher and a woman of great dignity and intelligence. It was an honor to be in her classroom. I had her for two years.
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2. From Frances (Fran) Stearns Nelson, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Pleasure to have a great teacher, Senior class advisor, deserves honor
I had the pleasure of having Mrs. Jackson for Modern European History, I think it was, in 10th grade, and really liked her, a great teacher. She was also our senior class adviser, and I worked with her as a graduation planning committee member. She deserves some honor.
[Some have complained] that there is reverse racism at play by minorities, but in a way we do deserve it.
I can understand how for so many years blacks, many of whom are from families that trace their heritage way back to before most of the white people were here, and who made such a huge contribution to the success of America by their hard labor and forbearance of intolerable treatment, have had to watch as whites exercise their power and get all the recognition.
There are certainly many people of color who deserve to be honored for their accomplishments and contributions to this country.
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3. From Sam Friedman, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Admired her in our encounters, a giant in standing strong against evil comments
I would be very happy with the school being re-named for Edna Jackson. I had little contact with her, but admired what I did encounter. And for years afterwards, comparing my historical ignorance to those who took her European History class, I regretted not taking the opportunity.
And I remember the racism of some of the teachers we had. What a giant Edna Jackson was to be able to withstand all that evil bile. The other thing that I remember whenever we discuss this issue is that a number of Wilson students took part in the picketing (and a few in the merry go round sit-in) at Glen Echo in the summer of 1960. This included members of our class as well as people who graduated in 59, 61 and 62.
I also remember that there were a few members of our class who drove by the picket lines and called us names like “Communist” and “deluded”
The DC northwest was a pretty racist place in those days (both in terms of racist power and personal prejudice) and a number of our teachers fed it.
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4. From Judy (Arpaia) Sedgeman, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – remember her dignity and bearing, rose above racism at WWHS
I didn’t get to take Edna Jackson’s class, either, but after talking to so many friends who did, I have always regretted that. I do remember her dignity and bearing, and the awesome way she rose above the racism still integral to WWHS.
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5. From Phil Morgan, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Influenced strong interest in government and history, classes were challenging & thoughtful
I remember her very well and attribute much of my strong interest in government and history to her influence. Hers was one of my favorite classes in my years at WWHS. I found her class was challenging and thoughtful, hardly easy. I put in the effort and was well rewarded ever since.
I, too, would not be unhappy if the renaming were to be for her contributions and legacy.
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6. From Joan Lubar, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Soft melodic voice, warm smile with dignified demeanor, made us think
I did have Mrs. Jackson for history and she was easily my favorite high school teacher and the one, along with my 9th grade world history teacher, who led me to be an American Studies major in college. I remember her soft, melodic voice and warm smile, coupled with a dignified demeanor. Her knowledge was extensive and she made us think. I remember “noticing” she was Black but beyond that I never gave it another thought (my naiveté). I just looked forward to going to her classes.
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7. From Amy Cohen back then, Amy Corwin now, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Learned US History in Home Room, Edna not allowed to teach US History classes
If my memory is accurate, Ms. Jackson was my homeroom teacher. I learned US history from her in small daily doses there since she reported that she was not allowed to teach a US History course lest she be “embarrassed”. In those discussions and from my own observations I learned what D. D. Eisenhower allowed after he “desegregated” the DC public schools — many (if not all) of the best teachers from the formerly Black schools were moved to schools like Woodrow Wilson HS and many of the worst teachers from the formerly white schools were moved to schools in predominantly while neighborhoods. Racist hatred at its worst!
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8. From Sandra Sprague Hunnicutt, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Loved her, melodic voice so calm, but expressive, Wilson lucky to have her
I too had Edna Jackson for Modern History and maybe another class. I loved her. Like Leland, I became a history major because of her. Joan, you are correct in noting her melodic voice, so calm but expressive. I still answer on Password hints, Who was your favorite teacher, Jackson. For years I used Ms. Jackson’s room number, 310 in passwords or combination locks of years gone by. Wilson was so lucky to have her on its faculty. She changed lives for the better. I loved her then and now.
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9. From Dulcy Grusd Brightman, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Key Qualities – Never hear negative racial comments about her from students or teachers
Mrs. Edna B. Jackson was both my Home Room Teacher, and my French Teacher. I never heard (in the late 1950’s) any mean or nasty comments about Mrs. Jackson’s race at all by students or teachers! In fact, Carolyn Brady, (an African American Woodrow Wilson High School Student) was in one of my classes!
