Brian K. Jackson
Brian K. Jackson, chief operating officer of Stockton - Atlantic City, shared powerful remarks about his experiences as a Black man that's a part of the LGBTQ+ community with students at the Black Gala in February. Below is an excerpt from that speech.
I spent my formative years in Baltimore. My high school was predominately Black, but my friendship circle was diverse because of the clubs and organizations I was involved in. I lived in a historically Jewish, but mostly black neighborhood comprised of black professionals, with careers as educators, doctors, lawyers, ministers, city officials, and business owners. I felt well prepared for the rigors of college life.
My career aspirations never included working in higher education; however, I’m grateful for the opportunities this career has provided. It has not been easy. As a Black, gay man in the world, it required sacrifice, mitigating fear and anxiety, acknowledging, and accepting who I am as an individual, and fully embracing my Black excellence.
I look back on my time at a New Hampshire college as generally positive. I received a great education and gained lifelong friends. However, I was reminded that I was in the minority.
In my sophomore year, I was an RA doing rounds on a Saturday night with another RA, when during an exchange I was called the N-word by two white males. This was the first time that ever happened to me. I was shocked and angry. Unfortunately, it would not be the last time I would experience that level of racism.
In my junior year, I joined a historically white national fraternity. I’ll never forget being told by one of the fraternity brothers that he never really viewed me as being Black because I “didn’t talk or act Black.” He thought that I should take it as a compliment!
There were times I felt completely isolated and unsupported by college staff. I had to find the courage to confront those difficult situations, especially those that were designed to break me or make me feel less than. I synthesized all that I felt about those experiences and turned them into something that would give me the strength to persevere.
My career aspirations never included working in higher education; however, I’m grateful for the opportunities this career has provided. It has not been easy. As a Black, gay man in the world, it required sacrifice, mitigating fear and anxiety, acknowledging, and accepting who I am as an individual, and fully embracing my Black excellence.
The recent murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and others, in addition to the rise in homicides in Black and brown communities, have hit me hard and caused me some anxiety and many sleepless nights.
But it also presented opportunities to talk more openly about race. Last year I co-led a conversation with the president’s cabinet about race, and I opened and shared examples of experiences I had that had never been shared before in that kind of setting.
Like when I walked into a car dealership and the salesman walked right past me to greet my husband, who is white. It was clear the salesman assumed Michael was a more viable customer. Michael angrily informed the salesman that he was talking to the wrong person. We turned and immediately left the showroom.
What has helped keep me grounded in those difficult times is knowing that I represent the best of my family… and that I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors, mentors, teachers, and community.
Whether you know it or not, you represent the best of your families, your communities, and Stockton. Your commitment to a high level of excellence in your academic pursuits and your dedication to representing what Black or Latinx or LGBTQIA or Female Excellence means to you are incredibly strong indicators of the level of success and achievement you will have in your future.
This Voice was originally published in 2022 during Pride Month. At the time of publication, and currently, Jackson was chief operating officer for Stockton's Atlantic City Campus.
