Reggie Jackson

Background

About Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson is is a much sought-after speaker, race relations expert and published writer – locally, nationally and internationally. He is a graduate of Concordia University. As a “Griot” (a traditional West African term for oral historians), he shares seldom-told stories and facts about the African-American experience and that of other People of Color past and present. Reggie served as Head Griot at America’s Black Holocaust Museum from 2003-2021. Reggie has received 20 regional and national awards for his work as a historian and social justice educator, journalist, and podcaster, including the 2015 Eliminating Racism Award from southeast Wisconsin's YWCA, the 2016 Courageous Love Award from the First Unitarian Society, the 2017 Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award from the City of Milwaukee, the 2019 Frank P Zeidler Legacy Award from the Frank Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, the 2021 Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award from the National Education Association, the 2022 Voice of Justice Award from All of Us or None. His column at the Milwaukee Independent has won numerous awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, including the 2017 Silver Award for best online column, the 2017 Silver Award for best written column, the 2018 Gold award for best online column, 2019 Bronze Award for best online column, 2019 Bronze Award for best Investigative Story or Series, the 2021 Gold Award for best online column, the 2021 Gold Award for best written column and 2022 Bronze Award for Best Online Column. His 2020 podcast "By Every Measure" with Tarik Moody at 88Nine radio station won the 2020 Gold Award for Best podcast from the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2022 Reggie joined the Redress Movement as a senior researcher.Reggie first volunteered with America's Black Holocaust Museum in 2002. A year later, he was appointed Head Griot and began training the new griots. He led hundreds of tours during the last six years that the original physical museum was open. He serrved on the board of directors from 2005 to 2017, including two terms as chair. Later he became Dr. Cameron’s protegé and, since his mentor’s death, one of the few experts on the life of this unsung civil rights hero. From 2008-2010 he taught Contemporary Social Problems and Introduction to Sociology as an adjunct professor at Concordia University. In 2017 he was invited to be contributing writer at the Huffington Post. Reggie was appointed to City Of Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission in 2018 and served until the 2022. He was also honored by the Wisconsin State Assembly in a Joint Resolution in 2017.