The Urban League of Lancaster County is proud to present Mrs. Hazel Jackson with its 2010 Champions of Diversity Award.
Hazel I. Jackson, a native of South Carolina, graduated from South Carolina State College with a B.S. Degree in Secondary English. She received her Masters of Education from Temple University and did her postgraduate work at Delaware University. She taught in the public schools of South Carolina for four years before moving to Lancaster, Pennsylvania after her marriage to Grady Jackson. After much perseverance, she became the first African-American female to teach in the Lancaster public schools in 1962 and the first African-American faculty member at Millersville University in 1970.
Always interested in providing her students with the rich history and culture of African-Americans, she presented the first Black History celebration of the Lancaster City schools at Hand Jr. High School in 1963. This program and observance led to the formation of the Black History Club at McCaskey High School, which continues to conduct programs and activities focused on black history and culture to this day.
She was instrumental in the renaming of an elementary school from Higbee Elementary to Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary in 1980, after which, the renaming committee established a M.L. King scholarship fund which Pofessor Jackson chaired.
Professor Jackson also initiated the first recognition of African-American history at Millersville University via a program entitled “Black Expressions”. During her tenure at Millersville University, she was instrumental in initiating courses in Early African-American Literature, Contemporary African-American Literature and Ethnic Literature in America.
As a playwright and director, she has written a number of plays, both historical and religious, that have been performed widely in Lancaster, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. “From Trail to Triumph”, the life story of Richard Allen, “Profiles of Courage”, a play depicting the lives of famous African-American men and women, and “King of Kings”, a religious drama are among a few of her dramatic compositions.
While an active member of the University, she served on numerous boards and committees and has also served and continues to serve on numerous civic and church boards and committes in her community. Among the civic and church organizations she has worked with are: The NAACP, Past Vice President of Church Women United, first woman and African-American member of Lancaster City Board of Housing, City Planning Commission Chair, Church School District Superintendent and organizer and founder of Lancaster Career Civic Women’s Club.
On May 6, 1994, Millersville University sponsored a recognition reception and banquet to honor Professor Jackson’s retirement from academia after 33 years of teaching. As a result of this activity a $10,000 scholarship, the “Hazel I. Jackson Scholarship Fund”, was established at the University. In addition, the annual “Hazel I. Jackson Lecture” was founded which is held, each February, during Black History Month featuring a prominent African-American literary artist.
She was married to the late Grady Jackson and is the mother of two daughters, Cheryl Holland-Jones and Rosalyn Jackson-McAlpin, a stepson, Charles P. Jackson and is a proud grandmother of five.
A long time member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, she is active on the Steward Board, Church Choir, and Shalom Tutoring Program. Hazel Jackson continues to make Christ the center of her life and always strives to better serve God and humanity.