Recall
Jesse Jackson gave a speech at Alabama when I was in grad school. I think it was a campaign stop as he ran for president. The room was packed; I got there early enough to claim a chair. The scene is crystal clear in my memory. Jackson was bigger than I expected, in a lot of ways. His speech was electrifying. I don't remember the exact topics he covered, but I remember the hair on my arms standing up again and again. He led the "I Am Somebody" chant. One of the work-study students from the Sociology department was also there, and he and I walked back to ten Hoor Hall, talking about what we'd just seen. I have a lot of memories from Tuscaloosa --- this is one of the clearest. Looking at this picture takes me back to how that building smelled, the department's office (oooh --- I had my own mail cubby!) I can hear Don Muir whistling as he walked the hall where all the offices were. Very good memories.