Jackson, Alexine Clement 1936–

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Alexine Clement Jackson 1936–

Organization executive

Alexine Clement Jackson is the national president of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), an organization which has long been at the forefront of progressive gender and racial issues. Continuing a family tradition that began with her grandmothers, Jackson has been involved with the YWCA for over 25 years. As head of this venerable organization, she has been able to concentrate her energies on empowering women and helping to end racism. Jackson has referred to herself as a“professional volunteer.” In addition to her work with the YWCA, she is affiliated with organizations that champion the arts, education, health, and fashion.

Excelled in Academics

Born in 1936 in Sumter, South Carolina, Jackson was four when her birth mother, Frances, died of breast cancer. From the age of five, she was raised by her father, William A. Clement, Sr., and her stepmother, Josephine Dobbs Clement. Jackson’s family stressed education and public commitment, and she was encouraged to cultivate her intelligence and leadership skills. Her stepmotheralso served as a strong role model.

Jackson’s father was a senior executive for North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Founded nearly a century ago, the enterprise was for many years the largest African American-owned company in the United States. Both of Jackson’s parents were deeply involved in civic affairs and politics. Her father was Grandmaster of the Prince Hall Masons of North Carolina and served as chairman of the board of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. Her stepmother co-chaired Governor James Hunt’s election campaign in the Durham area in 1980 and 1984.

While a student at Spelman College, she met Aaron G. Jackson, a Morehouse College student from Jackson, Mississippi, and the two eventually married. Her husband attended medical school at Howard University and did a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy. Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Spelman and was valedictorian of her class. She also earned a master of arts degree in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Iowa.

During her husband’s service in the Navy, the Jacksons lived on the Marine base at Camp Pendleton, California. Jackson worked as a speech pathologist for a year, but

At a Glance …

Born Alexine Clement June 10, 1936, in Sumter, South Carolina; daughter of William A. Clement, Sr. and Frances Clement; married Aaron G. Jackson; five children.Education: Graduated magna cum laude from Spelman College; University of Iowa/ M.A. in speech pathology and audiology.

Careen Former president of the YWCA, National Capital Area; national president of the YWCA, 1996-.

Member: Has been involved as volunteer, administrator, and leader in numerous other organizations. Board member of; The National Museum for Women in the Arts; Medical Education for South African Blacks; Cancer Research Foundation of America; Black Women’s Agenda; National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; National Assembly of Human Service and Health Organizations; and Advisory Board of Pfizer Women’s Health Initiative.

Awards: Washingtonian Magazine, Washingtonian of the Year, 1994; Cultural Alliance, Founders’ Award in the category of Distinguished Service to the Arts, 1996; Washington Woman Magazine, Woman of the Year, 1985. Community Service Awards from Potomac Valley Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Arlington Chapter of Links, Inc., and Junior Citizens’ Corps, Inc.; Honorary doctorate of humane letters, Spelman College, 1998.

Addresses: Home —11815 Piney Glen Lane, Potomac, MD 20854.

took time off to have children. She gave birth to a set of twins and then had three more children. As her five children were growing up, Jackson stayed home to attend to their needs and actively supported their participation in dance classes, school plays, and sports.

Witnessed Civil Rights Struggle

The Jacksons moved to Mississippi in 1963 and her husband set up a medical practice in Greenwood, becoming the only African American doctor within a 50-mile radius of the city. When the Jacksons moved to Greenwood, the civil rights movement was in full swing and Mississippi was noted for its fierce opposition to desegregation and its extreme violence against African Americans. In an interview with CBB, Jackson remarked, “There were some frightening situations. When really violent things would happen, or someone was shot, people would come to our door looking for him [her husband]. He was the one called to treat the civil rights protesters who were beaten or hurt while jailed.” Mississippi was also notorious for its backward attitudes. As Jackson told CBB, “It was like stepping back in time about 25 years. The struggles were just as basic as getting people to call you ’Mrs.’ Whites wanted to call you by your first name. Because my husband was a physician in town, and I wasn’t working, they couldn’t quite figure out how I had the free time during the day to shop downtown.”

Greenwood became a hotbed of civil rights activity and served as the headquarters of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Many people visited Greenwood for activist training at the SNCC or to witness the civil rights struggle first-hand. As Jackson described to CBB, “I found it very rewarding—it was a beehive. There were lots of visits; people wanted to come and see thesituation. Times were tense, with demonstrations and everybody trying to outmaneuver each other.”

Jackson demonstrated her support for the civil rights movement by getting involved in community service. As she told CBB.“With time, I got involved in the community. The high school would call me to be judge of different events, such as oratorical contests, music festivals, etc. I served more as a mentor for some of the high school kids. Then we became very involved in organizing and funding a daycare center at our church, and I really took that project on. We started it just before Head Start came into being. By the time we finished the project, the center was eligible to be a Head Start school.”

The Jacksons moved to Iowa City in 1968, where Jackson’s husband began a residency in urology at the University of Iowa. Living in predominantly-white Iowa City proved to be a mixed experience for the family. As Jackson described it to CBB, “It was a university town, so there’s an intellectual atmosphere. The University of Iowa was also one of the first universities that was open to blacks, way back in the 1930s. But…my children were never calledv “nigger” till we moved to Iowa. They were the only black kids in their school. They really suffered more direct racism once we left Mississippi than when we were there. Because [in Mississippi] you were protected by the racial lines. There was a totally separate community.” In 1973, the Jacksons moved to Washington, D.C. Jackson’s husband took a position at the Howard University Hospital, where he eventually became chief of the urology department.

