An Oral History Project Conducted by John Robert Lewis Leader Marcus Washington
Project Description
For my Oral History project, I have interviewed Denise Jackson Ford, my aunt and a lifelong resident of Natchez, Mississippi. Denise is the daughter of the late American civil rights activist Wharlest Jackson, Sr at the time of his death in 1967, Wharlest Jackson was a 36-year-old Korean War veteran, husband, and father of five. Jackson served as the treasurer of the local Natchez, Mississippi chapter of the NAACP branch. He also worked at a manufacturing factory, the Armstrong Rubber and Tire Company in Natchez. In recognition of his hard and consistent work, management of the company had recently promoted Jackson, over two white applicants, to a new position — one that had never previously been held by a Black employee. Tragically, Jackson was murdered by a car bomb, with evidence of involvement by a white supremacy organization. This crime has been an unsolved murder since the 1960s.
The focus of my interview is a discussion with Denise Jackson Ford on how it was to grow up as the daughter of a respected, and well-known activist in her hometown city. . I posed questions about the horrible incident that transpired on the day her father was killed and she reflects on the impact of that event on her family and the town. Denise shared her thoughts as the case has caught national attention and been reopened. A key component of our talk involved her thoughts on meeting and having deep conversations with the late Congressman John Lewis. Lastly, during this interview, I gained her perspective on the history of the civil rights movement, was where we stand now as a country, and current efforts to continue the fight for equality for African Americans and others.
Oral History Interview with Denise Jackson Ford - 06/16/2024
Presentation Slides
Presentation Recording