Colored Boy on a Slope

A literary account that invites readers to view into the window of how a particular set of black parents raised their child. It reveals the nuances that helped their child acquire a high level of intelligence, self-awareness and self-confidence.

Author Biography

Dr. Albert Louis Jackson has spent well over fifty years in music either as a performer or an educator. Although he was a clarinetist and pianist, he was an exceptional teacher. He was well-versed in several different marching band styles which enabled him to adjust to the cultural preference of the community and school system that he was employed. That ability allowed him to teach music to a myriad of students from various racial and cultural backgrounds. As the years went by, Dr. Jackson began to focus on the interworkings of a student’s intellect toward achieving self and group excellence. Although well-to-do students seemed to have the advantage in being successful, Dr. Jackson decided to challenge the underserved to reach the same level of success. The model that Dr. Jackson used was his own learning culture set by his parents on a hillside slope outside the small but powerful predominantly black town of Grambling, LA. This particular method can be found in many black families and many black towns all over the United States. By using the model his own parents set for him, many of Dr. Jackson’s students became highly successful in all types of endeavors. His eaglets can be found everywhere. Dr. Albert Louis Jackson attended kindergarten through college in Grambling. He received his Master’s of Music Education from Northeast Louisiana University, and received his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University. Other educational experiences include advanced studies at Boston University, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University at Shreveport, Centenary College at Shreveport, Langston University, and Rose State University. His teaching experiences include Memphis Central High School, Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy, Langston University, Texas College, Griffin Elementary, and Dogan Middle School. At one time or another he taught concert band, marching band, jazz band, class piano, and earth science. He taught a plethora of music courses on the college and university level. He created the first band and was the first director at Southern University at Shreveport, LA. He is married to his college sweetheart Dr. Cheryl Marks Jackson of Opelousas, LA. Together they have put thousands of students through slope training and successfully launched the careers of many eagles.