Became Active in YWCA

When Jackson moved to Washington, D.C., she became actively involved as a volunteer with the YWCA. As she related to CBB: “When I moved to Washington, someone asked me to join [the YWCA administration]. Both of my grandmothers were involved in the YWCA—in Charleston and Atlanta. My mother was also on the board of the YWCA in Durham. In those days in the South, the YWCA was segregated… .In other parts of the country, integration had already begun to happen. In 1940s the YWCA passed a new charter, advocating for racial justice, and that’s been an integral aspect ever since.”

In 1970 the YWCA passed the One Imperative, which sought to eliminate racism by any means necessary. For some, the phrase“by any means necessary” evoked memories of speeches by Malcolm X and the militant tones of the Black Power movement. Jackson remarked to CBB that“The phrase is within the context of our mission. Of course, there’s nothing violent in our history. But still, there are some within the YWCA that have some problems with the wording.

Many people do not realize that the YWCA has always been radical in its way. By 1909, they were inserting sex education in their health classes. Also, the YWCA organized the first interracialconference in the South.”

In 1965, the YWCA established a National Office for Racial Justice, which was headed for many years by Dorothy Height. Jackson remarked to CBB, “[Height] created many of the training materials we use today. She’s certainly a woman that I admire greatly.” The YWCA continues to create new programs to combat the poison of racism. In the wake of the Los Angeles riots, for example, it started an annual national day of commitment to eliminate racism. Other programs included the five-kilometer “Race Against Racism” and a partnership with the President’s Initiative on Race to organize dialogues on racism with governors in nearly 40 states.

In addition to working against racism, the YWCA provides crucial services for women, such as shelters for victims of domestic violence and childcare centers. In an interview with CBB, Jackson described the YWCA’s approach to childcare.“We take care of about 750,000 children a day. Our centers are designed to have a nonbiased curriculum: no war toys, for example. We try to teach kids how to resolve conflicts without violence. We think it is very important to teach them how to work through their anger, even at three and four years old. We also run some centers for other groups, such as corporations or churches. Some associations even certify childcare centers for the state.”

In addition to providing services for women and children, the YWCA focuses on the underlying economic issues that cause some women tostruggle economically. Jackson told CBB, “Our concerns center around fair wages, housing, jobs, and health care—trying to achieve parity. I think there’s been a lot of progress, of course, but I don’t think we’re there yet. Especially in terms of economic empowerment. There is a glass ceiling. There are differences in wages. And virtually no ownership of resources. We don’t have women in the boardrooms. Women are still struggling to become economically independent….Women bear 100% of the world’s children, perform more than 60% of the world’s work, and constitute more than 50% of the population. However, they earn 10% of incomes, and own 1% of the world’s resources.”

Jackson remarked to CBB that the YWCA offers a resounding message of unity and inclusiveness to women everywhere.“We are strengthening ourselves as a movement. And we’re learning that we are connected. I travel around to the local associations, and help them see that they’re linked to a national movement. This gives us a very strong voice for advocacy. Plus, we do things intentionally: Local affiliations’ membership is contingent on how well they fulfill the mission. This is reviewed on cyclical phases. It’s not just about paying dues.”

In an article in Ebony, Jackson related that in her travels abroad on behalf of the YWCA, she learned that empowerment means having an active role in the decision-making process.“We met women in these communities” [in the “developing world”] who were so proud to take charge of their lives. When women organize themselves, there isthis spirit that is so inspiring. The thing that was life-changing for me was understanding the concept of membership and what it means to belong, to have the freedom to make decisions about your own life.”

During her tenure as YWCA president, Jackson has focused on building relationships and gathering resources. She told Women’s Enterprise that strong relationships are essential to a healthy organization, “When you have national and local affiliates, there are tensions. We needed to develop relationships not only with our associates but also with long-time YWCA members and board members who have contributed to what we are today.” With regard to gathering needed resources, Jackson told Women’s Enterprise that, “Women tend to shy away from major fund raising, because they consider it too unladylike or too aggressive, but we need to learn to step up to the plate and stand up for our beliefs. … I am trying to encourage the belief that as an organization we can be strong in financial resources as well as human resources.”

Survived Cancer

Jackson is passionately involved in the Washington, D.C. community. She has served on countless boards and committees for organizations promoting opera, ballet, and other performing arts; fashion shows; events at Howard University; and hospitality accommodations for the families of diplomats. Among Jackson’s most cherished awards are those that she has received from local publications such as the Washingtonian and Washington Woman magazines.

In addition to her many other accomplishments, Jackson is a survivor of breast cancer. After undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and hormonal therapy, Jackson became a staunch advocate for early breast cancer detection and treatment.“I’ve always been very open about it [cancer] and announced it most places I go,” Jackson told CBB, “because I want to remind women about the importance of mammography and early detection. I’ve been very happy to be a spokesperson, in a way, for that.” She also serves on the board of the Cancer Research Foundation of America and the advisory board of Pfizer Inc.’s Women’s Health Initiative.

Jackson enjoys her position as national president of the YWCA. As she told CBB, “I enjoy the position; it’s very full, very time-consuming. I travel a lot, but it’s energizing, as well as offering me the opportunity for personal growth.” In Ebony, Jackson described the YWCA’s vision for the future as one“where we have peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. That’s a very lofty vision, but when we talk about peace, we’re not just talking about Bosnia and the Middle East. We’re talking about peace right here within ourselves and within our towns. I’m often reminded of Gandhi’s statement that “We must be the things that we see.’”

Sources

Periodicals

Ebony, March 1999, p. 101.

Women’s Enterprise, November/December 1998, p. 31.

Other

Additional information for this profile was obtained from an interview with Alexine Clement Jackson on June 2, 1999 and from the YWCA web site at http://www.ywca.org.

—Mark Baven