Bowen Keiffer Jackson interview

Description

Bowen Keiffer Jackson (1923–1995) was a civil rights activist and the executive secretary of the Baltimore Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The only son of Lillie May Carroll Jackson, he served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, after which he had careers in business administration, real estate, and property management. In this oral history interview, Jackson recounts his experiences growing up as a Black child and young man in Baltimore, as well as his time in the U.S. Army. He describes his mother's significance within the community and the civil rights movement, detailing her contributions to the NAACP, her church, and her family, and how she drew strength from her faith in God. Jackson also reflects on his father, Keiffer Jackson, and his unwavering support for his mother's endeavors. Additionally, Jackson discusses his mother's relationship with Governor Theodore R. McKeldin and their collaborative efforts, her perspective on Black militancy within the movement, and her optimism for future race relations.