Jacob Lawrence (1917 - 2000)

Jacob and Gwen Lawrence came to West Chester University in October, 1995 to help us close our celebration of the centennial celebration of the courageous life of Frederick Douglass who gave his last public lecture on West Chester’s campus on Feb. 1, 1895. With Jake as point person, the Lawrences came to our campus and provided even the most knowledgeable person with an object lesson on what it means to be successful human beings. They came with little fanfare, Jake in fact having answered the phone in July, 1994 when I asked him if they would come.

They asked for nothing, except for the joy of interacting with members of the campus community celebrating the Douglass centennial. They both taught classes, he before art classes and Gwen before an introductory course in women studies. Their stories were compelling for the mixture of personal choices, observations on art, the uses of history, and on being married for nearly 50 years. [I need not tell you how amazed so many of our students were to look upon any couple married that long in this day and age.]

    Jake Lawrence, perhaps unknown to any of us at the time of his first visit to WC, gave us a glimpse, a hint of what we should do with a legacy by the example of his grace and strength. WCU acknowledged his contribution by granting him an honorary degree in 1997. Jake’s example has guided me as I am privileged to guide the Douglass Institute at West Chester University, throughout the state of Pa., maybe throughout the nation, and maybe, just maybe, throughout the international communities that Douglass knew in his lifetime.

   Just as Jake found in Frederick Douglass’ life a human face and story for his exquisite paintings, our choice and chance is to look at every face as if it were the only one around and to accept it on its own terms, to get to know it, if that happens, and to allow it to expand our capacity for human understanding of American stories that included the striking tales of black men and women in their cultural comforts seeking freedom.

    Jake made a friend out of history. His effort reminds us of the value of all stories, large and small, public and private. His explorations into the past invite all of us to share with one another the experiences of a flawed but vital democracy.

    Our task, especially when we are challenged by the uneven and the undesirable, is to remember to climb on Jacob’s ladder where we can see that, despite the jolts and joys of life, we are to use the tools of God’s gifts to live life abundantly.