On this 2nd day of American Black History 2025 with Dr. Brice “Doc” Miller: Mahalia Jackson (b) October 26, 1911, (d) January 27, 1972, was an American gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was integral to the development and spread of gospel blues in black churches throughout the U.S. During a time when racial segregation was pervasive in American society, she met considerable and unexpected success in a recording career, selling an estimated 22 million records and performing in front of integrated and secular audiences in concert halls around the world, making her one of the best-selling gospel music artists.

A visit to Mahalia Jackson’s old neighborhood in New Orleans. Sometimes called “The Black Pearl” and other times “Uptown Triangle,” this pie-shaped neighborhood is located in the Carrollton Historic District and bounded roughly by St. Charles Avenue on the north, Broadway on the east and Leake Avenue on the south and west. Essentially, Black Pearl is an all Black neighborhood on the backside of the affluent white Riverbend neighborhood. In 1974, when the New Orleans City Planning Commission was giving official names to each neighborhood in Orleans Parish designated the area as Black Pearl. “Pearl” refers to the street that runs through the neighborhood, and “black” honors the neighborhood’s historically black population. Together, “Black Pearl” refers to a type of pearl that is exquisite and rare.

Satchmo♥️Mahalia. “If you don’t like Louis Armstrong, you don’t know how to love.” -Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong were both great musicians who performed together and were friends. Jackson and Armstrong performed together at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1970. Armstrong was one of many who encouraged Jackson to try jazz or pop, but she insisted on singing gospel. The two New Orleanians never performed together in their hometown.

Civil Rights♥️Dr.King. Mahalia Jackson was an influential civil rights activist who was a close friend and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jackson’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. Jackson and King first met at the National Baptist Convention in Alabama in 1956. King called Jackson “a blessing to me”. Jackson was also a financial supporter of King’s work. Jackson performed at fundraising events for the Civil Rights Movement. She also raised money for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, served on the board, and became the first woman to serve on the board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a prominent civil rights group led by King. Jackson sang at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, and at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom in Washington, D.C. She also sang at King’s funeral. She would pass away four years later.

Like her friend Louis Armstrong, Jackson herself died of heart failure in 1972 at age 60. Coretta Scott King commented that “the causes of justice, freedom, and brotherhood have lost a real champion whose dedication and commitment knew no midnight”.