A.C. Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr.
A.C. Jackson
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Portrait of A. C. Jackson
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| Born | February , 1879 |
| Died | June 1, 1921 (aged 42) |
| Education | Meharry Medical College |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Years active | 1910-1921 |
| Known for | Death in Tulsa Race Massacre |
A.C. Jackson was a respected African American surgeon. He tragically died during the Tulsa race massacre in 1921. Many remember him as a very important person who was lost during this event. Dr. Jackson was a leading doctor in Oklahoma. He was also a key member of the African-American community in Tulsa, Oklahoma before his death.
The famous Mayo brothers, who started the Mayo Clinic, thought highly of him. They even called him the "most skilled Black surgeon in America."
Early Life and Education
A.C. Jackson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in February 1879. His father, Townsend Jackson, had been a slave from Georgia. He fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. His mother, Sophronia, was a former slave from Texas. A.C. Jackson was the youngest of three children.
In 1889, his family moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma. There, his father worked as the town jailer. He was later elected as a justice of the peace. A.C. Jackson studied at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. After that, he trained to become a surgeon in Memphis.
Moving to Tulsa
In 1910, Dr. Jackson married his wife, Julia. At that time, there was a lot of racial segregation and unfair treatment towards African-Americans in Guthrie. Because of this, the young couple decided to move. They settled in the Greenwood district of Tulsa.
Dr. Jackson opened his medical practice in Greenwood. He also became the president of the state medical association. In 1916, he expanded his practice. He opened another office in Claremore, Oklahoma. In 1918, he met with the mayor of Tulsa. They discussed opening a hospital called "Booker T. Washington Hospital for Negros." This hospital was planned for the corner of Boston Avenue and Archer Street, but it was never built. Dr. Jackson was also a member of a group called the International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor. He served on the board of directors for the Colored Orphan Home in Tulsa. Some of the surgical tools he invented are still used by doctors today.
His Death
In 1921, Dr. Jackson died during the Tulsa race massacre. A former police commissioner, John Oliphant, reported what happened. He said Dr. Jackson was walking towards him with his hands in the air. Dr. Jackson was trying to surrender, saying, "Here am I. I want to go with you."
However, a group of about seven armed men stopped him. Two of them shot him. One of the men shot him again after he had fallen to the ground. Dr. Jackson bled to death from his injuries at the Convention Hall.
Who Was Responsible?
There are different stories about who shot Dr. Jackson. However, all sources agree that no one was ever charged for his death. The Tulsa World newspaper reported in 2020 that the shooter was never identified. But John Oliphant identified one of the armed men as a former Tulsa Police Department officer named Brown.
A historical project called The Victory of Greenwood names James “Cowboy” Long as the person who killed Dr. Jackson. This project refers to John Oliphant's testimony from July 21, 1921, given to the State Attorney General's office.
Images for kids
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Portrait of A. C. Jackson