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10. From James J. Hanks, Jr., Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Venable LLP
Key Qualities – Taught in her calm, inspiring, even noble way, she richly deserves the honor
Leland: Thanks for below, which is exceptionally informative and persuasive. I am going to endorse Mrs. Jackson for the School’s new name, although resolution of that issue seems to be headed in another direction. I remember her well; I even remember the location of the classroom where she taught in her calm, inspiring, even noble, way. After the Supreme Court’s desegregation decision in the spring of 1954, the DC public school people on 13th Street, acutely sensitive to the controversy caused by the decision in a semi-Southern city, as Washington was then, must have decided to send the very best high school teacher (note: only one) to nearly all-white Wilson (the only black student whom I remember from our days was Carolyn Brady, whose father was the janitor at Blessed Sacrament on Chevy Chase Circle). They certainly chose well, although of course they deprived hundreds, maybe thousands, of black kids of the benefits of being taught by Mrs. Jackson. In any event, she richly deserves it. The more celebrated nominees have already been celebrated in other ways. Mrs. Jackson deserves her turn.
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11. From Leland C. Barrows, PhD, Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ‘60
Professor Emeritus
Voorhees College
Denmark, South Carolina
Once again, I would very much like to persuade all of you that the most fitting name for the school is that of Mrs. Edna B. Jackson who taught European history there (and sometimes French) from 1954 to 1976.
[Please see] Mrs. Jackson’s obituary notice that I obtained from a relative of hers.
Key Qualities –Honor roll student, a winning orator contestant
[Mrs. Jackson was] an honor roll student throughout her school career, Mrs. Jackson (1911-2004) graduated from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Washington D.C. in 1928 as class valedictorian. Representing the District of Columbia at the Chicago National finals of an Elks Oratorical contest, she placed second and won a four-year scholarship to Howard University.
Key Qualities – Aced college in three years, turned down college teaching offers, Master’s
Degree at Howard University
Mrs. Jackson completed her undergraduate studies in only three years graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Romance Languages and Social Studies. She was invited by Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune to teach at Bethune-Cookman College [that she had founded] in Florida. However, Mrs. Jackson decided to remain at Howard University to complete her work for a Master’s Degree.
Key Qualities – Wrote weekly column in Oklahoma Eagle – This is a research opportunity for current students in 2021 and on.
Unable to secure a teaching position in Washington D. C., she accepted an assignment in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1934 at Booker T. Washington High School, the same high school from which the celebrated historian, John Hope Franklin, had graduated a few years earlier. [There] she established and headed the Language Department. While in Tulsa, Mrs. Jackson wrote a weekly column for the leading Black newspaper in that area, the Oklahoma Eagle, and taught Sunday School at the Vernon African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.
Key Qualities – Constantly encouraged students to study and to obtain education – Wrote book reviews – This is a research opportunity for current students in 2021 and on.
In 1940 Mrs. Jackson returned to Washington D.C. to teach history at Francis Cardozo High School. During the summer months, she continued her studies at Howard University, Catholic University, and Cornell University. She remained at Cardozo until 1954 when she was selected to become the first Black teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School. Mrs. Jackson served in many capacities in both high schools, constantly supporting and encouraging students to study and to obtain a good education. From 1959 through 1970, she completed book reviews for the Journal of Negro History (now the Journal of African American History.)
Key Qualities – In retirement was a community activist – spoke at county hearings- This is a research opportunity for current students in 2021 and on.
Upon her retirement from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1976, Mrs. Jackson volunteered at River Terrace Community School in Washington D.C. and at Thomas Claggett Elementary school in Prince George’s County, Maryland. At Seaton Memorial AME Church, Mrs. Jackson served in the Missionary Society, the Board of Christian Education, the Stewardess Board, the Sunday School Staff, and the Church Scholarship Committee. As President of the Lincoln-Vista Civic Association, Mrs. Jackson often spoke at county hearings and meetings as an advocate for improved services.
Key Qualities – Member of many academic sororities and educational societies
Mrs. Jackson was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Pi Delta Phi Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Association for the Study of African American History.
Key Qualities – Counseled post high school couples that ”love was so rare that it should be treasured when found.”
