John G. Jackson (writer) facts for kids

John Glover Jackson (April 1, 1907 – October 13, 1993) was an American historian, lecturer, teacher, and writer. He was known for his work on Pan-Africanism, which is the idea that all people of African descent share a common history and destiny. He also promoted Afrocentrism, which focuses on African history and culture from an African point of view. Jackson was also interested in atheism, the belief that there is no God. He explored ideas about the origins of Christianity.

Early Life and Education

John Glover Jackson was born in Aiken, South Carolina, on April 1, 1907. He grew up in a Methodist family. When he was 15, he moved to Harlem, New York. There, he attended Stuyvesant High School.

During this time, Jackson became very interested in African-American history and culture. He started writing essays about these topics. His writing was noticed by others. In 1925, while still in high school, he was asked to write for Negro World. This was a newspaper started by Marcus Garvey, a famous Pan-African leader.

Career as a Historian and Lecturer

From 1930 onwards, John G. Jackson worked with many important Pan-African historians and writers. These included people like Hubert Harrison, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, and John Henrik Clarke.

Jackson wrote several books about African history. These books shared a Pan-African and Afrocentrist view. Some of his well-known books include Man, God, and Civilization (1972) and Introduction to African Civilizations (1974).

Views on Religion

Jackson also became interested in the idea that Christianity might have roots in ancient Egyptian religion. He wrote books exploring this topic. These included The African Origin of Christianity (1981) and Christianity before Christ (1985). He also wrote the introduction for Gerald Massey's Lectures (1974).

He also wrote a book called Was Jesus Christ a Negro? (1984). In this book, he discussed the idea that Jesus might have been a black man.

Jackson believed in atheism. In 1987, he wrote an article about Hubert Harrison for American Atheists. He praised Harrison's views on atheism and his work for civil rights. Jackson himself had said that he did not believe in God from a very young age.

Lectures and Associations

For five decades, Jackson lived in New York. He gave many lectures at the Robert G. Ingersoll Forum. This forum was part of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism.

Throughout his life, Jackson also served as an Associate Director of the Blyden Society. He lectured at many colleges and universities across the United States. John G. Jackson passed away on October 13, 1993.

See also

• Pan-Africanism
• Afrocentrism
• Black Nationalism
• Willis Nathaniel Huggins
• Gerald Massey
• Kersey Graves
• Hubert Harrison
• Arturo Alfonso Schomburg
• John Henrik Clarke
• African diaspora
• Yosef Ben-Jochannan
• Chancellor Williams
• Cheikh Anta Diop