I have found that Mrs. Jackson’s former students remember her with great fondness and respect. She touched them in manty ways, inspired them in and outside the classroom. When attending the fiftieth anniversary of our class in 2010, I was struck by how many of our classmates remembered Mrs. Jackson when they had forgotten their other teachers or only remembered negative things about them, particularly the case with the other history teachers. I have recently learned that many of Mrs. Jackson’s former students sought her out for advice on personal and academic matters well after they had graduated from high school. I understand that one or possibly two inter-racial couples contemplating marriage came to her for advice. She, it seems, “talked to [them] about how love was so rare that it should be treasured when found.” Let me add that I first encountered Mrs. Jackson’s reputation several days before enrolling in her Modern European History class and actually meeting her, this in January 1959, via a praiseful article about her that had appeared in the Washington Post several days earlier. It seems that the media praised her regularly.
Key Qualities – She was his inspiration to follow history as a career
Mrs. Jackson strongly inspired me to major in history as an undergraduate and then to earn a PhD in African and French Empire history. She particularly emphasized the importance of research in history, writing, and publication. Mrs. Jackson’s influence certainly contributed to my becoming a professor of history and a sometime senior editor.
Key Qualities – Her human and intellectual qualities motivated her students
Leland has noted her human and intellectual qualities as well as the very positive ways in which she influenced her students.
Key Qualities – Naming the school after her would bring the greatest good to the greatest number of people.
A number of you wrote back to me expressing support for the position that I took regarding the renaming of the school. A few of you disagreed arguing that the push to rename the school was nothing more than an ill-intentioned political gesture, one very unfair to the memory of President Woodrow Wilson. While I believe that the words of the English political philosopher, Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), that “it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong,” define Wilson’s career, we must accept the reality that the name of the school will be changed. We should, therefore, propose a change that does the most good and the least harm. For this reason, I have supported naming the school after Mrs. Jackson.
Key Qualities – If comparing Edna Jackson to an administrator, she wins in each category.
A proposal has been launched to name the school after Edna B. Jackson and Vincent Reed, the latter having served as assistant principal in 1967 and then as principal in 1968 and 1969. He was the first African American principal in the Washington D.C. public school to serve west of Rock Creek Park. In 1976 he became the D.C. school superintendent. Although I have heard that Mr. Reed was a first-rate administrator, and I do not want to detract from his good reputation in any way. I do not believe that it would be a good idea to link his name with that of Mrs. Jackson in renaming the school. Given that they were both African Americans, that his tenure at Wilson was relatively short, and that the movement to rename the school has been controversial, I believe that putting the two names together would seem more like a fatuous racial gesture than a bona fide effort to celebrate the lives and the contributions of the two individuals. Moreover, Mr. Reed was an administrator, not directly a teacher, at least, not at Wilson. Mrs. Jackson was a teacher at Wilson for twenty-two years. So often, as I have found, teachers are forgotten even when it is they, rather than administrators, who have brought the most lasting innovations to schools and have made the most lasting impacts on students. In this particular situation, should we not give the full stage to Mrs. Edna B. Jackson, this very special teacher who influenced so many of us in the best of possible ways!
Key Qualities – Her life is a worthy example to the school of a life well lived.
In short, Mrs. Jackson is the lady for whom our school should now be named.
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12. From Richard Jacoby, M.D. Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ’60
Key Qualities: Quiet consistency, soft spoken poise and grace, tranquil calm putting students at ease, [her] dignity which inspired her students
As a Woodrow Wilson H.S. student class of 1960, inspired by science and math, not only was I not then interested in history, I was intimidated by it and self conscious. When I was given the opportunity to be in Edna Jackson’s U.S. history class I was drawn by the quiet consistency of her style. She had a compelling soft spoken poise and grace which pervaded the classroom with tranquil calm, putting students at ease. I had some great aunts like that with a sense of propriety, etiquette and kindness. I don’t think it had much to do with race. It was a generational thing. She came from a generation that knew genuine self respect and showed respect for each individual that seems rare today. Perhaps it was that dignity which inspired her students. It is for that quality that our school should honor her name.
Richard Jacoby, M.D. ‘60
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13. From Ruth Burtnick Glick – Woodrow Wilson High School Class of ’60
Key Qualities: An excellent teacher, warm and friendly with students, my favorite Wilson instructor
In 1959 when I was seventeen and looking for a course to fill my schedule, I took Mrs. Edna Jackson’s World History class. I had asked around before signing up and was told that she was an excellent teacher. I was so glad I took Mrs. Jackson’s class. She was not only an excellent teacher but also warm and friendly with students who wanted a good relationship with her. I liked her from the first, and I guess she liked me too, because she moved me from the back righthand side of the room to the desk in front of hers when she redid the seating chart at the beginning of the second semester. Not all my classroom experiences at Wilson were as good as with Mrs. Jackson. She was truly an outstanding teacher, in fact my favorite Wilson instructor, and if we have to change the name of our school, I’d love to see her get the honor of being the DC public school system’s new choice.
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EDNA BURKE JACKSON OBITURARY
JACKSON, EDNA BURKE (Age 93)
Former teacher and member of Seaton Memorial AME Church in Lanham, Maryland, died
February 21, 2004 at Carroll Manor Nursing Home. She was born January 25, 1911. An honor
roll student throughout her school career, she graduated from Dunbar High School in 1928 as
class Valedictorian. Representing the District of Columbia at the Chicago National Finals of an
Elks Oratorical Contest, she placed second and won a four-year scholarship to Howard
University.
She completed her undergraduate studies in only three years graduating Summa Cum Laude
with a degree in Romance Languages and Social Studies. She was invited by Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune to teach at Bethune-Cookman College in Florida. However, Mrs. Jackson decided to remain at Howard University in order to complete her work for a Master’s Degree.
Unable to secure a teaching position in Washington, DC, she accepted an assignment in Tulsa,
Oklahoma at Booker T. Washington High School in 1934 where she established and headed the
Language Department. While in Tulsa she wrote a weekly column for the leading Black
newspaper in that area, The Oklahoma Eagle and taught Sunday school at the Vernon A.M.E.
Church.
In 1940, she returned to Washington, D.C. to teach History at Cardozo High School. During the
summer months, Edna continued her studies at Howard University, Catholic University, and
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She remained at Cardozo until 1954 when she was
selected to become the first Black teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School. Mrs. Jackson served in many capacities in both high schools, constantly supporting and encouraging students to study and get a good education. From 1959 through 1970 she completed book reviews for The Journal of Negro History.
Upon her retirement in 1976, Mrs. Jackson volunteered at River Terrace Community School in
Washington, D.C. and at Thomas Claggett Elementary School in Prince George County
Maryland.
At Seaton Memorial AME Church, Mrs. Jackson served on the Missionary Society, the Board of
Christian Education, the Stewardess Board, the Sunday School Staff and the Church Scholarship Committee. As President of the Lincoln-Vista Civic Association, Mrs. Jackson often spoke at County hearings and meetings as an advocate for improved services.
She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Pi Delta Phi Honorary Society; Alpha Kappa
Mu Honorary Society; Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority; the NAACP and the Association for the Study of African American History.
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Excerpts from a Stephan Fatsis article –
The following are excerpts from a Stephan Fatsis Washington Post article of December 28, 2020 showing further personal qualities of Mrs. Jackson. The URL to his entire article is:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/12/28/wilson-high-school-dc-rename/
[Mrs.] Jackson graduated in 1928 from Dunbar… where she was a stalwart of the debate team, editor in chief of the newspaper and a member of the French and Latin clubs. She won a scholarship to Howard University, studied French and history and earned a master’s in education. Then, she did what many highly educated Black women did: She taught. After six years at a Black high school in Tulsa, Jackson returned home in 1940 to work at D.C.’s Cardozo High School, which was also all Black. Fifteen years later, she was sent to Wilson, where she would stay until retiring in 1976.
Former students and a family member told me [Stephan Fotsis] that White teachers wouldn’t sit with Jackson at lunch and used the n-word in her presence. Sue E. Houchin’s, an African American studies professor at Bates College who was a close family friend of Jackson’s, said. “You moved yourself through it with dignity, and that is who she was.”
[O]ne alumnus commented … “[Jackson’s] even temper and intelligence in the face of these students have been a lesson for life.”
Former students said Jackson, who died in 2004, was kind, even-tempered and serious, and held her students to high standards. “She was all about education,” her niece, Paula B. Duckett, told me. In the late 1950s, after a lesson on Communism and the Cold War, Jackson arranged for her class to visit the Soviet Embassy. “She insisted that in order to defend democracy, Americans must know freedom’s enemies,” a student from the early ’60s wrote in the survey. Leland Barrows, who graduated from Wilson in 1960, told me he became a historian in part because of Jackson: “She viewed the study of history as a search for truth.”
As a Black woman who integrated the school, the students wrote in an editorial,… Jackson would represent something beyond her race or gender: a message that “teachers matter just as much, if not more, than any president or famous figure.”
“It’s not that Edna was first — that’s important — it’s that Edna was an instrument of change, both for White students and for the few Black students who had to negotiate their way through that place… “That’s reason enough.” [End of excerpts]